I captured these images of beautiful Michelle back in February the day before her double mastectomy.
She wanted something to celebrate her body before the huge physical change to her appearance that she was about to endure. We captured a lot of different setups. Most are intimate images for Michelle to have for her own memories. But here are a few I can share without the internet losing its mind.
For a woman breasts are symbolic of our identity due to societal ideals. Size & shape are advertised as standards of beauty. They make us feel that breasts are central to us being desirable or womanly. They are a deep part of our body image, our sexual identity, & even our motherhood.
Michelle has struggled deeply with losing this part of herself. I let her know that if she never wanted to share the images or write her story I totally understood. There is no expectation on someone after having such a drastic transformation. Bravely she finally felt strong enough to share her experience.
I have also offered Michelle another shoot to celebrate the beauty that remains if & when she is ever ready to.
Here is Michelle's story in her own words.
"I have always been dense breasted even as a teenager and so was my mum. I was always having my breasts checked from a young age with my mum from a Cancer specialist in Macquarie St Sydney. Dr John once told me and I have never forgotten what he said....Michelle my dear you will thank your mum for a lot of things in life but you will not thank her for your breasts. Always have them checked.
I looked at Dr John and nodded and left his rooms and never forgot what he told me.
My mum was diagnosed with Breast cancer in later life and had a partial mastectomy followed by radiation and chemo.
I was with the High-Risk clinic for a few years as I am the only child then they decided to remove from the list as they said new data had shown that women who were diagnosed in their older years like my mum were less likely to give the gene to their daughter.
I still remained very aware and had my scans when they were due a Mammogram and an Ultrasound.
People ask why an Ultrasound???I was told by my mums surgeon that an Ultrasound tends to pick up breast cancer where the mammogram may not pick it up.
Dec 2023 The year I was diagnosed by the Ultrasound where the Mammogram didn't pick it up.
Lumpectomy and Lymph Node removed. Dec 2023
Radiation 15 sessions done. Feb 2024.
Follow Mammogram and Ultrasound Dec 2024 found little floaters that would be monitored for any changes. I had a few scans and biopsies done during the year of 2024 which all turned out to be negative thank goodness. Now to be faced with possible more scans and biopsies needed to monitor for changed!!!!!
I opted for the biggest change in any women's life a DOUBLE MASTECTOMY. Feb 20th 2025 was by big day
From the day of signing my consent to the day of surgery was 9 weeks.
I worked up to the week before.
Friends asked if I wanted a party but I didn't want to celebrate losing my breasts. I wasn't happy about it .
My breasts are who I am they are my womanhood they are who I am.
I decided I wanted to do a photo shoot to celebrate womanhood and what they meant to me.
My motto now "is less breast less risk" I am still at risk of breast cancer coming back but if it did come back it would be on my chest wall.
I am ok with this I understand the risks the outcomes the whatever's.
Post surgery I have had some complications and some extra surgeries that we have had to deal with.
I look back at my photos and don't think sadness I look at them and am grateful I made the decision to have the photos done because once the surgery is done its too late.
Shannon I have to say you made a very emotional heartache time a lot easier for Brendon and I.
Your sense of humour and compassion was much appreciated on the day. After a couple of minutes with you talking, I overcame my emotion of why I was having the photos done and felt very much at ease.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a beautiful experience we got to share with you.
Love always Michelle and Brendon xoxo"
