Anxiety, are you real?

Our bodies, so magnificently created, are constantly communicating with us. Especially when somethings is out of balance. Well, that’s the whole point in a way isn’t it - if it’s good, you don’t need to be warned, to be alerted. In the case of the opposite though, you better listen carefully.

I’ve been living my life with anxiety unclear from how long. Back in the days I thought it’s me, it’s my problem, that there is something not right with me. But never I thought that I might be having a condition that might have collected from somewhere or appeared after certain experience. I used to believe anxiety and depression are jokes, an excusses that people use to explain their fear or lack of ambition. Until after my dad’s passing away I heard that he was struggling with it. His death changed me completely and thought me not to make assumptions but first to learn about the conditions themselves.

So, I started asking questions, digging information related to my feelings so I can understand more. Turned out I have anxiety. Still continued to ignore it in a way as in my upbringing and home country talking about mental health is not a common subject matter.

But with time, information, conversations I became more and more familiar with it. Since recently I can actually feel it - when it comes and when it goes. I pay more attention to my bodily feelings, I listen more. And it turned out it’s not me, it never was, it’s just something i feel sometimes and that probably I might be even able to let go completely.

Our bodies know us better than we think. We’re intangibly connected to everything and everything is connected to us. And out bodies are the bridge between, the vessel that transmits the information, the best friend that always has our back.

Do you listen? Do you allow yourself to stop and really listen to yourself? To observe what your mind, body and soul are telling you, and how sometimes there is an argument? Those two voices in your head, do you listen?

Or are you scared? Is there something that you avoid facing? Is there a pain that you’re scared to let go of because yore so used to it? But what if you let it go and it all works out? What if by listening to your own body you understand that life it’s lighter without that pain even if the pain is so familiarly satisfying?

We’re all in this together. But each of us has it’s own personal work to do.

How to prepare for a Boudoir photo session?

Have you always wanted to experience a boudoir photo session, but maybe felt some insecurity about taking your clothes off in front of a stranger?

Worry no more, I got you, girl! I’m here for you!

My boudoir sessions are tailored for women with or without experience in front of the camera or with minimal clothing. The target is always one - to feel more comfortable in your own skin. I believe boudoir photography can help women feel freer and unapologetically themselves when they appreciate the beauty and intelligence of their own bodies. Bodies that go through so much transformation during their life and fully deserve to be acknowledged for it, appreciated and valued for their magnificence.

That’s why I’m here - to help people enjoy themselves in their own skin. Clothes and accessories are fun, but they also build a barrier, restrictions, putting certain norms and telling a story. But it not our nature, our authentic appearance as species. The clothed body is not what we actually live in and experience life with, but the nude body is.

The boudoir session is not necessarily a nude one, however surely it could transform if you decide so. I understand the sensitivity of the matter, that there could be certain boundaries and fully respect every individual's point of view.

So what do you need to prepare for a boudoir session?

It is actually very easy:
-decide how you’d like to be photographed
-pick up some outfits/looks
-decide how much of makeover suits you best
-and then just bring your gorgeous presence in the studio!

How would you like to be photographed?

We’ll discuss this more in detail in your pre-shoot consultation. Meanwhile, you can see examples in my work that resonate with you most and you would like to have your own photographs in the same style. Or you’re more than welcome to share any ideas that you have and dream about. I’m always open to experiment and create the best visuals of yourself you’ve seen.

What outfits would you like?

Feel free to share with me even before something that you’d like to wear. I would suggest you to get out of the box and norms if you secretly wanted to. This is a safe space for you where we’ll play, laugh and enjoy your beauty and uniqueness. A place where you can experiment and dress up as whoever you want. You can be with lingerie or any intimate wear or much more minimal and bare. The less the fashion, the more it focuses on your and your gorgeous body. But I let you decide.

If you feel like trying more nude look, you don’t necessarily have to be fully nude. For me is health and safety first so you can wear some minimal thongs that I can hide with poising or later on Photoshop if you want to look nude on your photographs.

How much makeover suits you best?

This option I left open for clients as some of them prefer more natural and minimal look. Boudoir sessions don’t have to have the heavy saturated makeover where you can’t recognise yourself. I’m here to capture you the way you want it to be and won’t force on you anything that can make you feel not yourself. I know make-up can sometimes change the look and idea of who we want to appear as. Therefore, the sessions I do include natural makeover, focused on your natural beauty. But if you prefer to go beyond the way you usually present yourself, we’ll help you with that. We can discuss all the small details before the session to make sure everything is the way you want it to be.

And last one is to just bring your awesomeness in the studio!

Again, keep i n mind this is a safe place for you. Somewhere where you can be yourself with no norms or ideals. I’m here to portray your uniqueness and celebrate you, because you deserve it! Feel free to share anything else you have in mind or any concerns that come up.

I listen carefully what clients tell me about their bodies, what they like and dislike about them. So I try to capture all of it, the more and less loved parts of they bodies in a way that they’ll love all of it. Our bodies are beautiful, despite the differences. In fact the differences are those that make them so unique, so let’s celebrate it!

Do you listen to your body?

Do you listen in the silence of your own? Are you ever in enough silence to hear? And if you do hear, do you follow up or ignore?

The body.. One of my main subjects in my work and in my own personal life. All the beauty I see and intent to capture, mixed with all the challenges I’ve faced with and within my own. A diary I will probably write until the end.

Our magnificent, intelligent bodies are guiding us, telling us what we need to know in every moment. Unfortunately, we don’t always listen. Rather the contrary - we try to numb the feelings, so we can escape either responsibility or the acknowledgement that we need to make a change of some sort. Here is one example - the anxiety.

I didn’t know when it appeared in my life, but I do know now I’ve tried many times to numb the fearful feeling through physical or emotional substances. To only end up hurting myself more. Why do I this? - I asked myself so many times. I’m yet not sure, all I know is that photography has helped me many times up to this day.

In creation we loose idea about time, space and fear. Preset moment eliminates anxiety, it focuses your mind, giving you the space and security of the present. We’re often so lost in the past of in the future, that we forget to pay attention to the only moment we actually have - the now. I know you’ve heard this before, but do you practice it?

Here is me now, writing this with an anxious heart. My body is not calm, my mind is afraid. All I know is I’m not alone, maybe you’re accompanying me now or can relate to it. Why don’t we listen more? Why don’t we believe in our own body intelligence and guidance to show us what to do, who to love, what to trust and where to go? We tent to trust in others that have no idea how we feel or what we dream about.

Don’t let the fear stops you, don’t let it freeze you. Listen to your body, it knows you better than you think. Trust it, as it’s the only body that will never betray you, the only one that will be there for you always. The one that holds the guidance and support you need to go through life.

Why Photographing Yourself Is Beneficial For You?

Throughout art history, self portraiture has been a way for the artist to reflect and capture themselves in a unique way. Nowadays, with the phone camera we have a constant access to we also have the ability to capture, portray, and record ourselves. Being an artist or not, photographing yourself can be beneficial for you in a few ways.

• Helps you release emotions

As living life and going through experiences, we’re faced with variety of emotions, that often can be overwhelming. All of us humans have moments where we’re faced with challenging emotions, very often unable to express them due to lack of understanding or deep rooted traumas that might not allow us. Here is why standing in front of the camera (and ideally a mirror) by yourself, honest and with all of those bare emotions, you experience an allowance to realise and share. Movement, facial expressions and gaze are all channels to release what you’ve had trapped inside. Unreleased emotions get stored in the body and convert into diseases at some point. Therefore releasing what is bothering you, what has been hurting you, is healthy for your mind, body and soul.

• Helps you get to know yourself better

Self portraiture is true mirror that you put in front to observe, examine and learn more about your own self. Trapped in the human body, your soul is directly expressed through your eyes. How often do you look in your eyes? How often do you stop and stare, examine your facial and body features, but also pay attention to the energy that your souls is transmitting to you? By portraying yourself you get closer to your own soul by paying attention to what’s inside that wants to get out.

You can also learn to accept your physical form, your body. We’re here for a certain amount of years, occupying a body that we often want to change and modify instead of accepting and loving it so it can serve us longer, which is directly related to our life time. Getting to know yourself and accepting yourself as you are here and now would benefit you enormously - you’ll live a more fulfilled and peaceful life, with less anxiety and worries. Because fighting and denying it will only lead to more suffering.

• Helps you learn more about photography

You have a constant access to yourself and your body. Photographing yourself is the quickest and easiest way to practice posses, to play with light or explore further. By practising it you’ll become more confident in your craft and with your clients/sitters. You’ll see and correct mistakes that you might be making often. You can learn more about how light and position can change the feeling of a final image. Never the less, you will end up with interesting body of work that you’re proud of, can use in other ways for variety of purposes, but it will also give you a memory of the captured moment in time that will never return. Self portraiture can become a present that you leave behind to your family and children, to the future generation to remember you and your special light.

In conclusion, photographing yourself is beneficial for you in the form of therapy, art or memory. It can enhance your professional work, but will also develop stronger connection with your soul. Practiced regularly, self portraiture can give you a personal, mirrored look of yourself and where you stand at this point in life, that you can’t find anywhere else. A unique reality check to learn from in a deeper level. Looking and accepting yourself is powerful practice. Being your own art piece will give you joy that you can tap into anytime you want.

I’d love to know how you get along. Let me know in comments! :)

Why musicians must have professional photos?

It’s not a secret that visual presentation of every brand, being a company or a person, is an inevitable part of reaching the desired audience. With the rise of social media and digital communication, visuals became even more needed on a frequent basis. Especially for professionals whose brand involves their physical appearance, such as talents, influencers, etc. 

Musicians, as such, are creatives whose style and public appearance is part of their brand. Their job as entertainers involves live performances on stage, interviews, social work and influence. Their projects usually have a set theme or feel that needs to be translated from their sound to their visuals, styling and products. That’s why it’s important to have creative and accurately styled images that compliment their work.

It’s not a secret that visual presentation of every brand, being a company or a person, is an inevitable part of reaching the desired audience. With the rise of social media and digital communication, visuals became even more needed on a frequent basis. Especially for professionals whose brand involves their physical appearance, such as talents, influencers, etc. 

Musicians, as such, are creatives whose style and public appearance is part of their brand. Their job as entertainers involves live performances on stage, interviews, social work and influence. Their projects usually have a set theme or feel that needs to be translated from their sound to their visuals, styling and products. That’s why it’s important to have creative and accurately styled images that compliment their work.

If you’re a solo musician or playing in a band (or more), the way you come across your audience is as important as the instruments you’re using to produce the music you’re devoted to. Very often the marketing aspect of a creative career might be left neglected, as their time is spent in creating the art. However, if you’re serious about your music career and want to reach a bigger audience, you might want to consider the next tips.

Here are 4 bullets points on why it’s so important to have professional photos if you want to have more attractive digital presence:

• Be noticeable

The presentation of your music is as important as your music. Why? Because as humans we consume our information 90% through our visual sense. On the other hand, because of the Internet and smartphones, the majority of the information we first seek, find and search for is fully digital. Which means that the audience you’d like to reach and serve with your craft will most likely make their first impression of you via your social profiles and/or personal website.

So, what is the most used visual presentation online? - That’s right - still and moving images. The more professional and accurate your social media look, the more professional and knowledgeable you appear in front of your audience.

• Build your brand

As a musician more often than not you are your own brand. The public knows your face, your style, hears your point of view in interviews and gains opinion based on all of what they consume about you, big or small. And as a brand your visual representation should be as professional as your sound and lyrics. Your musical projects are inevitably linked to still and moving imagery. Every project has a feel, a vibe, a specific look. This builds your brand, your portfolio, represents your professionalism and also how serious you take yourself as a creator.

• Pro Photos - Pro Feeling

As a creative, have you ever asked yourself - How do my public sees me? Can they see and feel the passion and quality I have for my work? If I haven’t met this person, how could I make him feel my vibe through the screen?

Do you want to show them low resolution, badly lit photographs or visuals that represent you, your craft and the quality you stand for? And don’t get me wrong - camera snaps, behind the scenes, a quick ‘Live’ with no filters on is totally fine, and in fact necessary to show the human behind the art. However, I’m pointing at the visuals that you should pay more attention to - art works for singles/albums, press photos, live performance images, photoshoots or collaborations with other creatives. Location or studio, professional images will make your brand look more professional. They will compliment the quality of your work on your website and physical products. They will also engage more with your audience on social media platforms if your visuals are eye-catching.

• Always looking photogenic

One thing all humans have in common (maybe except models) is that we usually think we won’t look good in photographs. Part of the job of a professional photographer is to make sure their clients look as good, accurate, presentable and natural or arty as they require. They know the angles of the different face shapes and body structures, so the images praise the subject not the other way around. Having a professional photographer you trust is a very important part of your brand and journey as a musician. Not every photographer can understand and bring to life the feeling of your work and that’s okay. Just make sure you find the one who can compliment your craft and translate the visual side of your story to your audience.

In a nutshell, if you’re serious about your craft, if you want it to be presented in the best way and your work consumed with admiration and awe, having professional photographs and videos is a must have in this day and age. How you appear to your audience won’t take away the hard work you need to put in your craft, but it will definitely help you in any aspect beyond that.

And trust me, everyone can look good in photographs and every work looks better when it's presented in an appealing way. Now the question is, how serious are you about your craft?