Meet Tina
At the time leading up to my shoot I was not feeling good about myself. I was newly widowed and feeling old, unattractive and invisible to the world.
I am generally very confident in myself having run my own business for almost 30 years, besides that I was a white-water guide, fitness instructor and personal trainer. I have always taken good care of myself. My big blow was discovering after my husband's death how difficult institutions make it to separate oneself from your past so you can move on with life. You find old friends slip away and finding new companionship is difficult and sometimes ego bruising.
I really just needed an ego boost, a reminder that I wasn't too old to be attractive. I was both excited and nervous. I also really wanted something to show my two stepdaughters that ageing isn't the end of the world.
Having someone put all that make up on my face was hysterical since I don't ever wear it in my daily life. It was also weird to get naked in front of a person I hardly knew. But as the session progressed, I really started to enjoy it and wished we could have taken even more photos.
I really felt like I had done something wonderful for myself. I knew looking at the pictures later would be hard because I'm really camera shy, but my curiosity was cranked up to 100 percent.
It was really liberating to go so far outside my comfort zone, and I would encourage more women to do it no matter their size or age.
I can see some of my less than perfect features, but it has really helped me to accept my total package. I will always have this reminder not to be so self-critical and I realized maybe the world doesn't see me through the same Lense that I have always used on myself...
It's a wonderful experience. While it may take a little courage it will alter how you present yourself to the world. Its a great step towards learning how to love yourself.
What uplifting words would you tell any woman who is struggling with being over 50?
Don't be so hard on yourself. Life kicks you around enough without you doing it to yourself. Remember no one can treat you badly unless you let them. You are the sum of all your knowledge and experience. Treat yourself better than the world does you deserve it and never give up you still have more living to do.
