beYOUtiful

See similar projects: Beauty Redefined, Modestly Sexy Project, the Dove Real Beauty Campaign shot by Rankin,  BYU’s Recapturing Beauty campaign shot by Brooke Schultz, the True Campaign, and the “I am Beautiful Because” question project 

A couple of weeks ago, as I was doing a photo shoot for a friend of mine, I had an epiphany. Every woman deserves to feel beautiful. EVERY. WOMAN. Because, really, every woman IS beautiful. But how many of us truly FEEL that? I don’t think the number is nearly as high as it should be. And we all DESERVE it. I had the thought come to me, clear as day, that I have a really unique gift as a photographer to help women.

Every woman should have a photograph of herself that she likes (Not the “I’m going to hold the camera out and make a kissy face and take a picture of myself” type of shot.  And a shot that’s not from her wedding day, or the day she graduated from high school). Every woman deserves to have a picture that makes herself feel good – that really captures her TRUE and REAL beauty. A picture that depicts her as beautiful as she is in real life – that shows the light that others see in her.

Most women don’t have pictures of themselves for a variety of reasons. For many of us, it’s hard to look at pictures taken of ourselves. We pick them apart and wish away every pimple, every flaw, every “love handle.” It can make us feel incredibly discouraged.  There have been times when I’ve looked at a picture of myself and let it ruin my entire day.

No woman deserves to feel that way.

Because we are so passionate about this, Jessi and I have decided to launch the “beYOUtiful” campaign.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

We want you to write us and tell us why YOU are beautiful. It can be ANY reason you feel – just keep it real. Some examples are “I am beautiful because even though I wear braces at 40, I’m not afraid to smile.” or “I am beautiful because I have fought my way through Cancer.” Or “I am beautiful because I love deeply and loyally.”

Really think about your own experiences that have made you who you are – that have made you UNIQUELY BEAUTIFUL. Feel free to be creative. Or simple. Silly, or serious. Just be yourself.

HERE’S WHAT WILL HAPPEN:

1.) You submit your answer to us via email at info@hiyapapaya.com between now and December 31st. (Yep – during the busy holiday season. You need to take some time for yourself, too!)  Your email answer just needs to be one line: “I am beautiful because _______” (fill in the blank).

2.) If we like your statement, we’ll contact you and let you know that we’ve chosen you as one of the finalists in the running to win a free photo shoot.

3.) We will then have the top 10 submit a photo of just their hands, holding a picture of their answer written on a piece of paper.

Like so:

As you can see, the photo doesn’t have to be professional. It can be shot with your cell phone or from a computer.

4.) We will then put those top 10 photos on our blog and do a vote to see who the public thinks has the best answer and should win a photo shoot with hiyapapaya.

We will feature our top 10 favorite statements on our blog and Facebook page. And the winning photo shoot will be featured on our blog.

**You will be chosen according to what you say, not what you look like.**

We are hoping that all types of women will participate in this project. So help us get the word out!

We’re really excited to help capture TRUE beauty. And maybe even change a few perspectives along the way.

Happy Holidays!

Love,Jessi and Cristi at Hiyapapaya

*PS – if you win, and don’t live close by, you can gift your photo shoot to another deserving woman!