If the idea of being photographed naked terrifies you — same.
And to be fair, it's hardly a surprise that many women feel this way. From the moment we're born, we're bombarded with messages about how we should look, feel and present ourselves to the world. It's a relentless onslaught of impossible standards, and it starts so young that we barely even notice it happening.
We're taught to scrutinise every inch of our bodies, to pick apart every perceived flaw until we're left with nothing but a laundry list of things we need to change. We're taught not to take up space; not to be noticed.
We learn to compare ourselves to others, to measure our worth by how closely we resemble the (often photoshopped) images we see on social media. We're constantly told that we're too fat, too thin, too tall, too short, too... something.
So when an opportunity comes along to throw all that conditioning in the bin and be seen in our most vulnerable state, it's a brave person who steps forward and strips off.
But that's exactly what a group of 12 women did when Sydney photographer Martine Payne launched The Body Project.
Watch: Women share their thoughts on being part of The Body Project. Post continues below.
Martine's journey into photography began as a teenager, during a transformative moment in the darkroom.
"Someone showed me a black and white print from the dark room. And I just was like, 'That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,'" she told Mamamia.
This fascination led her to pursue photography through school and eventually to UNSW's College of Fine Arts (COFA) in Paddington. "I didn't want to be an artist and I didn't want to work in the commercial space, so I left photography," she explained. But after working in advertising for several years, a redundancy led her back to the camera.
"I just picked up my camera again and just started shooting for fun," she said.
This return to photography evolved into a thriving business focused on raw, vulnerable, and authentic portraits, which naturally gravitated towards nude or minimally clothed subjects. "I often think that the most beautiful, real portraits are not necessarily nude, but just stripped back to your most natural form — something very simple, something basic."
The idea for The Body Project was born out of Martine's motherhood photo sessions, which she began after the COVID-19 lockdowns. She noticed a recurring theme among her clients.
"Women were often very reluctant to want to strip down, especially pre- or postnatal or just, you know, as we're ageing," she told Mamamia.
"They have their own self criticism, as we all do about our bodies, and I wanted to really challenge that — not in a 'go and have a glam makeover and see how gorgeous you could be', but the opposite. Just strip yourself down and see how beautiful you are in your natural state."
A safe space.
After putting a call out, a group of women expressed their interest in taking part in Martine's project. And for those who put their hand up, the reasons were varied, but a theme was clear: finding empowerment within their bodies.
"I have been so critical of myself since the changes in having children," one participant said of her reason for taking part. "I want to learn to love my body again in a healthy way. This is a beautiful way for me to thank it."
Said another, "I have had a long journey of feeling comfortable in my body as a bigger woman. I have learnt to love and respect it more and would love to be a part of your project to hopefully share it!"
For another, it was the "opportunity to be part of something entirely different; the opportunity to push myself beyond my comfort zone and perhaps even experience a freedom from habitual constraints; the opportunity to join other women who are doing the same; the opportunity to engage more kindly with my body, which I generally treat with a degree of derision."
And while the women arrived as strangers on the day of the shoot, a bond formed fast, as they shared their insecurities and excitement, their fears and desires.
"The women sat in one part of the studio, and they could chat and have tea, and then they came in one by one in their robes, and then we did the group shots at the end," Martine explained. "And they were just on such a high by the end of the day. It bonded them so beautifully."
All of Martine's subjects left feeling changed.
One woman said, "[It] ended up being way more than I had ever imagined... It was truly powerful and soul nourishing. It was a real eye opener to me that we all compare ourselves to all those around us every day, yet strip us all bare and we are all so different and beautiful in our own way, it's just impossible to compare."
Another shared, "I joined the project to challenge some uncomfortable narratives I hold around my body and to break the cycle of unhealthy dialogue for the sake of my children. I want to be the model I didn't have going up. The sour relationship with my body has been hugely influenced by those closest to me growing up; I must do better for myself and for my little people. I don’t want them to be plagued with the unnecessary self-loathing that I have felt from my prepubescent years.
"The experience was empowering and normalising. It was such a grounding and necessary experience for me in my journey to self acceptance. I loved this experience and I could have stood around naked all day by the end of it all."
One woman put it simply and beautifully: "Hard to believe that my biggest fear could transform into the greatest gift."
"By the end, everyone was really comfortable," Payne added. "All the women were hugging; one of the women said it was the best day of her life."
The diversity of ages and life stages added depth to the project — and it was the older women Martine said were the most comfortable from the get-go.
"We had three women in their 70s. They probably were the most confident of everyone. There was a really lovely, carefree nature to working with them."
Ultimately, the impact of the project on the participants was nothing short of profound.
As one woman shared, "When I reflect on how challenging it was seeing myself (fully dressed!) in photos without self-criticism or honing in on features that I have trouble accepting, to seeing nothing but pure beauty in all its forms, was the most astonishing alchemy."
Encouraged by the project's success, Payne plans to continue and potentially expand the Body Project.
"It's definitely going to evolve, whether it's yearly — I'm already itching to do the next one," she told us.
"I would love for as many women to have this experience as possible."
To find our more about The Body Project, click here.
Feature Image: Supplied; The Body Project/Martin Payne.
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