francesca bliss 3/21/24 francesca bliss 3/21/24

can you boost confidence through creativity?

As adults, we often don’t give ourselves the luxury of playing or creating. Unless something has a direct effect on how much money we make, we don’t bother. Surprisingly, creativity, or simply allowing yourself to create for the sake of playing, has an impact on our confidence. Read more to find out how the concepts of confidence and creativity are linked.

"Women have amazing feminine intuition. It's sweet, playful, sexy, authentic, and our super power. It's a deep down trusted KNOWING.

When not nourished and forgotten, it sounds something like this:

”I don't have a creative bone in my body”, or "I don't have any good ideas." which in turn creates "I don't trust my gut feelings" or my original ideas are not worthy"... "I am not worthy".

This is the beginning of a post by a client for whom I did a branding photoshoot, ArtSea Living studio, a space which provides a safe place for women to explore their creativity.

How true, I thought to myself.

I think whenever we say "I am not [positive adjective]" or "I am [negative adjective]", we limit ourselves.

Labels we stick on ourselves.

Take, for example, a phrase "I am not flexible".

Let's say, you cannot touch your toes, bend yourself into a pretzel, do a handstand, or do other impressive poses that experienced yogis can. By the way, pictured here in a pretzel pose is one of my amazing clients, a yoga goddess named Kesley (you can read about her photoshoot by clicking on the photo).

What would happen if you practiced regularly, say by stretching three times a week, maybe taking a yoga class now and then, or maybe by committing to a regular schedule of yoga classes? If you committed to gaining strength and practicing hand stands (my personal dream), for a period of three months, how would it change you? Do you think stretchability of your muscles would change? Even if after a year of regular yoga classes, if you still can't do a split or touch your toes, do you think you would dare to say about your body "I am not flexible"?

I don't think so.

The same applies to people who say "I am not creative". Sometimes it's easier to slap a label onto ourselves that says "I am not this or that" so we can avoid the vulnerability (aka embarrassment) of having to show up and try ourselves in that thing. By stating "I am not creative" I save myself the embarrassment of creating something that resembles a drawing of a five-year old that people would laugh at.

The crazy thing is that these notions of negative "I ams" and "I am nots" come from very strange places! I used to be the person who described herself as "not creative" or "not talented". I had been drawn to photography for years, but the "I am not creative" label I adopted kept me from trying my hand at it. Do you know where the notion came from?

You see, when I was growing up in the Soviet Union, many of my classmates attended music school where they learned to play piano or violin. I somehow managed to get myself into dance lessons, which I attended four times a week. When my mom asked me if I wanted to learn how to play piano, I told her "How could I possibly fit that into my schedule?" The answer of my ten-year-old self was “no”. As a result, I never learned how to play piano, and I also never became a dancer.

Later on life I started regarding people who knew how to play a musical instrument as "talented" and since I did not learn how to play one, I was not talented, and therefore was not creative.

Do you see how erroneous that thinking is?

Another thing about creativity is that sometimes people think about creativity and art as something reserved for the special few. They think of art as something requiring a degree or diploma that grants you a permission to do it. I was also one of those people! Since I did not have a degree in photography, who was I to practice it and, god forbid, call myself a photographer?!

The truth is (according to me and many others) creativity is something we ALL have access to. It is in our bones, it is our birthright. Just watch how little kids play and you will see that you don't need a piece of paper certifying your creativity for you.

Try saying “I AM creative”, “I have access to the infinite source of inspiration and creativity”, “Creativity is my birthright” and see how it feels in your body.

For me personally, finding photography as my creative outlet gave me more confidence as a person. I feel safe in expressing myself, though I would be lying to you if I said it happened overnight. It has been a process, it still is. (There is also a notion of assigning a lot of my worth to the identity of an artist/creator, but that’s a topic for another story…)

creativity is not reserved for art only.

Creativity is something that we get to practice anywhere in our life, it’s not reserved for creating art only. How you decorate your home, prepare your food, the clothes and accessories you wear and even the way you talk are all forms of expression, CREATIVE expression!

Phrases like "I am not creative" or "I am not flexible" can keep you cozy in the safety of a comfort zone.
They help build a soft padded wall that protects from requests to try something new. It is also a static mindset. "I am not flexible" means that I have been cast into a solid mold and I cannot break free from it.

I believe the LANGUAGE we use greatly affects the perception of our abilities and capabilities, therefore it is best to avoid phrases that cast us into impossibility mode (aka victim mode).

Since we are talking about labels, do you know what most clients tell me about themselves before a photoshoot?

You may have heard it or you may even use it to describe yourself.

I AM NOT PHOTOGENIC.

This phrase means whenever I look at photos of myself, I never like any of them. We don't bother to mention that the photos were taken from the wrong angle, in bad lighting, in a really unflattering pose, by a person who has zero understanding of what’s visually appealing. We just slap a label on ourselves saying "I am not photogenic". As a professional photographer, I can assure you that I can make anyone look photogenic!

If “I am not photogenic” is a label you often use, I invite you to throw it in the garbage. You don’t need it anymore!

One of the reasons a Goddess Photoshoot is an empowering experience for women, is because of the CREATIVE PLAY element inherent in it.

Most of the women I photograph are not professional models. I don’t expect them to know how to pose. To help women look their best I gently guide them through the posing process, suggesting this or that pose, near this tree or holding that leaf.

What happens most of the time is that after we photography for some time, women start listening to their intuition and they start creating poses and ideas themselves! They might be shy at first, I encourage them to follow the hunch and we see where it leads us. Creative play is trying this pose hugging a tree, and then maybe shifting a pose a little bit, and a little more, and the next thing you know, you are climbing the tree, feeling powerful and free, and we create a series of amazing images.

Check out this video, if you are curious to learn more about a Goddess Photoshoot and what you can expect during one.

Removing all the "I am nots" and negative "I ams" from our lives is a way to free ourselves.

It is committing to a growth mindset, trusting and knowing that you can morph yourself into whatever version of yourself you desire. It is knowing that most of the things in life are skills, just like riding a bike or driving a car, that can be learned or cultivated, practiced and honed (creativity is one of them!) And once you have that knowing that you can be anything, how powerful is that?

And to answer the question posed in the title of this story, YES, YOU CAN! Add more creativity to your life and see what impact it has. Good luck!

I hope you enjoyed reading my ramblings inspired by a social media post of a client. What is your experience with creativity? How do you express yourself creatively, how has that changed your life? Let me know in the comments or send me a message, I would love to hear from you!

francesca bliss 12/28/23 francesca bliss 12/28/23

sunrise beach photoshoot in boca raton, fl

A sunrise with a surprise twist that could have been a disaster for some photographers, but was actually a gift for me and my beautiful client Stefanie.

It often starts out the same. My client feels awkward because of needing to bare their soul to me in a photoshoot, maybe slightly freaked out about a stranger pointing a camera at them, and not knowing how to pose on top of that.

As a photographer, I pretend to be confident and project the image of a person who knows what she’s doing. The truth is, I have no clue. I have never photographed you in my entire life! I don’t know what poses will work best, and which ones I can scrap. I don’t know if you will go along with the ideas I offer, or if you will politely decline my suggestions. I don’t know if you can truly drop into your body and move your arms when I ask you to, or if you are going to be conscious of on-lookers, and that will stifle you. Of course, I have been doing this for a while and I should know what I’m doing, but I am nervous before each photoshoot. I think it’s my body’s way of preparing for it - elevating my adrenaline levels so I am pumped up.

When I first met Stefanie in the parking lot, before we walked over to the beach, I immediately admired her thick long ginger hair, a dancer’s body and gigantic green eyes. With a body composition like that, she cold have been a professional model! And I had the honor of photographing her.

After a few “getting to know each other poses” sitting on an apple box, we moved closer to the water. There we did some shots moving and walking.

Midway into our photoshoot, while the sun was gaining momentum above the horizon, and the water and sky were still golden, it started drizzling. My beautiful client looked so beautiful and magical in this sun rain, and these images are my favorite! Just look at her,

As I was not prepared for the rain and the drizzle became quite intense, I ended up taking off my t-shirt and putting it on top of my camera to protect my camera!

At this point, Stefanie was pretty wet too so we decided to take it all the way and created these photos of her in the water:

Some of the other images from this part of the photoshoot that I love are these:

It was time to retire the black dress and Stefanie changed into a bikini. We created a few more photographs in which she shows off her gorgeous lean dancer’s body.

Here are a few final images from our beach Goddess Photoshoot that morning. What a treat it was to photograph this gorgeous goddess!

If you want to see what that morning looked and felt like, check out the video below. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to my channel so you are notified of when I publish new videos.

Love what you see, but worried you wouldn’t look that good in photos? Most of the women I photograph are not professional models and I guide them through the experience so they can feel and look their best. Please reach out and let’s talk about what kind of photos you see yourself in. I would love to create with you! ♥

Goddess Photoshoot for an Empath and Embodiment Coach Diane

Goddess Photoshoot for a gorgeous empath and embodiment coach who looks like a beautiful angel or a swan, waving her soft white wings.

Our first acquaintance happened on Instagram. I would see these videos of her dancing with gorgeous red silk fans on the beach, and I would think to myself, “It would be a dream to photograph this goddess!” When stars aligned, this Goddess Photoshoot happened, in one of my most favorite Magic Forest locations.

Being an A+ student that she is, she prepared a bunch of props, sent me photos of her outfits ahead of time, and created a playlist for her photoshoot.

After the first simple outfit of denim shorts and blue blouse, Diane changed into an almost white outfit. When I saw her standing like this, she looked like a angel.

I held a crystal near the lens to add even more magic to this image above, which I absolutely love.

Diane brought several props to the photoshoot, and we played with some of them next: a red rose, a big white quartz crystal and her white silk fans.

The white silk fans deserve a special mention because I am obsessed with them! They are so mesmerizing to watch that I created a short video of her dancing with them. I am also inspired to buy them for myself and learn how to dance with them.

Here are a few more images form the silk fan series:

and a few more photos among the trees:

We knew our time at this location was running out because we needed to head to the beach for the last part of her Goddess photoshoot. But I had to take her to THE THRONE. I had talked about it endlessly and, naturally, she got so intrigued, that she now HAD TO PHOTOGRAPH THERE!

So what is a throne? It is a giant rock that grew tons of lush fern on it and it started looking like a real throne for a green nature goddess. My first encounter with this rock was when I sneaked into this park breaking the law (trespassing. I wonder if I can get in trouble if someone reads this…) You can read more about the story of that photoshoot here.

The throne photos came out great - so happy about them! She sat on it, roared, tousled her hair and we packed our things to run to the beach before it got too dark. Luckily, that day, the throne was lush and green, because one time, when I advertised it to another client, when we came up to it, it was a giant bald rectangular prism of coral-like rock with not a single leaf on it.

As we were driving to the beach, I kept looking at the golden sun setting in the west. The road that lead to the beach was closed and I had to make a detour. Will we ever make it to the beach? I must have broken every speed limit, but we eventually made it to the beach.

When we made it to the beach, the sky was purple and pink, but the beautiful golden light was long gone. I took a few powerful images of her using available light, and then set up my softbox.

I absolutely LOVE the images from this last part of her photoshoot! She looks like a sultry moon goddess, with the dark sky behind her. I am dreaming of creating more photos like this, maybe during a night of a full moon.

To learn more about the beautiful goddess Diane featured here, follow her on Instagram.

Curious what the photos from YOUR Goddess Photoshoot would look like? Reach out and let’s talk about what wants to be expressed or celebrated.

jungle and ocean goddess photoshoot

Sometimes one word can change everything.

It was the case with this photoshoot. We were going to photograph on the beach next to a park with banyan tees next to it. But it all changed with one message.

jungle goddess photoshoot

Sometimes one word can change everything.

It was the case with this photoshoot. We were going to photograph on the beach next to a park with banyan tees next to it. But it all changed with one message.

I usually ask my clients to send me photos of their outfits because it helps me to visualize their photos better. I knew that one of the outfits she wanted to wear was a bikini. When she sent the photos though, she wrote, “here is my jungle bikini.”

Jungle?

Jungle.

JUNGLE!!!

The bikini was gorgeous but I immediately knew that it didn’t belong next to banyan trees. It could have worked for the beach, but she planted a seed in my head. I had to find a real jungle for her. And I knew just of a perfect place.

I texted her the video from that location to show what I had in mind. She was totally open and loved the idea (working with clients who trust my creative vision is so much fun!)

The problem with Florida weather is that it is sunny one minute and starts storming five minutes later. On the day of the photoshoot, as we were driving to the park, dark clouds started gathering in a very suspicious way.

“I secretly had hoped for a photoshoot in the rain, will I manifest rain for myself this time?”, went through my head.

Whatever the outcome would be, I had a good feeling about this one. Possibly because I am a delusional chronic optimist.

The weather was holding out for us when we got there as we literally jogged to our spot. I loaded all my stuff onto a kids stroller. Most really professional photographers use a special wagon to lug their stuff. They look so organized and put together and here I am, pushing a stroller with no kid in it but a giant soft box on top.

“Get oiled up” I said, as I started setting up the soft box and the flash. I wanted her body to glisten as she was running around in the “wild” jungle. She had brought coconut oil specifically for that. We took some photos against the backdrop of green leaves. My model was amazing at posing, I gave her very few posing prompts.

The lobster claw plant was in bloom and I knew I wanted to create photos with it. After a few shots I thought it would look really cool if she was topless next to the plant.

We heard thunder. Uh oh.

My biggest fear is to be struck by lightning, I don’t really mind the water. And, of course, I needed to protect my equipment. I had envisioned photographing her in the rain and Mother Nature gave us exactly what we needed.

Large droplets started falling from the sky, my gorgeous goddess topless in front of me, started dancing in the rain, soaking up the magic of this moment. These are some of my most favorite photos from her photoshoot. Dancing in the rain, almost nude, feeling rain drops touch her skin, elated by the sight of lush greenery around her, it must have been exhilarating. It was for me, to witness that.

In a matter of minutes it started raining harder and we had to grab out things and find shelter before my flash and camera got completely soaked. We rain to a gazebo nearby. A couple was smoking and playing cards there. My model joined them, as I ran back to get the rest of the stuff. If the photoshoot had ended right at that moment, I would have already felt complete.

The rain slowed down, we regrouped and were ready to continue photographing again.

After we photographed on the large rocks, we saw these flowers that we could not pass so we played there. And she did some dancing in the freshly washed by the rain forest.

She said, “There were some really cool-looking leaves there, can we photograph there?” A Goddess Photoshoot is a way to express yourself creatively while playing in nature. If your intuition calls you to play next to a certain tree or plant, it is ALWAYS A YES for me! And we created one of my favorite shots during that play!

I love everything about this photo. Everything. She is divine. ABSOLUTELY DIVINE.

Ocean Goddess Photoshoot

Our original plan to photograph at the beach was still on. Someone who has a tendency to get carried away in the creative process, I was glad my model felt complete and was ready to go to the beach. We still had three more outfits we wanted to photograph in so we had to work fast!

When we got to the ocean, there was not a soul there. The thunderstorm scared them off, I guess, and now the entire beach belonged to us. We started out by playing on the dunes with wild sea oats, and I absolutely love the images we created there:

And here are some black and white photographs from this series:

She changed into a pearly white bikini and we headed closer to the water. Honestly, if I looked like her, I would just walk around naked everywhere and would have my photos taken all over the place!

My favorite shots are of her lying on the sand, where her feet crossed at the ankles look so much like a mermaid’s tail! :)

And a little change of perspective for you:

It was getting dark. We could have called it a night, and a very successful one at that, but we had one more outfit, and I said, “ok, 5 more minutes”. If I say that, I will probably get carried away for at least 20 more :)

I quickly set up the soft box and we created these photos. We did it fast, very imperfectly, if you will, but I am very happy with how some of these shots came out.

And that was it. A perfect photoshoot with the perfect rain and the perfect weather after that with a perfect goddess. Needless to say, she LOVED the photos. I love them too. I only kick myself for not having filmed the behind-the-scenes of it so I could make a YouTube video about it. But maybe if I had, the photos wouldn’t have come out as good because I would have had to split my attention into two processes. So NO. No regrets here. NEXT TIME she and I will photograph, I will get an assistant who will film us and then I will make an epic movie about our photoshoot too.

Speaking of video, when I sent her the link to THIS video (because her photos are in it), this is what she said:

So definitely check out this video if you want to get an idea of what a Goddess Photoshoot with me looks and feels like.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed these photos and the story.

four archetypes of one goddess: Aura Lila

“For years I had been admiring photos by Francesca Bliss of so many beautiful and empowered women from the community and thought to myself... "Wow, one of these days I would love to do a shoot with her, but I am so not ready for that. I don't even know who I am, what my offering is, or how I want to be seen by the world. When I'm more clear in myself, I will reach out to her."

Fast forward a few years, I was still secretly admiring her from afar and hadn't reached out to her, but she posted about wanting someone to just play with for a Goddess Photoshoot. I still didn't feel super clear about how I wanted to be captured, but I thought "Hmmm, I do love to play, I can definitely do that! This is my chance!"

Hours before the shoot we had planned, I was suddenly feeling lethargic and irritable, uninspired, resistant, and not very playful. I thought, "Ugh, I don't feel like myself at all, this is definitely not how I want to be seen and captured, maybe I should reschedule."

But something told me to just go, to just show up and trust. I reminded myself that I had waited years for this moment, I had made the commitment, and I needed to honor it and just come exactly as I am and that will be enough.

Within minutes of our arriving together in nature, I started to feel relief, grounding, and my playfulness returning. Francesca Bliss had such a gentle way of guiding and drawing out of me my essence in various forms. I remembered my connection to many archetypes that live within me - my playful inner child, my wild warrior, my wise woman, my forest fairy, and my nurturing inner mother.

She followed her inspiration even at times when it didn't make sense, and we trusted it. Somehow she was able to capture all of these sides of me in just one session! I was amazed at her ability to truly see me and capture me so effortlessly. Beyond taking these photos for others to see, I came to see myself more fully and remember who I truly am through the journey.

I now see her often at conscious gatherings and events continuing to capture the beauty of goddess embodiment and empowerment. Her presence as such a loving witness and powerful creative force is a blessing to our community.

“Goddesses, if you are in South Florida, I highly suggest coming to Francesca Bliss for photos that truly portray your soul. Don’t wait until that “perfect time.” Now is the time to allow yourself to be seen and shine!””

— Aura Lila

Oh, how thankful I am for this beautiful testimonial and heart-felt words Aura Lila generously expressed here… Before I melt into a puddle of thankful weeping to have the honor of witnessing these gorgeous women, I must tell you MY STORY of this Goddess photoshoot.

The crazy thing is, I felt exactly the same way as Aura Lila did - irritable, uninspired, and I was definitely not in the mood to do a Goddess Photoshoot that evening! (But of course I was ecstatic when we first scheduled it.)

I got to the park before she did. I parked, got out of the car and walked over to the trees. I was surveying the area that I had seen a hundred times, thinking about how showing up determines 80% of success. I was also thinking about how I don’t cancel things that I commit to, but at the same time wondering how the hell I was going to pull off a playful photography experience when I was not feeling playful at all.

As I was thinking that, I caught a movement with the corner of my eye. It was something brown on the brown ground - a bunny! His cute little ears were almost transparent, he was chewing on some grass, his little nose moving from side to side, and seeing him hop off with his snow white tail bouncing up and down put a smile on my face.

When Aura Lila arrived and parked her dark blue Honda Fit next to my white Honda Fit, “what a coincidence”, I thought.

When we started talking and discovered that we were both feeling “blah” before a photoshoot that we were both excited about, it made both of us laugh and we decided to go into the woods and just see what will come out of this experience. I told her about the bunny and as we headed into the nature, it quickly healed us of our apathy and helped get into the creative process.

playful inner child

Our first stop was near the lake. Aura Lila strikes me as Tinker Bell, a playful and mischievous spirit, and that’s exactly what we set out to portray in the first series of photos. Aura Lila sang her song “Seed” to me as she hugged a plant, danced, and allowed me to capture her expression in these photos.

Wise woman

There was a dried up leaf of a palm tree that caught my eye and that I was called to play with. I get my inspiration from nature and I will get excited by a dried up leaf or a dead stump, but in this case it didn’t seem to make sense. It didn’t vibe with Aura Lila’s playful spirit but because the urge to try it was too strong, I invited her to play with me. Naturally, she agreed. Here are the photos we created in this series, and when she saw the final photos, she did not say these photos didn’t resonate with her. Instead, she said that I captured the four different archetypes that she identifies with: playful inner child, wild warrior, wise woman, forest fairy, and nurturing inner mother.

It felt amazing to know that my inspiration did not lead me astray, but instead helped both of us to go deeper. It always does, so why even question it?

wild spirit

After the introspective and calm wise woman, it was time to unleash Aura Lila’s lioness into the wild. She slipped into a silk slip that was the color of the grass, so she could blend in with the territory, the land where she belonged and where she ruled. I asked her to scream (as I often do during a Goddess Photoshoot, read and watch more about it here) and she claimed the land with her voice:

The color of her dress against the backdrop of the Boca Raton Yamato Scrub Natural Area inspired me to have Aura Lila IN the grass, like a wild cheetah going on a prowl. Here is what it looked like:

I also took several photos using my favorite Lensbaby Composer Pro II because I love the dreaminess it creates in camera:

nurturing and motherly

Aura Lila’s next outfit was an off-the-shoulder crop top and a matching skirt. She looked like a flamenco dancer in it, and needless to say, happily performed for me when I asked her to dance. We played on a path that had a field of fluffies (I don’t know what to call these things in English, so I call them fluffies). The backdrop for some of the photos was a huge oak tree adorned with garlands of Spanish moss. The images we created during this part of the photoshoot are still playful but she looks softer and more nurturing here:

I call photos in which women spread their arms wide or reach for the sky “big poses”. In a pose like this, you take up a lot more space than when you are standing with your arms by your sides. Because you take up more space, you are feeling as if you are physically bigger and this, my friend, increases confidence. I am not a scientist and you don’t need to believe me (because we don’t believe everything we read on the internet) but do believe the scientists in this TedTalk from which I realized the psychological impact of a technique I had been using intuitively!

A few more images from this series:

I titled the image below SURRENDERING TO THE PATH. It speaks to me.

As a creator, as a human, sometimes I question myself about what I’m doing. But I also have a deep INNER KNOWING that this is my path… And I all I need to do is surrender to the process, take it one step at a time.

Keep making connections,

keep showing up,

keep honing my craft,

keep following my inspiration even if it doesn’t make sense at times…

The path of your soul’s purpose will lead you to where you need to get. It’s about following what brings you JOY, delight (that’s my word for this year 2023), it’s about following your bliss. And sometimes it is easy to put something on your calendar that you think will bring you bliss, but showing up to DOING that thing may not feel like bliss, but you gotta do that part too. You gotta show up, inching your way closer to the dream.

This experience with Aura Lila also taught me something valuable that everyone needs to hear:

Keep showing up because you don’t know whose lives you are impacting.

Aura Lila says she had been a fan of my art for several years! She never liked any of my posts and I wasn’t aware that she was a follower of my Facebook page. I didn’t know she existed while my photographs deeply impacted her! The same may be happening to you. You might not be getting much engagement or reach with your social media posts, but you don’t know who is reading and, most importantly, RESONATING, with your message. Keep showing up, my friend!

Before the photoshoot Aura Lila thought “I don't even know who I am, what my offering is, or how I want to be seen by the world.” During her creative play Goddess Photoshoot she expressed VARIOUS VERSIONS of herself. Humans are such multi-faceted and complex creatures. The beauty of a photography experience like this one is that you get to DISCOVER who you are. By removing labels and identities of every date life and playing in nature, the woman can get in touch with her TRUE NATURE. Grounding, relaxing, re-wilding and starting to listen to the voice of your soul will help you understand what you are drawn to and what path you should take.

Oftentimes we don’t get to see how the world sees us, so having a professional photoshoot experience, especially the one that helps you get in touch with your divine feminine energy, allows you to see magic in yourself. “I came to see myself more fully and remember who I truly am through the journey, “ Aura Lila says in her testimonial. Self-discovery or coming to self is a long process, and sometimes the first step is just to show up for yourself in this way.

If this story resonated with you, please feel free to share it with your friends, leave a comment or send me a direct message. I love connecting with you! ♥ And if you would like to talk about what kind of photos we can create during YOUR Goddess Photoshoot ceremony, let’s connect.

my favorite fairy

Photos and stories from three Goddess Photoshoots with the amazing Amy Shine.

Her gorgeous curls, radiating smile, and a sexy Irish accent will make you remember her forever. Whenever I catch a glimpse of her on social media, she is either on Mount Shasta, in Israel, Dubai, or Mexico, teaching one of her access bars, embodiment or other workshops. She is multi-talented, super passionate, and extremely inspiring to learn from, be around, look at and especially work with.

I had the honor of photographing Amy Shine three times, but somehow didn’t get to creating a blog post about each photoshoot. In this story I am sharing my favorite photos from all three photoshoots that I did with Amy, so you can see what is possible to create with one person in different locations. Also, if you visit Amy’s website, you will be able to see how she uses the photos we created together on her website and social media to promote her offerings. Amy has a brilliant graphic designer who is able to take the photos I create and transform them into amazing graphics that reflect Amy’s brand and communicate the energy of her offerings.

Photoshoot number 1:

Golden Sunrise Photoshoot in the woods

For our first photoshoot we photographed at sunrise in the Yamato Scrub Natural area, a 200-acre preserve of Florida wilderness. Amy wore a white and green dress and danced in the tall grass, whispered to the trees, and meditated in the rays of golden light.

Amy is a an Access Bars Facilitator, which means she is a trained practitioner who helps individuals in unlocking and releasing limiting beliefs, thoughts, and emotions through a unique and transformational modality called Access Bars. By gently touching specific points on the head, known as bars, the facilitator facilitates the release of stored electromagnetic energies accumulated over time. This gentle and non-invasive technique prompts deep relaxation and allows for the dissipation of mental, emotional, and physical blockages. The Access Bars Facilitator creates a safe and nurturing space for clients, guiding them towards greater clarity, empowerment, and a sense of expansiveness in their lives. Through their expertise and compassion, these facilitators play a crucial role in promoting personal growth and well-being.

We photograph out in the open field as the sun is rises and its light is soft and golden. As the day gains strength and the light becomes harsher, we move into the woody area with the Spanish moss and tall pine trees that provide more shade.

I love this photo we create that symbolizes coming out of the darkness and into light, emerging from the unconscious into the conscious, from the unseen into the seen.

Our divine feminine power lies in our very nature, that is why I prefer to photograph women in nature. Depending on who I work with, I might even ask them to lie on the ground, to bring that grounding to the whole next level. As I discovered during our first photoshoot with Amy, she is game for whatever artistic idea I have. I asked her to lie on the ground, with cascades of her curls spread around her head as a halo, and standing right above her, I took this shot. There is a look of peacefulness, tranquility, and calmness in her eyes, her hair the color of the Earth, she looks like Mother Nature herself.

Throat chakra activation aka screaming off the top of your lungs is something that I have been offering to women intuitively during every Goddess Photoshoot. What it does is that it gives woman a voice. It gives her a chance to be heard. I talk about this in more detail in this article and you can actually see Amy scream during one of her photoshoots.

This photo is me getting to know Amy’s screams for the first time, and I must admit I absolutely love them!

We also played in the area with the magical Spanish moss, which resembles her hair. Given that Amy is also a movement facilitator, we also incorporate dancing shots in all of her photoshoots. By the way, if you want to see a video of Amy dancing in nature and talking about Dance to Oneness check out this video on my YouTube channel.

Photoshoot number 2:

Golden Light in the Banyan Tree and Pink Sunset over the Ocean

For the second photoshoot we meet at the Spanish River Park in Boca Raton just before the sunset. As the golden light pours in between the branches, I create these portraits of Amy.

I photograph Amy dancing at the root of a majestic banyan tree and also had her dance IN the tree. Climbing trees is a natural part of Amy’s photoshoots, and she did it in all three of her Goddess Photoshoots!

Amy changes into another outfit and we head out of the forest.

I take a few shots of Amy dancing in the dunes with golden wild oats and then head closer to the water. There, Amy channels her inner mermaid, and we create some of my most favorite images of her. I just love how powerful and beautiful she looks in these photos.

It was also during this photoshoot that we filmed a video in which Amy talks about how she got into dance and Accessing the Joy in Body. You can watch it here.

For the very last portion of this photoshoot, when the sun is already behind the horizon, and the color of the sky changed from pink to mysterious pink and golden, we take a few silhouette and mysterious-looking photos on the intracoastal.

Here’s an at-a-glance overview of that photoshoot:

Photoshoot number 3:

Green Fairy in a Magic Forest

Our most recent photoshoot took place in one of my favorite locations that is truly magical. This parks boasts a variety of trees and leaves that dazzle you with their magnificence. And the gigantic dark green elephant-ear-looking leaves make her look like a tiny fairy indeed.

We created some photos of Amy in a black silk slip next to a mysterious royal poinciana tree.

We also played next to a puddle in which I captured her reflection. Later, Amy wrote a beautiful post about addiction and shared it with one of the photos from the puddle series and the image and text went to together so beautifully and made such a powerful impression.

I love playing with harsh light lately. When you are a new photographer, they teach you to stay away from it and that’s what I did. But now I love how dramatic harsh light is and what you can create with it. Here are a few portraits of Amy where the light of a gaining strength (but still golden) sun is hitting her directly in the face. When I look at these photos, they make me happy. And that’s what our art is supposed to do, right? Make US (creators) happy. ♥

For one portion of the photoshoot Amy donned this light blue dress and she looked like a ballerina in it. Well, she is a dancer, but this outfit gave her a different kind of elegance and accentuated her posture. I love the photos we created in it:

Of course, there was also tree climbing and dancing in the forest:

My favorite images from this session are these ones. I love her gentle expression and mysterious smile as she looks at home among these gigantic green leaves.

The overview of the photos from this photoshoot looks like this:

I hope these photos got you curious about Amy and the magic she holds. Please check out her website and Instagram to learn more about her. It can also be a good exercise in spotting the images we created and how she uses them in her marketing.

the photoshoot that almost didn't happen. twice.

Over twenty girls answered my model search inquiry in a Russian group in Adana, Turkey. My whole family moved there for six months to spend time with our kids’ Turkish grandparents and relatives and I thought it would be amazing to do some art experiments in beautiful landscapes that are so different from South Florida, where I currently live. Out of that sea of Russian-speaking beauties who got excited about a free photoshoot that I was offering, I photographed only two.

I guess it applies to a lot of things in life. We see something shiny and exciting and we are a hell YES for it. But then the mundane details of figuring out the steps, and actually TAKING the steps, and then god forbid there are obstacles in the way, and no matter how shiny the object was and how badly we wanted it, we lose interest.

This is what happened to many of the girls. They got excited about a free photoshoot by an American photographer - that was their shiny object. They were a hell yes for it and messaged me saying they were interested. Then we needed to figure out when they were available and what they would wear, and somehow that got difficult. Or maybe they didn’t value that shiny object because they had no skin in the game, they were not invested in it. Another moral here: people don’t value free stuff.

Whatever the case was, this girl Katya is the heroine of my story. After she messaged me about wanting to be a model in one of my photoshoots, we started discussing the locations and outfits.

The location where I wanted to photograph was in the mountains, half an hour outside of the city. In my vision I saw her wearing a light flowy dress as she was looking over the expanses of a country she made her second home. The only problem was that in that mountain area the temperatures were lower than in the city and it was wintertime! It wasn’t too cold maybe around 15 degrees Celsius (60 F), but still.

Katya seemed to like my vision. Then she disappeared for a few days, and later sent me a message that she might not be a suitable model for my art project.

What happened? Am I not meant to have any photoshoots in Turkey? Am I cursed?

I sensed that something was going on and sent her a voice message explaining that we can do it in a way that works for her (the people pleaser that I am - gosh! I though I was over that…) The reason she got scared to do it in the mountains was because she was afraid to get sick. After our conversation she was back in the game again! I don’t regret compromising in this situation because I still got my model and we photographed in a beautiful place.

We decided to photograph in a gorgeous area in the north of the city near the dam, where my husband took me on one of the rides around the city. I was in love with that place and was looking forward to photographing Katya there.

But it almost didn’t happen. Again.

Katya didn’t have a car and the plan would be that my husband and I would pick her up. My husband had a brilliant idea that we rent a car right before we head to the photoshoot and then have the rental car for the weekend, instead of using his dad’s car. Do you see any potential problems with that? I was almost in tears as we were sitting in the rental car place and the guy was saying to us that he couldn’t give us a car for some reason. It was fifteen minutes before we were supposed to pick up Katya. The one and only photoshoot that I managed to set up in Adana might not happen after all.

I am not sure what happened exactly but fifteen minutes later we did have a car and as we were driving through traffic to pick up Katya, she texted back saying “Don’t worry, everyone is always late in Adana”. Even though Katya didn’t mind us being late, the sun surely wouldn’t wait for us, so we had to hurry.

We made it to this gorgeous place just in time. The sun was about to set, and Katya looked gorgeous in her red lace dress. As most other women, she was a little nervous in the beginning, but after I guided her through posing, she started feeling more relaxed and natural.

Once the sun hid behind the horizon of tall buildings, it was officially blue hour and Katya had changed into a simple outfit of a white jeans and a blue sweater and we took a few photos by the water. Besides a couple fishermen meditating over their fishing rods, and my husband waiting in the car, there wasn’t a soul around. It was serene and that entire outdoor studio of rocky mountains, glass-like water and enormous mountains belonged to us. The photoshoot that almost didn’t happen twice, finally happened.

Here are some behind-the-scenes from our photoshoot:

And a few more images of the gorgeous Katya:

Did Katya’s story get you thinking about what would a portrait photoshoot look like for you? Whether you are just toying with the idea of having your photos taken or are ready to schedule one, I am happy to answer any questions you have. Please reach out and let’s start the conversation!

portrait photography session for a military veteran Courtnee

A portrait photography session for a military veteran named Courtnee in West Palm Beach.

“I’m a Goddess!

I don't think I am the only one

but I will confess that I haven't ever thought

I was beautiful.

As a kid, I was the skinny, freckled faced Punky Brewster lookalike.

I compared myself to everyone.

Especially all those women my mind had convinced me

that were prettier than me.

I didn't love myself for most of my life

and had no concept of self love until

I looked in the mirror one day and didn't know who I was.

I had been a chameleon, changing who I was to suit others but never myself.

Since that day, I have poured into me

and continued to discover who I Am.

That meant loving my body

and as much as that is still a work in progress...

I am embracing it as much as possible.

This woman here has been through 20 years of military service

and has seen things many couldn't or wouldn't want to see.

You can't see my injuries and scars but they are there.

Wearing a uniform for 20 years meant

I hid behind the name tape on my chest

and found comfort in looking as uniform as the women beside me.

It wasn't until I retired that I started to embrace my true divine feminine energy.

That is what you see here.

A woman whose is like a lotus that has grown

and blooms despite the muddy environment in which it lives.

Blooming out of darkness and radiating for all to see.

Thank you Francesca Bliss for capturing such a deep but beautiful part of me and my journey.”

When I see women and then get to know their stories, it always amazes me how these gorgeous, powerful, regal creatures have gone through periods of being unhappy in their skin. And I’m ecstatic when I see women coming to embrace their quirks and “imperfections” and start loving themselves and feeling powerful and juicy in their skin. I hope the work I do helps along the way in this self-love journey.

The first time I met Courtnee was right before the photoshoot. After she booked her Goddess Photoshoot with me, I did my research, and was intrigued by the tagline she uses - fearlessly freckles. That’s her Instagram handle (@fearlesslyfreckles) in case you want to look her up. And, of course, I was fascinated by her freckles (something that probably caused her a lot of grief as a kid - I remember trying to get rid of MY freckles when I was little. But mine are not as gorgeous as hers. Wait, what? Stop comparing yourself!)

And what makes her fearless is that this goddess was in the military for 20 years!

We photographed in a park that had a pond and lilies were in bloom at that time. Both of us had zero expectations and we agreed that this photoshoot would simply be a play in the park and whatever comes out of it, so be it.

Courtnee had sent me photos of her outfits beforehand and I told her which ones I thought would work best for the location we chose and for the mood of the photos. I loved the dark green dress and when she showed it to me in the parking lot when deciding what to wear first, she said, “I never got a chance to wear this dress. I bought it to go to a wedding but when the pandemic hit, everything was cancelled.” I thought the dress would almost blend in with the green backdrop, so the focus can be on Courtnee’s fearless freckles and stunning tattoos.

Some of my favorite images from this series are the ones of Courtnee looking toward the golden light of the setting sun. That light was pretty harsh and it is what most beginner photographers avoid at all costs - harsh lines that fall the wrong way are a nightmare. But I have been enjoying harsh light lately because it creates very moody images. The trick is to turn the face toward the light, or just slightly away. Courtnee’s most favorite is the one at the top of this article, with her eyes closed, as if internalizing the self-love she is finally welcoming into her life.

For a more dreamy look in photos, I used Lensbaby Composer Pro 35 mm lens. I love Lensbaby and the dreamy out of focus images it creates, like the ones below.

For the second part of the photoshoot we moved to the pond with lilies and Courtnee changed to a green skirt and a top that accentuated her breasts.

The light was softer by now and when Courtnee sat by the pond, she looked like she was the Queen of those lilies who came out ashore to enjoy her Queendom. I wanted to get as close as possible to the lilies, and even had visions of her in the water, but even though I am crazy sometimes when it comes to getting the right shot, safety comes first.

We then walked over to the other pond where waddling ducks graced some of our photos with their model strut. I love the photo of Courtnee looking fearless as ducks make their way past her, minding their business. I love how feminine and at the same time powerful she looks in these photos. And I love the half-crooked smile that you will recognize in the selfies she posts online. We were able to capture slightly different version of her and I can tell these photos will help her learn to admire and love herself even more, as you read her own words in the beginning of this story.

And of course I made her scream into the sky as she was lying on the ground :) This throat chakra activation/sound healing/permission to be loud/permission to take up space, time and wave lengths is a powerful tool I use in most of my photoshoots. It can seem silly, but it is also liberating and empowering. (If you want to learn more about the tricks I use during Goddess Photoshoots, check out this story.)

To sum it up, I had lots of fun playing with Courtnee :) Here’s some behind-the-scenes magic from our photoshoot:

And this is what Courtnee wrote in a review about working (aka playing) with me:

“I discovered Francesca Bliss on Facebook and reached out to her to inquire about her Goddess Photoshoots. She was super professional and provided me times and dates she was available. She was gracious enough to come closer to my city to shoot. I was very comfortable shooting with her, she demonstrated and explained what she was thinking and made it all seem effortless.
I have photographed with other professionals but she was so down to earth and easy to work with. She made me truly feel like a goddess. My gallery was delivered to me today and it's hard to believe that the goddess in those pictures is me. I don't mean that to say she made me look like someone else but she exposed my true beauty so naturally. I truly feel like a goddess in these photos and what better way to celebrate turning 40 and blossoming into the woman I am becoming.

Need to discover your inner goddess? Let Francesca Bliss guide you. She is her own goddess.”

Curious about your own Goddess Photoshoot but don’t know what that might look like? Check out my article 6 Ways to Do Your Goddess Photoshoot and see if any of my ideas inspire you. And feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss your questions, concerns, inspiration in an online or in-person discovery call.

Remember, having professional photos of yourself taken is a way of honoring yourself, honoring the Goddess within you.

francesca bliss 12/6/22 francesca bliss 12/6/22

portrait photography session on my trip to Adana, Turkey

A Boca Raton based portrait photographer goes to Adana, Turkey for a vacation. These are the portraits of a Dutch-Turkish goddess they create one fateful evening.

We were planning to photograph in the cotton fields at sunset, Ellen and I. Given the fact that I am new to the area, I asked my father-in-law to take me there the day before so I would scout the location and save it on the maps in my phone.

Cotton fields were gorgeous - fluffy snow white pieces the size of my fist were coming out of seed pods and the whole field like it was covered in giant snow flakes.

“I will wear a knit dress (great texture, I thought!), boots and a beret” Ellen told me about her outfit as we were figuring out what colors would work well together. This would be my first time photographing in cotton fields, I was ecstatic.

The day of the photoshoot she comes to pick me up and we drive off to the location that my husband (my technology guru) saves into Ellen’s phone. We start driving.

We drive and chat (her English is excellent, because my Turkish not so much), and we drive some more. And then we drive, and drive, and drive, and there are no cotton fields around.

At a certain point, when I see golden light flood the streets of the city through which we are driving, it dawns on me that it is not in the cards for us to find the cotton fields.

“Change of plans”, I say. “Let’s go to Central Park and photograph there”.

We make it there and jog to take photos while there is still light - the sun is already behind a tall Hilton building. I am just using available light, a 35 mm lens for wider shots and 85 mm for tighter portraits.

As it gets darker and darker, I get really inspired by the view of the mosque against the dark blue sky. I use the street light to light my gorgeous model. As she turn her face up and to the right, she is lit perfectly, and I am very happy with the final shots.

I wanted to create some photos of Ellen looking back at the mosque. I had Ellen turned toward me, but whenever I gave her a signal, she would turn back to look at the mosque behind her. It created beautiful movement in some of the shots and made her hair fly.

Some of my most favorite photos are these:

The moral of the story is this: flexibility is key. If you can’t find what you are looking for, “settling” for another option might be the very option that was meant to be for you at that moment ;)

6 ways to do your Goddess Photoshoot

These 6 strategies for going about planning and preparing for your Goddess Photoshoot will take the overwhelm out of it and give your creative process direction.

The idea of a Goddess Photoshoot sounds exciting, but then the questions of what to wear, where to photograph, what else to bring can overwhelm you. The 6 ways to do your Goddess Photoshoot that I am suggesting below will help answer some questions as soon you decide which method resonates with you.

“Goddess Photoshoot? Uuuu, sounds juicy. But what exactly does it look like?”, women sometimes ask me.

A Goddess Photoshoot is a photography experience.

“So it’s a portrait photography session? Like photos in a studio?”

Kind of. But it is more than just pretty pictures of you smiling into the camera.

I am a portrait photographer - women are my inspiration, and so is nature. And since our human nature in its origin is wild, nature is where I love to photograph my subjects. Nature is a safe place where we can connect to the deepest parts of ourselves, our primal parts, the wild parts of ourselves that we have been suppressing to fit in, to be “normal”, to be liked.

During a Goddess Photoshoot I invite you to allow Your Inner Goddess to come out and play. We play in nature and create portraits of you that show different aspects of your essence. Like an actress in theater who steps into a role, with each outfit change you have the permission to portray parts of you that are wanting to be expressed.

When women see photos of themselves, their perception of self changes. “I never realized what a beautiful, soulful woman I am, thank you so much for showing it to me”, one woman said. Anyway, I am not here to sell you on a Goddess Photoshoot, I am here to educate you on 6 different ways you can go about doing your Goddess Photoshoot.

You can think of the suggestions below as THEMES for your photoshoot. It is something that gives direction and narrows down your options and thus makes it less overwhelming. And if you are deeply spiritual and feel connected to a particular deity, these suggestions will only seem natural.

6 ways to go about your Goddess Photoshoot

**1. EMBODY YOUR GODDESS.**

Have a Goddess Card reading to find out which Goddess energy resonates with you, or what your Goddess archetype is and EMBODY THAT GODDESS during your photoshoot. A Goddess card reading is an intuitive card reading that can be done in person or over the phone.

If you already know to which Goddess you feel strongly connected, you can embody that Goddess during your photoshoot. For example, Claudia of the Red Tent Goddess Sisterhood has a very strong connection to Isis, a Goddess that she has been working with for many years. Claudia used golden wings, an ankh cross and included other symbols of Isis in her photos.

Once you know your Goddess and what colors and symbols are associated with her, we select the location for your Goddess Photoshoot that resonates with her, and your outfits and props are inspired by your Goddess.

Here are several examples of women who did a Goddess reading before their photoshoot. Please note that these photoshoot happened a few years earlier, and I feel like my skills have evolved since then, so don’t judge my photography too harshly :)) Aside from my photography, you might find some of the stories interesting.

Christina as Changing Woman

Mary-Reid as Aphrodite and Diana

2. INVITE THE GODDESS INTO YOUR LIFE.

Think of what you want to bring more of into your life, for example, prosperity, compassion, fertility, creativity, success, etc. Then find out which Goddess boasts those attributes and resonates with you and embody that Goddess. Think of it as an INVITATION OF THAT GODDESS INTO YOUR LIFE. Then all the details of your Goddess Photoshoot will be inspired by your Goddess - from the location, to props and the color of your outfits.

The best example of this type of photoshoot is Lina’s Lakshmi Photoshoot. Lina wanted to invite more abundance and prosperity into her life. That is why she chose to embody Lakshmi and wore a red dress and lavish gold jewelry. Take a look at the behind-the-scenes video of how her makeup was created and how we photographed, and the final images of four-armed Lakshmi on a blue lotus.

3. AWAKEN THE INNER GODDESS.

“I’m a Goddess and I know it.” said a woman named Jennifer Nicole during her consultation once. “I am going to be myself”.

YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF THE DIVINE FEMININE and YOU ARE A GODDESS! Just be you and you have yourself a Goddess Photoshoot.

This type of photoshoot can also be called your INNER GODDESS PHOTOSHOOT and there are two ways to do it:

a) You can either come as you are - just bring several pretty outfits and we will play to create your portraits. Or,

b) spend some time reflecting on what your inner goddess is like (journal about it, visualize, think of what colors you see, maybe even create a mood board of images that inspire you.

Examples of INNER GODDESS PHOTOSHOOTS are:

Powerful and Gentle - Jennifer Nicole’s Goddess Photoshoot

Eliza - includes the behind-the-scenes movie about that photoshoot!

Katie’s Goddess Photoshoot (she is a South Florida Drum Temple leader/facilitator and an amazing digital art creator)

Lourdes’ Sexy over Sixty Photoshoot

An example of “come as you are” inner goddess photoshoot: Sasha’s Palm Beach photoshoot I guess this type of photoshoot is what normal people would call a portrait photography session, but I am not normal :)) And Sasha is such a Goddess - she deserves nothing less than a Goddess Photoshoot!)

4. SENSUAL GODDESS PHOTOSHOOT.

If you feel that at this stage of your life you want to express your sensuality, let it become the main theme of your Goddess Photoshoot. This type of photoshoot can be done in nature or indoors - think boudoir photoshoot, but the main goal is not just the outward seduction, but also a deep connection to your own body and sensuality/sexuality. Depending on how brave you feel, you can be partially nude, completely nude, or implied nude (where you appear nude but breasts or private areas are not showing).

5. ELEMENTAL GODDESS.

“I feel very drawn to fire lately”, Christina said to me before her last Goddess Photoshoot. I have photographed this woman several times and because she is a wordsmith, she writes very poetic essays about her Goddess Photoshoots with me :) This interpretation of a Goddess Photoshoot came to me just recently but I find it very inspiring: ELEMENTAL GODDESS.

Explore the element that you feel drawn to, or YOUR element and we build your photoshoot around it. If it is water, we can create some sensual photos of you submerged in the water, you pouring water, playing with water, or simply being next to water.

6. BRANDING GODDESS PHOTOSHOOT

If you are a healer, a spiritual entrepreneur, or an artist, we can translate your energy into unique photos that you can use not only for your personal enjoyment, but also for marketing of your business. In addition to a two-hour option, this type of photoshoot has a longer and more expensive four-hour version which allows us to strategically create visual content for your upcoming offerings. This type of photoshoot typically requires more preparation, but I guide my Goddesses every step of the way so they don’t feel lost. And the results are also very rewarding - you get a ton of amazing content that you can use for months to come.

Some examples of Branding Goddess Photoshoots are:

Branding Photoshoot for a Holistic Healer and Yoga Teacher - with step by step breakdown of a the branding shoot process and behind-the-scenes magic.

Goddess Photoshoot for a Nomadic Ecstatic Dancer

Personal Branding for a Chef, Health Coach and Green Goddess

Personal Branding for a Goddess

Coming up with a theme for your Goddess Photoshoot gives it direction and takes the overwhelm out of it. I always recommend to my clients that they create a mood board for their photoshoot. Think of all of it as creative play and let your inspiration lead you to, perhaps, discovering parts of yourself that are ready to see the light ;)

And I better wrap up this story now before I come up with 27 other ways to do it, because other themes that come to mind are Warrior Goddess, Wise Woman, Rewild to name a few :)

I hope the examples above help you decide how YOU want to be portrayed. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or send me a private message - I will happily answer! ♥

With love and gratitude,

Francesca Bliss

francesca bliss 10/21/22 francesca bliss 10/21/22

3 goddess photoshoot poses and prompts that work every time

A lot of the things I have been doing during Goddess Photoshoots to help women relax, be themselves, and step into their power have been intuitive. Lately, as I started thinking more about why I do what I do, I discovered the psychology of why these little prompts, or techniques, work!

In this story I will outline the prompts I use to empower women and will show photos from Amy Shine’s Goddess/branding Photoshoot. Amy is a movement facilitator and a goddess of many talents. It was my second photoshoot with her and this time around we photographed in a park near the beach. That location offers access to gorgeous banyan trees as well as the beach, where we played at sunset.

Whenever a photoshoot begins, I expect myself and my client to take about 10-15 minutes to become fully relaxed and melt into the creative process. It’s like a warm up before you start lifting heavy weights. The same with photos - it will take your body some time to get comfortable with the camera pointing at you and I will also need some time to see what angles work best for you.

goddess posing prompt #1: open up that throat chakra!

One prompt that I use in almost every Goddess Photoshoot is this: I ask the woman to scream as loud as she can. We are usually in the forest or on the beach, and there's hardly anyone around so it's not like we are in Whole Foods during evening rush.

The screaming does two things:

1). it is a release of tension, emotions, and sound healing all mixed in one. When you allow whatever you are bottling up to come out, you feel better, your cheeks blush more, you come back to your self in a way. It is also a great way to open your throat chakra.

2). it is permission TO BE and to BE LOUD. If we are on the beach and there are people far away, when I ask my goddess to scream, she looks around and I know what she is thinking. "What might those people think?" goes through her mind. We need to learn to not give a f*ck. We are not bothering anyone, nobody is getting hurt, we are just releasing some stuff by means of sound.

I always lead by example when I show my model what I need her to do: I take a deep breath and I scream as loud and as long as I want to. And it feels so amazing! And after she does get the courage to do it, she laughs or smiles. Maybe it didn't feel good to her. Maybe it felt awkward and horrible even. But she is excited that she is being loud. We have been conditioned to be quiet since childhood and this is her chance to be as wild and as loud as she wants to be. After several screams (we do two or three) it does feel GOOD and we carry on playing in the woods or on the beach and creating beautiful photos of a woman who is claiming her power back. or stepping into her power for the first time in her life.

And here is the video of Amy letting herself be heard over the Atlantic ocean:

goddess posing prompt #2: drop into your body

We don’t even realize how much we are in our mind. A great way for my subjects to feel relaxed is to get them to drop into their body. What I do is I ask my goddesses to dance.

Dance to the music of the trees or waves around you.

Dance to the music if we brought a speaker.

Dance to the silence.

Dance to the music inside your head.

Dance while I am watching intently with my camera and catching your every move. Sound awkward enough? :)

As with screaming or the beginning of the photoshoot, it is uncomfortable at first. It is awkward. But after a while, the woman starts trusting her body, moving in a way that makes her feel good, focusing on her observing herself as she dances, or losing herself as she feels as ONE with the nature around her.

Some of the best photos come out from the dancing series because the woman doesn’t think about posing. Instead, she is flowing, consciously occupying every cell in her body, feeling.

goddess posing prompt #3: take up space

This third prompt echoes the previous one and has to do with being confident and comfortable in your body. I have been using this prompt for years until I consciously realized the power behind it.

There is a TED talk about how to feel confident. The speaker gives an example of how to feel more confident before a job interview. One way to FEEL BIG is to BE BIG in your physical body. Poses that make your body feel big - standing with your legs wide apart and arms above your head make you psychologically more confident.

When I photograph my Goddesses, I ask them to stand with their feet firmly planted on the ground and ask them to reach their arms high toward the sky. “Touch the clouds”, I say sometimes. “Imagine you are holding the sun” is a very powerful way to outstretch your arms. “This is your Queendom, try to embrace it!” I yell to her as she looks over her land. These powerful poses make you feel powerful for sure, just look at these images.

more goddess poses and prompts

If you are curious to learn other poses and prompts I use during Goddess Photoshoots, get my guide The Secrets to Posing Like a Goddess. This comprehensive guide offers a detailed description of each pose and offers several variations on how it can be done, with photos.

And if the idea of your very own Goddess Photoshoot resonates with you, please reach out and let’s create some magic together.

With love and gratitude,

Francesca Bliss

francesca bliss 7/3/22 francesca bliss 7/3/22

sexy over sixty: goddess photoshoot for sexty-three year old Lourdes Starshower

I knew she would say “I feel the most alive at the ocean” when we were discussing the location for her Goddess Photoshoot. And she did :)

Lourdes Starshower, a tantra healer, had turned sexty-three earlier that year. That was a reason enough to celebrate with a photoshoot! In addition to that, to embrace the feminine AND masculine in her, she had just changed her hairstyle. Her hair was now cut short on one side and was longer on the other side. And on top of that, Lourdes wanted to connect more to the sensual, sexy and playful goddess inside her; she felt that she had shut that part off a little bit in a way when she was with her previous partner.

The video below sums up Lourdes’ photoshoot into four and a half minutes. The part of the video you do not want to miss is at 3:50 - please be sure to check it out.

And here is how it unfolded from the beginning if you are curious about the whole process step by step ;)

I got to the park well ahead of time because I wanted to prepare everything for this one shot… I had a vision for an image I wanted to create when Lourdes sent me photos of her outfits. I saw her lying on the ground in the red dress, surrounded by green fern leaves and red roses. I didn’t tell Lourdes about my idea, but got all my necessary supplies before heading to her photoshoot.

Check out a quick video below about how we created this photo:

I must also mention that we created the shot with the roses much later, not in the beginning of the shoot. You see, when Lourdes got there, she was like a toddler - wanting to go here and there and climb the trees. She ended up changing into a more tree-climb-conducive green dress and we created the images below first. I set up the fern and roses on the ground but we got to them much later. The light shifted by then but we were lucky that it still worked well, though there were patches of bright direct sunlight on her body, but I am ok with that.

Lourdes changed into the red dress and we created the images on the ground plus photos of her with the crown, which I love!

And a few playful images with another fascinator right after that:

It was now time to head to the beach, before the sun set completely.

The waves were so loud on that day, we heard them from the woody area. They were also so powerful that when I was photographing Lourdes kneeling on the sand, I almost got knocked over by a wave and washed away into the ocean!

Lourdes really got into her sensual playful lioness spirit while posing for me on the sand. The images we created are so playful and joyful, take a look:

And this sequence of images of Lourdes being splashed by a wave is one of my favorites!

It was an incredible photoshoot and I am so happy with the images Lourdes and I created. Her Goddess Photoshoot was a great fnew beginning of bringing more of the sensual and playful Goddess into her life. ♥

Is ocean and the beach a place where you feel most alive? If you were to have your photos taken at the beach, how do you envision them? Please reach out for a free twenty-minute discovery call if you want to talk about what your beach photoshoot would look like.

divine feminine power: what it is and 6 ways to step into yours

You might also feel this way when you wear an outfit in which you know you look good and in which you FEEL CONFIDENT. There is this electrifying energy that comes FROM INSIDE OF YOU and people can’t help but SEE and FEEL it.

When you feel all magical after a haircut or feel like a superhero when you are dressed for success, YOU ARE IN YOUR POWER!

When you are in your power, you are aware of your awesomeness.

When you are in your power, you know that you are amazing and it shines so brightly that others KNOW it too. It’s like a blinding light that radiates from you that people simply cannot ignore. That’s what being in your power is.

For me, being in my power means fully owning my talents, special gifts, knowledge, wisdom, and expertise. Growing up in the Soviet Union, talking about yourself in a positive way always meant bragging and it was not good. You were supposed to be like everyone else and not stick out.

Because of that, I learned to downplay my strong sides, and say that they are “nothing, not a big deal”, that “it is not me, it just happened to me, it is genetics or whatever”. When someone would say “You are so good with languages, it is incredible that you speak several of them”, I would say “Oh, with good teachers anyone can do that. Languages come easy to me, it is not a big deal.”

Even now, when I seem to be doing much better in owning my power, when someone says “you are so talented”, I say, “no, i am not, it is not something that I do consciously, it is something that happens through me, i am just a vessel.”

Though there is a lot of truth in that last sentence when it comes to my creative process, owning my creativity and talents is exactly what being in my power means.

I am talented.

I am creative.

I am proud of myself.

I have worked hard to get to where I am (though it didn’t feel like hard work, more like creative play) and I will continue to grow. That’s what being in your power means.

“Being in my power means listening to my own voice over the voice of others & following through with my word on my beliefs.” another woman said.

Being in your power means not being a victim of circumstances. You have the power to change either your actions, or at least your attitude so you are not in a victim role, ever. You don’t blame others for what happens to you, but you also don’t blame yourself, you just learn from the experience and move on.

When you are in your power, you don’t use excuses to cover up your inability to do something. Instead, you find ways to do what you need to do. You don’t say “I can’t do this because of something that is outside of my control.” You say, HOW can I do it? Is there any way I can accomplish this?”

As my mom used to say (in Russian), “Those who don’t want to do something, find reasons and excuses, those who want to do it, find ways and opportunities to do it.

When you are in your power, you understand the power of the words you use. You say things with intention. Every word has meaning. You don’t say “I am trying to get in shape”, you say “I am getting in shape”. You also speak lovingly about yourself and your body.

When you are in your power, you take good care of your body because you understand that you need your physical body to be capable of doing all the things you set out to do. You admire your body and thank it for all the simple yet wonderful things it enables you to do.

So using simple language, you could say that being in your power is being CONFIDENT.

Confident that you are smart, capable, beautiful, to do whatever you set out to accomplish.

Confident that you are enough.

Confident that you have all the talent, wisdom or access to resources that you need to complete a task.

Confident that everything will work out well.

Confidence is awesome, I just like the word POWER better because it’s more electrifying. It makes me think of

MIGHT

DRIVE

ELECTRIC

PASSION

CHARGE

ENERGY

SUPERPOWER

AUTHORITY

POWERHOUSE

POWER UP

When I taught American accent training to foreign students, one of the tips that I gave them was to EXAGGERATE their American accent when we were practicing. Because when they went back to speaking English in their everyday life, they would shrink back to about 30% of what they learned in class. So the more they exaggerated their American accent in class, the higher their chance was to sounding more American in everyday interaction.

The same with being in your power and confidence. The more passionate you are about your talents and positive traits in front of a bathroom mirror, the higher the chance you will actually speak and act confidently in the real world. (A bathroom mirror is like our classroom :))

There is nothing wrong with the word “confidence”. But I feel like it is being shy of its accomplishments, that’s why we need to give it a boost and talk about electric words to get ourselves powered up. That’s why motivational speakers sound like they had a six pack of Red Bull or a pot of coffee when they teach. They need to energize you to their level so that you can affect change in your life.

Only people who are PASSIONATE about something can affect change. Many humans seek the path of least resistance and to really affect change you have to be a real powerhouse that can get others to believe in what you believe.

So I don’t invite you to become confident.

I invite you to STEP INTO YOUR POWER.

I invite you to put on your SUPERHERO outfit and follow your PASSION. Be the AUTHORITY to your clients if you have a business, be the LEADER to your followers. Use your ENERGY to live a full and rich life and by shining your light CONFIDENTLY this way, you will give the permission to many others to step into their POWER.

(Uff… I feel like I just ran a marathon. Being a motivational speaker is not easy :))

Check out this video to learn more about the Goddess Photoshoot and how it can help you connect to your divine feminine power:

Here are few simple ways to step into your power:

Move your body, literally electrify your body through walking, dancing, doing some yoga, running outside with your kids
Make a list of all the qualities that you admire or like in yourself, hang that list by the mirror and read it aloud to yourself when you look in the mirror daily.
When someone pays you a compliment, don’t rush to answer it. Hear it, digest it, and think whether what you are about to say downplays your role in it, or if it affirms your special efforts, or talents. Remember, OWN YOUR AWESOMENESS.
Be mindful of how you speak. Use empowering language that sets you up for success, talk lovingly about your body, never make self-degrading comments even if jokingly.
Have a digital portrait of yourself created. Basically, you email your photo to a digital artist and she creates a piece of art in which you are depicted as a goddess, superhero, whatever you want to be. Check out my girl Katie for this service. This one requires a larger investment that the previous tips, but it is totally worth it,
Have professional photos of yourself taken. Another way of stepping into your power that costs money but that can enhance your life in so many ways. Having an artist create portraits of you so you can see how powerful and beautiful you already are, so you can admire yourself and see how the world sees you. Have your portraits printed and display them in your house for a daily reminder of your amazingness. You can also use these photos for your social media or website, if you have a business or service.

When you are in your power, the sky’s the limit! When you have the confidence that you are enough, that you will succeed, even if it is on twentieth time, you boldly go in the direction of your dreams and create the life you want. By being in your power you give others the permission to do the same. By being the most unapologetic and strong version of you you are making the world a better place! If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for the good of the world!

Now to you.

What does being in your power look like to you? Please share in the comments or send me a personal message.

With love and gratitude,

Francesca Bliss

francesca bliss 10/24/21 francesca bliss 10/24/21

Goddess Photoshoot in a Secret Garden

This girl made me break the law.

But in a very innocent type of way, the way jaywalking is kinda breaking a rule but it is not serious offense :)

This girl made me break the law.

But in a very innocent type of way, the way jaywalking is kinda breaking a rule but it is not serious offense :)

And she didn’t really “make me”, but what she suggested was sooo good, that I couldn’t resist.

portrait-photography-session-deerfield-beach-florida

“Well, the Arboretum has been under construction for a while, but it is SO BEAUTIFUL in there, we HAVE TO photograph there, I know how to get in there.” she says as we brainstorm location ideas for her Goddess Photoshoot.

So we did it. As we were sneaking in, I realized that I forgot a whole bag of props that I prepared for Katie’s photoshoot at home! It turned out to be perfectly fine because the props might have gotten me too distracted and rushed. Instead, I was able to focus on the goddess in front of me and she brought enough outfit changes that we were able to create a variety of images, especially because the location offered as so many gorgeous backdrops.

There was a peaceful little lake, gorgeous trees surrounding it, and a huge banyan tree, and a Rose of Venezuela (also called Panama Flame Tree) flower, which I fell absolutely in love with:

Katie trusted her instincts about what kind of photos she wanted to create and we tried out the ideas she had. She was also open to posing suggestions that I had and the entire experience was a beautiful collaboration of two creatives. (When I work with people who are not officially considered “creatives”, it is the same thing: we create TOGETHER. I offer guidance in terms of where and how to photograph, but these are YOUR photos, so we try out YOUR ideas too because there are no right or wrong ideas when it comes to creating).

On the day Katie’s photos were ready, we met in a park, sat on the grass, and we looked at all the photos we created together, prints and digitals. I felt like for both of us it was an incredible experience, and we both received deep satisfaction from the process and outcome of this Goddess Photoshoot.

Here are a few reels that show a sneak peek into our creative process, enjoy:

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A post shared by Goddess Photoshoot ❀ (@francesca.bliss)

The digital portraits and digital fantasy art Katie creates are out of this world. Katie can take an ordinary photo of you and by adding ethereal skies, gold jewelry, glowing third eyes, sacred geometry and other symbols, she is able to create truly divine pieces. These regal portraits of you will help you see yourself in your highest power and you can use them in your sacred business or for your own empowerment.

Katie Berns Lee talks about her creative journey:

”Originally a painter and drawer who was ADAMANT about never getting into digital art, I one day decided to download Photoshop…just to add my signature to my nature photography shots so I could sell them.

But then I started playing around. And I started to see what could happen when I would add this or that, blend here and there, change the color of that…and so on, and it EXCITED me.

I started creating portraits of myself and friends as a space queen, an Aztec warrior princess, a faerie…anything I could think of. And then I felt the draw to GROUND my work. So I began adding art historical elements, ancient artifacts, ancient symbology, and lots of architecture. And I fell in love.

Already on the spiritual path, this was a natural extension of me. I was just starting to deepen my connection to the ancestors, to all things ancient, and to the old ways of being. So I began creating out of ritual, in trance, and for goddesses,”

To get to know Katie better and to work with her, follow her on Instagram @of_our_ancestors. She is also an amazing djembe and darbuka player and I love watching her stories as she creates these magical rhythms with her fingertips.

francesca bliss 4/7/21 francesca bliss 4/7/21

Goddess photoshoot for a nomadic ecstatic dancer

She was sitting in a hammock tied to two giant pine trees next to a creek in the woods of West Virgina. She was smiling, so carefree and joyful that I was immediately drawn to her. Being in that neck of the woods was an adventure for me. I left my two kids under the age of 4 with my husband and went to the East Coast Tantra Festival to photograph. Little did I know that this experience would be so much more than just a photography assignment. (If you are curious to read more about that event, check out this blog article).

The joyous woman I met at the Tantra Festival was Leianna Love and two years later I finally get a chance to do a photoshoot with her, when she came to South Florida. She travels in her RV, together with her cat Stevie, who got to start in the photos as well!

We got go photograph at two locations - one at a church site where Leianna was staying that had a huge open space with a labyrinth. “I love the beach too!” she said, so we worked fast and took a drive to the beach and photographed there as well. That day the sun set into clouds before it rolled behind the horizon so we did not have golden light on the beach. Instead we had a moody sky and the images came out uniquely beautiful.

Here are the results of our collaboration with Leianna. I hope you enjoy viewing these images as much as I enjoyed creating them ♥

Check out this video on my YouTube channel about what East Coast Tantra Festival where we met looked like. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to be notified of new videos I publish.

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