You know, sometimes it’s hard to put into words why I’m so damn passionate about boudoir photography. For me, it’s way more than just taking the pictures – it’s about meeting so many amazing women, building self-acceptance, inspiring body positivity, and creating art.
It isn’t just about getting dolled up and cracking jokes with me, laughing till our sides hurt. It’s about the transformation that happens from the moment you step into my studio to the moment you walk out that door – and trust me, it’s on more levels than just physical. It’s about feeling beautiful, and damn it, every single woman deserves to feel that way.
I started with boudoir photography because I was on a mission to heal my inner child. For those of you who don’t know me, and maybe even those who do… really opening up about my past, my experiences, dropping those walls, is one of the hardest things for me to do. I can do it blindly in a Facebook group full of people I’ll never meet, but to really reveal just how broken I was at a point in my life is truly devastatingly difficult. It started with 18 years of childhood trauma, and abandonment wounds I was working to heal. Then, 15 years ago, I was in an extremely toxic relationship. Domestic violence, emotional torture, gas-lighting, control, narcissism, sexual abuse. I experienced it all with him.
When I finally escaped, shattered remnants of the girl I had been were all around me and I had absolutely no idea how to put them back together. Was it even possible? How do I move on? Am I worth being loved? I’m ugly. Who could ever want me? I was a 22 year-old single mother with an infant, and I was alone. I was completely and utterly broken.
Years passed and I continued to jump from toxic relationship to toxic relationship, until something clicked in my head in early 2018. I had spent the 6 years prior finding someone to fix me. To validate me. To help me piece those broken pieces of me back together again so that I would finally feel whole. And then it hit me. The only person who could truly fix me… was ME. That moment of awareness was the tipping point for me and the absolute feeling of empowerment I felt? That, right there, is my Why.
Deep down, I knew I had to practice what I preached to other women: self-love. And when that fire ignited within me, it was like my soul was set ablaze to spread that love to others. I’ve photographed everything – families, weddings, newborns, maternity, you name it – but nothing lit me up like boudoir. There’s something truly magical about helping women build a better relationship with their bodies.
In the few hours I spend with a client, I see all levels of emotion. I see the moment of absolute uncertainty. Of terror. Of shock. Of awe. Of wonder. Of happiness. And finally, of realization. The realization that she is doing this, she is overcoming her fears, and she is everything she never thought she could be. She is real, she is perfectly imperfect, and that is everything to her. That moment of empowerment truly transforms the broken, the hurting, the struggling. She becomes a completely different woman. It gives her a voice. She is whole.
Women would tell me they didn’t think they could look “that beautiful” because they were too tall, too heavy, had too many stretch marks – you name it. But seeing their faces light up when they saw their photos? That changed me. It was like a lightbulb went off in my head – this was my passion, my purpose.
So, I left all other genres behind and dove headfirst into this incredible journey.
Now, it’s my job to be a mirror for my clients – not the kind that shames you, but the kind that sees past all the flaws and imperfections. The kind that shows you your magic, your true beauty, and your true value.
The transformation that happens in our studio? It’s pure magic.
When a woman walks in, she’s often nervous as hell. Shaky hands, sweaty palms – you name it. But as we pamper her with hair and makeup, something shifts. The nerves start to melt away.
Then comes the fun part: playing dress-up in our client closet. We try on all sorts of lingerie, picking out the perfect pieces for her session.
And then? BAM! The magic begins.
As we start shooting, the laughter fills the room. With each pose, each click of the camera, she starts to see herself in a whole new light. By the end of the session, we’re like old friends – hell, sometimes we’re practically besties.
And when it’s time for the big reveal? That’s when the real magic happens. Watching her jaw drop as she sees herself like never before? It’s priceless. That’s the beauty of boudoir – I get to show her how I see her, how her partner sees her. And when she walks out that door, she’s beaming from ear to ear, ready to shout from the rooftops about the amazing experience she just had.
You know, I started thinking about the photos I’d want to look back on when I’m older. Would I want to remember a version of myself who was ashamed of her body, who hid from the camera? Hell no. I want to love every inch of myself at every stage of life. I’ve done sessions at my heaviest, I’ve done sessions at my lightest. I’ve now had my own sessions when I’ve been truly happy and in love, and I’ve had my own sessions immediately following the death of a parent and being cheated on.
For me, boudoir photography is a celebration – of our bodies, our battles, our victories. And let me tell you, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to be a part of that journey.
So, let’s celebrate together. Let me remind you how to love and be damn proud of yourself. You deserve it.
