AS FEATURED On

On a Saturday in May this year, 14 brave and incredible women ranging from 30s to late 70s stripped down in a studio to create raw and vulnerable images with me. The aim was to create a series of nude images to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the female form, and to help normalise varying shapes and increase representation of bodies on a wider scale. This was a personal project for me, and one I aim to continue and grow yearly.


This project was exhibited during August 2024 at a gallery in Clovelly and included 300+ visitors and events such as Life Drawing, a Panel Discussion and a Body Image Workshop.


ALL IMAGES AND MANY MORE ARE NOW FOR SALE AT THE PRINT STORE BELOW

The experience was empowering and normalising. Standing in a room of very diverse bodies and seeing their beauty – their genuine beauty – was such a grounding and necessary experience for me in my journey to self acceptance.
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.

Lisa

behind the scenes

Why //


Ever since beginning my photography journey in my teens I have been inspired by the female form. For one of my first university dark room assignments (in 2002!), I chose to focus on a series of female nudes, roping my friends into this idea. I wanted close ups of all the the folds and and curves and amazingly, over 20 years later, I am still completely inspired by creating these images. And as I continue to work with women of varying ages, varying body types and stages of having children, I am becoming aware of how much I appreciate making women feel not only seen and valued, but also still beautiful, in their most stripped back form. I don't have a client wardrobe as I want women to see their beauty in their own space. Women often fail to see their beauty as they age, and certainly within their nude state, so I really want to challenge that.


Through my series of Motherhood Sessions over the past year, I am so aware how much women not only crave this but need this. I am told again and again how empowering the sessions made them feel and how beautiful they felt in their most natural form. We have all collected rolls, dimples and scars as we age, and I aimed to showcase all these beautiful aspects of the female form, and create a series of images which are intimate and soft. I wanted to keep everything as simple as possible. Just the bodies and plain background and let the forms speak for themselves. No distracting outfits or expressions.


Just celebrate the female naked form. Without the need for it to be sexualised in any way. And not for the male gaze.


The feedback from the day was that it was an extremely liberating and empowering experience for all women involved.

What an honor it was to be involved in this life changing experience. Hard to believe that my biggest fear could transform into the greatest gift. I felt humbled to be involved in this beautiful project which celebrates the diversity of the female form, reveres change, and encourages empowerment and embodiment.

The whole journey was inspiring and empowering.

PARTICIPANT

Thanks for offering me such a wonderful opportunity to experience my relationship with my body in this way, and for holding the process with a lightness of touch and a gentle ease.
It was precious and memorable.

PARTICIPANT

THE BODY PROJECT COMING SOON - PUT YOUR DETAILS BELOW TO STAY IN THE LOOP

MARTINE PAYNE

Portrait photographer based Bronte, Sydney.

hello@martinepayne.com
0413 333 672

photographer

Follow me on Instagram to stay in the loop
@martinepaynephotography