'They walk out with this completely changed attitude': Photographer captures powerful photos of 100 women in their underwear to promote body positivity

  • In 2015 Amy Herrmann created the Underneath We Are Women project
  • The mum-of-two wanted to photograph 100 women in their underwear
  • 12 months in and the campaign has produced some emotional results
  • Ms Herrmann has now created a Kickstarter campaign to raise money

By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 18:25 EST, 11 August 2016 | Updated: 19:17 EST, 11 August 2016

She set out on a journey to make women across Australia feel good in their skin.

While it has been a challenging and at times emotional campaign, photographer Amy Herrmann says it has all been worthwhile.

The 26-year-old, from Adelaide, set out in mid-2015 to photograph 100 ladies of all different shapes and sizes in their underwear as part of her Underneath We Are Women project.

And now, more than 12 months on and nearing the halfway mark of the project, Ms Herrmann has taken time to reflect on the attitudes she has successfully changed.

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Positive photo: Photographer Amy Herrmann set out in 2015 to capture images of 100 women in their underwear to raise awareness about body positivity

Positive photo: Photographer Amy Herrmann set out in 2015 to capture images of 100 women in their underwear to raise awareness about body positivity

Diverse: Creating the Underneath We Are Women campaign, Ms Herrmann has so far captured more than 40 women of all different shapes, sizes and abilities on photograph
Big deal: 'I didn¿t realise this would be life changing for some women,' Ms Herrmann said

Diverse: Creating the 'Underneath We Are Women' campaign, Ms Herrmann has so far captured more than 40 women of all different shapes, sizes and abilities on photograph

Size doesn't matter: No matter what height, weight or colour, Ms Herrmann said it was important women felt good in their own skin

Size doesn't matter: No matter what height, weight or colour, Ms Herrmann said it was important women felt good in their own skin

'Each day that we do these shoots, the women come in and they're all nervous as heck and then they walk out with this completely changed attitude,' Ms Herrmann told Daily Mail Australia.

'I don’t think I expected that, I think I just thought this was going to be an easy project where I photographed 100 different women, made a book and that would be it. 

'I didn’t realise this would be life changing for some women.' 

Fun loving: Even this woman who is in a wheelchair stripped down to her underwear to feature in the photoshoot

Fun loving: Even this woman who is in a wheelchair stripped down to her underwear to feature in the photoshoot

Having visited Adelaide, Townsville and Melbourne so far, Ms Herrmann said the project has gone from strength to strength.

According to the mother-of-two while stripping down to your underwear and standing in front a camera sounds like a daunting process, the end result is anything but.

'We put on some music and we literally just let these women go and get an image true to their personality,' Ms Herrmann said. 

All ages: Even this mother and daughter pairing have featured in Ms Herrmann's campaign

All ages: Even this mother and daughter pairing have featured in Ms Herrmann's campaign

Attitude changer: Ms Herrmann said that despite the prospect of posing in underwear being daunting, most women embraced the campaign once they got in front of the camera
All about you: 'Not many women expect to like it and they think it's going to be really tough, but they start realising their personality is shining through when they start looking at the photos,' Ms Herrmann told Daily Mail Australia

Attitude changer: Ms Herrmann said that despite the prospect of posing in underwear being daunting, most women embraced the campaign once they got in front of the camera

'They're not told how to pose, it’s all about capturing them as a person.'

'Not many women expect to like it and they think it's going to be really tough, but they start realising their personality is shining through when they start looking at the photos.

'They use words like fierce, relentless, resilient and the like to describe their personalities, because that what it's about.'

But to ensure Ms Herrmann is able to capture the personality of all 100 women who volunteered to be a part of the project, she has had to look for outside help.

What's inside: Even pregnant women feature in the photoshoot with Ms Herrmann saying it was all about capturing their personalities and not their looks

What's inside: Even pregnant women feature in the photoshoot with Ms Herrmann saying it was all about capturing their personalities and not their looks

Through a kickstarter campaign the mother-of-two hopes to raise AUD$30,000, a number that will target she hopes is well within reach.

'It’s been doing pretty good and so far we’re meeting our daily goals,' Ms Herrmann said. 

'We want the book to be affordable to spread the word to as many people as possible.

'We even want to get this into primary schools because if I had seen these images when I was younger perhaps I wouldn’t have to do a project like this.'


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