This video of the social experiment by Dove has been shared around the internet in the last few weeks, and some may have seen it already, but I still wanted to share it on my blog. Despite the corporate interest behind the Real Beauty Sketches, it has a very special meaning and message.
Women are their own worst beauty critics. The stats on their page say only 4% of women consider themselves beautiful. As a photographer who works with people I hear it all the time “I don’t look good”, “I hate my photo been taken”, “This is not my good side” etc. Our self-perception is so different from what others see in us and our appearance. We have a very distorted view of ourselves. Including myself. I felt very insecure about how I looked when I was a teenager. I was very skinny, tall, and looked very awkward. I partly still see myself this way (although I’m far from being skinny now!). I think one of my ears is slightly higher than the other one, my teeth are all over the place and I could go on and on. With time I think I’ve managed to let these judgemental thoughts go. I don’t think I’m beautiful or pretty, or anything. I guess I just don’t think about it!
As a photographer I see people differently from how they see themselves. I see so much beauty when my couples open up in front of my camera. Happiness shows on the outside and then people just glow 
Some say “You managed to make us look good”. But I didn’t. It’s all you. I just managed to capture that moment in time, the real beautiful you, when you are not afraid and you let go.
“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years”. – Audrey Hepburn
“There is no exquisite beauty… without some strangeness in the proportion”. – Edgar Allan Poe