As a boudoir photographer, almost all of my clients have expressed to me that they’ve experienced a complete change in their psyche after doing their boudoir session.
That being said, as a photographer, empath, and friend I’ve found it both rewarding and important to walk alongside my clients throughout their experiences- no matter how easy or difficult that may be.
Yet one experience has stayed with me in such a profound way that it’s pushed me to write this blog post.
As I mentioned above, I see most of my clients experience a wave of emotions throughout their boudoir experience.
Before getting into the story, let me break down what a typical photoshoot looks like from the eyes of a boudoir photographer.
Before getting into the story, let me break this process down what a typical boudoir photoshoot looks and feels like:
First it starts with nervousness, feeling overwhelmed, and uncomfortable.
Yet early into their sessions those emotions start to fade and transform into confidence, empowerment, and playfulness!
However after their session I’ve seen my clients experience a variety of emotions. Some women are excited and eager to see their results while others feel nervous and worried about how their pictures are going to turn out.
Before I move on, I want to express that all of these experiences are nothing more than human- it’s natural to feel this way.
A few years ago I worked with a woman who experienced many of the emotions I listed above. After she booked her session she expressed to me that she hadn’t felt “sexy” or “good enough” for quite some time and was desperate to find herself again.
At the beginning of her session, she was extremely hesitant (which was understandable given our conversation before). We talked for a little which eased her tension and began our session.
Although at the beginning she felt overwhelmed by nerves, she started to burst out of her shell.
The shoot began to flow, the energy felt eccentric, and we shared many laughs. Seeing her let go and let life live through her during our shoot was inspiring to see. This is one of the many reasons why I love being a boudoir photographer.
What I’m trying to say here is that she blossomed.
Many of my clients feel like they’re on a high after our photoshoot. Yet for many other clients of mine, fear kicks in after their emotions settle down.
This is exactly what happened to her. She was worried that her partner wouldn’t like her pictures. Sayings like “I’m too big”, “I’m not beautiful”, and her biggest fear- “I’m not good enough” echoed through her mind.
As a woman, I’ve experienced the exact same train of thoughts. It’s painful, it sucks, and most importantly it only hurts yourself.
After I delivered her pictures, she called me crying… like the uncontrollable sobbing kind of crying.
It was that very moment that her mind, body, and spirit shifted.
She expressed to me her entire emotional journey and how she learned to love and cherish herself and her body through doing her boudoir photoshoot. She expressed that this experience is what opened her eyes to the fact that she is beautiful, enough, and deserving of love and acceptance from herself.
This wasn’t just a moment for her- it was the experience that opened the door to a new experience with her mind and body.
Again, as a boudoir photographer, many of the women I’ve worked with have experienced this very thing. I’m not sure as to why I’ve carried this particular moment with me, but it’s something I think about every time I set foot into my studio.
And there’s nothing more beautiful than that.
Well, that’s the end of my story.
If you’ve read this, I hope this experience motivates you to find ways to love and appreciate yourself more. Self-love and acceptance can come easy, but it can also be very difficult to practice at times.
Our society has engraved in us what “beauty” looks like, what we need to do if we want to have that “beauty”, etc.
It’s time to throw out those beliefs that you’ve been told for years.
Although our confidence, perception, and self-love may fluctuate, that doesn’t mean that your beauty has gone away. You have the power to help change the way we perceive beauty, and it starts with you.
Your beauty is always with you, sometimes it just takes time (or moments), for you to see it.
Thinking about doing a photoshoot? Learn more about how boudoir photography helps you own your sensuality here.
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