All body types are the beautiful body types

Why I chose to write about this

A year ago I wrote on Facebook about a situation that made me feel self-conscious about my body. When it came up on Facebook memories, I read it again. Wow, 20-year-old Madison did not hold back. I knew that I needed to add it to the blog. With that being said, let me encourage the ladies who have a different shape/size than “what’s normal.” Especially my ladies who are nervous about having their pictures made.

Story Time But first, let me tell you the back story on why I’m saying this… I have always been one to NEVER be caught dead in a two-piece bathing suit. I am not shaped like the girls in a majority of magazines, and I can’t shop in most bathing suit shops! For a long time, I just wore stuff that “was more appropriate for my size.” Now, was a majority of my trips include me wearing a bathing suit, church events? Yes! So wearing a one-piece was the appropriate thing to wear regardless. So it wasn’t a big deal to me. I also want to point out that I’m not an unhealthy person. I take care of my body and what I have to work with. Here recently I went to get new bathing suits and my mom helped me find good coverage bathing suits for MY BODY!! I wore the bathing suits (in bathing suit appropriate places) and felt good in them!! I then documented a beach trip on social media! I first want to say I have very loving and encouraging family and friends, but sometimes it’s that one person that makes you feel like trash regardless of how awesome and supportive your people are! Then someone comments on how they had never seen me wear so little. Here’s what really made me feel awful, my lovely friend was in this picture. She is super cute and tiny!! And we both were wearing the same amount of clothing, but she was smaller than me. When she wears two pieces they’re different on her. I then felt disgusted with the way it looked in that picture. My first thought was to just take it down. I ask my mama (someone’s opinion I greatly respect), and she told me that I was at the beach and that’s appropriate for the beach. It would be different if I was at the mall or a restaurant, but I WAS AT THE BEACH!

The lesson behind the story

This situation has made me realize, that your size/shape should not limit you to what you wear. You’re not trashy bc you have more curves than the next girl. WEAR THE DANG BATHING SUIT, WEAR THE DANG DRESS!!! Don’t be afraid to POST IT. And for all the people who find it necessary to make unwanted comments about it, please keep them to yourself! I know I’m different, I know you might not like it, but I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY GOD MADE ME! And for my fellow Christians, the second greatest command is to LOVE your neighbor (any other human being) as yourself. Yes modesty is something the Bible talks about and yes it’s very important, but within certain circumstances, certain things are okay. Modesty is more of a heart thing and a respect thing than a let’s “not show your belly kinda thing”. If I feel comfortable and respectable in what I am wearing for the occasion then that’s what I’m going to wear. Stop body shaming people for their shape/size! I hope someone could relate to this story or feel encouraged enough to wear what they want and not feel discussed by their shape/ size! In case anyone hasn’t told you, YOU’RE GORGEOUS THE WAY YOU ARE!

The photographer in me

As a photographer, I love to see people stepping out of their comfort zone, and sharing their fun side. Clothes can be a statement piece or a piece of the outfit that shows who they really are. Some of my favorite questions my clients ask are, "do you think this is too much?" My typical answer is NEVER! You can never be too much for a photo shoot. You paid for the shoot! Don't you dare let someone try to add their two cents. If they try, give me their email. We can write them up an invoice.