THE STORY OF CHRISTINE AND LORE

Lore: I knew as soon as I met Christine that I loved everything about her. She is one of the bravest, most beautiful, most authentic, strongest, funniest, and most inspiring people you could ever hope to meet; she is also someone who gives those around her the safety and acceptance to be their truest, fullest selves. She became my closest and dearest friend from the very start, but for a whole variety of reasons (some of which seemed valid, many of which even I knew were bullshit) I told myself that we could never be partners.

That is, until Substantia entered the picture....

Christine: Spending time with Substantia changed the entire trajectory of my life. From the moment she stepped into our lives I knew everything was about to change. My shoot with Substantia was supposed to be about self empowerment and it turned into authentic connection and walls breaking down between Lore and I, walls we had worked really hard to build. Lore and I have shared a connection that is unlike any other since the moment we met...I have loved them deeply since our first hello and because of my life at the time, a deep friendship was all that could happen.

Lore: So, long story short... we were both photographed by Substantia during the same session, during which she asked if we were together as a couple. The sweetest of awkward silences ensued, because neither Christine nor I had verbalized the feelings we had for each other. With her infinite wisdom and insight, Substantia then slightly changed the question to whether we were okay with people assuming we were a couple, based on our photos together. We were both able to comfortably answer yes. However, just having had the questions asked shifted something within us both... and then the tender vulnerability of being photographed together (while eating pie, nonetheless!) led us deeper into the love we shared than either of us could deny. After that photo session, we knew we had to talk... and finally, after over a year of silent love, we stepped into our future as a couple together.

Christine: And that brings us to the present, building a home and family together. Our own happily ever after.

Lore: And it truly is happily ever after. Radical fat liberation absolutely is about political and social empowerment, medical and employment rights, and equal access to services, clothing, human dignity, and respect. Adipositivity embraces all of that, with the added overt celebration of our physical, sensual selves. The day we shared with Substantia transcended a photo session: it was an experience of authentically, vulnerably, playfully, and openly acknowledging our beauty, exactly as we are, and allowing that to shine through and be seen. Of course love was the result.

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ABOUT THE VALENTINE SERIES

Each year Substantia Jones photographs fat people with their partners for The Adipositivity Project's Valentine Series. 'Cause ain't love grand? Some of these images are a bit more NSFW than the project's standard fare, so you'll probably wanna g'head and quit your job.

To purchase this and other Adipositivity prints, go to http://theadipositivityproject.zenfolio.com/prints