As a boudoir photographer, I’ve had to unlearn many things I’d been taught and shown around body image and our relationship to our bodies, and how that affects the way we move through life.
From the toxic beauty industry, to society’s expectations around how our bodies are “supposed” to look, the way the media teaches us that we have to look a certain way to be desirable, the way some groups teach that bodies (especially women’s bodies and queer bodies) are inherently sinful and worthy of shame. There is SO much there to unpack.
These hurtful beliefs definitely make their way into the boudoir industry. There are some absolutely amazing, inclusive, and affirming boudoir photographers out there, and that number is growing and it makes me so happy to see! However, the main thing within my photography work around these issues that I’ve had to unlearn (and will continue to work to unlearn) is the idea of posing and photographing people in what many would say is a “flattering way,” which, boiled down, is actually simply trying to make people look as thin as possible, with curves only in the “right” spots, and to adhere to what is the societal standard of what beauty is “supposed” to look like.
This only reinforces the heavy expectations placed on us and our bodies – it in no way celebrates what makes us unique as full humans! In what way does looking at photos that don’t even look like you, that you can’t “live up to” because it’s not even possible to have zero skin texture ( and fyi- I’ve worked with countless clients – every single one of them, no matter their size, has some amount of cellulite. It’s normal and does not make you unworthy) make you want to celebrate yourself? So while I still do some light skin smoothing, and removal of anything that won’t be there longer than a few weeks, I no longer “shoot for skinny.” My clients deserve better than that. Being yourself is beautiful!!
There are times that we all find ourselves triggered by seeing a photo of ourselves. I’ve got a copy of my top five favorite tips for when you see an image and those mean little thought gremlins start to speak up! I hope you find it helpful! You deserve to see just how magical you are.
MY PURPOSE IS TO HELP FOLKS RECONNECT TO AND CELEBRATE THEIR INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE BY PROVIDING THEM A SAFE, NON-JUDGMENTAL SPACE AND CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE. ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR OWN SESSION? I’D LOVE TO SPEAK WITH YOUR WONDERFUL SELF!
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