A Vintage Look

We had a client this past year who loved old movies and old Hollywood glamour.  Recently, we asked her if we could use some of her images for a new brochure we're working on.  She happily agreed.  When we asked if she would also consider writing about her experience, this is what she wrote.

Hello Rodney,

The photo shoot was a truly incredible experience for me. I had an idea of what photos I wanted you to capture based on poses when we planned the themed shoot, but you ended up not just capturing the poses, but a real window into my soul as well. It was more than I could have ever hoped for and it was a truly amazing experience that I wish all women could experience. The shoot itself was very liberating and became a defining moment for this particular stage in my life.

How amazing is it for a woman to let go of her inhibitions and self-criticisms completely for even one day and do something out of the realm of the normal everyday life? To partake in something just for her and to not care what anyone else thinks or says about it. We don’t get many chances in life to do such things, especially when we have careers, families and social lives. You, Rodney, give women the opportunity to do that in your photo shoots, and I can say from my own experience at Eve Studios that you made me very happy to be who I am, inside and out.

Thank you and I wish you and Sonya the very best in your future endeavors!

This whole experience of collecting stories has been so encouraging for us.  I hope it is an encouragement to you as well.  It's so easy for us as women to lose ourselves in the everyday bustle of life, or to get stuck in judgment of ourselves.  Our goal is to help women take time to see themselves in a new light, finding their beauty, and remembering their value.

One thing we're hoping to do in our new brochure is to include a section with lots of faces, so that our readers don't just see one or two featured women and think to themselves, "I'm not like them...I couldn't do this".  Isn't that easy to do?  I hope to include the photos here as well.

Remember, you're beautiful!

Inner Beauty

Today, I thought I'd republish something I wrote back when Eve Studios was started.

Ever since we started Eve Studios, I've had these niggling doubts over whether it's really possible to capture/unveil/uncover a woman's inner beauty. Is it just a nice catch-phrase or is it something we can actually strive to do? Isn't photography limited to the outwardly visible?

And what is inner beauty? As I sit at the computer trying to compose my thoughts, I have my doubts of whether I can do these questions justice. I usually write best with pen and paper, rather than sitting uncomfortably in front of a somewhat blinding screen, pushing buttons and hitting the backspace key. But, that is where I find myself tonight, and so I will make an attempt without worrying about the results.

First of all, I believe inner beauty is something everyone can possess. It is hope in the darkest of circumstances, steady faith when the storms of life threaten to capsize, it is joy and contentment in apparent lack, it is love that gives its own life. It comes from a refusal to shrink back in fear, from standing up when knocked down, from believing that all people have worth, from learning how to step into another's shoes. It trusts enough not to control. It stands up for what is right. It allows others to rest and be themselves. It looks for ways to laugh and be thankful. It accepts failure and weakness with grace. It offers a helping hand.

Having said all that, have I just created some super-standard that none of us can hope to attain? It may appear that way. I think what I'm really trying to say, is that in each of our lives, we face challenges, disappointments, difficult relationships, pain and loss. Sometimes we become numb, sometimes we become bitter, sometimes we become angry. But the times when we open ourselves up again, let go of the hurt, express ourselves and learn to draw wise boundaries, something beautiful happens inside that radiates outwardly through our eyes, the way we carry ourselves, the way we speak, the way we live. And I believe more and more that it is possible to capture the true essence of a person through photography: their depth and range of emotion, their hopes and dreams, their story, their values...and it happens when trust is given and received.

This point was driven home to me recently, when one of our clients took the time to write us a wonderful, long letter describing her experience with us. She gave us permission to share this with you:

I don't know if I could ever thank you enough for pursuing your vision of opening up a studio dedicated so specifically to capturing the beauty of women. There tends to be a belief out there that we can only capture certain events in life such as marriage, birth or graduation. But what about the miracle of simply being a woman? A studio such as yours which gives women permission to both look and feel beautiful simply because they are is much needed. Who I am is enough reason to celebrate!

Every woman's story is unique and I thank you for taking the time to get to know me before my session. It wasn't just about capturing the outer beauty, but it was about exploring the many layers that make up my inner beauty as well. I love the fact that my session and the resulting images will look different from anyone else's! The atmosphere that you create is very relaxed which allowed me to just be myself and that really came through in the images. My photographs are incredible and this experience has given me the opportunity to see myself in a whole new light. Thank you!

I think she says it better than I could! This is what we hope for at Eve Studios. And if these words strike a chord in you, give Rodney a call at 221-8413 and set up a time to meet together. It could be the beginning of something beautiful.

Seeing is Believing...

As women, we can go through life, gaining wisdom and experience, growing softer and stronger, taking care of those closest to us, becoming more of who we're meant to be, and still be blind to how beautiful we are. Perhaps it's due in part to the fact that, as we grow older, that beauty looks a lot different from that rather narrow category of beauty "out there", but still it's our beauty. So many people around us see it: in the way we smile, the way we love and laugh, the way we bring out the best in people, or whatever it is that makes us uniquely us. We may even have a partner who adores us and the way we look, but still we have our doubts. Here is the story of one woman who, shortly after turning 50, came into our studio.

Gale, 50

Business owner

I was in your studio in April, and did a photo shoot with the idea that I wanted a gift for my husband for our 30th anniversary. Another motivator for me was my husband was always telling me how beautiful I was, and I wanted to be able to see what he was seeing. Having turned 50, I think I was needing a bit more assurance.

The trip to the studio was a bit nerve racking, as I really didn't know what to expect, and this was something very "out of the norm" for me to be doing. Rodney made me feel very comfortable very quickly, and spent time getting to know and understand me. The day was a very special one for me, and one that I will never forget. Reviewing the photos was a wonderful experience. The private slide show really made me focus on the images that were taken, and see myself in a new light.

I am very happy with the end result, and am so glad that I made the decision to visit the studio. My husband was also very happy with his gift. He keeps my album on his dresser, and changes the page every couple of days -- my portrait on the wall greets him each day, and he has commented time and again how special it made him feel to have such a personal gift. Whenever I glance to the photos, I always leave with a smile and a little more bounce in my step.

All in the all, this was a fantastic experience, and I would highly recommend a session at your studio to women of all ages, shapes and sizes, not just for someone else, but most importantly, for themselves. I came away with a new sense of confidence in myself, and here months later, the experience continues to have a positive effect.

If you even think you would like to experience what we do at Eve Studios, I encourage you to give Rodney a call at 221-8413. Today. Or fill out the contact form on our website, http://www.evestudios.ca/

Stories to Share

I was just going through my file of testimonials while updating the look of our gift certificates, and I thought I would share a couple. Reading these just makes me so proud of my husband and what we do as a studio.

"I had an amazing experience with Eve Studios! Something I will never forget! I was getting married last July and decided it would be a neat wedding gift to have some photos taken for my husband, but it turned out to be so much more than that! Rodney made me feel so good about myself and who I am. From the instant I walked into Eve Studios I felt comfortable, respected and excited! While my husband and I picked a great picture to hang on our wall, the experience left me feeling confident, strong and empowered. I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of shape or size; a photo shoot with Rodney is an amazing way to appreciate yourself for who you are, inside and out!" - C.L.

"I enjoyed every minute of our session together and could have stayed all day. Everything about your studio and your professionalism was very comforting which brought out my inner beauty. My boyfriend and my very close friends have always told me that I was beautiful and sexy, but to be honest I never truly believed them. Through your pictures I now see what they see and am more confident. Thank you, thank you. I wish every woman could share the experience." - T.S.

"Following the session, I was feeling a noticeable sparkle, and my yoga practice that night felt better than it has in a long time. Instead of feeling stiff and closed-in, I felt free and expressive. The session has helped to rejuvenate my practice, and I am so grateful for that. Now I want to do another session all over again! ☺ As you said, I think it's quite addicting.

I think every woman should experience a session, as it really can be quite therapeutic in so many ways." - T.M.

Thank you to each of our clients for sharing their stories. I hope they can inspire you, too!