Thanks

Thank you, Koren Albright. We really do need this. Your project has sparked some lively boob discussions in my circle of friends and it's good to know that we're all 'normal' and lovely, just how we are. One night 5 of us were sitting around and we got to talking about the project, and then talking about what each of us felt were 'freakish' about our own boobs. And it turned out, what each of thought was freakish about ourselves, the rest of us confirmed was normal. We may or may not have all gotten our boobs out to confirm.

Keep up the good work!

Flaunt it

"If you got it flaunt it. If it's not there who cares?" This was my mantra from the time my breasts developed until my early twenties. It was how I gave myself permission to wear tight tank tops rather than a bra under my shirt or to go totally braless. The problem with this belief was the fact that it was still self deprecating.

Me at age 19 (left) & me age 37 (right)

You see I definitely considered myself in the "it's not there so who cares" category. I always believed that guys were interested in my friends with bigger boobs and to me that seemed like everyone else around me. My boobs were small and insignificant so who would care if you could see my nipples under my shirt or caught a little too much cleavage when I bent over? Yes, I was being more free with myself and my body but it was coming from a negative dialogue in my head. It wasn't until I met my husband who had, an still has, a great enthusiasm for my breasts that I began to change that dialogue. I remember buying a tank top that clearly wasn't meant to have a bra worn with it and I loved it but I would ask him "is this too 'booby'?" he always reassured me that is was "perfect". The more he reassured me the more I believed it.

The Just Boobs project is so exciting to me because I get to help women have a healthy relationship with their breasts. It is my hope in seeing all the different shapes and sizes of "normal" women and men alike will develop a deep love and respect for their own boobs and the boobs around them. I love that my man was able to help me on my path to being comfortable with my own body and loving it too. However not all women have a person in their life to boost their morale. I hope this book is a way to help women boost themselves.

Now I'm in my late thirties and I love my breasts. I've had four babies and breastfed them all and am currently breastfeeding our youngest. I go braless more often than not. I'm sure I have shocked, offended, excited, and caused a general stir among many people over the years because of this. I don't do this because I believe I am flaunting it or because I believe I shouldn't care, because I don't have anything that anyone should care about. I do it because I hate wearing a bra and I love my boobs.

 

Amazed

Even though I have struggled with production, I am amazed that my boobs make milk ;that my body can feed a person. I wonder what they will look like after I am done nursing my daughter. But whatever the outcome, it was all so worth it.

 

An introduction to the Just Boobs Project

Just - only or merely…
Breasts have always been glorified, vilified and over specified for thousands of years. What's the big deal? They're just boobs!

Just - actual, real, genuine, in keeping with truth or fact...
Breasts, now more than ever before, are pushed, boosted, padded, manipulated and downright fake. What kind of message are we sending to future generations of women and men?

Just - righteous, proper, right…
Breasts are not "dirty" or immoral. They have a wonderful function and are perfect in every way. Every breast is different and every breast is beautiful because of those differences.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a book of photographs that celebrated all the wonderful shapes, sizes and colors of breasts. A book that generations of girls could look at and realize that there is no "perfect" breast, that one size does not fit all. A book that generations of boys could look at so they know what real boobs look like first, before their inevitable introduction to porn. So that the men and women of the future love and respect the breasts they have and the women they are with. This is the objective of the Just Boobs Project. And now is the time to show us your boobs for a just cause because they're "just" boobs!



The Book
I am shooting 100 women, from neck to navel, to be used in the Just Boobs book. You can see updates on my progress on the Just Boobs facebook page. The images are completely anonymous. Tattoos and identifying scars can be removed to insure your anonymity if you request it.

The Conversation
I would also like to start a conversation. I would like women to post their own breast pictures and/or stories about their boobs, body issues or any issue relating to breasts that they feel passionate about in the Just Boobs blog. This is a place of openness and freedom, without stigma where we can all help one another overcome our body issues. Please come join us!

To send us your picture and/or story, email them to Koren using this form on the Just Boobs website. She will approve and post each entry anonymously to the blog. We can't wait for the stories to start pouring in!

I am giving-I am project

I am giving

age 27, graphic designer

For me I am giving is multifaceted. It is giving of your time , your possessions and yourself. I have a favorite quote...

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

“There are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.”

Kahlil Gibran ~ from the book The Prophet

I am one of those that gives with joy and that joy is my reward.

Growing up in my family really showed me what being giving meant. My mother and my grandmother, who must have gotten it from my great-great grandmother, have always been the care takers and the providers. They have always shown me what it means to be there for those you love. To notice when you need to be there and why that’s important.

We all need someone at some point. There is nothing like doing something and putting as smile on someone's face. Whether they are having the best day of their life or the worst, to put a smile on a the face of a friend of family member is priceless.

the reason

This is definitely a worth while project to be involved in, because we are all different. It’s a way to take a stand and prove to.. if anyone yourself, that you are OK with who you are. And getting naked is definitely a powerful statement. It’s who you really are, the naked you.

Women are constantly bombarded with unrealistic images from advertising every day, from all directions. We need to be reminded that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and colors.

One of the things that I have always been self-conscious about is my height. I will never be six foot tall and I have come to the conclusion that I need to accept it and be happy with it... and I am. I am also very pale. I will burn, peel and repeat for the rest of my life and I’m OK with that too. I always tell my mom that she is beautiful and she helped make me, so, gosh-darn it! I am beautiful!

So, I think showing that you can be happy with who you are is important.

The experience

It was a little weird at first but Koren is awesome, she made me feel at ease. It was definitely a good experience. It was a lot of fun. I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was a lot of fun.

You have to let go, it’s a nice way to embrace you.. everything that you are. It’s taking the good with the bad and realizing we all have qualities that we may not like but we all have lots of really good qualities too. There is no use in focusing on anything negative. You are who you are, have fun and smile!

Rock the plaza music with Sunny Taylor,U.R.B.,Orange Opera - Fort Wayne, Indiana

Here are some shots of last nights music fun at the Fort Wayne library's Rock the plaza.

You can see more and purchase prints here

Summer Mini Shoot-Fort Wayne, IN

The mini shoot was such a big hit this spring that we are bringing it back for the summer. Here is the deal. To all of my clients and friends in Indiana I am offering a mini shoot that lasts a half an hour and is on location. We could take advantage of the green grasses and summer gardens or even meet at the swimming hole at Fox island or shoot in your home for convenience. Once the shoot is done you will have 30 images to choose from. As always the images are hand adjusted and color corrected and you can see and order them online in either color or black and white. A 50% off coupon will be available for ordering prints for the first month that your proofs are online. This mini shoot is just $107. This is the price with no minimum orders, no mandatory signed model release and tax is already included. You can order as much or as little once the proofs are ready for you to see.

This is a great opportunity to have wonderful photos at a fraction of the cost. If you haven't had me take photos for you before then this will be a great taste of what you can expect. If I have shot for you before then this is a quick fun shoot and a great way to add more fantastic images to your collection.

Please contact me if you'd like to book a shoot or if you have any questions. This offer will be good through the last day of August. If you missed it in the spring here is another chance. If we did work together last spring tell your friends.

I love to capture moments in peoples lives. Pictures are our visual history and I love to help tell the story that is your life. I would love to work with you and your family.