Jun 1

Jun 1 OWNING IT: THIS CURVY GIRL HERO INSPIRES

Cate Scaglione | Editor, Photographer, Business Owner

Plus-Size-boudoir-lingerie-body-confidence-2

"I am a new day rising." THAT IS WHAT HER BACK TATTOO READS.
When I think of this session, it is my spirit and inspiration that rises like a new day.

This is a story about S, about seeing your own possibilities. She is an inspiration for all of us.

When S called me about doing a boudoir session, she mentioned she was drawn to the fact that I specialize in shooting plus sized women. While I don't really consider it a speciality, I do consider it a privilege to help curvier women enjoy the same experiences as the petite gals do. With a strong understanding of posing and lighting skills to flatter full figured women, I can serve them well.

Here at the studio, we collaborate with clients to shatter all societal standards about what is desirable and beautiful. Every client is beautiful. And for some, it is about helping plus sized women OWN their curves, feel beautiful because of who they are -- and not the label or tag size inside their clothing.

We as women do not define ourselves by tags. We define ourselves by how we live. By how we love. And, by how we feel.
But S already knew that. She already felt beautiful.
She just wanted to feel that way in photographs.

(c) 2017 Cate Scaglione | LIFEASFINEART.COM

S had recently been through some life changes, and had some intricate tattoo work done to celebrate her story, in ink. She traveled quite a distance to come shoot with me and for that, I am always honored.

The "obvious" blog post here would be for me to write about S and her tats. But honestly, there is so much more to this woman that would inspire others, I did not feel the tattoos paint the whole picture.

S is over 50.
S is a plus sized woman.
S has been through a lot in her day.
S has a flourishing career.
S has grown children.
S has a husband who thinks she is the sexiest woman alive.
S does not give a SH*^! what others think about her choices.

S is someone we all strive to be. She knows that beauty is not a clothing size, nor is it something that is photoshopped for others to see.

S is content just to be S.

Don't misunderstand me... S was nervous as hell to do her session. I knew it was not easy for her, as this is not something each of us does every day. She was quiet, and a bit shy, but she knew her assets and she knew how to own them. She chose beautiful clothing that revealed her sexy side, and did not try to hide in it. Instead, she just radiated in it.

The soft winter light streamed into the studio and S looked positively angelic. She has soft gorgeous fair skin, angelic blonde hair, beautiful kind blu eyes. But once we started posing her, it was obvious that S is not an serene little angel. Actually she is the opposite.

S was intense, and fierce and beautiful.
S was unapologetically sensual.
S owned the skin she was in. (And beautifully inked, I might add).

After the session S saw her images and made it clear that she did not want to be morphed, edited or transformed in any way. "I know what I am, I know what I look like," she said, "I want the images to show the real me."

It isn't unusual for a client to convey that, but it was the way she said it, with such conviction and confidence, that she soon became one of my studio stories I will tell for a long, long time.

The session experience culminated with two large albums, one for herself and one for her husband to enjoy.

I adore this woman, I adore who she is and what she stands for... RAW REALITY.
For that, it makes her one of the most spectacular women I have photographed this year.