Photographer Sophie Harris-Taylor knows what it means to live with a skin condition. As a teenager and throughout her early twenties, Sophie suffered from severe acne. It really affected her self-esteem, making her feel shame and embarrassment. Luckily, over the years she learned how to live with it.
Now, she's using her medium to give others the opportunity to do the same. In hopes to open up the conversation about skin, she created a portrait series called Epidermis. While normality is usually defined by the images we see all around us, we are led to believe all women have idealized, flawless skin. But they don't. Many women live with conditions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema and many of them feel pressure to hide them behind a mask of makeup. For her project, however, Sophie showed these beautiful women unashamed of their bare skin.
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#1
"Being diagnosed with an incurable skin condition at a young age had an enormous impact on me. I felt like I had no control over my appearance, my self-confidence was destroyed, and I felt fearful of my future." – Lex
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#2
“[It] caused me constant physical and mental pain. It was completely unbearable. But I wouldn’t change it as it has made me so much more confident and strong.” – Mariah
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#3
“My acceptance of eczema as a feature of mine that will wax and wane rather than a flaw to be constantly fought in an attempt to rid myself of it.” - Issey
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#4
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#5
“It sounds quite trivial but as someone with already low confidence, having bad skin often leaves me worrying about if others are staring at me, and I find a lot of my time is occupied with negative thoughts about my self image- something I know is really unhealthy and I’d actively love to alter.” - Charlotte
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#6
"I prefer not wearing makeup and letting my skin breathe. When I was younger I would never leave without wearing makeup. I can’t remember the point when I stopped caring but now I’ll happily wander about without it. In the evenings if I go out, I like the transformational element of wearing makeup. I’ve moved away from using makeup as a way of covering up my skin but see it as more of an artistic venture.” – Annie
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#7
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#8
“My skin has always effected me. I've always been a naturally confident person in every other aspect of my life but if I think someone is looking at or judging my skin I will instantly feel self-conscious.” - Sarah
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#9
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#10
I stopped taking opportunities because I felt I could amount to nothing because my skin looked a certain way. I have grown so much over the years and these thoughts and beliefs subsided. I have grown so much with my confidence and I couldn't be happier.” - Abi
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#11
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#12
“I can see that vulnerability but instead of belittling it and interpreting it as a negative thing, I think it comes across as powerful. Usually, we take pictures from our best angles to hide the things we dislike, but these pictures confront those features and make you realise that maybe those things really aren’t that bad after all.” - Charlotte
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#13
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#14
"As I have gotten older I have realised that skin isn't naturally smooth, even, untextured and that none of the faces I looked at in real life looked like my 'ideal' skin. That's not to say I don't sometimes stop and look in the mirror and feel ashamed of my face, particularly if I'm out and about with no makeup on, but I've learned that those thoughts aren't useful and try not to obsess over them.” - Izzy
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#15
"I was embarrassed to even step foot outside my house. The thought of people looking at all the "problems" on my face gave me anxiety. I just wanted to hide my face from everyone. It's been a difficult process, but I feel more empowered and I stopped caring what people think of my skin anymore. At the end of the day, it's just skin. It shouldn't dictate my entire life. Though my skin has gotten better ever since I started taking better care of my body, I've accepted that I may never have perfect skin. And that's okay.” -Joice
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#16
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#17
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#18
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#19
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#20
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#21
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#22
“I'm personally trying to re-train myself in how I understand what beauty actually is.” - Ezinne
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#23
“I’m annoyed at myself that I spent so long thinking people would judge my personality based on my skin. I guess you’re always your own worst critic. I'm close to a place where I'm accepting that I'll never have perfect skin, and that's okay.” – Alice
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#24
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#25
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#26
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#27
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
#28
"My self esteem has continually decreased as the acne progressed. Most recently I've become more introverted though I'm naturally more of an extrovert. I've noticed I'm also a lot more critical and sensitive about myself even beyond my skin.” – Ezinne
Image credits: Sophie Harris Taylor
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