Shoog McDaniel’s photographs of fat, often queer, persons are undoubtedly amongst probably the most striking pieces of art to be found throughout the world of fat liberation. The Florida-based photographer and artist has shot fat bodies covered in glitter, fat bodies surrounded by flowers, fat bodies rolling hefty spliffs, fat couples pressed up against each other in soft, squishy magic, and fat bodies underwater. They even photograph whole groups of fat babes embracing each other – their figures, every inch of them, laid wholly bare in togetherness. 

Considered one of the primary Shoog McDaniel images I stumbled upon was of a ravishing fat nude woman, surrounded by boulders. There was no emphasis placed on ‘flattering’ her curves, highlighting her waist, or sucking in her tummy. As a substitute, she just was. Her belly was vast, her breasts hung powerfully across her body, and her double chin greeted me with a mix of pride and heat. 

Much is claimed today about our socio-cultural progression toward body-positivity and inclusivity, and there’s little doubt that we’re living in a time when more conversations about fat acceptance are happening than ever before. There are more clothing options for some fat people than there have been, visibly fat folks model on magazine covers, and certain legacy publications are changing the best way they discuss weight, beauty, health, and wellness altogether. 

And yet, it’s still quite rare to see unfiltered, unedited images of visibly fat people consuming space. Our rolls, our cellulite, our stretch marks, our ‘blemishes,’ and our nuances will not be all the time depicted with honesty and care. Shoog’s art celebrates the whole lot fatness is and could be, when it is just allowed to be. 

Here, we caught up with them to debate their work, the supposed cultural shifts toward body diversity, and their appreciation of fat community. 

Could you talk us through your photography background and while you began taking photos of fat people? 

Shoog McDaniel: A friend found a bunch of disposable cameras behind a Wallgreens after I was 17 or 18, sent me some within the mail and I began taking photos. I actually used it as a way of communicating and being involved in my friend group without having a lot anxiety.

I began photographing fat people in 2016 after taking photos of my friend Burr. Burr was like, ‘I would like to get naked for some photos,’ and I used to be like, ‘Okay!’ I had never photographed anyone nude. So that they got naked, I took photos, and it was beautiful. Then I took some photos of them within the ocean and got here up with the term ‘bodies like oceans’. Seeing their body juxtaposed against the ocean – seeing how similar and vast they were – I made a decision to start out photographing fat folks. 

Were you following fat liberation work before that, or did that come after?

Shoog McDaniel: 2008 is after I feel like I began realising my fatness as a political identity. Then I’d do art about it but never photos. I actually have definitely grown to like and accept my body so way more from doing my photography work over the past three years. I actually despise seeing fat folks photographed in a option to make them smaller, airbrushing to do away with the rolls, and that sort of stuff. I work actively against that and like to spotlight the whole lot that folks attempt to do away with in photos of fat people.

Do you discover that the people you’re photographing are comfortable with you doing that?

Shoog McDaniel: It’s an enormous range. A variety of folks in front of my camera have never been photographed nude before and it’s totally nerve-wracking, a process to ease into. I prefer to go at people’s pace and I’m exceptionally goofy so I believe that helps keep the whole lot light. Then there are other individuals who just immediately take off their clothes, they usually’re like, ‘Right, I’m ready, let’s go!’ There are some individuals who have emotional breakdowns. Everyone seems to be in their very own technique of learning to like their body. 

How do you discover people to photograph? 

Shoog McDaniel: I actually have an inventory where people can enroll in the event that they wish to be photographed by me. It’s my job so I get hired to photograph folks after which I also do it as my art. I do know a variety of fat people at this point, so if I’m travelling around, I’ll often know a number of people and be like, ‘Hey do y’all know anyone else who might wish to be involved?’ Or sometimes I put out a call on my Instagram and say, ‘Hey, I’m searching for super-fat folks which are right down to get 100 per cent nude for these photos,’ and I choose from the individuals who reach out to me.

How does the method differ while you do collaborative pieces with groups and other fat activists like Caleb Luna?

Shoog McDaniel: I’m often hired to do shoots with solos and couples. All of my group shoots have been free, except one group shoot I used to be hired for, but I don’t consider it my art necessarily. Once I am in a position to curate folks and get the pictures which are really on the tip of my mind, it’s very illuminating, like, ‘Okay I’m shaping this image in a way.’ I can have more freedom with it. I actually try to spotlight super-fat folks, people who are 4X, 5X and up, because those persons are least more likely to be in media today. And in fact trans bodies, folks of color. I attempt to be sure that that my art is representative. 

How do you’re feeling about the concept we’re in some sort of ‘body-positive revolution’ and that things are shifting for fat people?

Shoog McDaniel: I believe we’re moving in the suitable direction needless to say. But I believe a variety of the present imagery revolves around folks which are still very ‘acceptably fat’. So folks which are like 2X, 3X, people who can find their sizes at stores. People who can fit into booths at restaurants. People who have big butts and large boobs. Society – our largely white, colonial society – continues to be shaping the best way that we take into consideration bodies. The concept of what’s ‘acceptable’ has opened a bit, but not likely to incorporate anyone who’s super marginalised.

Is it an ongoing struggle in your images to be allowed to exist on Instagram and social media?

Shoog McDaniel: For a very long time, I used to be having photos removed each day. Instagram did remove (my account) for like every week last winter. I’m definitely shadow-banned, which implies that folks send me messages showing that Instagram won’t allow them to re-post my stuff, and I’m not coming up when people seek for me in order that they can’t follow me. There are methods that I’m being edited without being completely removed.

How are you pushing back against that? 

Shoog McDaniel: I reached out to Instagram multiple times. In fact, you don’t hear anything back for weeks. A variety of my friends are having their accounts deleted or warnings like, ‘In case you post one other image like this you’ll be deleted.’ It’s really coinciding with FOSTA-SESTA stuff and discrimination against sex employees. Probably the most tousled thing is that the algorithm – and Instagram has stated this publicly – searches for posts which have a certain percentage of skin showing to be considered nude. Which means in the event you’re a fat person, even in the event you just have your belly showing, you have got a higher likelihood of getting your stuff taken down. I all the time be sure that to cover nipples and crotch areas, but they don’t really care. They’ll still take it down, especially if there’s a bunch of individuals reporting you.

“A lot of the present imagery revolves around folks which are still very ‘acceptably fat’. So folks which are like 2X, 3X, people who can find their sizes at stores. People who can fit into booths at restaurants. People who have big butts and large boobs. I actually try to spotlight super-fat folks, people who are 4X, 5X and up, because those persons are least more likely to be in media today” – Shoog McDaniel 

How do you navigate all of that? 

Shoog McDaniel: I placed on this thing where no-one can comment unless they follow me. A variety of trolls will likely be in my DMs because they don’t want to really follow me to comment. There are definitely exceptions, and sometimes my stuff will get posted on some meme page. Then I’ll get lots of of negative comments coming in during a day.

Do you have got any coping mechanisms? 

Shoog McDaniel: My followers, supporters and friends really help me. I’ve been living in a marginalised body my whole life, so I’ve created ways to buffer myself from the skin world. If people are available and check out to mess with me or take me down, I immediately block them and delete their comments. Sometimes, people I do know slightly will come at me differently, they’re curious somewhat than super negative, and I’m able to have interaction with them.

A variety of times, it’s just people on the market who’re sad. They’re not completely satisfied with their very own lives, they usually don’t prefer to see fat people completely satisfied because they don’t think that fat people needs to be. They feel like we should always be punishing ourselves, sad about our lives and never sexualised or hot. So that they take it out on us. Just understanding that has been really helpful for me. You possibly can have any opinion of me, but I don’t have to internalise it. That’s about them.

What other ways do you are attempting to devour more fat-positivity?

Shoog McDaniel: My favourite thing is to hang around with fat people IRL, share meals and belly rubs, go swimming and just appreciate our fat bodies together. I feel that being in a community is so vital, and creating spaces for fat people to return together is the most effective parts of doing what I do. It’s such a magical experience when that happens. Once I get an entire bunch of fatties nude, we’re just so appreciative of one another’s bodies, our abilities, and holding space for one another.  I definitely read some stuff, too, not very much, and take a look at a variety of media. I follow other fat artists and am definitely inspired by them. 

Do you have got any advice for individuals who are still struggling to see ‘fat’ as a positive, or perhaps a neutral, descriptor?

Shoog McDaniel: It’s been used against us for therefore long that it’s very hard to reclaim it. I understand people having a variety of baggage with that word. But after we’re in a position to see ourselves as ‘good’ and ‘fat’ at the identical time, we’re in a position to de-stigmatise that word and see it as a ravishing thing. Little kids take a look at me in a very innocent way and say, ‘You’re fat!’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m, and also you’re little!’ A simple interaction that’s not based on attempting to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s a process and, because it’s been used against us negatively for therefore long and our society still hates fat people, it’ll take time.