Published by GLAMOUR magazine UK!
Local Nashville photographer’s photos of Taylor LaShae published in an online editorial on the “pageboy bob”!
The last thing I expected in the midst of a particularly hard week was to be presented with the opportunity to be published by a major publication for the first time. While this is a pretty exciting thing for me, my story goes to a much deeper level, so let me share it with you…
The last thing I expected…
This wasn’t something I sought out. It literally just popped into my inbox on a Wednesday not too long ago. First - here’s the story behind these photos…
One of the first things I said to Taylor LaShae
I had a roll of film to finish off and was looking for someone to shoot with last minute. I had recently begun following Taylor after seeing a mutual acquaintance (shoutout to the lovely April Lockhart) mention her in her Instagram stories, and was pretty sure we lived close by, so I spontaneously asked if she’d be up for shooting with me. One of the first things I said to Taylor was that I loved her hair and that it made me want to cut mine short again. This little noticing is important, so hang onto it as you read.
Model and influencer Taylor LaShae photographed in Nashville, TN
This particular week was a tough one, and in the midst of it, I got an email from the notable GLAMOUR UK magazine asking to use my images for an online piece they were doing on “the pageboy bob” featuring various styles of bobs, and I of course said YES!
But here’s the vulnerable part…
Having a bob was one of my favorite haircuts. This spring I wanted to cut it short again, but there are nodules on my thyroid that have been there for a long while, and have more recently grown in size. I’ve became SO self conscious thinking about people noticing it. Navigating the medical world is… a lot. The last thing I want to deal with is people making comments or asking questions about my neck. I’ve battled a lot of fear and self-hatred when it comes to my body, and I’ve been aware of it the last two years, but hadn’t truly addressed it. I had a haircut appointment a few weeks back, and if I’m being completely honest, I had done what I did not because it was my first choice, but because I could use it to avoid unwanted attention being drawn to my neck.
Out of fear, I’ve been hiding my neck by having longer hair.
The week this was published I’d been taking some very intentional steps towards addressing the hatred towards and fear of my body. With that, I decided to start pulling my hair up more often instead of treating my hair like a security blanket. I decided that the next time I’m due for a haircut, I’m going to chop my hair short again into my favorite little French bob. I don’t want to live in fear! It’s not worth it.
Getting published online by Glamour UK is incredibly special, but I got so much more out of it than I ever expected…
The timing of this specific article my photos were featured in coinciding with a fear I’d been tackling…just… wow. For me, a bob isn’t just a haircut - it’s an opportunity to spit in the face of fear. My photos are headlining an article about something I have feared, but chosen to directly address, and that’s pretty cool. This opportunity of being published was a gift I didn’t ask for, but the Lord knew I needed on this healing journey I’m on.
With this publication a little piece of my heart was restored.
Taylor LaShae in a satin dress in Nashville, TN.