It’s hard (what with all the inundations: looking around on the internet, watching tv, reading magazines) to find an image of what exactly is healthy.

There is this image of Healthy Holly-wooders and Gym Jennies: women in control, a woman who loves and is loved in a perfectly perfect way.

Then there are the Low-Class Lindas who eat whatever they want and refuse to let anything dictate their lives. These Poor Pollies might appear in our minds as older, complacent, boring…not the exciting Model Minny who runs around constantly, receiving praise and love from any and everyone. This is who we want to be because that IMAGE follows us around as our own archetype, our own Diana or Aphrodite. We live in praise of these deified women without thinking, following their desires and being shamed by their shame of what is ugly.

It’s a tough struggle, to fight for the unique, the beautiful, the real. The women who are present, not the gods that don’t exist, high up there on their golden, platform shoes, suntanned to perfection, worshiped by all. The fact is, that Image doesn’t exist except for in your mind, waiting to be realized IN you, as a part of you, a beautiful aspect of your personality just waiting to blossom.

Take a few steps toward embracing! Even just little ones

Start by being honest with yourself little by little, and accept the challenge to accept.

Here are a few sites I would love to share!

A survey on Beauty you can take!!! —- http://healthyisthenewskinny.com/blog/2012/02/health-and-body-image-survey-for-girls-and-women/#.Tywn0hnrm1Q.facebook

A “Natural Model” Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/naturalmodelsla

Healthy is the New Skinny Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/healthynewskinny

When I am working with clients there is usually a certain degree of uneasiness they feel with the camera.  Most people are not accustomed to having their photo taken by a professional. They know they want to give their best expressions and form to the camera, but they are not always certain how to accomplish this.   This is where I step in as a coach, to skillfully position them in a way that captures their best features.      

Generally speaking, however, this uneasiness does not exist with couples in love.  Couples in love often display a relative comfort with the camera, as was the case with Megan and Andrew – a young couple I recently photographed in Virginia Beach.

When it came time for the photo shoot, we met at Sandbridge, which is a popular, local beach.  First, we took some shots on the fishing pier where I directed them to walk towards the camera.  As they did, I realized within minutes that they were going to be naturals.  Most engagement sessions are planned to a certain degree, but the goal is to have them appear somewhat unscripted.  As Andrew and Megan walked towards my camera they were obviously comfortable, and intuitively engaged the camera.

From here, we took a handful of shots in the dunes and nearby beach signs.  I made sure to get a few shots of the couple kissing beyond a sign that read, “PLEASE KEEP OFF DUNES.”  After all, what is young love without a bit of rule-breaking?

In fact, that romantic notion of two people, each captivated by the other and willing to take on the world together, is what impresses me most about photographing couples in love.  During other types of photo shoots one of my creative goals is to have my subjects appear to be center stage.  I love going to a busy public park or crowded cityscape and then to capture a client in a way that implies, “Yeah, I know there is a whole world around me, but I OWN it.”

The thing with romance, though, is that I don’t have to work to convince these two people that they own the world — they already believe they do.

There is an undeniable power and energy that comes from passion.  As a culture, we are fascinated with it.  It is, in fact, a pervasive theme in much of popular art — from movies to books to music — and yes, even photography.

This undeniable energy was clear, again, with Megan and Andrew, as we moved underneath the fishing pier to take additional photos.  As I was adjusting the settings on my camera, they were mostly oblivious to me.  They instinctively played in the waves.  They splashed, kissed, chased, held hands, laughed, and inevitably ended in an embrace.  There was an obvious contentment that each possessed being near the other.  They did not care that other beach goers were watching, nor did they care that the bottom of their jeans were becoming soaked, nor that the heat was borderline stifling.  They also didn’t mind much that I was a firsthand witness to their interaction.  In fact, they welcomed having those moments captured, which, in my opinion is another mark of a couple in love — that is, a sense of security that leads to courage or boldness.  Truly, love in all its forms, empowers us to feel unashamed and willing to be our radically unique selves.

Love also empowers us to take chances and moves us beyond our areas of comfort.  During the photo shoot, it became clear that Megan and Andrew were mostly comfortable engaging each other or else just smiling for the camera.  At one point I asked if they would, instead, either look toward or away from the camera with more serious expressions. The result is one of my favorite photos from the shoot.  The combination of the evening sun, along with the use of my portrait lens and their expressions created a lovely photograph.  I think they look like tee-shirt models in a magazine spread.

While this is among my favorite shots from the experience, I am also elated with how many other images turned out, which is a testament to this couple in love.  Megan and Andrew allowed me the privilege of capturing this special time in their lives and I hope these photos will be a constant and lifelong reminder of their affection for one another.

More photos from this shoot can be seen at McLeod House Studios on Facebook.

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Hi againg, I hope see your critiques and comments. Thanks friends!