This post is sponsored by CVS Beauty. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Space, Place & Southern Grace possible!
Social media, Instagram specifically, has been at the heart of my business for many years. I’m fortunate to make money through the platform, but I’m also grateful for the people I’ve gotten to know and impact through my corner of the internet. It can be taxing, however, to build a digital brand as you consume the lives of others. It is so, so easy to see the images others share and take them at face value, despite what might have taken place to create the shot they posted. When I’m not feeling my most confident, social media hasn’t been the place to be. It doesn’t take long to scroll through images until you see someone that has the perfect [insert insecurity] you don’t. In reality, so many photos have been retouched to the point homes, bodies, and whole lives no longer resemble the real world.
And that is why I am such a big fan of CVS. Last year, CVS announced a commitment to creating new standards for beauty imagery and introduced the CVS Beauty Mark that will be used to highlight imagery that hasn’t been materially altered. One year later, the majority of beauty imagery featured in CVS’ beauty aisles either has the CVS Beauty Mark (aka has not been retouched) or it will be visibly labeled as “digitally altered.” Learn more about their commitment here.
Participating in this campaign shows my support and commitment not to alter my own photos. As a photographer, I’m committed to making people feel confident in photos and showing them how every side of them is a good one. I photograph a little bit of everything, and each session has opportunities to showcase vulnerability and insecurities. I want to be the biggest cheerleader behind the lens so my clients know, feel, and really believe that they are beautiful.
On my blog platform where I share my own images, I love creative editing and trends as much as anyone, but I promise to never manipulate my shape, size, proportions, skin or eye color, wrinkles, or any other part of me. Here, you’re getting a look at some things I don’t love: wild brows, forehead wrinkles, end-of-day makeup, mosquito bites on my arms, lipstick on my teeth, and an emerging pimple. You’re also getting a lot of what I’m proud of: laugh lines, big eyes, soft dimples, and long lashes. What you see is exactly who I am!
As if that isn’t enough to make you love them, CVS also offers the latest and greatest from beauty brands you know and love and new, emerging brands. From tried and true staples I grew up with like Covergirl and Revlon to newer brands, CVS has its finger on the pulse of what those searching for affordable beauty want. Before you shop, don’t forget to join the CVS Beauty Club! The CVS Beauty Club is the fastest way to earn rewards on the beauty products you buy. When you spend $30 on beauty products, you receive $3 back, which is basically another product. Snag some of my favorites like this red lipstick shown in my photos here.
