So, what happens in a Comfortable In My Skin photoshoot?

While Comfortable In My Skin started with just photoshoots, today, the process has evolved into group workshops that empower and educate through meditation, photography, play, dancing, journaling and FUN.

Every photoshoot includes up to six women and lasts 5-6 hours. They are hosted in a private, sacred space and guided by Ellie.

Each experience begins with a meditation written by Jasmin Carman:

This moment is a gift.

You are a gift.

Your vulva is a Divine gift.

This allows people to set their intentions for the day and be present in the moment.

The workshop opens by sitting in a circle, creating a safe space to share stories and get to know each other. One of the first activities is to BURN OUR BODY SHAME, which people do by writing everything they want to leave in the past on a piece of paper and setting it on fire.

Ellie takes the group through all the photos she has taken of people who have come before and provided consent to be shown to others. This is a great way to understand the shots Ellie will be taking and often is the first time other women are seeing other vulvas up close and personal!

Once everyone is comfortable after Ellie’s various workshops, and after lots of chatting, laughing and, sometimes, crying, the group strips down, and the photoshoot begins. 

It's important to know that as part of the shoot, you can do as much or as little as you like. There are no rules; only that you are comfortable and understand these images will be anonymously featured in the Flip Through My Flaps book.

While Ellie keeps women as anonymous as possible, if you have distinct tattoos and jewellery, there is a chance that people will recognise you. Prior to the shoot, you will be sent a consent form that must be signed before the day of the shoot.

Ellie has shot more than 500 women as part of the Flip Through My Flaps book, which launches in November 2024, to highlight the beauty and diversity of vulvas.

These workshops have both changed her life - and the lives of those who have taken part:

“This photoshoot was one of my first steps to putting myself first and beginning my journey to giving myself the love I had previously given to others by reconnecting with my vulva and getting to know her better.”

“This photoshoot has really helped me to start feeling connected to my beautiful vulva.”

“After my photoshoot with Ellie I care less about the expectations of society and am thrilledI can be part of showing other’s a diverse range of vulvas. I feel like the photoshoot was part of a journey where I am learning to love my body in all its weird and wonderful idiosyncrasies, accept that I deserve pleasure, and begin to reconstruct the healthy messages we teach our girls, women, boys and men.”

While every workshop is different, what we know for sure is that there are sometimes tears, there is always laughter and more often than not, life-long friends are made through the process.

Booking for photoshoots will reopen in 2025. Each photoshoot costs $250 to support the mission of Comfortable In My Skin