Why Boudoir Photography?
Sometimes I find it hard to explain why I shoot Boudoir Photography. To me, it is so much more than sexy portraits. It's about self-acceptance, self-love, body positivity, and art. It is about getting dolled up, being glamorous, and laughing way to hard until your stomach hurts. It's about the transformation that takes place between the time you walk in my studio and walk back out that door. It is about feeling confident, beautiful, empowered, and that is something I believe every person deserves.
I started shooting boudoir photography because I saw beauty in everyONE that came in our door. I believed I could show any person what I see through my camera and what others see as well. Women tell me they can't look "that beautiful" because they fell they are to tall, weigh too much, bad scares, or have to many stretch marks. I love showing them the photos from their shoot while we are shooting and showing that they CAN, in fact be beautiful. Seeing their reactions to their pictures changed me. From that moment on, I knew I had a empower as many women as possible.
It was now my job to be show my clients what their beauty is. Not the mirror that they 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 and shine.
The Transformation
The transformation's that take place in our studio is the best part of the whole experience for us. When a women arrives in my studio, most of the time she's nervous, sometimes even visibly nervous. Biting her nails, 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 make-up done, the transformation begins. Kristine starts chatting them up and getting their nervous energy out. The client slowly starts to shed those signs and feelings of nervousness and anxiousness away. During hair and make up I discuss the wardrobe you brought or suggest idea's from my client closet as well for you which also helps ease some nervous.
After hair and make up we jump right into the shoot. The first series is to get you all warmed up and relaxed and used to how I direct you. When I show the client the back of the camera after the first series, I usually hear "OH MY GOODNESS, that's me? ARE YOU KIDDING ME, that's me! I LOOK LIKE A MODEL!" 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 AND more confident. The sexy eyes come out, and you can tell that its starting to click with them.
By the time we finish the session and go into the reveal, we're friends. We just shared a experience that they will always remember. We've laughed and shared stories about our lives.
Once I show them their pictures on the television screen, their jaw drops. They see themselves like they have 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, their smiling so big and they can't wait to tell all their friends about what they just did.
A Little Piece of My Story
I didn't quite grasp the gravity of what I was doing until 2015. I had just gone through a nasty divorce after being in an abusive relationship for 11 years. I was so beat down and struggling to feel what my worth was. I was over weight and didn't feel sexy or beautiful. I was told I would never be anything without him and if I left I would get my children taken away. I finally broke free from the relationship but still struggled with a lot of issues. I finally had my own session done and it gave me back my confidence as a women and mother. I felt empowered and stronger than I had every been. I was on top of the world.
Yup! That's me at my boudoir shoot!
Having gone through everything I did in my 11 year married wouldn't make me who I am today. I have gone through the lowest of lows but I came out stronger than ever. It has helped me grow and wanting to empower women the same way the boudoir has helped empower me and make me love me. I am PROUD of my body and how I have fought and won.
I started to think about the photos I was in, and how my daughter's would be able to look back and remember me if I wasn't around anymore. Would I want them to remember me being ashamed of my body and hiding from the camera? Nope. Would I want them to not have photos of me at all? Absolutely not! Maybe one day when they are older they'd even appreciate the photos of me where I am overweight and happy because to them I am still the mother they love so much, the mother who would do anything for them. They would APPRECAITE this more than anything later on in life.
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.
Interested in booking your boudoir experience with us?
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