Iris
How do you currently feel towards your physical body?
I’m feeling a shift from winter to spring energy as I move from stillness to movement after a hermit phase. Pilates and yoga are helping me rebuild my strength and flexibility, while I learn to honour my health and the natural rhythms of my cycle. Most of the time, I feel good about my appearance, but my perspective can waver depending on my mood, cycle, or time spent on social media. Lately, I’ve felt excited and motivated by the tone and posture improvements from my new movement routine!
When you’re in front of the camera, how do you feel as a woman expressing yourself?
Lately, I’ve felt clunky, awkward, and shy in front of the camera - a stark contrast to how I used to feel. It’s been a humbling but motivating reminder to reconnect with my authentic self-expression.
Do you struggle to express / show your body? Why?
Living in bikinis and expressing myself through movement has always felt natural to me. However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed more resistance in maintaining that freedom. I’m currently working through the negative blocks that have built up over the past couple of years to feel grounded and free in my self-expression again.
How would you describe this OASIS to your friends?
Mae’s photography captures the raw, organic beauty of nature and blends it seamlessly with the femininity and sensuality of her subjects. Her grounded yet playful energy makes every session easeful and empowering. She strikes a perfect balance between offering flattering direction and allowing natural expression.
In what ways has your relationship with your body evolved over time?
I’ve been fortunate to feel comfortable in my body for much of my life. Growing up, I fit into the Western beauty ideal, competing in dance competitions and beauty pageants. I perceived my body as a creative canvas from girlhood - playing with makeup, hair, nails, styling and self timer photoshoots in farm paddocks. I have a strong fascination with what my body can do, what shapes I can make. Turning 27 marked a shift; I no longer felt like a 'young person,' which brought changes in confidence and an evolving sense of identity that I’m still navigating.
The best part of my shoot was the realisation that I didn’t actually look clunky and awkward through Mae’s lens. I squealed, jumped and teared up in the kitchen when the previews came through and shattered my negative self beliefs in seconds.
What made you want to do an empowerment shoot like this?
Creative shoots are something I have done regularly to express my creativity and meet other creatives for years. In the past, I have always felt confident and empowered in these settings, but I took a break as my confidence started to fade. I chose an empowerment shoot with Mae to rebuild my confidence behind the camera again after having a couple of years off the personal creative shoots that I always used to enjoy and were “just for me”.