CanTeen ‘Look Good Feel Better’
A few months ago I received a call from Sarah Apiata from CanTeen, the NZ organisation supporting young people living with cancer. She told me about the organisation ‘Look Good Feel Better’ that they were working in conjunction with to offer a make-up workshop for some of their young ladies (specifically CanTeen Patient members) to attend as part of a ‘pick me up’ experience.
I had heard about this before and it always made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I am intrinsically drawn to anything that helps boost self esteem, self worth and self love as we all could do with a little more!
I snuck into the boardroom early and sat quietly as Sarah facilitated the course. There were giggle fits, selfies, embarrassing stories and even the odd snort of laughter. It was simply beautiful. I am avid people watcher, I could sit and watch people for hours. Sitting amongst people allows me to observe how they interact, it gives me clues about each individual and I instinctively see a snippet of their true selves with natural body language.
Often when we are placed in front of a camera we ‘perform’ in the way that is expected of us. Our facial expressions change and we are no longer authentic. So, to sit in the room for 30 minutes allowed the girls to suss me out a bit…and for me to do the same. I needn’t worry about them working comfortably with me…as what unfolded in front of me still gives me goosebumps.
One by one I took each young lady aside and sat with her and took their portrait. One by one they transformed in front of me. They melted into their bodies and skin and looked so comfortable, relaxed and soulful. I don’t know whether its that these young women have a different perspective in life or that they just felt at ease, but each and every single girl just shone. After a few clicks of my shutter I would show them the photos I had taken and within seconds I could see their shoulders drop and their authentic selves appear, just as I had seen in the room before.
My goal for the day was to boost their self image even just a little bit as I knew that some were going through chemo or had just started. Whilst I didn’t know their individual stories, I knew that the treatment they were receiving or had received in the past, mustn’t be very cool and that their journey would be or had been challenging to say the least.
These girls in front of me were brave warriors, sheros, they were fierce and they were quietly stoic…
One absolutely stunning young woman sat down in front of me quietly and gave me a coy smile. I moved my camera around her, looking for the best angle/light, asked her to tilt her head slightly, bring her chin forward and ‘click’, I pressed my shutter. I turned the camera around to show her what I saw. She looked, paused, looked again and I saw tears falling from her lids. We shared a quiet moment together without talking, then laughed that we needed to wait a bit longer for her eyes to ‘recover’. This moment was beautiful, for I could show her the beauty that I saw…and I think she saw it too.
Sarah explained to me later in a text that cancer has a way of changing the way people see themselves and that for the first time in a long time, this gorgeous girl saw herself in a different light (insert feel good moment and the reason why I love my job so much).
After the few shoots with the girls, I forgot about my ‘goal’ and intentions for being there and it switched to what they were giving me.. what I was feeling from them and the energy they were un intentionally radiating. These girls reminded me that to be in your current moment, with yourself (contently) is the best place to be. That health is more valuable that wealth, that time is more important than stuff and that family and support is everything.
Thank you Sarah for calling me that day and letting me show these amazing young ladies just how precious and beautiful they really are.
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