Inspire & Empower: A Body Confidence Shoot

inspiration

7 Jan

body image confidence positivity shoot Yorkshire — Body Image: something I have definitely struggled with, like many women across the globe. It’s really easy to get caught up in the comparison playground that is social media and let unrealistic representations of female bodies, instagram-filtered and airbrushed, affect your self worth. I know I have let it affect mine before.
I had seen body confidence shoots in the past and I had always been inspired by them. Then during lockdown I met the most incredible woman who inspired me to create my own! Her name is Sophie, a fitness instructor and mental health advocate. I found her on Instagram and immediately fell in love with her outlook and the way she teaches her team about the importance of exercising for your mental health as well as your physical health.
What I loved about her is her completely raw presence on social media, often debunking filtered instagram photos with ‘Instagram vs reality’ posts, and sharing about how rolls and cellulite are… wait for it… **NORMAL**.

Sophie Godson Yorkshire photographer — Sophie Godson - @workoutswithsophie

‘‘I want to show women that they can be confident in their bodies and that everyone is completely different. I express to other women that fitness instructors don’t have to look a certain way and exercise is about feeling good and happy in your own body.

I have changed who I follow over the last couple of years. I used to spend every day trying to shrink my body and followed unrealistic figures! Now I spend every day loving my body and follow inspiring real people.’’ - Sophie

So after a late night epiphany, I contacted Sophie and together we assembled a team of women, many of whom are members of Sophie’s Facebook Group, who bossed it in front of the camera at The Beverley Barn.

Here are the results!

“When my sister Sophie first asked me to take part, I said no. I felt nervous about doing it with people I didn’t know and I felt nervous about what people would think when they were posted on social media. Then I realised… that is exactly why I should take part and I am so glad I did.

Taking part in this shoot made me feel amazing! It made me feel so confident and so proud of myself. I also felt so proud of the other beautiful women taking part. I felt so much joy and emotion looking around the room. I could just see how good everyone felt and we all had beaming smiles.

I used to always use a filter and would never post a photo without makeup. Recently that has changed and that’s down to my sister Sophie. She has taught me to love myself and to not care what people think. She’s my inspiration!

It’s important to remember social media is snippets of people’s lives and it’s usually only the good bits.” - Hollie

‘‘There's a lot of pressure surrounding body image and confidence on social media but I'm a true believer that if you follow the right people and choose your role models carefully you can learn to love the way you look!
The shoot was amazing and so relaxed, I was so glad I'd done it for me and my confidence!” - *Ashleigh*

“I don't use social media like the younger generation and wouldn't know how. Even so, I do see the advantages and disadvantages. One of the disadvantages being self image issues. Sites on social media provide access that allows people to seek others approval for the way they look and possibly to compare themselves to others, which can lead to linking their self worth to their looks. It's sad that social media is being used in this way.
It would be great if there was more focus on the positive stuff our bodies can do through healthy eating and exercise etc to provide happiness and wellbeing rather than losing weight and building muscle.
The shoot made me feel happy and emotional seeing all these lovely women smiling and supporting each other, absolutely bossing it!” - *Carol*

‘‘It was such a fun day. I knew some people were nervous and seeing them laugh and enjoy it made me feel emotional.’’ - *Faye*
We already had two (or so we thought) stunning pregnant mamas in the shoot, Sadie & Mia, pictured below.

Imagine the excitement and how powerful it was when Faye (below) revealed that she was pregnant, on set! That’s right! A pregnancy reveal went down on this shoot! Unbelievable! But there’s more…