You’re Already Art
The subway hums along, pushing me towards Dupont Circle, where I begin my ritual: Cuban coffee, a joint, an empanada or two and a comfy desk chair. It’s my Sunday routine, sure, but its more than that. It’s how I tune into the strange frequency where art lives. Not made, but found.
Here’s the secret, dear reader: your beauty isn’t something we create. It’s already here.
We just need to be still enough, brave enough, curious enough to find it.
I hear the same quiet resistance from the people I photograph all the time. Men, women, everyone.
I hear it all the time.
- “I want to do a boudoir shoot, but I need to lose weight first.”
- “I’m not photogenic.”
- “I could never feel sexy in front of a camera.”
- “I’m too old.”
- “I don’t have the confidence.”
- “I’m not ready.”
- "I'm going to need a lot of Photoshop."
Behind each of these statements is a story. A wound. A voice that told you beauty has a weight limit, an expiration date, or a price that you haven't paid. But let me tell you something: The art is already there. The beauty is already there. I’m just here to remind you what’s already true.
But here’s the thing no one tells you: the idea that you need to earn your own beauty is a lie. It’s a lie someone sold you long ago.
You are not a “before” picture.
You are not a draft waiting for edits.
You are a story already being told.
So no, you don’t need to wait. You don’t need to change. You only need to show up. I’ll take care of the rest. I promise.
And because I’m a man who lives to honor you and the things you love, I want to show you something that actually helps you feel empowered before your session. The humble Pinterest board.
Recently, I had a giveaway winner named Emma. While we’re still shaping the details of her session, she already gave me a gift: a Pinterest board so thoughtful, so precise, I gasped. It wasn’t just beautiful, it was organized as hell and a masterclass in visual communication, at least as far as I'm concerned. She mapped out the themes, not just the search terms. Poses, styling, makeup, energy. She created a living, breathing mood board.
She was able to communicate colors and themes she loved, as well as clothing and concepts to explore. We would go on to meet several times in person prior to her shoot and sketches and more planning was done as well.
Now, if you’re thinking, I could never do that, don’t worry—you don’t have to. You don’t need a roadmap or a folder full of references. That’s my job. That’s what I do when we create together. Your only job is to show up as yourself.
But if you want to make a board that actually helps guide the shoot, here’s all you need:
- A vibe (soft, bold, moody, editorial, romantic, whatever)
- A few poses you feel drawn to
- Any styling or clothing ideas you love
- Hair and makeup inspiration if you have it
- Images that make you think “I want to feel and/or look like that”
- Random images of things you like (books, sculptures, shiny things, etc)
That’s it! Don't overthink it. A Pinterest board isn't about perfection, it's just a sketch. It’s about giving us a shared language for the world we’re building together. No two shoots are ever the same. Because no two women are. I'm here to honor you and your aesthetic, not the other way around.
You are already enough.
Already worthy.
Already art.
And when you’re ready, I’ll be here. Camera in hand.
-Marvin
