You don't have to TRY.

When I first watched Colbie Calliat's new video "Try"- I kind of thought it was a little ingenuine and unrealistic. Then I thought about it, and I realized the important message it sends to women of every age, race, type and I realized why Colbie decided this message was important. It isn't just about not wearing makeup. If you only look at it from that perspective, I don't think you will gain as much from it. It's about understanding that you don't have to TRY. How does this have anything to do with boudoir photography? I'm getting there!

Over the last couple of weeks, many people have made small (almost unnoticed) comments about how they aren't ready "yet" and how nobody wants to see them "like that". Although I completely understand how they feel- this idea that we have to reach some sort of outward beauty "finish line" in order to be worthy of self acceptance is just ridiculous. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't try to do things to improve your outward appearance (and sometimes your health)- but I don't think it should hold you back from living and being daring. You shouldn't care about what others will think. You should care about what you think about yourself. That is my favorite message that Colbie portrays in this video. Instead of working on how you look, work on how you feel about how you look. Inward beauty RADIATES. That's the whole reason I want to do boudoir photography. I want to show people that you don't have to TRY. You already are. You've already arrived.

I don't say all of this because I've already figured this all out. I haven't. I'm insanely guilty of feeling like I can't wear a two-piece anymore, like I can't wear a sleeveless shirt, like I need makeup to be around certain people, or like my hair has to be straightened in order to not look "a mess". But when I really think about it, deep down, I like me. I'm perfectly okay with the girl who takes her makeup off at night and I'm perfectly okay with my Hermoine hair that never cooperates with a straightener. I'm only worried about how others will feel about it and that, my friends, is the problem. Do YOU like YOU?

-Taylor Made