Why I Shoot Boudoir Photography

Sometimes I find it hard to put into words why I shoot boudoir photography. To me, it is so much more than just photos. It’s about self acceptance, body positivity, and art. It is about getting glammed up and laughing your butt off. It’s about the transformation that takes place between the time you walk into my studio and walk back out that door. It is about feeling beautiful, and that is something I believe every person deserves.

I started shooting boudoir photography because I saw the beauty in everyone that came in our door. I believed I could show any person see what I see through my camera. Women tell me they can’t look “that beautiful” because they feel too tall, weigh too much, or have too many stretch marks. I loved showing them the photos from thei shoot and showing that they CAN, in fact, feel beautiful. Seeing their reactions to their pictures changed me. From that moment on, I knew I had found my passion.

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 sparkle.

The Transformation

The transformation that takes 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.

Then the shoot would start. The first series is to get you all warmed up. When I show the client the back of the camera after the first series, I usually hear “OH MY GOSH, that’s me? NO WAY that’s me!” . As we go into the next series and then the next, the laughter and smiles start to come out. Then she starts to feel sexy. The smoldering looks start to come out and you can tell that they are starting to feel in their element.

By the time we finish the session and go into the reveal appointment, 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 the reveal appointment, their jaws drop. They see themselves like they never have before. This is one of the amazing things about boudoir photography. I get the chance to show them how I see them, how their spouse sees them and be the 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

Boudoir Photography changed my life. Truly, it did. I grew up in a very religious and strict community. I was taught from an early age that my body wasn’t really my own. It belonged to my future husband and was a temple. Dressing modestly was the most important thing and was how you honored your body.

Throughout my teenage years I went through a lot. I was told by religious leaders that because of how I looked, I would be seen as a temptation to the young men and I would need to be extra careful about how I dressed. This began a cycle of self hatred and eating disorders. I thought my body was “bad, ” and not righteous, simply because of how I was shaped.

Into my adult years I took up photography. I had heard of boudoir and thought I would dabble in it a bit. My best friend had recently gotten out of a relationship. I had the idea to take some photos of her to help her feel better and see her true beauty. I’ll never forget the look on her face when going through the images. The rest is history. I began to dive into boudoir and it is all I do.

I made it my mission to empower other women in their body no matter what it looks like. I never wanted anyone to feel like how I felt for several years. Your body is your own and you can honor it however you’d like. My favorite way to honor my body now is by taking boudoir photos.

Yup! That’s me at 3 different shoots!

It took me awhile to get in front of the camera. I had been shooting boudoir for 5 years before I had a shoot done for myself. I made it my goal in 2023 to get in front of the camera as much as possible and work through the fears and negative feelings I had about my own body. I am PROUD of my body and what she has been through.

I started to think about the photos I was in previously, (not professional images), and how my daughter would be able to look back and remember me if I wasn’t around anymore. Would I want her to remember me being ashamed of my body and always being behind the camera? Trying to avoid the camera every chance I got? NOPE! Would I want her to not have any photos of me at all? Absolutely not! Maybe one day when she’s older she will appreciate the photos where I wore my scars proudly and was accepting myself as I am. Happy and confident in the body I was given.

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 help remind you of how to love and be proud of yourself.

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