Mitzie Gibson Photographer

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Mitzie Gibson Photographer

Body-neutral, Phototherapy & Intimate Portraits. Giving zero f**ks for narrow standards of beauty.

29/11/2024

Why you won't see a Black Friday Sale from me...

The short answer: It makes me deeply uncomfortable and left feeling undervalued. I'm a small business and can't afford to deep cut my prices, or my love for the work.

The longer answer: I used to offer deep discounts to fill my books and (hopefully) my bank account, but it more often than not felt hollow.

I'm priced at a sweet spot that is attainable (and budget able), while still helping me support my family.

For me, phototherapy depends on creating trust and a level of connection that builds the more sessions we have. And the deep discounts don't usually encourage someone to book with me for what I can offer, rather it encourages money (the saving of it anyway) to be the main factor.

And I get that. I didn't grow up with money (still don't swim in it), and every little bit saved helps. There's no judgement or shame from me here.

And there are a lot of photographers to choose from. Many who do offer discounts and sales.

So for those shopping the discounts this weekend (and through the end of the year), I hope you can save money on the things you need, and treat yourself to something you otherwise might not consider with money being a barrier.

And I hope folks remember the small businesses too, and that even when there isn't a discount, you're supporting with more than your money.

📸Featuring Amy, showing herself some self-care love with a monthly session

02/11/2024

If you're waiting on an email or gallery from me, I thank you for your patience.

My body is struggling and I'm working to balance what I need to get done with what I can physically and mentally do.

The thing that phototherapy has given me from the photographer's side of things, is the ability to show compassion and recognize that the things I can easily see in the people who step in front of my camera (the humanity, the history, the depth of story) I can see in myself too.

And that's a huge win for someone raised to see productivity and service to others as the core of my worth.

So I'll be taking a few days to rest because allowing myself to hold the same care as I strive to for others is important for this work.

That's still phototherapy to me.

14/10/2024

We saw a couple having a picnic in the field at this location. Blanket laid out, basket with food, and a tiny vase of flowers. It made my heart melt in the best way to see people be present.

It's easy to get caught up in the idea that adventures and 'dates' need to cost money.

But cultivating conscious connection doesn't cost cash, only time (that was a mouthful). Frankly time is our most precious resource.

Taking the time to prepare a meal, to pack it up and find a place to lay it all out with some special touches, is such a beautiful investment in a relationship.

Taking time to feed your own body, mind, and spirit - to show yourself the same care, affection, and presence - is an equally beautiful investment in the relationship with yourself.

And if you don't have a picnic blanket handy to take yourself on a picnic date, maybe Tracey will let you borrow this one.

📸Featuring Tracey, investing in self care with a monthly photo adventure.

11/10/2024

Prompts to boost body-neutrality. And they're FREE.

The no-pressure invitation to have fun taking photos (not all selfies!) and stretch some body-image edges is here!

I've been working on this for a while, but it's time to release it to the wild. Clicky that linky and sign up for 7 emails, each with a unique activity for you try to get creative and present with taking photos.

👉 https://www.boldbodiescollective.com/selfielove

10/10/2024

✨Treat yourself like an honoured guest.

That might be one of the best pieces of advice my therapist has ever said to me. Since I'm s**te at doing it sometimes.

Honoured guests are given respect and grace. We clean for them and set out the "good towels" because we want them to feel welcome in our space. We want honoured guests to be happy and taken care of.

And we don't often treat ourselves the same way.

I encourage you get yourself some flowers, light the candles or use the plates you've been saving for a 'special occasion'. Wear the outfit that might be a little fancy for getting groceries but makes you feel good anyway.

Because you are worthy of giving the same care and consideration to yourself and you would give to an honoured guest.

📸Featuring Emma, being her own honoured guest every month.

08/10/2024

One of the most powerful aspects of Phototherapy is that it captures you as you are in this very moment.

It’s about embracing the body you have now, no filters, no edits.

If you could capture one thing you love about yourself right now, what would it be?

👉 DM you're curious about a session.

01/10/2024

I quit a job the other day, and turned down two other offers.

"But Mitzie, aren't you a full time photographer?" Yes, yes I am. But for a while I needed something extra for the stability and consistency while I navigated a new chronic illness. I just couldn't work at the capacity I needed to, so I got a job. And it was fine, but it doesn't set my soul alive like phototherapy does.

After that job came to an end, I took another one - very part time because I actually liked the offer - in a similar office. And I lasted ONE day before I quit.

Why?

Because I was told I had to cover all my tattoos, take out my nose ring, and not dye my hair "fashion colours". Now, I had tattoos and my septum piercing visible in the interview, but this wasn't mentioned. I found out while filling in paperwork and had to bring it to the boss' attention. It was non-negotiable.

Well, my hard-earned bodily autonomy and self acceptance / expression are also non-negotiable. So I quit. And told them dress code is one thing, but I am deeply uncomfortable with any employer who demands regulating my body outside of work (or at all honestly).

That's a big part of what phototherapy has done for me personally: supported my building and holding of personal boundaries no matter the situation.

I'm privileged to be able to say no in a situation like this. I'm also not changing who I am to suit them - or anyone else.

Because that's phototherapy to me: When I'm told I'm too much, I tell them to go find less.

📸Featuring Taylor in a we**am session.
👉 If you want to chat about how you can find "more" instead of "less", DM me.

27/09/2024

✨The Before & After: Honouring Your Vibe, Not Changing Your Body ✨

It's a shocking thing to people when I say I don't use photoshop. I could, I mean I know how, but I don't.

I talk a lot about how phototherapy fits with the session itself, but it's literally part of every step from these posts to image delivery and beyond. Even (and especially) the steps nobody else directly sees.

When I edit photos, I don't change the body.
Not the rolls or scars.
Not the blemishes or texture.
Not anything that's naturally there or isn't staying beyond a week or two. (And even then I'll ask if you want that bruise left in. IFKYK)

For me to alter a person's body in their photos is just a subliminal (and antithetical) message that says 'not enough as you are'. And that's just... both a lie and reinforcing any body shame that might there already (or creates something new).

And because phototherapy is in many ways consciously and intentionally working towards body and self acceptance, I want to support that in every way I can.

So editing for me is never about changing bodies; it’s about capturing the feeling, the vibe, and the mood that tells your unique story.

📸 Featuring: Marina, being kissed with perfect timing by the sun; and Emma, having two very different expressions of her vibe in two separate monthly adventures.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: we talk about editing and post-process in the Intro to Phototherapy Workshop. DM for details.

25/09/2024

FALL into Your Wildness 🍂🐾

I couldn't help the pun, it was too good not to.

There's something uniquely wild about this season. It's the beauty in release, it's letting go of control, shedding expectations, and embracing the untamed parts of ourselves. There’s a rawness to autumn, a whisper that calls us to reconnect with our core, free from the pressures of perfection.

It's a time to explore the parts of you that are bold, wild, and free, dark. And document that freedom of expression.

DM if you're ready to embrace your wild side this fall.

📸 Featuring K. Fully embracing their wild natural divine spark in the woods.

23/09/2024

"You're just not getting it", she said to me, "I see the effort, I just don't see how it's art." I was 16, and she was explaining why she gave me an F in class. I had never failed anything in my life up until that point, and holy s**t did it sting. And how can you fail an art class anyway? Show up, express yourself, do the work and grow - or so I thought.

"How do you expect to support yourself with drawings and photos? You need to pick something that you can actually earn a living with." I was 18, and she was a family member 'concerned' for my future. Because creativity isn't something you study for a career, it's a hobby to do for funsies. Or so I was told.

"That's really great, you should start a side hustle!" I was 29 and she loved what I made, but of course don't quit the day job because, again, you can't make a living on art. Or so I had reinforced.

"I quoted you, about how I can make a living doing art. I'm tearing that out of my notebook to put up as a reminder." I was today years old, and we were on a zoom call for phototherapy mentoring.

Because the girl who failed art class and was told no I can't, grew up to be a professional artist encouraging others to express themselves in their own way, and supporting that they CAN, in fact, make a living doing what they love.

Be for yourself who you needed someone to be for you when you were a kid.

📸 Featuring K. on a monthly we**am session, encouraging others to express themselves by allowing her images to be shared.

https://www.boldbodiescollective.com/we**am

19/09/2024

Sticking with that fall leaf metaphor from the other day, leaves fall and nature lets go of the old; it serves as a powerful reminder that we, too, can release what no longer serves us. 🍁

Self-perceptions—those ingrained ideas of who we are, what we should look like, how we should act—keep us from fully embracing who we want to be.

Those narratives we're told dig deep into our identity. S**t like "I’m not photogenic." "I’m too old/big/whatever for this." "I don’t deserve to be seen." It's hard to shake it off. even when we want to be free from it.

🍃 We CAN shed the limiting beliefs that no longer reflect who we are or how we want to see ourselves. And like nature, we can go through cycles of letting go and making space for something more authentic to bloom (that's a spring but honestly there's no real seasonal timeline).

You know I'm going to tie this into Phototherapy!

Therapeutic photography offers a space to see yourself beyond those old stories, beyond the expectations that [insert society / specific person / whoever said that s**t here] placed on you. It's a way to explore your true self—free of judgment and full of possibility.

Each session becomes a metaphorical (sometimes literal) mirror where you can witness your own joy, strength, and transformation. It’s not just about the pictures; it’s about rewriting your self-perception and learning to See with kindness and acceptance.

Because shedding old self-perceptions is hard AF. And it's nice to have support and a unique way to feel seen and celebrated.

That's Phototherapy to me.

📸Featuring A. on a monthly celebration of her self-care photo journey.

17/09/2024

I'm posting this on my birthday to the exactly minute. (hello you night owls and those who see in the daylight).

Today has always been a mix for me. Several important people in my life have died on my birthday, so there's always been an air of grief around it for me. But it always makes having another year gone by that much more special. Because I'm still here, and celebrating the hell out of that fact.

I used to do a giveaway on my birthday, so I've decided to bring a version of that back. For the next (and exactly) 24 hours, I'm giving 40% OFF any session booked for a 2024 date. We**am, Muse or Adventure session, OR my Intro to Phototherapy course online.

Use code '43&FREE' when you book online.

📸Photos of me taken by: Teri Hofford, Ria Mackenzie, Allana of Modern Muse, Lindsay Hite

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Opening Hours

Monday	10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	10:00 - 17:00
Thursday	10:00 - 17:00
Friday	10:00 - 17:00

Website

https://www.boldbodiescollective.com/links

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