Mariana Moll: Did you know photography has the power to drastically change the way we see ourselves? Michelle Moll: We’re here to tell you how we discovered this, and how we’ve transformed the self-esteem of thousands of women, including our own self-esteem. MI: Hi, I’m Michelle. MA: And I’m Mariana. We’ve been partners for eight years in a photographic studio focused on sensual photography. We’ve also been sisters for 34 years. (Laughter) And in spite of us being very close, we’re very different people. We have different likes, lifestyles, and beliefs, but there is one thing that has always united us, and that’s the fact that we’re women - that and a few glasses of beer, (Laughter) once in a while. MI: Well, if you’re a woman and are watching us, you know very well how it can be difficult and painful to be a woman in society. There are many aesthetic standards and rules to be followed - many behavioral rules. And when the issue is sensuality and sexuality, everything becomes even more prickly for us. When it comes to photography, we know very well that photography, especially sensual photography, has always had a more oppressive side, because historically it was made for men by men to please male appetites, which didn’t take into consideration what women thought about their own sensuality and sexuality, which is much broader and comprehensive than the male vision. It’s clear that with so many rules and things, we were never able to see ourselves and fit ourselves into any pattern, because they taught us that only a certain type of woman deserves to exercise her sensuality and sexuality. When we don’t fit in as one of these woman, we go into a kind of limbo, trying to reach this ideal to be able to exercise our own sensuality. And this results in us not being able to realize and see our own beauty. MA: But it’s clear we didn’t realize the things Michelle said out of the blue. When we started to do sensual photos, the original idea was only to democratize a little more the type of sensuality, these types of bodies. And although the flag of self-acceptance is implicit in this idea, we did not realize the power of transformation we had in our hands. It was when we started to coexist daily with women, photograph them, have conversations, listen to their pains, etc., that we realized that we were entering into much deeper places in the intimacy of these women and the relationship they had with themselves, and we could see how problematic and distorted the relationship of these women was with their own image. This coexistence gave us the opportunity to also realize this in ourselves and, of course, start working on this using photography. MI: One thing that we realized was that we are exposed to many images - social networks, magazines, television, theater. Everyone works to create an ideal for women that many times doesn’t correspond to reality. In fact, it almost never corresponds, and we begin to understand, through life, that is what an ideal woman is. If we aren’t within this pattern, we question ourselves, and then the comparison factor becomes very negative, because you start believing that you want and need to be one way, but you’re the other. This comparison makes us unable to see our own beauty. MA: At the end of the day, we often look to the outside and rarely to the inside, and we end up creating a self-awareness gap in our lives, and this void interferes directly with how we relate to ourselves and how we relate with others, with all the demands that Michelle cited - how we behave ourselves, how we are required to act - making us all sick, eventually not wanting to have sex with the light on with a partner, being embarrassed by our own sexuality and our own sensuality, being embarrassed to wear a piece of clothing, and feeling inadequate. Not having a sense or worth is just a symptom of all this, this evil that infiltrates into our lives. So, what we realized and turned into a purpose is that it is essential that we learn to deal with what society imposes on us and that we change this relationship with our image. MI: Over time, we realized that photography actually has this power to help us with this issue, because when you make a beautiful image of someone, when you manage to photograph someone with a kinder and more caring look, and you make a beautiful representation of this woman, she creates a different relationship with her image. As photography is a very visual thing, she actually sees there that she is pretty, she is beautiful - she manages to see beyond what she normally sees. So, if they are photographed, if they see more, create a familiarity with their own image, and get to know themselves, it makes them feel more comfortable in their own skin. MA: Folks, it’s not normal to dislike your own image. It may be common, but it’s not normal. And you, do you like your own image? Do you recognize yourself when you look at a photo, when you look into the mirror? How does this influence your relationship with yourself and people around you? So we want to invite you to reflect a little more about this and to wake up from this trance, this mantra of insufficiency, that says you are not good enough. And what we suggest if that you start to do this in you own house, using your own cellphone. So begin photographing yourself more, creating a relationship with the camera. Photograph yourself from all angles, and look at yourself more. Recognize the angles that you like most and like least. Really create a familiarity with your image as a whole. It’s also important to remember that things you consider to be “defects” many times are just the reflection of good things we chose to experience. For example, barbecue with friends, lunch with family, and grandma’s cake, (Laughter) Wrinkles and scars are proof of life, proof that you’re still here battling, proof you’ve overcome obstacles. This is all really beautiful because our body tells its story. MI: So forget the others. Forget the comparison. Redefine what your own image wants to say to yourself. Reconnect and recognize your full potential. It’s worth remembering that self-esteem isn’t a place, it’s a path we walk. MA: And as it is with every path, you will need a map. So why not let the map of your own body initiate this self-acceptance process so that you can see yourself in a sweeter and healthier way?
