Medusa and Body Paint

Posted on by lizzusev

So, I covered Lily VonTrapp in metallic body paint and covered her head with snakes. You know, as a good friend does.

I put together this headpiece with rubber snakes and a headband. I feel I owe the nice man with the French bulldog an apology, as he stumbled upon me spray painting the snakes red on paper towels…it looked like something out of a horror movie!

After we completed Medusa, my husband suggested we add more color to the silver, so out came the mica. For those unfamiliar, mica is a biodegradable glitter used in bath bombs. So glitter…but extra, extra fine. And it got everywhere! It didn’t help that I absolutely had to get a shot of her blowing a fistful of it straight at me…

3rd Blogiversary!

Posted on by lizzusev

This year has been really interesting…I paused worrying about selling prints, and just let myself shoot freely.  That break really gave me a lot of freedom, so I think I’m going to listen to myself and do that when I think it’ll help me.  I met some amazing new people to create with…BIG shout out to Celeste at Poppy Seed Roll Costuming for the incredible styling, laughs, and introductions…and continued working with people I love to work with.  I even got a reunion with Heather, my east coast muse!  Winter was difficult, but all my fantastic subjects, especially Lily VonTrapp and Lyz, kept me busy and got me through it.  Now, I just finished shooting the lovelies of After Midnight Cabaret and am working on a little video project for them.  I continued with my naked, honest body love project, and will continue to do so.  Seattle became a lot more fun this past year!

 

Thank you all for reading and viewing!  As always, love yourselves.

Swingtime!

Posted on by lizzusev

Ok, not the music, but there was a swing involved!  It was my 15th anniversary yesterday, and my husband and I decided to celebrate with our second shoot with Mari, in a pretty fantastic studio space (Locket Space is SoDo Seattle).  Beautiful big windows, great light, and nifty set options, including this swing.

Mari, of course, is a joy to shoot.  Even watching her warm up is impressive!  I glanced over, and there she was on her back, kicking her legs all the way to the floor behind her shoulder.  Plenty more to come!

 

Why I Do This!

Posted on by lizzusev

I just received the most beautiful testimonial from Heather…it perfectly sums up why I do what I do.  I’ve been photographing her for years and it’s been an amazing journey growing together.  Thank you, Heather!  Check it out below…

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Testimonial:

Dearest Liz,

Thank you from the deepest part of my spirit for:

Letting me be who I am, and also whoever or whatever I felt like being depending on the day without fear or judgement…

Teaching me that beauty is found in the most unexpected ways, and so I learned to try things I never would have chosen myself…

Sparking a sense of adventure in me in spite of anxiety because I knew it would turn out amazing no matter what crazy places or poses or props we used…

Showing me that I don’t need the elaborate trappings of costumes and makeup to be beautiful, but letting me happily play with them anyway…

Seeing the beauty in my changing body, and encouraging me to embrace those changes instead of hiding them…

Helping me break away from a past of body-shaming and bullying…

Giving me a safe place to explore finding my own beauty with love and respect but also humor…

Letting me see through your lens the beauty I could not or would not see with my own eyes…

Showing me that my own body is a work of art…

Giving me tangible proof that I am strong, sexual, and beautiful…and giving me permission to be proud of it and to share it…

All of those things I learned modeling for you, and I am forever grateful.  I wish that anyone who struggles with issues of shame or self-image, and also anyone who makes hateful comments about your work could read this and understand the healing that can take place by working with someone like you.  No matter what we all look like on the outside, we all hurt deeply on the inside when we do not love ourselves, and I don’t think I would have come so far on that without your help.  I was absolutely terrified that first shoot, but by the end I just felt so comfortable.  I don’t think for one minute that would have happened with just any photographer.  It is a special gift that you have, to be able to see the beauty in people, and capture it on film while making a safe space for them to express it, and then helping them to see and BELIEVE that beauty is there.

Love Always,

Heather