super survivior, pumla's, cover shoot

In 2013, we started working with the wonderful people who run The Breast Health Foundation and have come to love and respect all the work they do. We have come a long way since our first meeting with Louise. As a team, we have put together a number of gorgeous and impactful magazine covers, as well as support any fund raising events. Our work together has touched lives, empowered women and helped them love themselves again. 

Now 5 years on, loads of cover shoots and fundraising events later, we look back at how amazing this foundation is and how much they do for breast cancer patients. Just knowing, we are a small part of the great things they do, makes us extremely proud and happy.

October, or as we fondly know it, Pinktober, is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and every year we strive to make the Buddies for Life Magazine Cover just that little bit special.  This year the ladies from Word for Word Media, Karen, Laurelle and Sandra told us they wanted totally a totally WOW cover!  So, we put our heads together and came up with the idea of doing a body painting shoot. Our vision was a powerful, fun and inspirational photo, but this needed a very special person to be featured on the cover.

This is when Laurelle found Pumla, a fabulous lady who not only just became a Grandmother but who also beat Breast Cancer, and the best part, was up for the challenge.  That doesn't mean that on the day she wasn't nervous, cause we could  see how she was shaking, while Chris Williams, from Estee Lauder did her makeup. However, she started to relax and shared her very empowering story with us. While Rozi from Image Alchemy, was doing the body painting, Pumla told us how she decided to take control of her life and own the battle. From first not wanting to face the dreaded news of the cancer, to trying an approach with a herbalist, and then facing it head on and seeing a specialist at Helen Joseph Hospital and Milpark.  She decided she was going to "fight like a girl" and her determination paid off, as she kicked Cancer's butt. 

This beautiful cover would never have happened if it hadn't have been for such an amazing lady, and we have to thank Pumla for taking the leap of faith with us.  Your beautiful smile, infectious laugh and incredible sense of humour just shines through in every photo. 

We do also have to thank the following people as this was a huge team effort:
Breast Health Foundation - For always trusting us with your covers
Word for Word Media - For being so awesome and publishing Buddies for Life Magazine
Rozi Birk (Image Alchemy) - For the fabulous design and body painting
Chris Williams (Estee Lauder) - For the stunning Makeup and gifts for the cover ladies
Cuan Kemp (Kryolan) - For sponsoring the beautiful body paints

#Pinktober #breastcancerawareness #fightlikeagirl #earlydetectionsaveslives #strongisthenewbeautiful

Love
the femme fatale girls
xxx