Body Image/ Body Confidence photoshoot

I recently took part in the MIBA Somerset body confidence photoshoot which was at the stunning Thorney Lakes campsite in Somerset.

I have to admit when Elsie the Coordinator for MIBA Somerset was looking for people to be part of the event I was not the first to volunteer. In fact, I nearly didn’t go as I didn’t think I could do it.

A few years ago I hated having my picture taken and couldn’t even look at myself in a picture even looking in the mirror was hard work. Although I have come a long way since then I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to make the leap to being in a photoshoot especially not in my bikini and knowing that the picture would be all over Facebook for the world to see.

At first, the date of the event was on a day I couldn’t make, so I was quite relieved that I had an excuse, not to go.

The date then changed to a date that I had nothing else going on so I could make it and didn’t have a valid excuse. I saw a couple of posts on The MIBA Somerset Facebook group asking people to join the event but I couldn’t bring myself to sign up. It was when I saw the last post the day before the event and there were a lot of comments saying people couldn’t make it. It was then that I thought I had to go as I know how much thought and effort Elsie puts into every event and I know she would have gone all out for this so I decided I would do it.

I am so glad that I did go, I have gained so much out of it. The event really has given me a boost of confidence, I don’t even wear bikinis at the beach so to be able to stand in front of a camera in one is a huge achievement.

Body confidence is such an important topic and as I have all daughters I need to show them that the pictures they see in magazines of women are not real life. It is time we taught the next generation what real women look like without photoshopping and that they are still beautiful.

At the photo shoot, I was joined by so many amazing women and together we spurred each other on and the results are amazing. We have shown that it is possible to have beautiful photos of real women without airbrushing.

Our photographer OJL Photography was brilliant and along with Elsie’s creativity, they have produced great photos to really highlight Body Confidence and show that the women that took part are beautiful just the way they are.

I have put together a short video of the event, again I was so nervous recording myself talking that I didn’t think I would even have the confidence to post this video but after the photoshoot I feel that it is important to share and move out of my comfort zone.