#BAREwithMe No2 w/ Nadi
With only 1 official installment of the BARE Collection released, I have already begun to receive amazing reviews from you all and for that, I am truly gracious. I can’t wait for it to grow and take the final form that I have intended for it but I have to slow-walk it first. Bare is forcing me to remain consistent with my initial idea which I sometimes struggle with because ideas grow and take life on their own as the mind has the opportunity to analyze it. What you can look forward to, is a journey from simple to complex in both musing and photographic technique, showcasing my continued support for those that BARE themselves daily.
What I can say, is that exploring the different ways in which nudity and sensuality are represented in today’s media has been exciting for me to shoot but hopefully it also empowers and liberates the woman both in the art as well as those viewing it. Most importantly, I want the general public to take away a deeper appreciation for the power it takes to BARE yourself publicly, for whatever purpose. It’s not my place to judge a person’s intent nor shame them for any lack of perceived purpose.
For the 2nd installment of my new series, the BARE Collection, I reconnected with a friend from afar that I have known for a few years now. I met Nadi years ago, back at the beginning of my journey as a Shooter but didn’t get to know her until this experience. Another beautiful thing about this process of creating BARE is that not only am I learning about the uniqueness that each woman has in her own right but I’m also learning a lot about myself in relation to women as a whole. I have always been an analytical and introspective creative for the time I have been consciously creating but this process is allowing me to learn more about my innate desire to empower, protect and uplift women in all aspects of my life; something I was aware of verbally but hadn’t fully put into practice.
Being that this was Nadi’s first experience being BARE on camera, I thought it was important to not only create the space for the experience but to also address the fears and uncertainty that she would have prior to entering this situation.
What I didn’t know about Nadi, but quickly learned, was how free of a person she actually is; not only free with expressing her body but also with her thoughts and feelings. In her first attempt at being in front of the camera, BARE and without anything to hide behind, she was nervous, afraid and felt like she was going to be too exposed, a new sense of vulnerability. As I do in all of my shoots, I tried to help ease into the experience, starting simple with snapping a few tests to make her feel more comfortable. As we progressed, I can feel her letting her guard down and allowing me to guide her through this unfamiliar scenario.
Looking back, I am proud to say that the vision was met and we were able to break her further out of her comfort zone. That has been the consistent request from all of the women that have asked to be involved with this series thus far; finally, a safe scenario to be BARE and express themselves in this manner without judgement. Stay tuned for the next part of the BARE Collection as it continues to grow.
