Happy International Women's Day everyone! It's a perfect day to share this powerful photo I took of Lisbeth!
International Women's Day is a day dedicated to honoring the achievements of women throughout history and all across the globe and is typically a day for women from all different backgrounds and cultures to band together to fight for gender equality and women's rights.
For me, this day is reason enough to reiterate that every woman has the right to express herself in her own way. Whether it's in words or artistic, it doesn't matter - nobody has the right to judge them for it. In my job I have often heard from models that it was difficult for them to tell their families and friends about their passion and to live it out without being shamed. Because 'Be a Lady' they said X I keep asking myself what is worse: capturing your body in photos that you will still enjoy looking at years later, or refraining from doing something that is fun just to please others? Especially in the field of nøød art, people often judge instead of giving people the freedom to express themselves and to find joy in something special.
I have been working in this area for years and have already been able to photograph all kinds of women; curvy, thin, sporty, small, big, young or old and this topic came up on almost every shoot. I guess sometimes it takes balls to be a woman and to do what you love, especially when it's something extraordinary like this kind of photography and you don't get support from your loved ones. There is no reason to be ashamed of your body or to hide it just because others ask you to. And that's why I love what I do; it not only empowers me but also my models and everyone is happy in the end, and that's all that really matters, right?
So here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
(Magazine layout by me as well)
Much love
xx
Alex