This powerful self portrait session carries so much power and beauty! These images are raw and honest and vulnerable. Once you see the art Eva created and the story behind the photos, you’re going to be inspired to pull out your camera and tripod (or a friend) and create magic yourself.
Even now as you sit on your computer or scroll on your phone, take a second to honor and thank your body. Not because of perfection, but because of presence. Take a deep breath. Remember that you are worthy and your body is worthy no matter what. Listen to what Eva has to say and ask yourself, “what does this mean to me?”
Then go out and let this Feature Session fuel you to to capture your body as is.
Don’t wait for weight loss. Don’t wish you would have done it when you were younger. Don’t hide.
About the artist:
My full name is Eva Walther and I was born and have grown up in Germany. I moved to Denmark in 2010 and have been living here with my beloved “Nature Dane” and our two boys from 2013 and 2015.
“Do you hide your body, lady? Are you ashamed? I know the feeling, but you shouldn’t. I have done a shoot for myself every 10 years, since I was 22 – even though I constantly criticized my body as a young adult. But my photographer’s heart also knew I will love to have this documentation many years from now. So it was time again – and I can see my body changing. But this body has grown and nurtured my children, it has been healthy ever since and I am nothing but celebrating my body at the age of 42. I am healthy, I am alive. I am loved. I don’t mind my scars and flaws, and neither should YOU or ANY woman. I have gained weight and some grey hair for sure through Corona and still I did the shoot. Because that’s who I am today. Let’s look at our bodies. Let’s be amazed by them and let’s keep on working towards a world, where body images can be healthy again. Let’s not hide. Let’s teach our children, that every body is unique and not supposed to look like the one next to it or the perfect pin-up. Unique is beautiful. Will you remember your body?” -Eva Walther
Tell me a little bit about where your inspiration for this session came from?
I have done self portraits regularly to document my body earlier, because my photographer heart knew, I would be glad to have those images in many years from now. Through my own birth stories and my work as a birth photographer which I started in the beginning of 2019 I started seeing women’s bodies differently. It is not about “looking good”. I see the beauty in raw documentary images today and when I looked at myself a few days before this shoot, and looked at my scars and my body after two kids, I realized how sad it is to see so many women hiding their bodies, being ashamed or even hating their bodies. I realized it had been a lot about “looking good” for me too during my young adulthood. Of course I want to look good, but I neglect being ashamed of my body’s imperfections and scars. They tell stories. Those are footprints of my life. Those scars saved my life when I was 7 years old. For other women those scars document birth of their children. I wanted to make a statement here and I want to invite every woman who sees my images to give her body another chance. To try to see it with different eyes. And make peace with it.
How did you find your location and what do you love about it?
I found the location during a walk with my good friend an evening some days before the shoot. I loved the green color with the reddish/orange tops in the evening sun and it was crystal clear, it was right here, we would do this. It was my good friend who took the images.
What is your favorite image from the session and why?
My favorite image are actually two: The image where I am holding my scar because it brings across the main message – accept your flaws – and the other favorite is the image below that. But funny, right, I have tons of favorites. And this makes me really happy.
What did you learn from shooting this session?
I did learn that it feels good to do, what you feel is right, even though it feels wrong in the first place. I felt for once I should step in front of the camera and I felt a calling addressing this topic. I trusted my guts and I did not regret it so far. It was the first time I finished the images in a way I love even though they are backlit, I have always had a hard time editing backlit images. I did experience that on the other side of fear is freedom.
Did you struggle with anything during this session?
I did not struggle at all – apart from the fear of someone seeing us – we are living in a very small local society where everyone knows everyone and I did not want to get negative mention as I am running a business here. It actually felt liberating. And so does the feedback I received, also in your group – which actually was the reason why I also decided to post some of them on my instagram.
Thank you so so much for being a part of this and allowing us to feature your images and tell your story Eva! You can see more of Eva’s work on her instagram and be sure to join our facebook group Emotional Storytelling to have your story featured next!
