In a disgusting effort to create a market for their procedures, some doctors are now insidiously convincing millions of women that protruding or asymmetrical labia are 'unsightly'. They use phrases like 'tidying up' when it comes to labia.

According to the CBC news in Canada, genital mutilations were the 'most increased aesthetic surgery in 2013'.

If this bullshit is not actively and successfully fought, we will have a generation of people believing that labia are unsightly...and millions of women living in shame of their labia.

Before you laugh this off, consider the following:

In some countries, doctors successfully created a market for circumcision that now requires male children to be mutilated as a baby or risk having a 'weird' penis. This is marketed for 'health reasons' although the rest of the world simply teaches male children how to wash themselves. 

Is anyone not aware of the dire negativity imposed on women by the beauty and fashion industry where women's bodies and skin are permanently flawed as they fall short of the plastic, photoshopped ideals?

MEN, lest you think this a 'woman's issue', ask yourself if you want to live in a world where women are even more afraid to show you their vaginas.

MEN have to help women understand that their labia are beautiful in ALL shapes and sizes!! Stop the mutilations!! Stop the shaming! 

References:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/labiaplasty-defended-by-plastic-surgeons

http://www.dailylife.com.au/health-and-fitness/dl-wellbeing/labiaplasty-surgery-on-the-rise-in-australia-but-a-backlash-looms-20131115-2xldg.html

Every person can be truly beautiful. And this beauty CAN be captured with a camera. 

Portrait photographers must be able to see past surface aberrations to recognize inner beauty. 

We are blinded by our expectations of surface beauty. 

Inner beauty is generated by positive thoughts such as joy, peace, and bliss. To capture this beauty, our subjects need to BE happy.

Our thoughts control our states of mind. If we have positive thoughts, we will be happy. 

Nervousness and mental agitation are common impediments to positive thoughts, especially for people who are not photographed often.

The role of the portrait photographer therefor, must be first and foremost to manage relaxation and positive thinking in ourselves and our subjects.

Most photographers are concentrating on poses and the best lighting. They see only the surface of the person. Forms and shadows. These elements are important. But managing thoughts is paramount.

How can we (portrait photographers) manage relaxation and positive thinking?

The most important thing is to manage our thoughts. We must be relaxed, calm and genuinely happy when we go into a photo session. It takes enormous time and effort to master our thoughts but it is arguably the single most important life skill we can learn.

Learn how to recognize positive thinking in our subjects. Are they calm? Easily able to smile? Relaxed? 

Learn how to help induce relaxation. Simple tools from yoga like breath control and focusing thoughts are extremely effective. Ask about, and understand anxieties. Get them accustomed to the camera clicks and the big camera being aimed at them.

Manage thoughts. Control the conversation to ensure positive topics. Talking about the latest massacre might not be as conducive as talking about a new child or plans for the future. 

Do not apply time limits to a photography session! The urge to hurry will be a huge imposition especially with a new subject. 

Learn to judge the resultant photographs in terms other than technical achievement. Understand that capturing true beauty is far more important than worrying about whether or not the correct Rembrandt light triangle is evident. 

Future Topics:

Managing Relaxation

Managing Thoughts for happiness

When is Photoshop not good?

Using the camera as a tool to establish self confidence

Deciding to publicly debut the Junkanoo Nymph at the 2012 / 2013 Junkanoo Parades in Nassau, I met the group leaders of one of the largest Junkanoo groups, and was encouraged by their enthusiasm and support.

For the New Years Parade, we partnered with Maria Rolle to be the Junkanoo Nymph. She returned early from her vacation in Freeport and we met at the studio around 2:00 in the afternoon. Using eyeliner pencils, I sketched the base design and roughly an hour later we were ready for the first layer of paint.

The silver provided a sparkle and a base design that accentuated her form. Incorporating her natural skin into the scheme, I painted the design on freehand. There was no taping, airbrushing or stencils. Pubic privacy was maintained with surgical tape resulting in a paintable  'strapless g-string'.

We were 5 hours into the painting by the time the base was complete, so we took a break to eat and take these photographs. And to rest!

Throughout the session, we were in constant contact with the Junkanoo Group to ensure that all was on schedule for her headset, and our passes on Bay Street. We called for reassurances six or seven times throughout the day. All was on schedule and we had nothing to worry about. 

So the painting progressed. With Fire as the theme, yellows and reds were threaded through the underlaying silver design. The yellow and red paints lost their saturation and required three coats to get the depth of color that we see here. Can't say I was happy with having to re-paint sharp lines over and over....

During pauses, to let Maria walk around, stretch, eat, and use the restroom... I painted the boots.

At the last minute, the Junkanoo Group decided that a g-string was not acceptable for Bay Street. Fortunately Kristin Pedersen was able to fashion a loin cloth that covered her buttocks.

Finally, after more than fourteen hours, we were finished. All we needed was the magnificent head piece and she was ready for Bay Street. Maria's boyfriend, Anthony "AC" Coakley took us downtown to the starting point.

What a pleasure it was to see people's faces and hear their comments as Maria toured the starting area with her customary poise and self confidence! There was not one derogatory remark and tons of admiration and support.

As you have probably guessed, there was no headset and no passes...and no answer on the leader's phone. Can't say he was on high on our list of favorite people.

Fortunately, we had AC! Although he could not get us a headset, he found us passes and put us in the parade. Maria and Kristin picked up a few feathers, stuck them in Maria's hair and off we went.

We could not have asked for a better woman under the paint. Maria sashayed, strutted, danced and charmed her way down the length of Bay Street ahead of AC's fire engine float. 

She was a crowd pleaser to say the least.

The Prime Minister called her over to get a better look as did everyone with a camera. He and Brave Davis were great sports as always.