But what’s it all about, then?

We’ve been comparing photography to a story, and how I use the elements of a story in a photograph. Character, Plot, and Setting.

But, you say, aren’t those the three basic elements of a story?

Well, yes, but there are other elements of story, too. And there are other storytelling elements that I want to bring to my photography.

One of these is Theme. Theme is what the story or photo is about. It’s the big idea or underlying message.

The Theme is not the subject. Harry Potter’s subject is: “You’re a wizard, ‘arry.” But the underlying themes deal with the nature of good and evil, about friendship. About bravery. About how small decisions can affect us.

So, what is the theme of the photographs I take? Ultimately, it ties into beauty. My goal as a photographer is to show what is beautiful and good and right in this world. I don’t deny that there is evil and ugliness and wrong, just that is not what I want to focus on.

It is also about creating a space where women might accept their bodies, their beauty. Where they might learn to love themselves. We live in a messed up society. Women are treated as sexual objects, but when they try and lay claim to their sexuality, they are cursed and mistreated and maligned. This is not right. Sexuality, sensuality…even merely accepting that you are female and all the benefits that entales can be stigmatized. You are not a sexual object, but you are a sexual being, and it’s okay to embrace that. To celebrate it. It’s not dirty or shameful or bad.

For some, accepting that it’s okay to have photos taken of them that glorifies and celebrates them can be a deeply personal and vulnerable experience. For others, doing a beyond boudoir shoot can help heal trauma. It can help change the way you look at yourself and open up avenues of self-love that were closed before. Or it might be that we merely get some amazing photographs. It depends on the person.

The hope is to create a space where you are free to be shamelessly sexy, to be fabulously feminine, or to be the badass with a great ass that deep down, you know you are, but have been taught to repress, to fear.

It’s okay to be you. All of you. Let’s celebrate it, flaunt it, and take back your confidence and power.