Victoria Caroline Haltom, a professional photographer based in San Antonio, TX only started her business a year ago; however, a Facebook post she shared recently has received over 22,000 likes and over 7,000 shares. She gets many requests from clients; however, she received a specific request from one client in her mid-40s who wanted boudoir photos for her husband as a Christmas present. Her client wanted Victoria to Photoshop her cellulite, stretch marks, and her wrinkles.
The woman was happy with her work and gave the photo album to her husband on Christmas as a gift. A few days later, her husband decided to write an email to the photographer. He describes how he felt when he viewed the photos for the first time.
Here is a transcript of the email she received.
Hi Victoria,I am (blank)’s husband, ********. I am writing to you because I recently received an album containing images you took of my wife.
I don’t want you to think that I am in any way upset with you. But, I have some food for thought that I would like to pass on to you.
I have been with my wife since we were 18 years old, and we have two beautiful children together.
We have had many ups and downs over the years, and I think…well, actually I KNOW that my wife did these pictures for me to “spice things up”.
She sometimes complains that I must not find her attractive, that she wouldn’t blame me if I ever found someone younger.
When I opened the album that she gave to me, my heart sank.
These pictures…while they are beautiful and you are clearly a very talented photographer….they are not my wife.
You made every one of her “flaws” disappear…and while I’m sure this is exactly what she asked you to do, it took away everything that makes up our lives.
When you took away her stretch marks, you took away the documentation of my children.
When you took away her wrinkles, you took away over two decades of our laughter and our worries.
When you took away her cellulite, you took away her love of baking and all the goodies we have eaten over the years.
I am not telling you all of this to make you feel horrible, you’re just doing your job and I get that.
I am actually writing to you to thank you. Seeing these images made me realize that I honestly do not tell my wife enough how much I LOVE her and adore her just as she is.
She hears it so seldom, that she actually thought these photoshopped images are what I wanted and needed her to look like.
I have to do better, and for the rest of my days, I am going to celebrate her in all her imperfectness. Thanks for the reminder.
Regards,
********
She posted it to Facebook and her post quickly went viral.
Tonight I want to tell you ladies about a time I messed up really badly. It was back when I first started boudoir, and…
Posted by Victoria Caroline Boudoir on den 12 oktober 2015
Sometimes what we think are imperfections are qualities and attributes that should be cherished and as Haltom states, “…I encourage you to embrace YOU just as you are!” Please share this email from a loving husband that was shared on Facebook with your friends and family.
