A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to shoot these polaroids of beautiful editors. What I thought would be a light shoot, turned into a deeply emotional (and fulfilling) experience. Most of the women who came before my lens shared vulnerabilities about their changed bodies post lockdown. The anxiety they’ve experienced, the fear. For several of them, this was their first time being photographed since the pandemic. Let alone being photographed in lingerie. Tears were shed. Laughs were shared, and I was overwhelmed with a tremendous sense of gratitude for being trusted, and having the opportunity to be a safe space. Celebrating women’s beauty in all its forms remains my greatest joy. #snappedbyanastasia _______________________________ On a personal note: When the pandemic began it was easy for me to feel like a warrior. It was easy to talk about self-love. But everything that has transpired since has removed any sense of ease. And considering all the ways the world has changed... I’ve been confronted with the question of whether “body positivity” or “self-love” (or whatever we are calling it these days) even matters. But then I stop and look around. The current state of women’s rights in America reminds me that bodily autonomy in all ways always matters. The reality is a woman’s body has always been politicized, policed, and controlled. Whether through unrealistic beauty standards, fatphobia, racism, misogyny, etc. Women are disconnected from their bodies often beginning in childhood. Whether it be via media, critique, or now pervasive rulings about what choices women can make about their health. Girls never get to decide how they feel about their bodies because the world tries to decide for them. It comes as no surprise then, that we don’t learn to love ourselves. Instead, we mimic and repeat destructive rhetoric that is fed to us. To form a loving relationship with your own body, in this country is radical.