I remember growing up I was fairly thin, always active with a high metabolism so keeping weight off was easy then. Then something happened (that lovely monthly thing that women get) and things started to change. My body started to change and it wasn’t changing in a way that I wanted it to at the time. Even though all of it was normal I found it much harder to keep weight off. Then fast forward about 15 years or so and it got even harder after having babies. I’d step on the scale constantly and get so frustrated if I hadn’t lost at least a pound every single morning. I definitely had unrealistic expectations and was not giving my body the grace it deserved. Fast forward a few more years to when I learned about a body positive boudoir session and how it could change me.

Why I Photograph Body Positive Boudoir Sessions

It all came down to a type of insecurity. Feeling insecure in my own body which made me feel insecure in the rest of the world. I knew where I thought I needed my body to be in order to accept it. And it was difficult adjusting to those changes.

So how did I go from feeling that way so many years ago to writing about body positive boudoir sessions and body acceptance on my website today? Something came into my life called boudoir. I’ve been a photographer since 2009 but as soon as I did that very first boudoir photoshoot I knew this was what I was meant to be doing. I knew many women had felt the same way that I had and I started to feel my own body acceptance and appreciation through photographing women in a way that showed them that they are beautiful and amazing right now.

Helping women gain confidence, become more aware of their bodies, and fall more in love with themselves helps me to do the same for myself.

The sad thing is, many women don’t feel great about themselves and have a hard time with body acceptance. My goal as a boudoir photographer is to reach as many women as possible to show them that they can accept their bodies and actually love them exactly how they are right now.

Find The Right Photographer…for you

Researching a boudoir photographer can be so overwhelming. You initially want to schedule a boudoir session to feel better about yourself and many women say to “just feel pretty again.” It may help to know if your photographer photographs real women just like you or if most of the portfolio is of models. Is there a wide variety of body types in their portfolio? Are they open to asking you questions? Is the boudoir session going to be tailored to you and what you’re looking for? I take the time to get to know the women I photograph before their session. I want your story to shine through in your images and I want you to feel comfortable enough to let your true self come out. One of the biggest compliments I always receive is how comfortable women feel when I’m photographing them. It’s like we’ve known each other for years!

What Is Body Acceptance

It’s so easy for someone to say “love your body”, right? Like ok now that you told me that I’ll just magically do it. It doesn’t work that way. Loving your body right now is not something that’s going to happen overnight but a boudoir session can absolutely set you in the right direction. Many women tell me that they’re waiting to book their boudoir session until they get their bodies to where they want to be. This is such a huge misconception about what boudoir is.

Body Acceptance is to reject society’s unrealistic standard for our body’s appearance and learning to accept and love the body you were given. Yes you can continue to be active, eat healthy foods, take care of your body as it needs but even through all of that many of us won’t get to the unrealistic weight and body type that society shows us constantly that we need to be.

You may notice that through a body positive boudoir session you will enter the studio feeling quite nervous and unsure. Even though we’ve been planning the session leading up to it, you’ve maybe never done this before so it’s all new to you. And in a way you’re not exactly sure what to expect or how you’ll feel. But as the session begins and throughout the entire time you’re there you may start to find that you’re feeling more and more positive about yourself and your body. You may even leave the studio after your session feeling lighter and more in tune with yourself. This can very much carry on and once your receive your images it’s going to start all over again! The impact that a boudoir session can make on your body image and body acceptance can be a lot bigger than you may have ever though.

So Can A Body Positive Boudoir Session Change Your Life?

Change your life? Maybe not. But change your mindset? Absolutely.

A body positive boudoir session is all about taking some time with yourself and really reflecting. Speaking positive affirmations to yourself and really feeling them. Reconnecting with who you are on a deeper level and forgiving yourself for anything you’ve said or done to your body that didn’t lead to self love.

You may learn a few things about yourself in the process.

Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone may feel a lot better than you anticipated.

You may find a self confidence you never knew you had.

Doing something for YOU and only YOU isn’t selfish.

When you FEEL good you look good and then you FEEL even better.

Flaws are the things that make us who we are. They tell our story. And in most cases we can’t change them. You are beautiful with these flaws and you don’t need to get rid of them. And you don’t need to wait until you have the “perfect” body to book your boudoir session.

A boudoir session can help you see and feel that you are absolutely wonderful and beautiful as you are right now. If you’re feeling the need to feel wonderful about yourself again then don’t hesitate to contact me. We don’t have to book your session right now but I’d love to start a conversation about it with you.

And if you loved this post and want to check out some real boudoir sessions then check out:

Boudoir Before & After

Client Experience-Meet Rachel

And check out the rest of these gorgeous images from my Love The Skin You’re In Session!