New York: Jade Beall knew she struck a nerve when she got thousands of "likes" and shares after she published a series of self-portraits of her semi-nudepostpartum body and a followup semi-nude photo of a friend on Facebook.
Hundreds of mothers wrote to her, hoping Beall would be willing to take portraits of them "just as they were" as well.
The photographer, and mother of one, was so moved by these intense reactions that she complied, in a big way.
Now, these women`s photos (Beall has captured more than 50 moms and counting), and written accounts of their journeys from self-doubt to body confidence, will appear in `A Beautiful Body,` a book that Beall is bringing to fruition via crowd-funding and help from volunteers, the Huffington Post reported.
Put together, these images are meant to show mothers as they really look, imperfect but no less beautiful for what society might consider their physical "flaws."
The photographer, whose baby boy Sequoia is now 16 months old, says the concept has roots in doubts that have haunted her throughout her life-and hit her particularly hard after she gave birth.
The project is volunteer-driven, and Beall does each photoshoot for free.
Beall-who describes her photography as "medicinal"-intends her book as balm not only for the women who volunteer to be photographed, but also the society whose expectations she`s hoping to heal.
ANI
First Published: Tuesday, June 25, 2013, 19:08
