This is YOUR boudoir session. Don't Compare Yourself to Others.
You've probably heard the phrase, "Comparison is the thief of joy." It's true—it's easy to get discouraged when you compare yourself to others. That's why I want to tell you about my boudoir experience and how it helped me feel more confident in my body.
You have your own journey, and it will look different than mine.
Our bodies are all unique and so are the paths we take on our journey to self-love. There is no right or wrong way to do a boudoir session or any other type of self-love, so you shouldn't compare yourself to others' journeys. You have your own path, and it will look different than mine (or anyone else's) does. That's awesome!
You may think that if other womxn have done it before you, then you should be able to as well—but this is a common misconception. It's easy for us humans to forget that even though we're all human beings with bodies that work in similar ways at times, we're all still individuals with different stories and experiences throughout our lives—this means what works for one person won't necessarily work for another!
We all have different levels of flexibility.
One of the things I love most about boudoir photography is that it is an art form that celebrates women in all their forms. And yet, when you start looking at the internet, it's easy to get discouraged. So many of the images you'll find show women contorting themselves into impossible positions and striking poses that are so hard to recreate in real life!
There are two things I want you to remember: first, we're all different sizes! The poses they're doing might look great on them but won't necessarily work for your body type or size. Second, there isn't just one way to pose in front of a camera! You don't need to be able to do every single pose perfectly—just find something that works for your body and keeps you comfortable while sticking with what feels natural for YOU.
Your body is uniquely beautiful.
You are uniquely beautiful. Your body is a beautiful, unique combination of proportions and curves, and it's perfect just the way it is. You didn't get here by accident; you have been shaped by your genetics, environment and choices throughout your life to create this perfect specimen!
No one else has your exact body shape or size—you're special! Don't compare yourself to anyone else because we all have different goals and bodies. Comparing yourself to others can make you feel like there's something wrong with you when really it's just part of being a human being on planet Earth (which makes us all special!).
Don't try to be someone else or try on other people's lives for size. Even if someone looks great in an outfit or has an amazing job title doesn’t mean they are happy or even know how happy they could be if they weren’t so busy trying to please everyone else around them - including themselves!
Everyone's session looks different.
Every session is unique. You might be wondering, “should I wear my hair up or down?” and “should I wear heels or go barefoot?” It's okay if you're unsure about these things—I'm always happy to provide my advice on what will look best for YOU!
But often, people are more concerned with comparing themselves to others than they are with their own style and comfort level. So let me tell you right now: your boudoir session is not a competition. Your body doesn't need to look like anyone else's, because it is uniquely yours. And there's nothing wrong with being different from everyone else!
My goal as a photographer is never to make womxn feel bad about their bodies or ashamed of their imperfections; it is simply to help them see themselves in a new light through an artistic lens (and sometimes just by using natural lighting).
Celebrate yourself! Don't let others discourage you from doing your own session!
You are beautiful and unique. You have your own physical limitations, and that's okay. This journey is yours, and it will look different than mine or anyone else's. You may not be able to do certain poses like I do because of your body shape or size or medical history or your emotional healing, but I can tell you with confidence that this doesn't matter! Your session is YOUR session and no one else's — don't let anyone's negativity about what "boudoir" really means discourage you from doing your own! My advice: celebrate yourself!
I want to reassure you that this is YOUR experience. It's YOUR body. It's YOUR time. No one else can take your place in this moment, so don't let them!
Remember, you're beautiful just the way you are, and I'm so excited to capture your story in these photos!
