"Ideal" beauty

Like every other day, today, I woke up, poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down at my desk to check my email. I paid little attention to the random fluffy headlines flickering on and off of the screen ... "when is the right time to buy a car?" .... "7 Foods that lower cholesterol!".... "Why does your child have a tantrum"...and on and on...  Until one in particular caught my attention...

"Stylist at London Fashion Week
resigns over designer Mark Fast's
decision to use plus sized models"

I clicked on the link and read, and re-read the entire article with many thoughts streaming through my mind and coming to rest, unsettled, in my gut.... 

Frustration and helpless anger were soon projected toward the ignorance and judgment of an industry "supposedly" built on beauty, art, and INDIVIDUAL expression... then the idea that this isn't simply compartmentalized into one industry- but human perception!

In a world that strives to grow and evolve into a more tolerant and loving society, where we seek and preach freedom of speech, civil rights, feminism, gay marriage... equality... it begs to be considered;

How are constantly getting it SO wrong?

I personally, cant help but ask myself the question; "what the hell am i getting myself into??"

As I become increasingly more successful as a photographer, I see how easy it would be to immerse myself in that world. If I were to glimpse a future where I was "Cully Wright, acclaimed fashion photographer"... who would that be? Does this person treat people with love, respect and compassion? Does he find the beauty in everyone? Or does he throw models off of his set for a few spare inches in the hips or thighs? Does he expect the world to bend to him, getting into the best bars, rubbing elbows with top industry big wigs? Does he have a blatant disregard for human decency? does he rationalize it all by saying something like; "it's just part of the game"? Does he embody that persona? Will "I" become "him" and does "he" know what a huge asshole he is?

NO.

Because of articles like this, it takes everything in my will to not run as far away from this industry as I can get... How can we treat other people like this? Why is it not praised that this young designer is expressing his admiration for the human body and the variations in which it is formed. Why is behavior like this tolerated?

Why cant we, in an industry that can be so competitive and ugly by nature, embrace the beauty and inspiration that is truly at its roots? Why can't we lead and inspire others to take more "risks" for that which they believe in?

WE CAN.

I WILL.

As my business grows- as my client base expands- as I am exposed to more and more of this crazy industry- I will continue to ask it to consider what beauty truly is?

I will continue to concern myself with the inspiration of this world and its people- despite their size, color, shape... I will continue to see each day as an opportunity to hold myself and the people I work with to higher standards of living. To avoid the gossip and drama we tend to call the  "Media" or "Networking".

I will seek, and find true art- and beauty in everyone that is behind my lens and standing by my side. That is why I do what I do. Not for the fame- for the bylines- or the acclaim from people whom I don't know, or honestly whose opinion I care little about. For the connection. For the expression. To be a positive influence. To be able to say "You are Beautiful" and more importantly, to mean it. That's the point.

Though we are lost, though we have strayed far off course, though this "ideal" we have in our heads of what is beautiful is so very jaded, people like this designer inspire me to keep moving forward. To become someone that lets everyone know; "its not too late!"

I have a voice... and the best part is that I have a choice to use it.

I choose to.

Beauty IS possible.