Because YOU are Beautiful

Hi ladies! First off – I want to say a HUGE “Thank you” to Allison and Vanessa for offering to post this!

Second – I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Jennifer Stamps and I’m a photographer in Austin.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Allison, Vanessa, and their families…I’m sure you remember reading about our fun and crazy time together!

If you are a fan of my Facebook page, then I’m sure you’ve noticed a few changes…well, you’re not crazy. There have been some changes…and I’m super excited about them! Mostly…my focus: women’s portrait & glamour photography.

Photo Credit: ixiphotography

A few months ago a dear friend asked me to do boudoir photos for her. “Do you do that? Would you?”, she asked. My response…I was almost too giddy to get words out. “Boudoir?! Yes!” That’s when I got the bug. It was my first experience with it, and instantly I knew that I wanted to include it into my business.

“You specialize in portraits of women? Really?”  Yes– really.  It might be a little unconventional, but it’s my passion. Let me tell you why…

Women are beautiful. Every single woman.  I believe this.  In my soul.  And Every woman deserves to feel beautiful.

I debated writing about this.  It’s personal, definitely.  I’m not ashamed, but wasn’t sure if this was the avenue. After sharing my story with one of my clients, she encouraged me to share it with the rest of you.

Pretty much my entire teen and adult life, I’ve struggled with weight.  I would compare myself to girls thinner than me, usually with clearer skin, straighter hair, and perfect teeth.  I would never match up to them.  Ever.  I felt like I wasn’t good enough.  I never really saw myself as enough.  The older I got, the more I realized that I was not alone in this feeling.

The media can play a cruel game with our self-worth.  We are taught to compare ourselves to an idea of the perfect woman that isn’t a reality for the majority.  And the worst part is…this “idea of the perfect woman” is nowhere based on current acceptance, but rather what you could be.  There is not encouragement to love yourself now.

One day I had a realization.  While although the media and unkind words thrown at me as a teen may make it more challenging, ultimately, I am responsible for my self-worth.  Not my husband.  Not my friends.  Not my parents.  But me. I need to believe in me.  For the first time in my life I started doing things for me.  For no one else, but for my own satisfaction.  In this journey I’ve learned so much about who I am as a person, a wife, a friend, and honestly…a photographer.

One of my most favorite things in the world is taking beautiful images of women. Today.  As they are right now.   For so many years I hid from the camera and it kills me to know that there are millions of women doing the same thing.  I want to stop the hiding.  Every woman deserves beautiful images of themselves.  Beautiful is not in a certain hair color, age, or size.  Beautiful is before and after kids.  Beautiful is a size 2 and 22.

I aspire to cultivate confidence in women by photographing their beauty, their smiles, their laughter …that’s why I photograph women.

Thanks for taking the time to learn why I do what I do and why I feel it’s my calling.  I hope you’ll join me.  I love to photograph beauty and love.  If you, your daughter, your mother, your sister, your best friend, or even your hubby want to me to capture beauty and love, I’m here!