‘Behind the Scars’: Powerful photo series celebrates people’s scars and the stories behind them

Every scar has a story; but how many of us are comfortable sharing it?

Every scar has a story; but how many of us are comfortable sharing it?

A London-based photographer, Sophie Mayenne, has started a project called ‘Behind the Scars’ to document people’s scars and the stories behind them.

“I’ve always been interested in different ideas of beauty, and what people consider flaws and have always had a fascination with people’s stories, so I think the interest in scars in particular stems from this,” Mayenne told The Independent.

Mayenne says she spent considerable time talking to her subjects to understand their personal stories and make them comfortable in front of the camera.

“Each person had varying feelings towards their scars, and how they felt in front of the camera,” Mayanne was quoted as saying.

Mayenne’s focus? To help people shed their insecurities. “I want people to be able to identify with the images, to see an array of different people and maybe think ‘I have imperfections too, but they make me who I am’.”

Here project, which started as an editorial shoot for a magazine, has now grown into a campaign celebrating scars and their stories. “When I first started the project, I remember saying that if I could make a difference to at least one person, then I have succeeded,” she told Bored Panda.

“As the project has grown, I just hope it will reach more people, and continue to have a positive impact.”