I have found that every single woman who calls to book a boudoir photography session with us has a very specific reason for doing so. I like to share their reasons because I know there are a lot of other women out there who can relate.
I have been specializing in boudoir photography since 1997 and although their reasons are all different they are also very similar.
I just got a call from a young woman who lives appox. 260 miles north of us. We had a pretty long conversation as I always try to do with every single person who calls. It helps me to photograph them from a place of emotion and capture exactly what their looking to accomplish.
During our conversation she opened up to me and let me know exactly what she needed and why. I could totally relate to her because one of her concerns is her body image. Who cannot relate to that! She explained that she has 2 girls (one 6 year old and a 10 month old) and her husband cheated on her right after her second child. After giving birth she weight approx. 200 lbs. I couldn’t hold myself back from telling her what a loser her husband must have been and how lucky she is that he left her when he did. I hate to get too involved and step over any boundries but I’ve been told that my sincere compassion and personable approach is why so many women feel comfortable being photographed by me in such an intimate situation.
She wants to feel good about herself again! She has lost all her self-esteem not only due to her weight gain and recent divorce but also due to the mis-treatmant and verbal abuse she endured by her cheating husband. He actually told her mother that “she is not beautiful and her body was disgusting”! Now you can understand why I felt compelled to reassure her that she was lucky he left when he did! What happened to beauty on the inside? And the battle wounds of having a baby, raising children, living life IS a part of life and is beautiful!
She very proudly told me that after all this has happened she has lost 60 lbs! Isn’t that the best revenge!! You go girl! Isn’t it funny how sometimes negative situations turn out positive results
That is a lot of weight in a very short time but she is very proud of herself and has every right to be. Unfortunately she now is going to undergo a tummy tuck and has it scheduled for next month. As soon as she heals she is very excited to be coming in for a boudoir photo shoot for herself. Then we are taking her and her girls to the beach (which she said she had always wanted to do) for a beautiful family portrait!
She admitted that she did not have any photo’s of herself with her daughters because she never wanted to have her picture taken due to her poor body image. I explained to her that myself being a mother and women who has battled with weight issues at various times in my life just like her I too was left out of a lot of photo’s (not to mention being the “photographer” ).
My advice to her and to all who are reading this is…Have your photo’s taken with your children NOW, no matter what size you are or how poor your body image is. If you don’t want to see yourself in pictures then hide them, put them away for 10 years. Late in life you and your kids will be very happy you did it! You’ll open that box and you’ll feel a sense of gratitude in knowing you have them to treasure when your in your 70’s, 80’s and 90’s when you no longer care what anyone else thinks about your body!
I can’t wait to meet her, photograph her and tell her how beautiful she is “Just As She Is”!
Denise
You can read testimonials on my website at Artistic Images Photography or more confessions on this Blog!
Portrait Photographers, Seal Beach, CA
