Winning at Losing: Elizabeth's Pinup Session
In May of 2016, nearly four years ago, I photographed Elizabeth and Andrew’s wedding locally.
Avid history buffs, they had their first look in a cemetery - how do you NOT love a couple like that?
The day was hot, the sun was blazing, it was the Memorial Day weekend. Eiizabeth’s Dad was the officiant.
They were a lovely couple then and they are a lovely couple now . . . with some changes.
What changed?
Elizabeth did - she became a loser. A big loser. And in doing so, she won.
When I saw that, I thought that determination and achievement like that deserved to be celebrated. And so I invited her into my studio. How could we allow her to show off her accomplishment while still remaining modest?
How could we have some fun with her status as a music teacher?
P I N U P
Let Elizabeth Give You Some Inspiration
Have you seen the headlines recently? Over 40% of Americans are obese - that is a bigger health crisis than coronavirus and with longer lasting effects!
But it is not as if Elizabeth is a celebrity with a personal trainer and an in-home chef to help her get fit. She and Andrew are teachers, leading an ordinary life, much like the rest of us. I think her story can be an inspiration to many. Who better to tell it than our gal herself?
How did you lose the weight? Did you follow a program, such as Weight Watchers?
I lost weight by counting calories on myfitnesspal. The science of weight loss is to burn more calories than you are eating. I would make sure that I stayed under my calorie limit daily and supplemented with exercise. Nothing was off limits, it just had to be within my calorie limit. Over time, I learned that I could eat more when I made healthy choices so the amount of “treats” I had became fewer. To this day I normally have a small piece of chocolate, often sugar free, daily just so the cravings don’t get out of control. I’m a big chocolate lover. When I started exercising I started VERY small. I enjoyed then, and still enjoy, going for walks and yoga. Even just a 15 minute walk can have a big impact on your day. Over time, I have added more intense workouts which I have grown to love. I also practice intermittent fasting. I fast for 16 or more hours a day and then have an 8 or less hour eating window.
What was your strongest incentive for doing this?
Throughout my childhood, my dad has had a number of health issues. He had his first heart attack in his 30s. Heart disease, diabetes, and dementia run in my family. I felt like many of these problems could be prevented if my health improved. I decided I wanted to get healthy because I wanted to live! I am also a teacher and wanted to set a healthy example for my students.
If someone asked you for your top "tip" for this, what would it be?
My top tip is to learn to love yourself where you are. I had to learn to love my body and my life enough to change what I was doing. My next tip could be consistency and refusal to give up. Weight loss is not something that happens over night and it’s not something that is constant. During my weight loss journey I have had several plateaus and times when I saw the scale go up when I knew I was putting in the work required for the scale to go down. Eventually the scale would move, but not always when I thought it should. I stayed on my plan and refused to give up!
What was your biggest concern going into the photo session?
My biggest concern going into the photo session was still looking “big” or “awkward” in my photos. I have some loose skin that causes some insecurities but it did not end up being as much or an issue as I thought it was going to be. I’ve also always been a little uncomfortable in front of the camera but you and the other photographers did everything they could to direct me and put me at ease.
How did doing the photo session make you feel while you were in front of the camera?
As the photo session progressed, I began to feel more and more confident. I felt like a total queen and had a blast! By the time the photoshoot was over, I felt like an absolute rock star!
What do you think of the pictures?
The pictures are amazing! When I first saw the pictures my first thoughts were “I can’t believe that’s me!” When you lose a large amount of weight, it’s hard not to still feel like the bigger person you were before. These pictures helped me get a realistic idea of what my body really looks like and helped me see how far I had come!
Do you think other people should do a photo session to celebrate achievements like this? If so, what benefits do you think i would give them?
I think a photo session is a great way to celebrate accomplishments. It is particularly helpful when dealing with weight loss. It’s hard to realize how much your body changes and professional photos are a huge help with this. Photo sessions are a great way to increase confidence and self love!
Stephanie will also treat you like royalty! There is nothing wrong with spoiling yourself from time to time! Photos are a great non food reward for accomplishments.
Wow! You know, when they talk about women and empowerment - this is it in real life!
An Added Bonus - A Connection to the Past
I have often heard it said, a photograph is multi-generational. Elizabeth’s session also prompted this:
It feels good for a person to know they belong. It feels great when there can be visual evidence of that connection to family and to the past!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable session! I would also like to extend my thanks to Stacey Dhom, HMUA extraordinare, and to Ryan Martin and Carole Metz for their assistance (and no, I won’t post the pictures of Ryan demonstrating pinup poses . . . he did them a lttle too well . . .)
Now, you heard Elizabeth - is it time for you to show the world your achievement? Give me a shout and let’s talk about your session!