‘My shoot with Brock was an emotional and cathartic experience! I've never done anything like that before so it was a completely unfamiliar environment and certainly pushed my boundaries in terms of feeling comfortable with and accepting of my body. My favourite part was having a laugh with Brock, he is so good at putting you at ease and the shoot was definitely a lot of fun. Another highlight was meeting another model, Carissa, who arrived for her shoot just as I was leaving. She has more vitiligo than I do and she looked so beautiful, I found myself wishing I had more! 

Seeing the photos for the first time was quite emotional. I love Brock's style and the way he captures the beauty in difference. I felt they were a real celebration of my skin and I was proud that I took the leap into the unknown to be part of the project. 

The response from family, friends and complete strangers was entirely positive and uplift- ing. It also broke the ice for those acquaintances who always wanted to ask what my white spots were! Having vitiligo has really changed me. It has given me more empathy with those living with differences of any kind. It's taught me to be kind to myself. For a long time, I was always seeking a cure, changing my diet, trying different supplements, different make up. But really the breakthrough came when I just accepted my skin as it is. Brock's shoot was the perfect way to celebrate my VITILIGO journey.’ 

- L U C Y - U K

‘SCARS Shave a negative meaning for most people, but for me they are part of who I am and I would not recognize myself without them. @mrelbank was able to create art with my uniqueness helping the world to see the beauty in me through his photography.

It never felt so good to look different.’ 

- N A T H A L I A - B R A Z I L

“I had an immense feeling of liberation after my shoot with Brock, for over 40 years I had hidden my VITILIGO and was encouraged to finally be my true self after seeing the incredible subjects who had showcased their uniqueness throughout the Vitiligo series. It was both an honour and a life changing experience to have been fortunate enough to take part.”

- D E A N - U K

‘Hello my name is Eva,

I came in contact with Brock Elbank via social media, at the time he was doing a portrait series for VITILIGO, we spoke briefly over phone before agreeing to participate in this series. 

Beforehand I wasn’t camera shy however I had difficulty show casing my Vitiligo which appeared around my eyes and little parts of my face. I wasn’t born with Vitiligo but discovered it spreading very fast since turning 22 years old. I’m now 33 and couldn’t imagine my life without my Vitiligo. And so we started the series and my anxiety was through the roof, at the time I spent hours covering up my Vitiligo with loads of makeup before allowing others to see the real me, I wouldn’t even head down to the corner shops or allow family members to see what was happening to my skin besides my immediate family. 

I then posted a picture of myself on Instagram

Which happened to be makeup free and honestly I was just testing the waters to see how people would truly react & receive me, thankfully I got a positive outcome and that encouraged me a little more. 

I explained to Brock that I wasn’t one hundred percent confident in showing the whole world the raw unrefined me. Brock made me see a different dimension to my image, from the moment I got in-front of his lens he immediately knew how to encourage me and channeled positivity through- out, I knew he was going to make this a remarkable shoot as I had already seen he’s previous work. 

He told me to accept myself and to see beauty in myself.

So we kept on shooting and this man was so energetic, and brought an amazing vibe to the set, he then called me round to have a look at the current shots, and Ii was nervous as hell but anxIous to see...I could not believe it, I paused and inhaled and exhaled and I became emotional and teary immediately, he stood beside me so proud of his work and that inspired me so much and it was then, it was in that moment I saw my Beauty.

I saw what people had been telling me all this while including Brock, I told my self ‘I look beautiful’ 

And Brock was thrilled and couldn’t of agreed with me more. I will never forget that day, the day I accepted all my physical flaws, the reassurance and contentment this shoot gave my mind. Since then, my life has changed a complete 360!

I decided I would never cover my Vitiligo and would accept my imperfections from that day for- ward. 

Since accepting myself and not hiding behind my beauty I have successfully been modelling

For almost 2-3 years, and working with big high street brands and clients, My profile and portfolio is growing day by day.

The day I decided to accept me was the day my Life changed forever.’ 

- E V A - U K

‘I didn’t know Brock Elbank before I sat for my very first nude photoshoot. He invited me to his studio for the scar series and I flew all the way from Sydney, Australia to be included. Brock made me feel comfortable with the whole process and the images show how calm and assured I felt that day. He is a true professional. Since then, Brock’s images of me and my motorcycle scars have appeared in a number of magazines including Vogue. The response to Brock’s images has been quite incredible. Every time they are posted to my social media channels, they are the most engaging post of the year! 

- L U C Y - A U S T R A L I A

D I R E C T M E S S A G E S

“If as a child or teenager I’d had this visual reference to view and absorb I would have had less of a difficult time during those lost years, just knowing there were ‘others’ out there just like me…”

“After reconstructive Breast Surgery I had a group session to meet other women that had had breast, or breasts removed. It was far too overwhelming for me at the time. I tell you, if there was some sort of book of images, a pdf that they could send out, anything for that matter that showed me options, that it would be ok in the end I could’ve coped with the whole thing in such a different way.”

“WOW! Brock I have just found your Instagram page and like WOW these photos, the subjects, their journeys! So inspiring…”

“In these moments, self-hate became self-care.” I’ve never viewed it like this but that’s EXACTLY what it was, exactly what I was longing for. Damn. Genuinely blew my mind right now. Whoa.”

“A lot of people when see one grownup Redhead may think always the same thing: ‘oh what a nice colour .. etc etc but maybe a few people know how some of us.. being bullied for all of our childhood because of this colour.. or the freckles or maybe because you rarely see one person with this beautiful combination of skin colour and hair, I don’t know But you, with your beautiful portraits valorise us as beautiful creatures as we are. You notice that and you know it, so I just want to say thank you for what you doing for Gingers that Not always were be treated well.”

“Hello Sir, if some think that it is voyeurism to look at your photos, know that I see an artist who has empathy, and I see beautiful people who have suffered and who today to heal their ‘wounds’ have come to think that they have become beautiful people inside thanks to their difference.”

“Look how you do that, that inner emotion you capture. The power of an artist behind the camera is pretty magical, it is especially wonderful because we get to see the value of human beings through a lens that allows us all to see the deepest of emotions, the bright energy of the human experience.

These images capture some really beautiful and full examples of the positive energy that isn’t bound by happenstance or situation, that energy that radiates directly from someone’s soul.