This week we wanted to introduce you to a phenomenal photographer within our local community; Erika Gorman. She was recommended to us by our good friend Jasmine and our very own cosmic opposite, Kim was lucky enough to participate in her very own photo shoot with the lovely and talented Erika. Today we wish to share more information about Erika and the boudoir experience with testimonials from both Kim and Jasmine.
You can see more images on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/thearcherandthetwin
And our Instagram: @cosmic_opposites
#Kilo
Erika is a multi-talented artist, painter, singer, writer and photographer. She is a wife, mother, daughter and philosopher. Her ability to capture those subtle, yet special moments make her images truly unique. However, her most distinguishing characteristic is her genuine nature. She is unlike anyone else that we've ever met; she is such an incredible woman who makes her clients feel confident, sexy, safe and secure during their photo shoot. What people might not know about Erika is that she pursued a graduate degree in counseling and has also worked as a caregiver. She is a deeply compassionate person with an honest and pure soul. Her ability to fuse art and tender interaction with others makes her a natural for the intimate art of boudoir photography. Her kind and genuine nature allows clients to open up and trust beyond anything they've ever experienced, which allows for subjects to create something magical for themselves.
Erika continues to say, "It's no wonder that I have felt myself so drawn to this Boudoir world...it deeply impacted my life! Returning this gift to others and making use of my artistic talent through this profoundly invigorating medium, is just...a gift."
Her studio is located at a historically landmarked estate, Casa de los Pajaros, in Ojai, California. She and her family also live in the beautiful artist community of Ojai Valley, California.
For more information on Erika or to schedule a photo session:
Please contact her at: arivoxartist@gmail.com / 805.450.8928
Check out her work and website at: http://ivoryroseboudoir.com/
Now on to the testimonials...
As I mentioned in a previous post, this summer I really focused on myself, my health and my nutrition. I feel like I've always been fairly healthy and happy with myself, but deep down I always strived for more, something better for myself. Finally I realized enough was enough. I knew what I needed to do and I decided to suck it up and do it. It was time to actually put myself first! Over the last five months I've transformed my life and have never felt more amazing. I started seeing a nutritionist, and joined a cross fit gym. I stopped focusing on all the bullshit going on around me and only focused on the people and things that made me happy. Along this journey I came across a list of 2015 goals that I wrote down at the beginning of the year:
Workout more (check!)
Take business classes (check!)
Be mindful of my words a.k.a. don't be such a bitch (LOL... check!)
Forgive yourself (check!)
Appreciate people more (check!)
Try something new....
Try something new, huh? Ok, but what? Lori had recently mentioned to me that Jasmine did a boudoir shoot with this really amazing photographer, Erika, in Ojai. I've always wanted to do boudoir photography, but had lacked the self confidence to ever do it. I knew there was no better time to do it than now. So I did. And It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Erika was so friendly, encouraging, and kind. She made me feel so confident and comfortable baring not only my body, but my heart and soul to her lens. It was such a liberating feeling being able to express myself in this new, completely foreign to me, raw way. There wasn't much I could hide behind. No way to block my flaws and imperfections. I had to embrace them, accept them, and appreciate them. Going to the reveal and seeing all of the amazing shots that she took, I almost didn't believe that the person in the photos were me. It's hard for me to even find the words to describe what looking at these photos makes me feel, what this whole experience has done for me. The boudoir shoot was the final step that I needed to take in this journey of reinventing myself, and I will be eternally grateful for what Erika and her incredible gift has given to me. For now I have the most amazing, beautiful photos capturing a moment in my life that I have never been more proud of. These photos represent to me the person that I once was, the person that I am today, and the journey I had to take to get there. They will forever remind me that I can do what I put my mind to. That putting myself first was the most important thing I could have ever done.
Every so often, this woman gig is hard. There are a hundred people/things that chip away at who we are. It’s almost impossible to stay strong in all things. Not every challenge builds a person up, some change a heart for a long time; makes the brave become scared, the joyful become sad, the faithful become untrusting. These sentiments may apply not just to the world, but sometimes to ourselves. And in these instances, one may look to heal by doing something, going somewhere, or changing something.
Everyone has a journey, and I cannot air my map in this story. I CAN say that what had once been confident, happy and secure, for a myriad of reasons, had become insecure and hurt. I internalize too much. I carry things that don’t even belong to me. And I accept responsibility for others’ poor choices. I know how to do this. What that means is that I end up investing more on those who are, frankly, undeserving, but I don’t realize it until it’s too late. For a number of years, I’ve seen myself in a poor light. I’ve secretly believed a shred of these THINGS that have been said, that I’m not enough…and it’s unhealthy. It’s not that everything in my life was broken; my children, my faith, all greatly nurturing aspects that help me get up when I feel like I’ve been knocked down.
One morning, I had this thought. I had once been a painter, been on stage, been a singer, had written music, had overcome my fear of heights, had done things for the sake of giving time to myself to remember who I was. It had been years since I had done any of that…and the result was like a withered flower. This is when providence stepped in.
Groupon is a gamble when you’re buying services. They could be amazing. They could be the reason why you are not stoked on buying ANYTHING on line. I was scrolling through some of the items that were local and discovered a boudoir session offered by a photographer in Ojai. Being a photographer myself, I’m not usually excited about putting myself in FRONT of the camera, but something whispered inside my head: try it. It might be just what I need to get a different image of myself. I bought the voucher. And waited 2 weeks to call the photographer. I was nervous. I was scared. I’m 40, I have the body of a woman who has given birth to 3 children, but not the bounced-back body. Still, I knew that if I did this, it would be a huge exercise in self-acceptance, and THAT was what I was looking for.
When I finally called Erika, and we booked a meeting appointment where she would show me the property and walk me through the process, she asked me why I was doing this. Was it for someone? A guy? Was it for something? Was it for myself? I told her that the doubts in my head needed to be silenced, that I didn’t want to be consumed any longer by insecurity and that this experience would give me a different perspective of myself, surprise me even…that while there are amazing things that I’ve done with this mind, these hands, this body, even, I forget altogether too easily. This would be my reminder. I told her about some of the specific things I was trying to overcome and she was completely compassionate. She understood and knew exactly what she would bring to make this happen.
I was nervous so I asked a friend to come along with me to the shoot. I walked into the room that had been prepared for me and thereafter, I was in Erika’s hands. I didn’t want to look in a mirror at all - not for make up, not for wardrobe. I didn’t want to make it about the facade, it was a testing ground for feeling secure in my own imperfect skin, no hiding, no masking. Between us, there was complete trust. She encouraged, went with my movements, followed the line, and worked with the shadows. After the hour was up, I realized how easy the whole process had been. I felt amazing, brave, and utterly comfortable despite this exposure. In any other scenario, I would have been overcome with anxiety, but she’s graceful and easy. I would not have been able to do it and I feel so lucky to have had our paths cross to do this work together.
When I went to do the shoot preview, I was almost shocked at what she had captured. It was remarkable that the person in the pictures was me. I had not ever seen myself the way she had. But I am so glad and grateful that I was able to see what she saw. She captured me as powerful, secure, independent and confident. This overall experience has been cathartic. I’m not saying that the only way a woman can feel this way is by going through an experience like this, nor am I saying I was a wreck until it happened. What I am saying is that in the many paths we take toward a positive sense of self, this was perfect for me in taking steps to accept everything I am, and in believing that I AM ENOUGH in all things. This added to the beautiful parts of my life, as a reminder that I am capable, I am strong, I can pick myself up, dust myself off and accomplish unbelievable things.
What I learned more about Erika is that she has this ability to bring out and capture beauty, tenderness, fierce uniqueness, fragility and mystery in the frames of a picture. She takes this talent and helps women who have been through horrible abuses to heal. She is a proponent of every body being stunning as they are in their various stages, that beautiful bodies aren’t just one type or one way. She is the catalyst toward sincere self-acceptance.
For too many of us, we don’t like what we see in pictures. They’re riddled with all of the things we don’t really want to see. Imperfections on our skin, tired eyes, fat here. We may use these to harness ourselves. When we see them we think, I can’t. When I saw these images for the first time…and even now when I look at them for myself, I remember being in that place and doing the unexpected…and I come to place where I think, Why not?
Sometimes we need a little magic. We need a moment of outrageous beauty to help shake off the doubts, to remember that those difficult things in our lives have changed us, but not always for the worst. We CAN become stronger from difficult things and decide to still be soft in our hearts because it’s what makes us good and different and special in the world. I was reminded that it doesn’t have to be me against her, it can be us and that’s it. I also learned that things mean a different thing on a different day. A difficult gig yesterday may be the best gig I’ve ever had today. That I can define myself however I want. That there’s more to a heart than the voices that doubt, and that taking the time to do things that are constructive (despite being uncomfortable initially) are the steps toward healing and being my best self.
Check out her work and website at: http://ivoryroseboudoir.com/
Kim
Workout more (check!)
Take business classes (check!)
Be mindful of my words a.k.a. don't be such a bitch (LOL... check!)
Forgive yourself (check!)
Appreciate people more (check!)
Try something new....
Try something new, huh? Ok, but what? Lori had recently mentioned to me that Jasmine did a boudoir shoot with this really amazing photographer, Erika, in Ojai. I've always wanted to do boudoir photography, but had lacked the self confidence to ever do it. I knew there was no better time to do it than now. So I did. And It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! Erika was so friendly, encouraging, and kind. She made me feel so confident and comfortable baring not only my body, but my heart and soul to her lens. It was such a liberating feeling being able to express myself in this new, completely foreign to me, raw way. There wasn't much I could hide behind. No way to block my flaws and imperfections. I had to embrace them, accept them, and appreciate them. Going to the reveal and seeing all of the amazing shots that she took, I almost didn't believe that the person in the photos were me. It's hard for me to even find the words to describe what looking at these photos makes me feel, what this whole experience has done for me. The boudoir shoot was the final step that I needed to take in this journey of reinventing myself, and I will be eternally grateful for what Erika and her incredible gift has given to me. For now I have the most amazing, beautiful photos capturing a moment in my life that I have never been more proud of. These photos represent to me the person that I once was, the person that I am today, and the journey I had to take to get there. They will forever remind me that I can do what I put my mind to. That putting myself first was the most important thing I could have ever done.
Jasmine
Every so often, this woman gig is hard. There are a hundred people/things that chip away at who we are. It’s almost impossible to stay strong in all things. Not every challenge builds a person up, some change a heart for a long time; makes the brave become scared, the joyful become sad, the faithful become untrusting. These sentiments may apply not just to the world, but sometimes to ourselves. And in these instances, one may look to heal by doing something, going somewhere, or changing something.
Everyone has a journey, and I cannot air my map in this story. I CAN say that what had once been confident, happy and secure, for a myriad of reasons, had become insecure and hurt. I internalize too much. I carry things that don’t even belong to me. And I accept responsibility for others’ poor choices. I know how to do this. What that means is that I end up investing more on those who are, frankly, undeserving, but I don’t realize it until it’s too late. For a number of years, I’ve seen myself in a poor light. I’ve secretly believed a shred of these THINGS that have been said, that I’m not enough…and it’s unhealthy. It’s not that everything in my life was broken; my children, my faith, all greatly nurturing aspects that help me get up when I feel like I’ve been knocked down.
One morning, I had this thought. I had once been a painter, been on stage, been a singer, had written music, had overcome my fear of heights, had done things for the sake of giving time to myself to remember who I was. It had been years since I had done any of that…and the result was like a withered flower. This is when providence stepped in.
Groupon is a gamble when you’re buying services. They could be amazing. They could be the reason why you are not stoked on buying ANYTHING on line. I was scrolling through some of the items that were local and discovered a boudoir session offered by a photographer in Ojai. Being a photographer myself, I’m not usually excited about putting myself in FRONT of the camera, but something whispered inside my head: try it. It might be just what I need to get a different image of myself. I bought the voucher. And waited 2 weeks to call the photographer. I was nervous. I was scared. I’m 40, I have the body of a woman who has given birth to 3 children, but not the bounced-back body. Still, I knew that if I did this, it would be a huge exercise in self-acceptance, and THAT was what I was looking for.
When I finally called Erika, and we booked a meeting appointment where she would show me the property and walk me through the process, she asked me why I was doing this. Was it for someone? A guy? Was it for something? Was it for myself? I told her that the doubts in my head needed to be silenced, that I didn’t want to be consumed any longer by insecurity and that this experience would give me a different perspective of myself, surprise me even…that while there are amazing things that I’ve done with this mind, these hands, this body, even, I forget altogether too easily. This would be my reminder. I told her about some of the specific things I was trying to overcome and she was completely compassionate. She understood and knew exactly what she would bring to make this happen.
I was nervous so I asked a friend to come along with me to the shoot. I walked into the room that had been prepared for me and thereafter, I was in Erika’s hands. I didn’t want to look in a mirror at all - not for make up, not for wardrobe. I didn’t want to make it about the facade, it was a testing ground for feeling secure in my own imperfect skin, no hiding, no masking. Between us, there was complete trust. She encouraged, went with my movements, followed the line, and worked with the shadows. After the hour was up, I realized how easy the whole process had been. I felt amazing, brave, and utterly comfortable despite this exposure. In any other scenario, I would have been overcome with anxiety, but she’s graceful and easy. I would not have been able to do it and I feel so lucky to have had our paths cross to do this work together.
When I went to do the shoot preview, I was almost shocked at what she had captured. It was remarkable that the person in the pictures was me. I had not ever seen myself the way she had. But I am so glad and grateful that I was able to see what she saw. She captured me as powerful, secure, independent and confident. This overall experience has been cathartic. I’m not saying that the only way a woman can feel this way is by going through an experience like this, nor am I saying I was a wreck until it happened. What I am saying is that in the many paths we take toward a positive sense of self, this was perfect for me in taking steps to accept everything I am, and in believing that I AM ENOUGH in all things. This added to the beautiful parts of my life, as a reminder that I am capable, I am strong, I can pick myself up, dust myself off and accomplish unbelievable things.
What I learned more about Erika is that she has this ability to bring out and capture beauty, tenderness, fierce uniqueness, fragility and mystery in the frames of a picture. She takes this talent and helps women who have been through horrible abuses to heal. She is a proponent of every body being stunning as they are in their various stages, that beautiful bodies aren’t just one type or one way. She is the catalyst toward sincere self-acceptance.
For too many of us, we don’t like what we see in pictures. They’re riddled with all of the things we don’t really want to see. Imperfections on our skin, tired eyes, fat here. We may use these to harness ourselves. When we see them we think, I can’t. When I saw these images for the first time…and even now when I look at them for myself, I remember being in that place and doing the unexpected…and I come to place where I think, Why not?
Sometimes we need a little magic. We need a moment of outrageous beauty to help shake off the doubts, to remember that those difficult things in our lives have changed us, but not always for the worst. We CAN become stronger from difficult things and decide to still be soft in our hearts because it’s what makes us good and different and special in the world. I was reminded that it doesn’t have to be me against her, it can be us and that’s it. I also learned that things mean a different thing on a different day. A difficult gig yesterday may be the best gig I’ve ever had today. That I can define myself however I want. That there’s more to a heart than the voices that doubt, and that taking the time to do things that are constructive (despite being uncomfortable initially) are the steps toward healing and being my best self.
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