Why I Shoot Boudoir Photography
Shooting boudoir photography is so much more to me than the photos. It is about art, self acceptance, body positivity, and self love. It is about taking a day to yourself and making yourself a priority for once. It is about the transformation that takes place between the time you walk into my studio and the time you are on your way out. It is about feeling GOOD and beautiful and proud of yourself—something everyone deserves to feel.
I started doing boudoir photography after I was asked to by a grieving widow—she said she spent years feeling ugly after losing her husband. Once I watched her transform right in front of my lens I felt the power of boudoir photography and knew I needed to bring this option to more women. I believed I had the power to make any woman see herself in a different perspective and find herself and see her beauty.
I have heard women have reservations because their bodies aren’t what they used to be, they want to lose 10 lbs, they have stretch marks, their pregnancies destroyed their breasts, or even reasons like they simply feel awkward or don’t know how to be sexy. Getting to prove them wrong and show them that all these reasons don’t matter is SO rewarding.
Hearing women constantly say “is that really me?!” When I show them their photos is enough of a reason for me to do this.
I love to hold up a mirror to women and instead of them seeing their imperfections, they see their sparkle.
Every time a woman walks into my studio she is nervous and isn’t sure how her photos will come out due to self doubt. Once she sits in the chair for makeup and we start talking the nerves start to dissipate. Her transformation has already begun at this point.
Once we start shooting the anxiety starts to dissipate. We start shooting and I show her the back of my camera as a preview and shock falls on her face as she screams “no way! That’s me?!” Suddenly she is feeling good and I can tell she is feeling beautiful and more confident.
By the time we do the reveal it’s like we’ve been friends forever. I tend to share a lot of personal things during our shoot so we definitely get to know each other.
At the reveal, I watch them view their photos and tears stroll down their cheeks. It is so amazing to make women feel this way. They get emotional, their jaws drop, they giggle. Narrowing down the photos is the hardest part because even though they claim they never like photos of themselves, suddenly they have over 100 photos they are in love with.
When it’s time to walk out the door they have a huge smile on their face and feel so confident and full of energy. They can’t wait to tell their friends what they just did.
A little about me- I grew up with major body dysmorphia issues. I have always struggled to accept my body and love myself as is. I always fought with myself trying wacky diets or starving so I could be as thin as possible. Self confidence was never something that I was familiar with. It has taken me a very long time but I am finally in a place where I may still be hard on myself but I can appreciate my body. I had my own boudoir shoot done and while I still saw my flaws in the photos I was able to say “wow, I look so beautiful flaws and all.” Seeing these photos of myself makes me smile every time and they make me feel so good.
Boudoir photography is a celebration of your body and who you are. Let me show you your spark, reignite the fire within you, and remind yourself to love yourself.
