Cleo has joined me in the studio several times now and each shoot has been an absolute joy!
We’ve explored different sides to her each time and we’ve certainly captured magic.
Knowing Cleo’s history and autism diagnosis, I was honoured to capture Cleo this time in a way she’s never been photographed before…
Cleo’s shoot, in her own words:
“I’ve enjoyed shoots with Jo multiple times and I’ve found these shoots can make you view yourself in a different light.
I was abused in general for years, including sexual abuse.
Before I met Jo, I looked in the mirror and saw someone not worth anything, so I decided to change that and make myself feel beautiful.
I believe makeup doesn’t make you look more beautiful, it’s more about how you feel when wearing it.
So I decided in my recent shoot, that I wanted to show the world the real me.
A natural version where I am just ME.
As well as the trauma I’ve endured, I am autistic and I think it’s important for more autistic people to see their worth and realise they are amazing even though they are different.
Different, not less.
Makeup doesn’t make you more, it just makes you comfortable.
The truth is I only wear makeup creatively for my shoots with Jo!
This shoot was about realising that I am beautiful when natural too.
The lesson…
Don’t be afraid to go without makeup, and just be you.
I highly recommend that if you feel worthless and need to feel more like yourself, try a shoot with Jo and see what everyone else sees in you.
Maybe you’re needing to embrace your autism or something else that made you struggle with your own image.
If you’ve been abused too, don’t let that define you.
Take your power back.
You have to see the true you in order to see that their comments were worth nothing.
These shoots with Jo are a great way to shatter trauma and find yourself again.”
Thankyou Cleo, an emotional read, I’m sure we can all agree.
What an honour.
Beautiful.
Jo x
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