Meet Francesca Bliss | South Florida Goddess Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francesca Bliss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francesca, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had always been drawn to photography but for many years did not allow myself to try it because of my own personal limiting beliefs. Ten years ago I bought my first digital camera and signed up for a class at a local art school. The teacher gave us an assignment to photograph people, and when I saw how women’s faces lit up when they saw photos of themselves, I realized the transformational power of portrait photography. I realized that we never really get a chance to see ourselves the way other people see us. And especially for women, who grow up comparing themselves to some “perfect” standard of beauty, and are constantly dissatisfied with their body, this photography experience was something that could foster self-love and potentially be life changing.

I created a Goddess Photoshoot – a photography experience that allows women to tap into their divine feminine energy. This photography experience usually takes place in nature where the woman can allow herself to let her guard down, relax and truly be herself. Here is a video I created about the Goddess Photoshoot that will give you a feel for what it is like: https://youtu.be/YWh2P2NsLPw

Another thing worth mentioning is that photography became my new high that replaced my addiction to alcohol. I think that void that I once filled up with vodka and wine now gave me a chance to connect to the creative source. I’d had several attempts to quit drinking before but would eventually start drinking again. This time around, I was able to heal myself of the addiction and adding creativity to my life was partially responsible for that.

My spiritual journey started around the same time as my sobriety and photography. I started going to moon circles – women’s gatherings around new moon and full moon. At these gatherings I would meet beautiful women who inspired me and I offered to photograph them. The would happily agree and that’s how I practiced my photography skills and grew as an artist.

Eventually I started charging little money for my services. I may have started sooner than I should have, but I can tell you for sure that I learned a ton a long the way. It has been an exciting journey and I am only getting started! My commitment is to empower women through photography, help soulpreneurs and spiritual entrepreneurs grow their businesses and to play my part in our local community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in Goddess Photoshoot – a type of photography experience that allows a woman to get in touch with her divine feminine energy and embrace the Goddess within. This type of photography experience goes deeper than the surface level aesthetics of a typical portrait photography session. Goddess Photoshoot is a akin to a ceremony and it is a type of photography session that allows the woman to express herself creatively while playing in nature. I often photograph on the beach at sunrise or sunset, or in the woods and beautiful places of South Florida. We rarely get to see ourselves the way the world sees us, so being able to hold a mirror up like this for women has been really rewarding.

Before I started photography, I thought I would be photographing flowers and butterflies, but I fell in love with portrait photography. I get bored when a photo does not have a human in it! 🙂 I do get the inspiration from nature and in my art I marry the beauty of the woman I get to witness against nature’s backdrop.

Getting to this point took a lot of persistence and work. Though the fact that photography brings me so much joy, and I see everything related to growing a business a creative process, so it hasn’t really been as much “work” as it has been “play”. Doing photography part-time as I was growing my family – I have three kids ages 8, 6, and 4 – and the fact that I have been able to be with them during early years has been a blessing.

I am excited about continuing this amazing journey that I have been on! I started growing my YouTube channel where I want to share about my creative journey, stepping into your divine feminine power, and sharing stories of amazing women I come across in my creative process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a nature girl and a sunrise chaser. Our day with a friend would start on the beach where we would see the sunrise. Then we would go to a French bakery called Cote France in Boca Raton and have coffee and breakfast there. I don’t spend too much time going out, unless it is a nature park. Coco Market in Delray or West Palm Beach is always a nice place to see friends, do some fun shopping and spend the day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I hadn’t overcome my alcohol addiction, I might have been dead by now. If it weren’t for the women in an Alcoholics Anonymous group in Boca Raton who embraced me and helped me through that difficult process, I wouldn’t have become the artist I am today. I know being an alcoholic is not very glamorous but I wouldn’t have become what I am today if it hadn’t been for my journey.

Also, all the beautiful goddesses of South Florida who allowed me to photograph them are responsible for making me the artist I am today.

Website: www.francescabliss.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/francesca.bliss

Facebook: www.facebook.com/francescablissartandphotography

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4etIrX6-zeW1-SPVMTk-xQ

Image Credits
All photos created by me, Francesca Bliss 🙂