Naked Truths Australia
Photographer Saffron Quantrell is on a one-woman mission to promote body positivity.
INTERVIEW: SAFFRON QUANTRELL
Lockdown inspired - or perhaps forced - many people to reconsider their career paths, and it was certainly the case with Saffron Quantrell of Naked Truths, an Australian-based specialist in body image photography.
“I’m a freelance marketing consultant,” she explains, “and did the odd bit of photography here and there just as a hobby, as well as more professional-style photos for a magazine I published, a local ‘What’s On’ guide to Port Stephens in my little corner of New South Wales. So, my photography was mainly focused on editorial images. Then with COVID, the magazine was effectively placed on hold.
“Not one to rest on my laurels, I began to explore the local area further, looking for locations and other options for my photography. The idea for Naked Truths actually came about as a result of a conversation with my 14-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son. I was rapidly becoming uninspired by snapping shots of just landscapes (as beautiful as they are in Port Stephens - a popular holiday destination) and craved something new and exciting to get my creative juices flowing once more. After tossing a few ideas around in my head, I settled on nude photography, set against the backdrop of my local area. I asked my kids what they thought of my work focusing on the female bottom! After a few giggles, they decided it was a great idea, so that was all the confirmation I needed to get started.
“I published a post in a women-only Facebook group, sharing a story about my own body image journey, and appealing for women to join me on my quest to empower women through beautiful images of real bodies. I wanted the women to silence their inner critics, embrace their femininity, and learn to love the body they live in. I thought maybe one or two might put their hands up to be photographed - but right at the outset, 25 women came forward, keen to push themselves out of their comfort zone and take part in a photoshoot. It was fantastic!”
Focus
Saffron’s original focus was just on the aforementioned bottoms. “I thought all the wonderful shapes and sizes would be interesting, artistically appealing, and would gain attention on social media, helping me to build up a following and spread the body positivity message without worrying too much about censorship. However, my work over the past year has organically moved towards all types of nude and semi-nude photography in a natural outdoor setting. You’ll still see plenty of wonderful bottoms on my Instagram page though!”
Saffron now offers photo opportunities to women of all ages over 18, and of all shapes and sizes who, as she says, “are willing to be courageous. If they are body confident - great. If they are a bit shy, I can hopefully help by making them feel differently about nudity with photographs that will showcase them at their best. And I tend to concentrate on aspects of the body, although I will show people’s faces if they request it.”
As Saffron has enhanced her reputation, she now finds that most of her subjects approach her on Instagram (@nakedtruths.au), after following her page for a while and building up the courage to get in touch, or via word of mouth. She also joined the Get Naked Australia Community Facebook group (see our feature on page 48) and supports their advocacy of non-sexual naturism. “I post photos in their group from time to time and have taken a few members out on photoshoots. I had no idea that naturists have body image issues too! But I have learnt that part of becoming a naturist, for some, is learning to accept who they are, warts and all.”
And her own feelings on the subject?
“Whilst I was not a naturist before I embarked on Naked Truths, and still don’t really label myself as one, I have grown to love being naked in nature either on my own or with a friend or two. It’s a bit addictive. As part of my own photographic and body image journey, I asked another local photographer (who is a naturist) to take photos of me naked in nature. I felt it was important to experience and understand what it was like for the women I photograph and how they would feel in front of the camera. It was nerve wracking, but very liberating, and I loved the photos. Since then, I get naked in nature whenever I can. It really is good for the soul and invigorating for the body - especially if you throw in a skinny dip in the ocean.”
Private
Saffron isn’t short of nearby beauty spots to enjoy, either for herself or her clients. “I explored my local area even more extensively than normal during the breaks between lockdowns, and discovered many ‘hidden gems’ which I now use for my photoshoots. I focus on locations which are quite private, as the last thing anyone wants when being photographed naked is an audience. So privacy is of the utmost importance during the shoots. My models aren’t ‘models.’ They are just ordinary women. I am passionate about photographing any women who wants to take part in a shoot. There are no rules around this. I have also shot couples, but steered away from shooting men solo, due to the safety aspect for me.
“When I take women out on a photoshoot, the conversations that come out of the sessions are amazing. For privacy during the shoot, we tend to trek to fairly remote locations, which can take a while, so I use the time to converse and make the client feel at ease, and open up those body image conversations. All of the women I have photographed have a body image story to share. Even the ones that have very trim and athletic figures. I didn’t realise when I embarked on this project how important it would be for them to be able to share those stories and use the experience of the photoshoot as part of their healing journey - to become less critical of themselves, and more confident and comfortable in their own skin.
“Most of us women, when presented with a photo of ourselves, have a habit of homing in on what we don’t like about our bodies first. So I use the time spent with them to encourage clients to flip the lid on that, so that when they see their photos, they look for something they do like about their body first. And many are then happy to add their thoughts to my website. It’s very inspiring.”
It all helps with the creative aspects of her work. “I am almost exclusively inspired by the women and the locations,” she continues, “although I have found some other photographers who do a similar style of work, who I follow and find inspiration from. But every shoot is different. All bodies are beautiful in their own way, and I explain to the women that I see the female body as a unique piece of art, and when put together with a beautiful landscape, I can hopefully create something special.
“It’s why I always shoot on location. Shooting outdoors is more than just a photoshoot. It is a walk in nature, an opportunity to talk about body image and share stories, a chance for myself and the client to really connect with each other prior to the shoot, and build essential trust. The cons are that some of the locations can be a little difficult to get to, so for people less able-bodied, the challenge is to find locations that are still relatively private, but are more easily accessible. We also have to rely on the weather, as this can make or break a shoot, but with a great climate here and a reliable weather app, it’s not often a problem.”
Response
Saffron has been delighted with the overall response to her initiative. “You might think I am just saying this, but I have not yet had one client who has not loved the results of their shoot. The feedback I have had has been nothing but positive. One highlight was a couple I took out on a shoot. They had been married 25 years, so the chemistry between the two of them was beautiful and really shone through in the photos. After viewing the photos, the wife said that her husband commented that he thought his bottom looked great! She said it was the first time in 25 years she had heard him pay himself a compliment (by the way, he was also very complimentary of his wife’s body on the shoot). That was really music to my ears.
“I feel it’s just such an honour to be in a position where I can help women (and men) feel better about the way they look. I am not looking to make my fortune through this work, but simply to make a difference to people’s lives in a way that can have a very dramatic positive psychological effect on them. And that positivity ripples out through to other people in their lives.
“I promote myself almost exclusively via Instagram and personal recommendations. If it doesn’t sound too big-headed, I find that my photos speak for themselves, so I do get a lot of attention on social media due to the nature of the work. Despite being very careful however, I have had several warnings from Instagram due to their inconsistent nudity policy. I recently shared a beautiful image of two friends embraced in a hug and this was removed on the grounds of ’sexual solicitation,’ which was disappointing. But other than the censorship issues, Instagram has been a wonderful platform for showcasing my work, alongside my body-positive messages.
“Of course, I would love to see the current censorship rules on Instagram and Facebook lifted or at least revised for work of an artistic, non-sexual nature. With negative body image such a major issue, I think it’s really important that we see real, un-photoshopped bodies represented. Only then will we stop comparing ourselves to unrealistic ideals. I’m hopeful that trends, attitudes and tastes will change and evolve. And if I continue to follow my heart and focus on what I really love doing, and allow my work to progress freely along its own organic evolution, I can’t really go far wrong.”
And the future?
“Whilst I have no immediate plans to extend my current activities, I am always open to opportunities, and would jump at the chance to work with other photographers in a similar field of work. I adore travel, so working outside NSW and Australia is definitely on the cards. I am originally from Essex in the UK, so I would love to do some photography there in the near future.”
Paul Rouse
