Jennifer came to her session the day after her birthday and what a great time we had celebrating it!  Jennifer is one of those people who you meet and instantly like, but what I didn’t see coming was how relaxed she was throughout her whole session.  Her expressions and body language suggested she’d been modelling for years! I’m honoured that Jenn wanted to include us in her birthday celebrations. Thanks again Jennifer!

s!

What do you know in your head but not in your heart?  With all of the media hype surrounding women, sometimes it’s hard to hear what is really important in beauty.  Media tells us to dress/behave/be one thing and yet, perhaps the media isn’t the best at giving advice?  I’ve been thinking recently about what true beauty looks like and I’m realizing that women need to hear a different message – the TRUTH.  So I’ve come up with a few “I wish women knew” statements that I think are good for all of us to hear and they’re based on truth rather than societal demands.  I’ve spent the last week or so photographing GORGEOUS women of all ages – some even nearing 70 whose beauty is as real as it was when they were 20-somethings.  It’s beyond gratifying when I hear back from women that they can see their beauty again – something that we all seem to lose for one reason or another – getting older, listening to the media, a comment made about our clothing choice, or many, many other reasons.  Be beautiful TODAY!  I’m going to shout this from the rooftops again and again until you’re tired of hearing it! Here’s my “I wish women knew” statements.  Do you have any I can add?  If so, please do either on my http://www.facebook.com/FleuriPhotography page or here on this blog.  Let’s get the truth out!

I wish women knew:

1) Men find a woman’s smile more attractive than anything else (including the sultry face, legs and even cleavage) – UK study

2) Men  actually PREFER curves! (New Scientist, 2009) AMEN!

3) I wish women knew that no one is ever as critical of themselves as they are.  We wouldn’t speak to a friend the way we sometimes talk to ourselves, but we still allow it in our own heads.

4) Confidence is sexier than any lingerie or perfect body type.

5) They DESERVE to be happy

6) The media is NOT a good barometer of what beauty truly is.

If you have any additional thoughts of wisdom,  I’d love to make this list even longer!  Lastly, I can’t post without an image or two of a beautiful REAL woman.   She is a grandmother! I  want to look this beautiful when I’m a grandmother.  It was amazing to watch her settle into her beauty as we photographed her.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!  I am so happy to share this sweet little one this morning!  Little “A.” was honestly the easiest newborn that I’ve had the pleasure of photographing EVER.  I never did see her little eyes – she just snuggled in and slept and curled, and smiled, and, and and!  Don’t you just love her hair as well?  Her Mommy told me that she did indeed have lots of heartburn with her pregnancy so maybe there is some truth to that wives tale!   At any rate, little ‘A.’ is beyond adorable and dearly, dearly loved.  Welcome to the world little one and thank you ‘X.’ family for allowing me to capture you at this special time in your lives.

When I find out that a client is thrilled with their images, I am thrilled as well.  When a client sees their images and realizes the true experience that comes with having their photo taken, I am beyond excited.  For women, having quality photos taken of themselves isn’t just about the pampering, or the end result.   What is SO special about this experience is that it can truly be life changing.   When we can (often for the first time) see the beauty in ourselves, self confidence can shift for the better.  I have heard time and again how much women hate having their photos taken.  Beautiful images can do so much!  Now,  I can tell clients this, but when another client says it so eloquently, it’s best to  share their words with you.  Thank you Kathryn for your willingness to share and your openness to being photographed.  I couldn’t agree more with your words!!!!!!

“Dear Sandra,

It was a delightful afternoon with our friend Diane, doing the Fleuri session! I want you to know how much it has meant to me since…more than just having beautiful photos.
I’ve had a prolonged recovery from a recent hospitalization – 2 steps forward, 1 back… Yesterday I bravely tackled the closet before returning to work soon. (not a good day…lots of discomfort) My body shape has changed so much I was unable to wear most of my clothes. Through the inevitable long-lasting tears, my husband and sons encouraged me to look through my photos again. The healing process has been slow, tough and emotional, and these photos are an incredible comfort. I’m so glad I did the session!

I wanted to highlight your  “I believe” statements in your blog- They resonated with me even more after the session.  I hope other women find that my words help them to decided to do the session.  I am only now realizing how important it was to do them.

Blessings to you!

Kathryn”

Kathryn I am thrilled that your portraits have been monumental in your life.  You are a beautiful, classy woman!!  Best wishes as you continue to heal.

S.

Just ask their kids! I had the pleasure of working with these fabulous kiddos this past couple of weeks and I think they’ve done an amazing job letting their Moms know how special they really are to them.

Hope you enjoy!!  If you do, please share the video with others (share button at the bottom).  All Moms deserve to know they’re beautiful!!

That’s the best word to describe my dear friend Diane.   Stunning!!!!  Diane has been a dear friend for many years now and I miss her very much now that she’s moved to Kincardin.  However, I know it’s been a wonderful move for their family and I guess I have to share her a little bit!   Diane came down from Kincardine to have her photos taken and I am so glad she did!!! She has graciously allowed me to use her before image as well.  This lady’s skin glows with or without makeup.   She is such a caring person and nurse and I’m so glad we got together to do this!  Diane, you absolutely exude beauty both inside and out.  Watching you blossom in front of the camera, I have begun to think you need to model!!  Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

S.

I have been having SOOOO much fun with Fleuri sessions in the last few weeks.  The sessions themselves are such fun, but then watching the reactions of my clients to their images has to be one of the best parts of my business.  The gorgeous woman you see below had one of these very reactions.  I received an e-mail from her where she said “Wow!!!  I can’t believe that is me.  Really?  LOL  I love all the pics.”    It doesn’t get any better than that!  Once again I am including the ‘before’ image here.  When I include the ‘before’ images of my clients,   I don’t intend to showcase my clients as ‘in need’ of beautifying, but rather my intention is to let others know that these are REAL women and not models (I’ve been hearing a lot lately that I must photograph only models).  The beauty is already there,  I just get to have the fun of watching it shine.  Ria, here below, is a great example of that. 

I’ve been featured!  Want to know more about the journey to Seattle?  Take a peek here at the

Photographer Cafe  ***** Use this link to the left as the photo won’t click you through to the article.

I have been challenged today to think of 20 beliefs I have about who I am and what Fleuri is truly about.  This is a personal challenge for me that came from some reading I’ve been doing about beauty.  Honestly, exercises like this are turning everything I’ve believed about myself as a woman upside down.  Here’s what I truly believe about beauty, myself and best of all, Fleuri portraiture:

1) I believe that ALL women deserve to feel beautiful – you ARE allowed!

2) Feeling beautiful builds confidence in women.  I don’t know why we have been made this way (and it’s not the only thing that builds confidence), but I do believe that feeling beautiful MATTERS to women.

3) ALL women have a negative voice in their heads that slams down our beauty – “If I were only thinner.  If my nose was smaller, If I knew how to dress properly,  If I didn’t have stretch marks.   If I were younger.”   It goes on and on and ON – There isn’t a woman on the planet that doesn’t have an “If  I were only” running in their heads at some point in their lives.

4) The comparison game with media’s ideals only feeds the negative voice inside our heads time and again.

5) Beauty is SOOOOOOO much more than skin deep.  Beauty truly comes from within and when you are feeling beautiful, it shows on the outside.

6) Allowing yourself permission to feel and be beautiful isn’t ‘selfish’, ‘arrogant’, ‘untruthful’ or something that ‘nice girls’ shouldn’t feel.  In fact, when you allow your self permission to be beautiful, amazing things begin to happen.

7) Fleuri Portraiture is an opportunity to ‘coax out’ your inner beauty and take a chance to be beautiful.  Perhaps this is why most women who come to me are nervous in the beginning.  Women are certain the ‘negative voice’ in their head is right.

8)  When you can see yourself as beautiful, amazing things happen.  It can be incredibly empowering, life changing and can even dramatically change your perspective about how you see yourself.

9)  With each woman who comes to be photographed, I am reminded again how honoured I am that they trust me.  I know personally how much we worry about being photographed.

10) Each woman who has come to be photographed has told me over and over again how glad they were to gather the courage and ‘go for it’.

I can’t encourage you enough, CELEBRATE who you are.  YOU, my friend are a GIFT and someone very special.  And if you have a chance, BE photographed, for your family, your children and most importantly YOURSELF.   It WILL change how you see yourself.

Lastly, go and encourage another woman today.  Let them know how beautiful they are to you!