Last updated on November 11th, 2019 at 03:17 pm
I am for Women’s Empowerment and Exuding Self-confidence!
Every woman is uniquely beautiful! Stretch marks, imperfections, and lines only enhance the fact that we are alive and valuable. I know what it feels like to question your self-worth. We live in a world where a woman’s beauty is coveted over brains, former youth is sought after and aging is a failure.
And I’m here to tell you that’s all bull.
At age 22, after gaining over 90 pounds, I tried to hate myself and shame the weight off. I spent every morning berating myself in front of the mirror.
And guess what? It didn’t work.
Every precious pound lost was gained back and then some.
So with nothing to lose (except pounds!), I decided to try a different method: I would search for the beauty in myself, at my highest weight, and lose the weight out of self-love and valuing my place in this world. I made small changes, moving more, eating less, and every day told my body that I was grateful it had carried me here.
Love is infinitely more motivating than shame.
Along my personal dream journey, I discovered my calling: to show women everywhere that they are more amazing than they can imagine.
And my life has steadily changed for the better ever since. I’ve lost over 80 pounds. I still have the little voice that says this is not enough, and I recognize it as the messaging women have been given to only focus on the outside package. I drowned out that way of thinking by sharing my knowledge with other women. When you think, “I can never be that self-confident,” I can firmly tell you otherwise.
I can photograph anyone and flatter. It doesn’t matter your age, or size, or the number of pounds you are from your “goal.” I can pull out the person inside of you who is amazing, worthy, unique, and magnificent just the way that you are.
It’s not all Photoshop.
The real magic happens in my photography studio. Posing and lighting are helpful but more important than that is creating an atmosphere for confidence and acceptance. Sharing my journey allows you space to be a normal human being and accept yourself, flaws and all, that is the real magic.
I see women as their loved ones see them. Blemishes fade away; beauty is in focus. And that’s what I show my clients.
I write about self-esteem, bullying, and anything that better or lessens our self-confidence. I’m also a mother with Lyme disease.
My dream is to heal women so that they have self-acceptance. I’ve discovered and teach women everywhere how to say, “Yes, I am terrific!”
I also love helping other photographers discover the artistic and business side of professional creative life and would be tickled pink to teach around the world. Photographers have a great responsibility to reveal to their clients their inner confidence.
I’ve learned that the human eye, heart, and mind work together to show us how amazing we are in a sophisticated way that a camera can never capture. Clients regularly tell me that having positive photos of themselves has changed their outlook and self-confidence.
I love feedback good or bad (as long as it’s respectful!) and encourage people to question traditional beauty standards I’ve been featured in print, on blogs, on the radio and television nationwide.
Let’s be confident together!
Iman Woods
If you want to interview me about body-image and pin-up stories, or if you are a company that would like to sponsor my posts here on 8WomenDream, please email me at dreamers(at)8WomenDream.com.
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