Why I Shoot Boudoir Photography
Why I became a boudoir photographer
Sometimes I find it hard to put into words why I shoot boudoir. To me, it is so much more than photos. It’s about self-acceptance, body positivity, and art. It is about getting glammed up and you leaving as if we’ve known each other for years. It’s about the transformation that takes place between the time you walk in my studio and walk back out the door. It’s about feeling beautiful, on cloud 9, and that's something I believe every person deserves.
I started shooting boudoir because I saw the transformation in everyone that came through the door. Women tell me they feel they can’t look like that because they feel too tall, weigh too much, don’t weigh enough, have too many stretch marks, and the list goes on. I love showing them the photos from their shoot and showing that they CAN and DO, in fact look beautiful. Seeing their reactions to their pictures changed me.
It was now my job to be a mirror for my clients. Not the mirror that the world shows you that shames you, but the one who sees past all the lumps, bruises, and imperfections. The one that shows you your SPARK.
The Transformation
The transformation that took place in our studio is the best part of the whole experience for us. When a woman arrives in my studio, most of the time she’s nervous, sometimes even visibly nervous. Shaky hands and voices, sweaty hands and faces are things I see all the time. Once they sit in the chair to get their hair and makeup done, the transformation begins. The client slowly starts to shed those signs and feelings of nervousness and anxiousness once they realize they are in a safe place.
Then the session would start. The first set of images is to get the client all warmed up. When I show the client the back of the camera after the first couple images, I usually hear “OH MY GOD, that’s me? NO WAY that’s me!”
As we go into the next set and then the next, the laughter and smiles start to come out. Then she starts to feel sexy. The sexy eyes come out. And you can tell that it’s starting to click with them.
By the time we finish the session, we’re friends. We’ve just shared an experience that they will always remember. We’ve laughed and shared stories about our lives!
Once I show them their pictures at their reveal, their jaw drops. They see themselves like they never have before. This is one of the amazing things about boudoir photography. I get a chance to show them how I see them, how their spouse sees them and be their mirror. When they walk out that door, they’re smiling so big and they can’t wait to tell all their friends about what they just did.
A little piece of my story
Body image issues is something intimately familiar to me. I didn’t quite grasp the gravity of what I was accomplishing for women until the past couple of years, finding that their confidence became MY confidence. I resonate so deeply with the fears and insecurities of all of my clients. I found myself healing my body image and self confidence by helping them with theirs.
Yup! That’s me at my boudoir shoot!
I started to think about how I helped all of these women find their inner power. I helped them own every curve and edge on their body and wear them like badges of honor. It was my turn. I booked my own session and got to unleash my own inner goddess!
For me, boudoir photography is a celebration of your body and who you truly are. I take pride in being able to help show women how to celebrate their bodies, their battles and their victories they’ve been through. Let me show you your sparkle. Let me help remind you how to love and be proud of yourself.