When I came across Sheerle's Instagram page, I could literally feel her sensual, goddess-y, Divine feminine energy coming from the screen. It wasn’t only her breathtaking beauty that struck me, it was the way that she honored her body and her being. It was the unapologetic way that she embraced her womanhood with love and confidence. I sensed it was coming from a deep place, a place where she’d been through shit and came out stronger on the other side.
In the past I’ve told people, “I don’t photograph models, I photograph real women.” Well, funny enough, models ARE real women.
Some may fit more into the imposed beauty standard, but we still don’t see the full picture when we open up a magazine. We generally don’t see stretchmarks and body hair. We don’t see women with bare faces. We don’t see the layers of body image issues, eating disorders, trauma, or other struggles that this woman may have gone through.
So while Sheerle has modeled professionally over the years, this shoot wasn’t about working or selling anything or fitting any of kind of mold. It was about creating a space for her to embrace her femininity on an even deeper level.
It was about her saying, “I don’t want any makeup,” and me supporting that.
It was about her saying, “fuck it, I don’t want to shave my armpits today.”
It was about her connecting, moving, feeling, and appreciating how far she’s come on her journey…
Sheerle is incredibly insightful and has so much wisdom to offer the world.
I was honored to able to sit down and ask her a few questions about this special experience we shared together.
Sheerle said, “Photography in the past has actually been traumatic for me. I’ve had photographers who didn’t respect me or the art we created together so I’ve learned to really be specific about who I work with.
I use photography as a way to document my journey but as well as share it with others. It’s a glimpse into my essence.”
How was this session different than those traumatic experiences you’ve gone through?
”Firstly, I loveeeeeeed that you were or are religious and a woman.
It was a dream being able to find commonality and passion for liberation of women and their bodies.
Before the session, I felt excited. During I felt soooo comfortable and seen and beautiful. And after I felt really free and beyond happy with the outcome.
I feel I gained a deeper sense of sisterhood.
I really loved that you, Rhonda, and I were a team of badass women and our intention behind the creation was just love for our bodies and to create art out of that love.
When I saw the pictures the first time, I was honestly shocked at how incredible they turned out. Being captured by a woman is so different than men. I felt you captured a more wholesome version of me whereas with many men they capture the version of me that they see which tends to only be sexy.”
What message do you hope these images convey to women?
“I hope my images will convey self-love.
Despite what your body looks like, it’s still your home. If you can start loving your home now you’re more likely to take the steps that feel aligned with you to truly honor it. But it first starts with being able to say you love your body.”
That is so beautiful. Can you tell me a little bit more about your relationship with your body hair? I really loved that you chose to embrace it for this session.
“So I believe all of us have body hair shaming deeply engrained in us, and I am a truth searcher.
I always ask myself, do I truly believe this or this societal programming? With the body hair, I came to understand it’s both. I love having no armpit hair, but I also love not shaving.
I like spending my precious time doing other things honestly. Just like men are accepted with hairless chests or hairy chests women should Have the same freedoms. It comes down to you making up your mind that despite what anyone else thinks you’re going to be okay with yourself.”
How did you feel about posting these images or posting nude images in general?
“I’ve done a lot of work around judgement and nudity. I overcame it a long time ago, and these days the people who don’t like it have already unfollowed me and created space for new followers who truly love me for me to enter. My followers are amazing and respectful and for the few who aren’t I try to communicate kindly, but if I see they don’t respect me, I just block them and move on with my life.”
After this experience, I recommend your services to every woman I meet.
Mainly because you have a gift in bringing out the beauty in every woman.
I truly believe all women are beautiful, but when they don’t see it in themselves, they don’t know how to express it to the world.
You have this gift of bringing it out.”
Hair by Beauty by Rhonda
Follow Sheerle @sheerle.dove
Kodak Film // Processed and scanned by Panda Labs
