A POWER WITHIN
FOR most of her life, Natasha Fretwell struggled with body dysmorphia, but she’s now helping other women embrace a positive body image.
She has been working in the photography industry for 15 years but in the past 12 months Ms Fretwell has devoted her time to female portraits.
Women of all shapes, sizes and ages from all over Townsville are flocking to Ms Fretwell’s Kirwan photography studio, Natasha Jane Studios, and happily stripping down to their underwear or even less.
Ms Fretwell said her movement to create self-love among women was a labour of love.
“For me, it is not just about your outside physical appearance, it is how you feel on the inside,” she said.
Natasha Jane Studios has gone from strength to strength in the past 12 months with Ms Fretwell photographing 40 women.
She said choosing the tone of the photo shoot was a collaborative effort.
“They can send through images beforehand and we go through outfits that they are going to bring,” she said. “Some women bring bags and they pack everything they own or they go out and buy something nice for the occasion.
“Women bring clothes they dare to wear.”
Ms Fretwell said she loved playing with poses mixed with natural light.
“We go for the vibe, whether they are wanting a softer natural look or a raunchy, sensual and a bit more risque feel,” she said.
“My favourite is definitely when they are up for doing more of the fine nude art where they are posed in a way that accentuates body and their shape.”
Ms Fretwell said her inspiration came from renaissance paintings and old-world black and white silhouettes. The qualified make-up artist said she made sure clients felt comfortable in their own skin before taking off any layers.
“The journey to self-love is not a two-minute thing. It is very personal and these women need to trust me,” she said.
“We have a consultation over the phone or a Zoom conference or meet for coffee beforehand because I want them to feel comfortable with me and I want to get to know who they are.
“And if it takes them three years before they get comfortable with me, then that is fine.”
Over the course of the photo shoot, Ms Fretwell said she took between 150 and 250 images. their
She is very particular about what she alters when editing the photos.
“As far as their skin retouching goes, I do next to none. I will leave anything if it’s a permanent mark because the whole point of it is to embrace who you are,” she said.
“Things like pimples and bruises I do remove because they are just temporary.”
Ms Fretwell said the feedback from clients had been overwhelming as well as personally empowering.
“I have had women say, “OMG, I have never felt so amazing in my life”, “OMG, that’s me?” and “I have never been so in love with myself or so proud of myself,” she said.
“I am truly humbled to make women feel like that.”
Some women will book in for a photo shoot as a present for their husband but ultimately it is a selfexploration journey.
“When it comes down to the real reason they are doing it, it is for themselves,” Ms Fretwell said.
The 31-year-old has been married for two years and is a mother to a two-year-old son.
“(My husband) thinks that it is amazing and he is proud that I finally feel the way I feel about myself to start doing this,” she said.
“I have never felt more of a woman in my life, even with all the rolls and the cellulite. I am honestly the happiest I have been.”
Ms Fretwell said nothing was going to slow her down from teaching women their true self-worth.
“I just think there is so much negativity around body image and how we should look and how we should act and I am just over it,” she said.
“My mission will always be to empower and build confidence in women, one woman at a time.”