That title was your trigger warning. Actually, is it a trigger warning if it's me warning you that you're about to see partly nude portraits of a truly beautiful and genuine woman who is happy and joyful about the creation of these images?
Surely sensible people wouldn't be triggered by the beauty of the female form . . . but it is 2024 . . . and it's a weird world out there so who knows.
All I know is that this should be ample warning: NUDE(ish) IMAGES AHEAD
*claps hands and grins*
Now that we're past all that, welcome to everything I'd ever want an Unwappred photoshoot to be. A real view of you in a way that makes you feel alive and beautiful and feminine.
This all started when Ruby commented on my Instagram story. I'd shared an inspiring image of a woman draped in just black fabric.
It was dark, moody, edgy.
And because Ruby seems to be my dark and moody and edgy soul-sister she responded with the best amount of enthusiasm that eventually landed her in my studio in front of my camera.
We joked about nudity and lingerie. We mapped out what we wanted to create and we joked a little more about how scandalized some people might be.
Then, the clothes came off (only Ruby's) and we started shooting.
Can you see how well things went?
She's just beautiful, isn't she?
All the light and shadow . . . it's just her. There's nothing else to take away from Ruby. She doesn't need any props or distractions. All Ruby needs to be beautiful is the knowledge that she is beautiful.
"After the last photoshoot we did I am so much more comfortable with my body," Ruby told me. "I've always loved this type of thing. Never been confident enough, but I'm about bulletproof now."
Ruby moved and the light and I moved with her.
She was spectacular. There is this unique energy you get when you photograph someone for the second time. It's like you're dancing and you've been practicing the steps and everything moves in sync.
There is less talking and more trusting.
It's a beautiful understanding born out of experience and knowledge.
Ruby trusted me and she trusted herself.
After about an hour, I stopped shooting. We sat on the floor and held the moment before my joy and gratitude bubbled over.
"Ya know," I said to Ruby. "I just want you to know how incredible this is and how wonderful it is to have you here. You are so sincere and always so thankful anytime we are together. I just want you to know how meaningful it is to be around you. You're so thankful for what I'm creating and trust that this is going to be beautiful. Right now, here in this space with you being so magnificent and lovely, is exactly where I want to be."
And then I paused, because even though I have a lot to say I tend to run out of words that fit what I actually feel.
So I shrugged my shoulders as I smiled at my beautiful friend, "Thank you, Ruby. I'm just really glad to be here with you."
And then Ruby smiled back and with far my eloquence and expressiveness than I, told me every good thing about myself.
She thanked me for being here. She praised my creative eye and the way I presented myself and this craft. Ruby complemented this space I built up here in the hills of Ulster Pennsylvania saying it felt like "a safe haven".
That's just Ruby's modus operandi, seeing the best in others and then telling them.
She said so many wonderful things about me; all I had to do was pay her.
Kidding.
That's not true.
I just get a little uncomfortable with compliments even though my tender heart loves them and my artist soul needs them. What do you even say when someone as eloquent as Ruby tells you how incredible you are and how thankful they are for your gift as a creator?
This is why the moment Ruby stopped to take a breath I jumped up and asked her if she was ready to get naked.
Ok, ok, I did it with more grace and care than that. But Ruby did stand-up, she'd get a laugh out of this.
But in all seriousness, the last part of this photoshoot was done with the utmost amount of thoughtfulness. I gave Ruby as much privacy as she needed, looking away as I pinned fabric behind her or keeping steady eye contact as we talked so she knew I was tracking her and how she felt, not just observing her body. I was constantly gauging her facial expressions to make sure she felt comfortable.
I asked before we changed situations or fabric. There were always coverings within arm's reach so Ruby could grab for more modesty just in case she needed it.
Ruby knew she was safe and reverenced.
And in that attitude of care, respect, and complete adoration, we created images that celebrated and honored Ruby.
We laughed and we admired how everything came together.
Ruby championed through having wet chiffon draped over her body. She never once complained, just remarked at how obviously cool it was.
"Wow, we made some spicy art!" Ruby said when she saw the finished portraits. "I love your vision and ability to frame such stunning images! You blow me away with your ability to capture versions of myself I've never seen."
Ruby, thank you for trusting me to create something so vulnerable and utterly breathtaking.
And Ruby's words just made me realize that not only are these images not safe for work but if you, the casual reader of my humble words, were to have this Unwarpped experience the images we'd create wouldn't be safe for the way you see yourself.
There would be no going back to who you once were.
If you had this experience you'd see yourself differently.
You'd see yourself as more sensual, more feminine, more powerful, more desirable.
And it's not because you become something you're not, it's because you finally get to see what you've always been.
Love,
Melinda
P.S. Are you interested in an incredible photoshoot experience all your own with Melinda? Whether it be a branding photoshoot, birthday photoshoot, mother and daughter pictures, headshots, or contemporary portraits and boudoir we will create something show-stopping that celebrates you!
Private Photography Studio in Ulster PA.
(I totally built this thing from scratch and it's beautiful. You should come see it.)
Serving Athens PA, Sayre Pennsylvania, Ulster Pennsylvania, Towanda Pennsylvania, Elmira New York, Corning New York
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