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Interviews & Conversations Women I've Shot

“The Housewives”, Private Commissions:
This is Lairen

(Note: “The Housewives” was a term I fondly coined in 2006 after I started getting shoot requests from private, individual women who became my clients. Many of the women who contacted me were married and in their mid 30’s and were doing the shoots as gifts to their husbands. The folder in my archives is still called this and so I’ve stuck to it, in part just for the irony: most of these women are not “housewives” at all, but strong independent and forward thinking women who I have had the honour of documenting.

All are private commissions and the demographic has changed substantially over the years. Some I’m still in contact with, others I’ve totally lost contact with, some have become friends, some may wish not to have their real names used, others don’t mind, some may have their faces obscured for privacy reasons, others have generously shared their experiences of being photographed.)

I photographer WBFF pro figure model Lairen Terblanche for the second time in 2016. She has a body that takes so much work and dedication to maintain and photographically its interesting and quite amazing to work with. Sculptural in ways.

I asked Lairen a few questions about the experience below:

What motivated you to do this shoot? Its different to our last shoot in that this seemed to be more about you as apposed to our first shoot together which felt like it was much more about body building. What were your feelings about doing this shoot, what motivated you?

I have always wanted to pose for playboy and you know I still do.

Having a different body I know I am not the Playboy look but was great to be able to work with someone like you Leah… amazing, my second time to do so. I mean THE photographer of Playboy….Playboy experience and has a certain way of taking her photos.

Classy sexy…

I also wouldn’t be scared or feel uncomfortable taking my clothes off or doing a certain pose that would only be something my husband would see. . . .

And what was the experience of the shoot itself like for you?

The experience was thrilling… I felt so comfortable… and I just … I don’t know it was so empowering… also when we got to full nudes… having my husband watching me… well …. I felt proud. Very proud. I want to do it again and I know Etienne wants me to do it again lol ! A memory just came up yesterday haha!

It was a rush… being able to pose the way I want in what I want and just celebrating a body I worked very very hard for. Granted. I am much more relaxed now and I am working on a smaller, softer frame… probably more your play boy look to be honest :) I guess I have just come to the realization that I have competed…. and I wont compete again so now carrying around muscle mass that I dont need for stage is just silly.

From the end of Lairen interview she add…. So sweet!

Leah you are amazing. I LOVE working with you. They say you know you have found a great photographer who can capture great images of you that don’t require a lot of editing at all. As much as I also know the responsibility lies with me to look the way I need to for whatever it is I do.