This project is dedicated to all the women.
This is an ongoing project.
The Process
Prior to each photoshoot, an interview is conducted with the model. The interview is for the model to share any story she wants to share with the photographer and the audience.
The Message
Regardless of the culture and the country we grew up, we as women have all experienced different kinds of beauty standards imposed upon us. Some of us grew out of them; some of us are still working to meet them; some of us were already very traumatized by them.
This portrait project is a space for the models to come out as whatever they want and for the photographer to capture and deliver the message——
Whichever stage you are at in your life, I welcome you to share your journey with me.
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Natalia grew up trained as a musical performer. I met Natalia through graduate school, where she shares all her love for her favorite things like Disney, Barbie, and music. Natalia's bubbly and warm personality always shines the whole classroom.
I approached her for this project. She was so happy and she told me "nobody has ever asked to take pictures for me. I was a performer. How would I not want photos?" I told her, I often look at her in the classroom and (professionally) wondered how great she will look in my photos.
We grew up to this tendency that we see only women with certain body is suitable for photos. If we gain some, we immediately start to receive "feedbacks and advices", which no we don't really need.
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I met Kacey at graduate school. she sits at the front row, always speaks up, and wears bold outfits in class.
When I approached Kacey, I was a little nervous. To be 100% honest, I haven’t shot people from other ethnicity other than Asian. I was a little selfish when I approached Kacey, and I was nervous that she would see through me.
After our conversation, though, I was so glad I did it. When we live in a homogenized community, we view other community with “stereotype”. That first step to start a conversation, will reveal so many things.
Unlike the ideal skinny body type that is popular in Asia, black communities like curvy body type. whichever body type is preferred, women’s body gets sexualized in every community. Kacey has had some bad experience with that since she was very, very young.
there is never a right body type. it get sexualized anyways.
Growing up, Kacey’s hair was not fluffy, neither long or straight. Where she grew up, she told me people like straight hair, so they would use methods to straighen their naturally curly hair. I laughed when I hear that, and I told her how Asian women would perm their hair to become curly.
there is no right hairstyle anyways.
I have told everyone who participates this project to tell me the photo styles they would like to try (not the styles they think they would look good with). Kacey told me she used to not like curvy outfit nor boxy outfits (because she wouldn’t accept her body). During the session we tried out many different outfits and postures. I love how the photos turn out for Kacey.
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This shoot was not originally planned for this project. This shoot was for Lava’s artist profile.
“I never thought I would look this good.” “I’m much skinnier than I thought.”
After I showed her the photos, Lava said those to me. I thought that was a bit unexpected, because the comments I usually got were
“omg I look so fat😱” “omg I need to start a diet😖”
So the rest of the shoot turned into a conversation that is super relevant to this project.
Lava opened up to me that, she was dealing with some serious eating disorders. Deep insider her mind, she was never “good” enough; never skinny enough; always need to lose that extra kg; always room for “improvement”. It was like a constant battle in her brain. The body needs nutritions, but the brain says, “no, you can’t eat. you’re fat.”
Lava is a singer. She performed at college with her band and many other music groups. “Freshman15”, or any kind of weight fluctuation is common during college years. It happened on Lava, too. For a performer, weight fluctuation stresses them out much more. However, the heaviest attack always come from people around you.
“I think you should lose some weight.” and the variation of this sentence, hurt so many girls, including Lava. When it comes from your trusted teammates, it strikes more, and often they thought they were offering you “nice advice”.
For a FEMALE performer, weight fluctuation stresses them out much much much more because she is expected to meet a much higher standard. “There was a guy also gaining some weights. Why didn’t they ‘advice’ that guy too?” I don’t know how long it took Lava to realize and question this, but it seems like people are just more tolerant when it comes to guys. If a guy gains weight, it’s ok; but if a girl gains weight, it’s “something she should pay attention to”.
Words cannot express my feeling when Lava said she loved herself in these photos. They helped her look at herself in a different way and that she is already perfect they way she is, and this is exactly the reason why I wanted to start this project.
There will be more collaboration between Lava and I. Stay tuned :)
(if you are a rising musician, please contact me for discounted sessions)
