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YOU HAVE STRETCH MARKS *AND* ARE STUNNING.
Did you know you can have stretch marks AND be beautiful?
Let me give you a little background on this video…
My team and I got together recently to take updated team photos, and Athena the Stylist arrived with her makeup done and her hair in rollers. I took one look at her and said, ‘I need to take photos of you like this! You look amazing.’ She just happened to be wearing a cute bra/panty set, she threw on a lace top from the studio’s wardrobe, and I set to work taking some ‘getting ready’ video/photos that transitioned into more sultrualty content.
During our impromptu session, Athena was extremely comfortable showing her midsection. She posed, walked, touched her body with such confidence, not once trying to hide the stretch marks on her belly.
Most of my clients ask me to cover/soften/remove their stretch marks in photos, but with doing video, skin editing isn’t as simple (it’s rather labor intensive). I needed Athena’s skin in her images to match the video, so I sent her a text asking her if she’s comfortable with me leaving her stretch marks. Her response, “Yes, that’s OK. They’re there.”
Athena didn’t let stretch marks stop her from having a fun session, which resulted in these amazing photos/video of herself. She could have said no to the session because she was worried about her midsection and missed out on the session; or, been so worried about showing her belly that she doesn’t look relaxed in the footage; OR, she could decide to have fun and see where things take her.
When I sent Athena the finished video, I asked her if she’d be OK if I shared the video publically, and if yes, would she be alright with me discussing stretch marks because I thought it would be such a body-positive message. My take on the video: You are stunning AND you have stretch marks. Obviously she said she is fine with me sharing.
So let’s talk a moment about stretch marks. According to MayoClinic.org, “The cause of stretch marks is stretching of the skin. Their severity is affected by several factors, including your genetics and the degree of stress on the skin. Your level of the hormone cortisol also might play a role. Cortisol — a hormone produced by the adrenal glands — weakens elastic fibers in the skin.” The article goes on to say, “Anyone can develop stretch marks, but some factors increase your likelihood of getting them, including:
- Being female
- Having a personal or family history of stretch marks
- Being pregnant, especially if you’re young
- Rapid growth in adolescence
- Rapidly gaining or losing weight
- Using corticosteroids
- Having breast enlargement surgery
- Exercising and using anabolic steroids
- Having a genetic disorder such as Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome”
So it seems there are a lot of things that can cause stretch marks! Just being a woman alone puts us in a higher likelihood of these markings.
I often say it’s not easy being a girl!!
Why are we so ashamed of these markings? Who decided it’s something we should conceal? I mean, Athena’s stretch marks are from having two babies. She created life! Why is the way her skin handled pregnancy something to be ashamed of?
A few years ago the term, “tiger stripes” appeared in our lexicon. Are you familiar with it? It’s a term many women are starting to use to describe their stretch marks: Tiger stripes represent being a courageous female. They represent living! Woman have even begun to show off their stripes by painting them with body paint/glitter for boudoir sessions! Just Google, “tiger stripes stretch marks painting” and you’ll see so many examples.
Watch this video a few times—the first time you may be caught off guard because you aren’t used to seeing stretch marks in the public, but I bet by the second and third watching of the video, you don’t notice them anymore and are instead watching Athena be Athena. You aren’t thinking, ‘Man, she’d be pretty if she didn’t have stretch marks,’ and instead you’ll be thinking, ‘Damn. She looks amazing.’
What’s the point of these words? Stop letting your skin decide if you’re going to do a boudoir session. Stop worrying that your significant other won’t enjoy seeing boudoir images/video of you, stretch marks and all (they’ll love it). Start seeing your body in a new light.
Let’s celebrate your skin together… My stylists do bodypaint! Contact me today to discuss how you want to be photographed.
Until next time,
Shannon
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