Bold Beautiful Perfect

Rachel, Bay St. Louis

 

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“True beauty has many components: strength, grace, resilience, giving, and sacrifice.”  – Rachel

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Tell us about yourself.

I am a 32 year old wife, mother and entrepreneur. I have a degree in horticulture and I have run my own floral design business for 9 years (Pine Hills Floral). I also help manage my family’s garden center and am the third generation to do so. My husband is a firefighter and also manages the family business. I have a 2 year old son and a 1 year old daughter who have filled our lives with immeasurable joy.

 

How did you come to understand your own beauty?

Growing up I viewed beauty as mostly outward. My physical beauty, that of others, nature, design, etc. It was not until becoming an adult and especially a mother that I learned true beauty. It is made of many components: strength, grace, resilience, giving and sacrifice, to name a few. Motherhood has given me a crash course in all of these and I’m forever grateful. I have a greater respect for the strength of my body and heart. I’ve learned the most important measure of success is what I can give to others. I gave up every aspect of my former life before having children to give them the life they deserve. Everything I do is for them and I would never do it any other way. Awards and accolades are nice but my greatest accomplishment is raising these tiny, sweet children to be caring, confident and loving adults. Motherhood has been the ultimate revelation of beauty for me. A new woman was born the day my children were also born. A stronger, more confident, more giving, more loving and a more beautiful woman.

This project is all about inspiring women to see their beauty. What parts of your story can you share to help women to understand their own beauty?

Beauty has nothing to do with outward appearance but everything to do with inner resilience and appreciation. In learning to appreciate, love and respect others, you must begin with yourself. Once you can accept and love yourself, beauty flows through and out of your heart easily. The more love you give, the more love you feel. The more love you feel, the more beautiful everything and everyone seems. Beauty is more of a state of mind and a way of life that it is anything else. Seeing beauty is a choice, in yourself and in others.

 

 

Tell us about your experience with the photo shoot.

I have felt so honored since being chosen. Growing to love my postpartum body and frazzled state of mind has been a process. I was very self conscious at first but soon grew amazed by these beautiful babies I had grown, fed and nurtured. I was amazed that I could meet all of their needs even though I had never done anything like this before. I feel like a better version of myself and it meant so much to be reassured in that. The fact that someone else saw my beauty and appreciated it has given me a whole new level of confidence that all new moms need sometimes.

I had a wonderful experience. I felt pampered and appreciated the whole time. I felt my strength and beauty come out and insecurities melted away. I felt like my true self and my best attributes were able to shine through.

Thank you for appreciating true beauty and bringing it out in others through photography and this project!

 

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Are you ready to see your beauty in a new way?

To book your own Portrait Session, contact us through the inquiry form below.

 

Much love,

Brandi

Award Winning Portrait Photographer