When the girls and I first started talking about doing these sessions, one of the first things that came up is that not one of us have done a boudoir session ourselves. It really didn't make much sense that we were asking women to want to do these sessions, when we hadn't done a session either. We all agreed at that point, that each one of us needed to do a session.

Here's the thing about me. I don't consider myself a sexy person by any means. I'm a Mom, and let's face it, there's not much glamour behind motherhood. Most days I'm lucky to take a 5 second shower without one of my kids walking in on me. Forget actually doing my hair and make-up everyday, that just doesn't happen. There's a solid chance any outfit I wear will end up with snot, food or dog hair on it at some point in the day. That's just how my life is, it's pretty hard to feel sexy at the end of my day. So how was I going to muster up enough 'sexiness' to do my own session? Queue kickboxing themed session.

Any one that knows me, knows I'm kind of obsessed with kickboxing. I've kickboxed for a little over 10 years now and I love it. It is the one thing that I truly do for me and no one else. And, I guess to put it in a word, it makes me feel sexy. It's such a powerful workout and there's so many things I've gained since I started kickboxing and confidence is one of those things. It only made sense to me, to do a boudoir session that was kickboxing themed. 

So, there I was in my dirty garage, doing a kickboxing themed boudoir session. When my session first started, it was easy, because I was just kickboxing. I wanted the session to be hard and tough to start, to really capture what I do when I kickbox. It wasn't until the second half of my session that I started feeling awkward and nervous. I ask women to do this for their sessions, so what was my problem? It was right there at the back of my mind the whole time, my insecurities with my own body. I'm a Mom. I have 4 beautiful kids. And I have stretch marks from bearing those 4 beautiful kids.

I have come to accept the marks on my body from carrying my kids. Most Moms carry these same marks. There's some very lucky Moms that don't, and I fully admit to how much I envy them. Don't misunderstand me, I would never take away carrying my kids and receiving those marks. I would do it a million times again to have my children. It's why I've accepted it. It's physical proof of this miraculous and amazing thing a woman's body can do. It really is a beautiful thing what our bodies are capable of ladies. Still, knowing and telling myself all of this, the insecurities are there.

I could have edited my stretch marks out. But this was my opportunity to speak to every woman out there, and have it come from a real place. I understand how insecurities can stop you from doing a session. I understand that you think you aren't pretty enough, or skinny enough, or in shape enough to do a session. Let me say this, as nervous as I was about doing my own session and posting them for the world to see, I'm glad that I did. These photos may not make sense to someone else, but they made me feel beautiful and powerful. We are all beautiful in our own way. We are imperfectly perfect.

If you take anything from this post, my hope is it's this. These sessions can be anything you want them to be. Make this session about you, about what makes you feel beautiful. And don't let your own insecurities stop you from doing a session, or anything for that matter. You have one life. You ARE beautiful. Your age, size, imperfections do not change that.

I also wanted to say a big thank you to Cassandra Watterson for not only taking the pictures, but also being so patient with me :)

I wanted to write a post about this, because this has been a concern brought with inquiries I've received or with clients that have booked sessions. I love this work. I feel truly inspired by these boudoir sessions and the knowledge that myself and my team are empowering a woman and making her see how beautiful she is. I can't hardly contain my excitement after doing one of these sessions, and sharing it with everyone. But that's what I would like to talk about, your privacy.

Along with the contract my clients receive, they also receive a model release form. This form has everything to do with the privacy of your photos and how far you'd like that privacy to extend. The very first option on that form is "Please keep my images private, do not share with anyone." If my client checks that first option, I will not use a single one of their images for promotion, publication, advertising, etc. I completely understand how private and intimate these images are and I completely respect if you choose for me not to use them.

Other options on the form extend to being able to choose which images I use, using them for social network promotion or using only printed copies in my portfolios. As excited as I am about doing this work, I would never abuse my clients trust in me to keep them private. These are their photos, they get to choose if/how I use them.

The photos I've used for social media sites and my portfolio are from clients that have given me permission to use them. I am very grateful, as it allows me to show everyone the work that myself and my team do. But I completely respect those clients that choose to keep them private as well. If you ever have any questions about this, please feel free to ask me!