A watercolor watermelon illustrated with the words "on strike" across the top.

On strike for Gaza

Body Liberation Photos is ON STRIKE in support of a ceasefire in Palestine, and is not accepting purchases or photo session bookings through Sunday, January 28. Learn more at bodyliberationphotos.com/links or: Β» https://www.instagram.com/p/C2MX_xLsJ1m/?hl=en&img_index=1 Β» https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/11/what-is-the-global-strike-demanding-an-end-to-israeli-war-on-gaza Β» https://bdsmovement.net/ Β» https://bsky.app/profile/thejenya.bsky.social/post/3kjflgxf64b2x

A collage of three women's headshots and a shot of them laughing together with birthing-related props and a doll, all in washed-out retro colors.

Retro-inspired photos for Jet City Doulas

Delivering finished photos to the lovely Jet City Doulas today, and while I wait for them to export from Lightroom I’m having fun with retro colors! They’ll likely want to use the regular, modern-color images on their website (though you never know), but I wanted to share these silly vintage film-inspired interpretations. Book your own…

{The Body Liberation Guide} That energy will carry on
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{The Body Liberation Guide} That energy will carry on

Hi friend, As I write this, it’s 19Β° F, unusually cold for Seattle. The little brown birds are pecking at seeds out on the deck, and I need to bring the hummingbird feeder inside and thaw it. I always think about fat joy more in the winter, which is a season that’s – well, not…

Upcoming body-positive events (online)
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Upcoming body-positive events (online)

We’ve got a full schedule coming up! Here’s what’s going on in the next couple of months. My Origins of the Feelings workshop is on January 20, and there are fresh new events in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort including a movie night and body doubling in addition to everyday community. Find all the details…

A painting of a young feminine person with bright orange skin and a tattoo of a mermaid reading. The person is lying down and reading as well.
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Fat-positive photograph to painting by Barbara Gadon

It’s always a delight when other artists use my work as inspiration! This lovely piece she named “Mermaid Reading” is by artist Barbara Gadon, and you can find more of her work at https://artbybgvisuals.com. The second image is my original photograph (used with permission, which I prefer). My photograph is available as a stock photo…

{The Body Liberation Guide} In the grip of hunger
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{The Body Liberation Guide} In the grip of hunger

Hi friend, One of the things that’s important to me for the year we’ve just begun is holding more events and workshops. I’ll be announcing the new Blanket Fort schedule next week, and right now I’m excited to announce my first workshop in over a year! On Saturday, January 20 at 4 pm Pacific time…

The Origins of the Feelings Workshop is on January 20
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The Origins of the Feelings Workshop is on January 20

I hope you had a lovely second half of December. I spent mine making big plans for 2024, hanging out on Zoom/the phone with long-distance friends and family, and taking a few real, true days off. One of the things that’s important to me for the year we’ve just begun is holding more events and…

Three women laugh hard in front of a chalkboard with Jet City Doulas written on it. One is holding a model of the pelvic bones, one is holding a realistic baby doll in a sling and one is holding two different-colored knitted model breasts to her chest.

Sneak peek for Jet City Doulas | Seattle small business branding & visuals

A little sneak peek/outtake for @jetcitydoulas! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard throughout a session. I can’t wait to show you all their images. I’m not accepting new business visuals clients for a few weeks while I take a break + revamp the sessions, but you can be the first to see when the…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Generation after generation
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Generation after generation

Hi friend, First, a couple of announcements: I’m excited to support the SeekHer Foundation as a mentor for their new program ‘Our Bodies Belong’. Check out theirΒ siteΒ to learn more and apply for their Winter 2024 Cohort.Β  Also, I’ll be more or less unavailable from now through mid-January as I do a little hibernation, spend time…

Marginalization and the cost of things
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Marginalization and the cost of things

I’ve been thinking so much about the cost of things lately, and how they interact with cost of living and marginalization and capitalism and labor and psychology. Last week, I had the privilege of a behind-the-scenes chat with the organizer of Seattle Fat Con (affiliate link), an event happening in January here in town.  I’d…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Setting boundaries at the holidays (for fat folks + allies)
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Setting boundaries at the holidays (for fat folks + allies)

Hi friend, An ongoing pandemic, skyrocketing cost of living and ongoing cultural and political upheaval all over the world have sent relationships that were previously β€œgrin, grit your teeth and get through it” territory over into chaos and active conflict. At the same time, we humans seek closeness and community. We want and need celebration and…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Every kind of oppression is a body liberation issue
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Every kind of oppression is a body liberation issue

Hi friend, I have a lovely announcement to share before we get to the heart of this week’s letter:  Nic McDermid’s Fat Positive Practice Guidebook is now available! Nic has been speaking truth to power at the intersection of eating disorder treatment and body liberation for many years, and this is your chance to learn directly…

Phedre Devereaux: Your Instincts are Correct- What’s Happening in Palestine is Not Okay

Phedre Devereaux: Your Instincts are Correct- What’s Happening in Palestine is Not Okay

My heart remains so heavy for the Palestinian civilians being slaughtered in Gaza. A population already made up of 50% children, which speaks to the violence they have endured for so long now.  And heavy for Jews, particularly those in the diaspora, who have no say in what the government of Israel does and are…

{The Body Liberation Guide} What do the fatties want?
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{The Body Liberation Guide} What do the fatties want?

Hi friend, Here in Seattle, we’re well into our damp, drizzly, chilly, earthen season that will last with slight variations into next May. Though I offer outdoor photo sessions here year round, since it rarely gets very cold, indoor sessions are picking up. It’s also the time of year when I both slow down personally…

A quote from Marilyn Wann: "There is no kinder/gentler way to endorse intentional weight-loss goals (by any method)."
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Marilyn Wann: “There is no kinder/gentler way to endorse intentional weight-loss goals (by any method).”

I’m so excited to bring you a guest piece from Marilyn freakin’ Wann this week!Β Marilyn is one of the fat activists I admire the most, who’s been fighting for fat justice and rights since I was knee-high. She’s also the author of the book Fat!So?, and you can learn more about her here.Β Marilyn recently shared…

I’m a SeekHer mentor for 2024! | body inclusive business
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I’m a SeekHer mentor for 2024! | body inclusive business

I’m excited to be a part of this program and be a mentor! Check out SeekHer’s feed and links for more info. From SeekHer: In honor of #BodyAcceptanceWeek, we are excited to announce the launch of the newest SeekHer Scholars program – β€˜Our Bodies Belong’!⁠⁠In recent years, more people have experienced a surge in eating…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Reviving a series I think you’ll like
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Reviving a series I think you’ll like

Hi friend, This week, let’s do something a little different and revive the fat creator interview series, starting with artist Ashley Anne Strobridge.Β Β  Ashley is a Vermont-based artist who finds inspiration in both the natural world and fantasy. As a fat, disabled vegetarian, she creates whimsical designs in a variety of media that draw on…

{Ask a Fat Creator} Ashley of Astrobridge Artistry
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{Ask a Fat Creator} Ashley of Astrobridge Artistry

This is the Body Liberation Photos Ask a Fat Creator (and Allies) series, in which we find out more about the lives, work, and breakfasts of all kinds of large-bodied and marginalized creators and their allies. This interview is with Ashley Anne Strobridge, a Vermont-based artist who finds inspiration in both the natural world and…

A fat white woman laughs in front of a laptop at a table in a large, brightly-lit room with brick walls and big windows. Books are scattered on the table around the laptop. Part of a fat-positive small business branding session in Seattle, WA

Sneak Peek: Christy’s Light-Filled Small Business Portrait Session

A fun sneak peek of Christy’s recent small business photo session in Seattle! Christy runs Dazzling Spoons Counseling and as you can see, she loves to laugh. For this session, we rented a light-filled loft space, and it gave us so much flexibility and room (and a dry, warm space) that I’m now recommending most…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Generation after generation
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Generation after generation

Hi friend, An ongoing pandemic, skyrocketing cost of living and ongoing cultural and political upheaval all over the world have sent relationships that were previously β€œgrin, grit your teeth and get through it” territory over into chaos and active conflict.Β At the same time, we humans seek closeness and community. We want and need celebration and…

A photo of a fat white woman exploring her stomach rolls at a body positive photo session in the Pacific Northwest. Text reads, Β« Client J. at their Body Exploration session Β» "Belly, companion, digester of snacks, you wobble when I laugh, rise and fall as I breathe, rollick, tingle, give me signals when someone around me is a liar or a danger or a friend, the site of my hunger (my aliveness), receiver of rubs and kisses from mother and lovers, layer of warmth, inspirer of gasps and of erections in tight short dresses, you move with me, a sign of my indelible perfection." Β» Virgie Tovar
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Fat hatred: Simple machines

Hi friend, The situation in Gaza is weighing on me so much this week, as is the grief of Palestinians and Jews at the occupation of Palestinian land by the state of Israel.Β Opining on these events is far out of my lane, so I encourage you to hope over toΒ this emailΒ from Vicky Bellman at Concentric…

A black-and-white photograph of a fat feminine figure standing nude in a forest clearing, under a huge tree branch. Their hands are on their hips.

Legacies

This is an image from greatly-missed departed photographer Laura Aguilar, who was active from the 1970s through 2000s. I’m thinking today about my forebears in art and activism, the legacies we leave when we’re gone, and the role of allies in keeping those legacies alive. More on this soon, after it’s had some time to…

Model E. eating a cupcake at Flaming Geyser State Park.
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{Body Liberation Guide} The interpersonal and social rewards of fat hatred

Model E. eating a cupcake at Flaming Geyser State Park.Β Browse stock photos for cooking, eating and interacting with foodΒ» Reader Michelle Molash has a great addition toΒ last week’s letterΒ on who profits when fat people are hated:Β β€œThe entertainment industry profit from us. The fat buffoon who thinks he can do any number of things that only…

A dark blue background with this text faintly overlaid: "having privileges is not your fault - it does not make you a bad person - it is your responsibility to extend those privileges to everyone who lacks them." Layered on this is the first line of this post plus Lindley's logo.

Thin privilege is the ability to forget that fat people exist.

Despite there being more fat people in the United States than thin people, thin folks like to act like β€” and occasionally seem to believe that β€” we simply don’t exist. Living in a thin body is to exist in a bubble where everyone with a body unlike yours is invisible. Thin people won’t produce…

Fat community is never more than a day away

Fat community is never more than a day away

The Body Liberation Calendar is now updated! I update the calendar every week with new fat-positive, body-positive and plus-size events, online and in person around the world. This week I’ve added events in Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Ontario and NSW Australia, and online events including virtual karaoke with NAAFA. All the events are in one…

A plus-size femme person with bright pink hair, a tutu skirt and crop top leans against the doorway of a building painted in a pirate theme.
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Fat hatred: Money, money, money

A throwback to 2016 (!) with Client D. at their Wildest Dreams session.Β I’m currently booking body liberation photo sessions Β» Over in theΒ Body Liberation Blanket Fort, we’ve added some new emotes to cheer each other on, created a new #fatshion (clothing and fashion centered on larger bodies) channel and are reveling in glorifying o*sity with…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Fat hatred: Political power, toxic masculinity and sexism
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Fat hatred: Political power, toxic masculinity and sexism

Client J. at their Confidence session. I’m currently booking boudoir & portrait photo sessions Β» As Twitter continues to fall apart, where are y’all hanging out these days? It seems like everyone has splintered out to a dozen different platforms.Β I’m most active in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort these days, followed by Bluesky, but here’s where…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Should you use the word fat?
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Should you use the word fat?

Client J. at her Confidence session this week. I’m currently booking boudoir & portrait photo sessionsΒ» It’s been a few weeks since you’ve heard from me, and it was because I was out having a lovely time wandering around California on an epic road trip. I’m coming to understand that, just as much as any…

A dark blue background with this text faintly overlaid: "having privileges is not your fault - it does not make you a bad person - it is your responsibility to extend those privileges to everyone who lacks them." Layered on this is the first line of this post plus Lindley's logo and the words, "Why are you upset at fat people, rather than our oppressors?"
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Not all thin people

Let’s talk about a dynamic that we fat people who talk about fat constantly, endlessly, infuriatingly get from thin people: #notallthinpeople. Any time a fat person writes about discrimination, hatred, bigotry, or ill treatment at the hands of thin people, you thin folks get uncomfortable. Maybe your heart sinks a little, or your stomach gets…

{The Body Liberation Guide} It’s time for me to tap the sign
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{The Body Liberation Guide} It’s time for me to tap the sign

Client M. and their incredible sleeve tattoo. I’m currently booking boudoir & portrait photo sessionsΒ» Before we get to it, I have an extra unicorn chaser for you this week! Blanket Fort member Jeri Lynn is hosting an adorable batch of foster kittens and running a live cam so we can all enjoy their precious floof.  Also,…

{in the media} We Can Say the Word ‘Fat’ at Inside Higher Ed

{in the media} We Can Say the Word ‘Fat’ at Inside Higher Ed

Over at Inside Higher Ed, writer Kallie Menard mentioned a piece I wrote for NAAFA a few years ago in her article on anti-fat bias in academia. “We must begin by unlearning and re-educating ourselves on negative and harmful biases about fatness. Activists who engage in the ‘deliberate work of tearing down the systems that…

{Upcoming Events} in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort

{Upcoming Events} in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort

Here’s what’s coming up over in the Blanket Fort in the next couple of weeks: Wednesday, Aug 23 Body Liberation Guide+ released (Patreon Supporter level and up) Friday, Aug 25 Body Liberation Guide released (free) Monday, Aug 28 Body Liberation Guide released (free) Body Doubling – 10 am PST The Body Liberation Blanket Fort is…

{The Body Liberation Guide} But why DO people hate fat people?
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{The Body Liberation Guide} But why DO people hate fat people?

From a recent session with Kyra Sutherland ofΒ Joyful Divergence. I’m currently booking small business photo sessions Β» This week I have aΒ Body Liberation Blanket FortΒ update for you before we swing into the regular letter.Β  The Blanket Fort is my fat-friendly and body-safe community that centers fat folks and welcomes everyone. And it’s going strong, with…

{Upcoming Events} Twitch hangout + body doubling in the Blanket Fort

{Upcoming Events} Twitch hangout + body doubling in the Blanket Fort

Here’s what’s coming up over in the Blanket Fort in the next couple of weeks: Friday, Aug 18 Twitch Hangout with Lindley & Ali Thompson – 11 am PST – https://www.twitch.tv/artists_ali Monday, Aug 21 Body Liberation Guide released (free) Wednesday, Aug 23 Body Liberation Guide+ released (Patreon Supporter level and up) The Body Liberation Blanket…

End-of-summer giveaway stream with me + Ali Thompson!

End-of-summer giveaway stream with me + Ali Thompson!

If you’re not yet familiar withΒ Ali Thompson, you’re in for a treat. Ali, who goes by @artists_ali onΒ TwitterΒ andΒ Twitch, is a phenomenal fat activist and one of the foremost ranters of my acquaintance.Β  I like letting people describe themselves in their own words, so here’s Ali’s:Β  Creator of Ok2BeFat πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Twitch AffiliateπŸ•Ή They/She DemigirlπŸ’„ Fat Activist…

{Upcoming Events} in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort

{Upcoming Events} in the Body Liberation Blanket Fort

Here’s what’s coming up over in the Blanket Fort in the next couple of weeks: Thursday, Aug 10 Sensory-Friendly Body Doubling – 10 am PST Craft Night & Hangout – 5 pm PST Monday, Aug 14 Body Doubling – 10 am PST Body Liberation Guide released (free) Wednesday, Aug 16 Body Liberation Guide+ released (Patreon…

{The Body Liberation Guide} A celebration, a request, a frustrated grump and a note for supporters
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{The Body Liberation Guide} A celebration, a request, a frustrated grump and a note for supporters

A mother and daughter I photographed in Salt Lake City in 2019. This is a bits-and-pieces week: a celebration, a request, a frustrated grump and a note for supporters.Β  Let’s start with the celebration!Β Last week, the Body LiberationΒ GuideΒ went out toΒ 5,317 of you. The rate at which y’all open these emails is spectacular, too – almost…

{The Body Liberation Guide} Doing the math
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{The Body Liberation Guide} Doing the math

A sneak peek of my shots from my dear friend K.’s wedding. I’m currently booking portrait and boudoir sessionsΒ» This week, I want to build a bit on what I told you in last week’s letter about how getting into media articles works. I talked a bit about the calculation that goes into responding to…