Recently, I participated in a photo shoot for Jessica Works photography. Mrs. Jessica Works lives in Fort Payne and offers photography services across northeast Alabama. Works is a proud mother, wife, and entrepreneur. Her senior sessions come with professional hair and makeup, as well as outfit consulting. Works goes above and beyond to ensure that every one of her clients looks and feels their absolute best on shoot day.
This photo shoot, however, was very different. Works, along with many other photographers decided to participate in the Project Beauty 360 movement. This was Works second year hosting this shoot, and this year the proceeds went to "The Summit" a local women's ministry. When I saw that she was doing the shoot again this year, I just knew that I had to join in.
The theme of this shoot is to allow women to express their true beauty in all of its natural glory. That is written, Project Beauty is a bare-faced photo shoot. The images taken at the shoot are not retouched. Every woman is pictured with a natural face.
Each person who has their picture taken writes what true beauty means to them. Works then take the written word and post it beside the images that she posts on her Instagram @jworksphoto. She even got in on the action as well as one of my friends from high school, Chloe McMahon. Chloe's written word is by far one of my favorites. Chloe says “...Beauty is nothing less than the fruit of the radical transformation of my soul through Christ."
Women of all ages got in on the shoot, there were even some young girls pictured with their moms. Even though these girls are young, I feel as though Project Beauty is capable of making a huge impact on them. It can be hard growing up, especially if you do not look according to industry standard. These girls are seeing their moms pictured for who they really are.
This shoot was such an inspiration to me. I have always been a little insecure about how I look, and that I am not tall, tan, or blonde. This shoot was an eye-opener, especially after seeing the final images that are so stunningly beautiful. Every woman pictured is different, and every person is beautiful in their own way.