New Releases

"It was a very windy day - just managed to get a gap in the rain to shoot some photos in my backyard. The only problem I had was trying to dodge out of the builder’s viewing range next door. Crouching, bending and skipping around the garden, in the nude. There is just something about being naked that is so freeing, feeling the wind on my bare skin – there’s no way to describe how it feels. I started forgetting about the big trucks and cars driving past and felt myself being one with nature; it’s so calming and zen."

"This shoot has taken me on a journey of new found self love. As a dancer I am forced to look and judge my body and am always trying to achieve something more desired. This project helped and allowed me to be exposed to my fullest but within the comfort of my own framing. It was surprising to me how quickly I said "fuck it" just take every photo from every angle, someone will love it even if you don't. What was the best was that towards the end I did loved every photo and every angle of myself! Thank you ISM! 'She didn't need to be saved. She needed to be found and appreciated for exactly what she was". J. IRON WORD'"

"So with this project I felt like it was something I needed to do for myself. I am a person who has taken so many knock-backs not to do with me as a person but what I looked like, where I was from or my sexual orientation. The first obstacle that I needed to get over was that I lived with family and at home I am not able to freely express who I am in my entirety. So because I had that little problem I was able to contact a friend who is a cross-dresser and was okay with my nakedness as much as I was with myself. Because of that I was able to gain a sense of an even higher confidence and empowerment than I usually had. Imagine that you are already a unicorn but another unicorn was like "You know what? you are awesome" so it throws up on you. Pretty much describes it in one thing."

"I needed to do this project and in the first few I thought "It's too much... what can I do?!" but when I checked my photos the first time I realised how many I'd already done and how quickly I got into it! It was funny because I got past my fears and it's always amazing when you do something you have never thought to do!"

"I did the shoot at my rose farm between the thorny beauties that I have spent my life picking and being a part of. I started finding new angles on my body I had never seen before. At the beginning I was ashamed of my back and my bum, I'd always dreamed of having an hour glass figure but as the shoot went on I started to realise that my body was perfect, as the universe and god had intended. It was a spiritually aligning experience which I had fun with. No fake art that needs to look perfect because we ARE perfect just the way we are. THANKS ISM!! XXX"

"My idea for this shoot came from spring being just around the corner. There's a contrast between two different locations, one representing winter - cold, wet, concrete - and the other representing spring - sunshine, nature, flowers blooming. I like the contrast between the cold and the warmth; saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring. In winter, we cover up, shielding our bodies from the cold. When spring comes, it's a new beginning. The sun comes out, flowers start to bloom. There's a different feel in the air."

"I have taken only a few selfies in my life and hate getting my photo taken. Needless to say, this shoot was a bit more challenging for me. Once I got the hang of what my face or body looked like in certain light and positions I was able to have a tonne of fun and feel comfortable. I am very glad to have taken these photos during this time in my life. Photos represent a specific time period in life and at this time while I am traveling, I would like to remember this as the time I was most independent, strong and empowered. These photos represent that in many ways and encourage me to always remember that."

"Ce folio a été pris lors de mon voyage à Barcelone. C'était bien de pouvoir filmer dans ce magnifique bâtiment des années trente, la lumière était exceptionnelle et pour être nu sous 32 degrés c'était tout ce que je voulais. J'ai aussi pris des photos à Montjuic, dans un parc, c'était amusant d'essayer de prendre une photo sans que personne ne me voie. Mission à moitié réussie! / This folio is from my beautiful trip in Barcelona. It was awesome to shoot in this beautiful flat from the 30's, the light was amazing and being naked when its 32 degrees is all you want. I also took some photos in a public park, that was a lot of fun to try to take pictures without anyone to look at me. Like a little mission."

"After initially feeling a little weird about doing the shoot, I started feeling more comfortable and really enjoying it! I wanted to my shoot completely outside in my parent's huge garden, but ended up getting sprung by the neighbours and eaten by mozzies, so I shot the rest of my photos in lovely afternoon sunshine in my bedroom. It was actually more difficult than I thought it would be, and I feel like with more practice I could be a lot more creative. All in all I definitely loved the experience and how it made me feel!"

It goes without saying that Mae_E is a true professional when it comes to taking photos of herself, so it should come as no surprise at all that she is able to take a simple string of fairy lights and produce a reload that is so sublime that mere words can't properly describe the majesty of it, you just have to see it for yourself. Now, let us all bask in Mae_E's warm glowing warming glow.

"J'ai fait ce shoot dans la maison d'amis de ma famille donc a chaque bruit je sursautais, croyant que quelqu'un entrait. Ils sont tres religieux donc je n'imagine pas leur reaction! J'etais mal a l'aise avec mon corps au debut, comment faire de belles photos avec un corps moche? Mais l'artiste en moi a repris le dessus et j'ai commence a jouer avec ce corps qui etait un Étranger pour moi. Je suis heureuse du resultat et j'ai passe un super moment! / I did this shoot in the house of friends of my family so every noise I jumped, believing that someone was coming in. They are very religious so I can not imagine their reaction! I was uncomfortable with my body at first, but the artist in me took over and I started playing with this body that was a stranger to me. I'm happy with the result and I had a great time!"

"When I woke up and decided to do the shoot it was a beautiful sunny day, I thought, this is a great day to do it in my backyard. I have my very handsome dog who I regard as my son and really wanted him to be part of it. I had a bag of glitter and thought this could be so much fun. So off I went. I borrowed my flatmate's full length mirror and just began to really have some fun and enjoy myself in the sun with my dog in the garden and some glitter. Life is more fun with sparkle! It was such a great day I felt strong and proud of myself xx"

"I had limited options as to where to shoot so ended up in the Botanical Garden, in the rain, at 6am, with my boyfriend on lookout duty with him throwing a towel at me anytime a dog walker or jogger came too close! Thankfully a friends's friend (whom I had never met) came through and was able to provide a location in his awesome converted warehouse.. so that is where I completed my portfolio - in a strangers converted warehouse. Thanks Sebastian, you rock!"

"I think it was nice to watch myself move - with a less critical eye than the one that follows my body in a mirror. I loved this experience, as I've loved all I've had with ISM."

"I wasn't sure at first what to do with my shoot, I stripped down at the beach one afternoon but it didn't feel right. I didn't feel comfortable in that environment. I won't lie, I'm not the type to wander outdoors and enjoy the sun. I like my little minimalist bubble of neutral colours and sharp lighting. I decided to do the shoot in my room and used a small beauty mirror to help with getting different angles and exploring what I've decided to call the split between lucidity and delirium. I played my 94' Chris Isaak album in the background and just basked in the natural light in my room. I felt so beautiful and fresh just laying around and posing. I saw my body from different angles which was a nice surprise to realise I am not as flawed as I thought I was. I had so much fun with this and feel as though I'm beginning to look at myself in a cleaner, positive light."