Changes in Confidence: in Pictures: and Win a Conscious Confidence Course

How often has confidence stopped you from following your dreams? Or merely opting out of important life events? Today we’re going to meet a photographer that has been helping women become more confident, not only behind her lens, but also in real life by creating a course in confidence, which we are giving away on the blog.

Abigail Klopper shares about how she became interested in this topic of confidence. As she photographed many different people from all walks of life over the years, she found a common reaction to being photographed. People hated it. “I’m not photogenic”. “I hate this part of my body, can you hide it?”

The photographer also has her own history of insecurity, stemming from a comment made about her appearance in Grade 3. and issues as a teen. 

As Abigail took photographs, she found women in particular to be very self critical. Very quick to devalue their worth. 

She also noticed how her clients were amazed at the results.

She came to the conclusion: I am giving them their confidence back. 

“I soon realised that confidence was something that came from the inside. Portrait photography focuses on the exterior, on that which is visible to others, our physical appearance. However, it also exposes our insecurities and our underlying issues. So while my photography was helping women with their physical confidence, it was fleeting. I wanted to help women on a deeper level and change their confidence from the inside.”

After doing massive amounts of research, Abigail developed a four week long Conscious Confidence Course. 

Unlike some courses that require participants to spend large amounts of time working through the course material, Abigail has purposely broken the course into small actionable steps focused on body, mind and soul confidence and that participants can implement as their schedules allow.

Here are three women that Abigail photographed and can tell a story about the changes she brought in them. 

Josie

At the time of this shoot, Josie was a new mom to twins Abigail & Christian. They were born prematurely, so naturally Josie was under some significant stress along with the usual ‘new-mom’ experiences. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the gift of my makeover shoot! As a new mom to 5 month old twins, just getting out of my pj’s everyday is a major feat. So having my hair and make-up done was such a treat. And then your professionalism and guidance during the shoot made me feel like a supermodel. I knew exactly what you wanted from me and you made me feel totally at ease. And the end result … Wow! Thank you for making me feel beautiful and giving me my confidence back. And for inspiring me to get out of my pj’s and make a small effort everyday. Cos that’s sometimes all it takes. 

 

Kim

Kim and her daughter Jordy came for a shoot together. After the shoot Kim mentioned that the shoot transformed the way she saw herself. Something shifted for her in the way that she showed up in the world, because she saw herself differently. 

To anyone who sees these exquisite pictures on Abigails “walls” online… what goes on within you at Abigail K’s shoots, and then at the final take, is transformational… Abigail’s talent goes deeper than just the click of the camera! What her talent gives is just so much more… I have continued to grow and blossom as the woman I once believed and knew I was… she re-painted me in these shots and this entire experience raised me up out of a “low confidence” zone and helped me recognize the light and magic within me that somehow us Moms tend to forget… and as a final blessing and continuation to the magical experience, my relationship with my beautiful daughter has deepened and grown to newer levels of fun, sharing and a different kind of closeness that we have NEVER had before… Thank you Abigail for everything that has unfolded as a result of this awesome PRIZE and gift at the most important day in a Mother’s life – the celebration and privilege of being a MOM – every year… I feel re-born!

 

Jacqui

Jacqui won this shoot through a competition. She is mother to one son and she said that she felt like a queen during and after the experience. 

If you feel good about yourself and you share that with others, you invite them to become more confident in who they are. Your confidence was very contagious during my experience at Abigail K Studio. Of course, I lacked none, because I’ve been preparing for this moment for years, but you gave my confidence an extra boost. I loved it! Confidence, is a beautiful thing. It allows you to just, be.

 

ABIGAIL’S FIVE SUPER-QUICK CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS

When your confidence is low, it can be tough to find the will and the momentum to take the action needed to increase your confidence. Below are some of the confidence boosters Abigail draws on when she finds her confidence becoming a bit shaky:

1. Look at yourself in the mirror and repeat an affirming, positive mantra until you feel your confidence shift.
2. Write a list of 10 things you’re grateful for. If nothing else, it will take your focus off everything that you think is wrong in your life.
3. Move your body for 15 minutes, whether it’s going for a walk, doing some yoga stretches or going for a run. It’s a great way to awaken your senses and make you feel more alive.
4. Turn on your favourite music – LOUD! And dance like no one’s watching.

Do some introspection by journaling about the source of your current low confidence. Just writing out your doubts and concerns can sometimes reveal something about ourselves that we were not initially aware of. And all positive change starts with awareness.

 

A final word from Abigail:

I’m always in awe of moms. It’s seriously the toughest job on the planet with the biggest responsibility and burden. Of course it has it’s positive payoffs as well. But being a mom doesn’t mean you stop being a woman. A beautiful, talented, worthy woman with her own ambitions, likes & dislikes and her own journey to travel. I see too many women abdicate their individuality when they become moms, in favor of being the main care giver, which is admirable in a sense, but at the same time unreasonable and unsustainable. I’m reminded of the all important airline safety message – In the event of a drop in cabin pressure, place the mask over your own nose and mouth before assisting minors or others in need. The same is true for moms – they are not selfish if they take care of their own needs and desires first. Doing that makes them able and available to tend to their family’s needs. In this way, they’re being responsible in that they’re demonstrating what self-care and self-love looks like. Children learn by observation and that’s one of the best gifts you can give them. The ability to treat themselves with love and respect. If more people did that, this world would be a more loving place. 

To win her Conscious Confidence Course, simply comment below on why you think you need this. 

Terms and Conditions

1. This competition will run for a week. The winner will be announced on the Facebook page, and emailed. 
2. This competition is open to SA residents only. 
3. The prize is not transferable.
4. If you have won on SA Mom Blogs in the past 3 months you will not be eligible to win this competition

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