IAPOMS: I BROKE UP WITH FLATTERING

Dear Flattering, 

I'm so over you.

Because of you, I only take certain pictures with certain poses with certain outfits. You're (pretty much) kinda boring. So, it's over. Maybe we can get together again in the future... if you're lucky.

Till then, 

Jes

I get so bored standing out there with the camera's self-timer blinking doing my "flattering" poses. You know the ones... we all have them. For me, it's hands on my hips, knees a little in, pigeon-toed feet, and slightly cocked head. This created the illusion that I am more proportional than I really am... though I am attractive, there is more to me than that angle. A LOT more, if you know what I mean... wink wink.

I always wondered how "those" bloggers would take attractive jumping pictures. I don't think I know anyone in real life who looks super awesome while defying gravity and forgetting to pose. I know that I most certainly can't. If anything, my jumping pictures are "hideous" by others standards... which is why after breaking up with Flattering I decided to take a few:

They kind of make me giggle.

So, now I know that I'm not a pretty cryer, runner, or jumper. Well, pretty by others standards. Which, if I'm going, to be honest, I couldn't give a fuck less about. When I look in the mirror, I see everything about me... the face, the hair, the body, the passion, the compassion, the revolutionism, the boobs, the arms, the tattoos, the desire, the determination, the smile... I like what I see. I worked too hard to get to this place where I can like (and sometimes love) me to just let a few jumping pictures get in the way. THAT, dear readers, is the most important thing.

Are you one of those people that takes "pretty" jumping pictures? If not, are you going to be brave and do it anyways?!?!? C'monnnnnnnnnnn... you know you wanna.

34

I AM PROUD OF MY SIZE! NO, REALLY

I've been shooting a lot of beautiful women (with a camera lens, silly!) for the Lady Bookworms project and it is SHOCKING how every single one of these gorgeous babes will berate themselves in front of a camera. While taking "boob portraits" someone would say  "Ugh, I don't have much..." or "I don't have anything to show off" or "I'm so embarrassed that they're not perfect". It's hard to believe that almost every single person suffers from some sort of physical insecurity. What the hell?

Ladies. Listen. 

You're perfect. 

Every single one of you, just the way you are.

I've never had boob confidence issues because as a fat girl, boobs are the only part of your body that society allows you love. And, lord knows, I've got boobs until the cows come home. In taking these IPOMS pictures, however, I found myself inadvertently hating on my chin. Or rather, my triple chin. But thanks to these sequential photo-op experiences, I had to stop and realize that no one hates my chin except for me. And no one thinks that these boobs are sub-par except for her/them. It's a completely fabricated mental state of being. In other words: "If it doesn't get thought, it doesn't exist." It's really that elementary, my dear reader.

So I've made a promise to my face. 

I'll stop hating it, and start loving it instead. After all, it does some pretty awesome things.

One of my favorite lines from Regina Spektor says:

"I've got a perfect body, though sometimes I forget...

I've got a perfect body, 'cause my eyelashes catch my sweat."

You should probably listen to that song.

Thanks Rachele for inspiring ladies to love themselves just the way they are.

Amy too.

Oh, and Moorea, I'm wearing red lipstick.

21