"That was real," Natalie exclaimed after our photo shoot. It truly was an unforgettable experience. We shared moments of playfulness, laughter, dance, conversation, and even tears—a myriad of emotions. There was an undeniable sense of connection between us, as two women uniting to convey a powerful narrative through art. It's a story of struggle, resilience, strength, and ultimately, triumph—a story designed to evoke, empower, and inspire. It is Natalie’s story.
Natalie, a three-time cancer warrior—a term that truly encapsulates her strength—has undergone a staggering 22 surgeries, including a double mastectomy followed by reconstruction. Our immediate rapport made it easy for me to capture the true essence of Natalie as she bravely stood in front of my lens, reliving the struggle of battling breast cancer.
The photo shoot took on a life of its own. It went longer than planned, as it always does when I am completely immersed in my photographic groove. We captured numerous shots, nearly 1000 frames of Natalie in various outfits, both bare-torsoed and fully nude. Although there wasn't a specific intention to include nude shots, it became essential to convey Natalie's battle with breast cancer. The scars on her body tell her story, reflecting both her struggles and triumphs.
It took incredible strength for her to stand in front of my camera, exposing her scars and reconstructed breasts—evidence of the loss of a part of her body that society views as essential to womanhood, sensuality, femininity, and motherhood. This was the most moving part of the photo shoot for me. In her vulnerability, she was fierce, bold and confident. As a photographer, I am keenly aware of the common struggles people have with their appearance and body image. It was inspiring to see that Natalie had become comfortable in her own skin.
Women, such as Natalie, often tell me that their photo shoot was cathartic for them when the photo shoot represented something deeply personal to them. For me, these shoots are cathartic as well. I am drawn into the energy and the emotions of the people I photograph, as I was drawn into Natalie’s.
Natalie’s strength serves as a reminder of my own. Natalie’s scars are a reminder that beauty transcends perfection. Her story exemplifies the indomitable human spirit and our capacity to overcome adversity.
Women like Natalie rekindle my passion for celebrating women through my photography. They reignite my love for being a woman myself. They reaffirm my dedication to what I do.
I've come to understand that breast cancer is more than the disease; it encompasses the way friends and family interact with you, your response to them in your anger, the challenges of intimacy, the inner journey, and the quest to find comfort in your own skin. It's about conquering oneself.
Photography is a powerful medium for human connection, and I am amazed at the wonderful and instant connections I have made with the people I have photographed.
Natalie is one of those instant connections. We came together as strangers to do a women's empowerment photo shoot as part of my Woman Project, and we left as friends. We live in different cities, but we keep in contact. Recently, she invited me to meet up with her and some of her friends when she was in my area. It was a blast reconnecting with her in person, and her friends were absolutely fabulous.
“I had to learn to love myself inside, so that I could turn around and love myself on the outside.” - Natalie
Natalie is the visionary behind High Heal Diaries. Her primary mission for this platform is to provide unwavering support to fellow survivors, be it cancer survivors like herself or anyone facing challenging experiences on their personal journey. In her role as a mentor, High Heal Diaries stands as a beacon of inspiration, motivating individuals on their path towards personal growth, self-love, healing, and acceptance.
High Heal Diaries is a versatile platform designed to ignite inspiration and serve as a guiding force for anyone seeking empowerment, personal growth, and self-improvement to realize their fullest potential. www.highhealdiaries.com
“This is me…”
Natalie expresses her thoughts and feelings, immediately after our photo shoot.
Listen to Natalie as she talks with me about her scars, her healing, her mission with High Heal Diaries and her journey with breast cancer.
On Tap: Body Canvas - Take an in-depth look into the incredible world of transforming people into works of art. This feature shows an overview of my body painting photo shoots in collaboration with Toronto artist Natasha Kudashkina over the last 10 years. See behind-the-scenes footage and some never-before-seen images.
So beautiful and powerful! Inspiring and heartfelt! A true testament to inner strength! Well worth the read!
So beautifully articulated. Opened my heart and reminded me of my own scars, albeit internal, the strength to keep forging ahead. 🙏🏼❤️