Our Fab Friday Boudoir Session Feature this week is the stunning Miss D. Miss D came to us through our recent "Body Love" project, a unique portrait based project which focuses on empowering women of all shapes and sizes.
How old were you at your session?
26
What made you decide to be a part of the Body Love Project?
I’ve always been the “oddball”, the weird kid, and the loner. I have my fair share of mental health problems and I suffer greatly from Body Dysmorphia. Where people see a normal person walking down the street, I see someone so ugly and unwanted, that I’m undeserving of love and kindness. I saw what the Body Love Project stood for, and I decided the day I signed up that I would no longer allow my mind to determine my beauty. I took a deep breath and dove in. And I absolutely do not regret a single second of it.
What was originally holding you back from booking a session?
Nerves. Anxiety. And of course just the general fear and stigma that surrounds boudoir. Being half nude in front of a camera is a terrifying thought!
What were you most nervous about for your session?
I was nervous about my ability to communicate with Lisa about what I did and didn’t like, how to pose and if I even chose the right clothing. But she made me feel so dang comfortable that once we started shooting, I had the time of my life!
What were you most looking forward to prior to the session?
I want and crave so badly to feel beautiful like other women. To be someone who could potentially be adored. To be sexy. And to have the confidence that I lack in myself.
How did you feel about yourself before your session?
Oh boy, well I’m a mom, a wife and I work a full time job in retail. I never wear makeup or put on pretty clothing. I felt like I had lost touch with the feminine side of myself, that I was just a worker bee instead of realizing that I could be a queen if I would just try, but I never had time. I was very scared of how much of my femininity I had truly lost and just how much the camera would see that. But Lisa is amazing in what she does. And I’m still in awe.
Describe your experience.
I walked in and was immediately a big mess of anxiety. Lisa caught onto that quickly and made sure I was comfortable, she gave me a glass of wine and she had me laughing the second I sat down. My makeover began and the makeup artist was just as friendly and funny. As the hour passed, I finally felt okay. The shoot began and the first couple poses where hard to get it right, but Lisa KNOWS what she is doing and what she needs to see and she helped me move and pose in all the right ways. I had the time of my life with her. We laughed and shared stories and by the end of it, I left confident and happy. I called my husband on my way home and just cried happy tears for the first time in a long time.
How did you feel about yourself after your session?
I felt wonderful. I STILL feel wonderful. I know I’m beautiful, even in my own weird way, and I cannot ever thank Lisa enough. I’m a woman again.
I. Am. Beautiful.
Were you nervous before viewing your images?
Oh god yes. Again, I don’t see what everyone else sees. So I brought my husband along and let him take over. And just hearing him gasp at every picture and being able to share that moment with him was everything to me. I was in shock. As we picked our favorites and created our package, I was Holding back tears because I was so happy and shocked!
How did you feel about yourself after seeing your images?
I left Lisa’s in awe. I was speechless. I never in a million years would have believed I would have done something like this. My pictures were BEAUTIFUL and I cannot wait to hold the final product in my hands!
What were your favorite products?
Definitely the ice block and the canvases. Anything with that metallic glaze is amazing!
What would you tell anyone interested in, but maybe hesitant, booking a session of their own?
I have been telling everyone I know!!
How was working with Lisa and the makeup artists? I couldn’t have asked for a more hospitable and welcoming environment created by Lisa and her team.
Will you be doing another session? Oh absolutely
Anything else you'd like to add?
I just want to thank Lisa from the bottom of my heart. I know I didn’t show much emotion at the viewing but you have no idea how much each and every image meant to me and what that did for my self esteem. I can look in the mirror now and see beauty where I used to see pain. I can be confident and know that even on my worst days, I can look back on my experience and smile. Lisa you gave me part of my life back and I will be forever grateful to you.
Everyone is worthy of the love we so freely give to others. If you're like Miss D, and struggling with your self confidence, just know that you are not alone. If you'd like to experience an empowering photo shoot for yourself, give me a shout. Let me show you the rock star you are inside!
