What is beauty to you?
Beauty to me the effect you have on others. Many forms of beauty exist such as beautiful bodily features, beautiful styling of clothing, beautiful mannerisms. Beauty is whatever you connect with and leaves a lasting positive effect. Beauty is also in someones energy - how they make you feel to be around them.
How would you prepare for a photoshoot?
Drink lots of water a few days beforehand to hydrate skin, but also to stop water retention. I choose my outfits a day or two before, and create a mood board either on my phone or in my head of how I want the shoot to look and feel. I get up earlier and take my time to get ready, as being stressed & flustered on a shoot isn’t a good look!
How do you feel when you are photographed?
Being photographed is a journey of ups and downs - there’s the first stage of nerves and apprehension, but also excitement.. followed by a little insecurity (I hope my hair looks ok, my legs don’t look fat etc you know that voice we all try so hard to ignore!) Then it moves into a hell yeah I got this! You see some of the images with Helen and its like, wow is that even me? I always experience these waves of different emotions when being photographed - its very insightful.
What’s the best advice you could give to someone who is nervous about having their photograph taken?
Relax, play your favourite empowering music & don’t worry about imperfections - they make you, you! And after a few mins take a quick look back at the work you’ve created and see how wonderful you are! This will spur on the next stage of your shoot.
Have you picked up any good tips during photoshoots?
Turn your face towards the light, try and be candid, be natural - the natural you, is the best you! Have props if you are nervous or feeling awkward. If you are not sure what to do with your hands then fiddle with something - your hair, shirt collar, prop of some sort. This will relax you and also give a nice candid feel to a photograph.
What has been your favourite photoshoot and why?
My favourite shoot was in Bali - I found the photographer on Instagram. I was lucky that he was in the same area as me and willing to work with me. It was such a dreamy day exploring out on the moped together, finding cool back drops and interesting colours etc. I even got naked on the beach for some shots, which felt great! I absolutely adore the photos - I look happy and glowing.
You are a highly experienced yoga teacher with years of teaching. What is the practice of yoga to you? What does it mean to you?
Yoga for me has changed from a physical practice, to a way of life. Yoga brings you closer to your true self. I try very hard each day to do the things that bring me to my true self, which is an expression of love and joy. Yoga helps me to be in every moment with presence and curiousity. The breath and mediation practice is more powerful to me these days with stretches to condition myself after all the ‘outdoorsy’ things I do now. My teaching has changed a lot since moving to Suffolk and becoming winter. I really enjoy the transitional periods my teaching style goes through - it flows with the currents of the time.
Do you think yoga can help people deal with the daily stresses that life can through at us? What changes could we see to our mind & bodies?
It effects every body differently and you will get out of it exactly what you need and more. On a scientific level is calms the parasympathetic nervous system, which is your stress response mode. Instantly, you will feel physically and mentally more relaxed, with lots of other benefits like better sleep and digestion, weight loss etc.
How could yoga & meditation be beneficial to someone before a photoshoot?
It could help to calm nerves and also help to visualise the outcome of the shoot through mediation. Yoga will provide better posture and help to relax the body, which will give a more natural look to your photographs.
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