the beautiful | a response

I remember not to long ago- when I was in high school and middle school- having the deep desire to be beautiful.  I would wake up in the morning extra early, pick out my outfit and spend to much time in front of a mirror.  If something made me look to “fat” I would shed it instantly.  If something made me look more”slender” I would dawn it again and again and again.

I remember putting on eyeliner and mascara, desperate to be beautiful.  The darker the lines around my eyes, and the longer my lashes, somehow made me feel like I was someone I wasn’t…. and I liked that.

So often in today’s society, we expect makeup to make us beautiful.  Growing up, when I would find myself wearing to much makeup, with eyes that were far to dark, or cheeks that had more blush on them than needed, my dad would say something to me.  Now, years later, I remember his kind sweet tone as he would casually say, “Boo, sweet girl, makeup should enhance your beauty, not cover it up”.  I didn’t understand what he said, and I have to admit I would roll my eyes far to many times in reply.  But now, at the age of 22 I get it.  I totally, and fully, get it.

So often, we cover up what makes us beautiful in an attempt to be more beautiful.  When actuality, beauty comes from within.  Now, I mean that.  I’m not just saying it because I’m a Christian, I’m not just saying it because I’m a woman, but I’m saying it because it is true.

In all of my 22 years I have never been more attractive than when I am authentic, than when I am sincere, than when I’m honest.  I have never been more beautiful than when I am joy filled, I am grateful or when I’m thankful.  I have never been more captivating than when I individualize, and love on those around me- no matter if the love is returned or not.

People are attracted to those qualities, they are attracted to those character traits that separate us from the world.  As Christians, as women, as men, it is our job to be more beautiful than this world has ever seen.  But just like everything else in Christianity, the way we go about it is completely opposite of the way the world expects.  We don’t do these things in attempt to become more beautiful, we do these things in response to what has already been done.  We don’t do this by applying more makeup, we don’t do this through new outfits, we don’t do this by weight loss, we do this by desiring an intimate relationship with Christ.  And when we have it… people can’t help but stare, they can’t help but wonder what is different about us, or question why we are so joy filled.

When we put Christ first we are captivating.

See, Jesus never went on a diet (and don’t say fasting was a diet- I will fight you).  Jesus never, ever really cared about his outward appearance.  In fact- Jesus cared more about the cleansing and washing of feet than he did the cleansing and washing of face.

That says something about my Savior.

I’m writing about this for a number of reasons, the first being, well, the number of comments and questions I’ve received about photo shop in the last couple of weeks.  There have been many articles, many videos about makeup in our society and how it can transform and change.  How it’s effects are wondrous… and I will no doubt agree they leave plenty of room for wonder.

But for me, as an artist, as a photographer, that is not the kind of wonder I want to reflect.  I don’t want to cover my clients up in order for them to feel beautiful.  My job, is to capture their personality, and make it come alive in and through my photos.  A smile from the eyes, the crinkling of a nose, the romance of two finance’s holding each other in celebration of what is to come… THAT is what I want people to see… not the flawless imperfections of skin.  I want people to see tangible, authentic beauty, in it’s most natural form.

xo

AnnaFilly

Thank you to Jenny for the photo.