Hi friends!
Today I want to discuss one of the bigger elephants in the boudoir room. It afflicts countless women out there, holding them back from experiencing life to the fullest and enjoying every moment of it. It’s a pesky thing called body image.
Now, you don’t need me to explain how we, as a society, have created problematic stereotypes and expectations for women’s bodies or all the ways in which they are still perpetuated on a daily basis. But what you probably do need me to share is how boudoir has the power to reverse a lot of these false and harmful messages.
It’s true! While the idea of revealing more skin in front of a camera lens can trigger negative body image insecurities initially, the art and experience of boudoir photography is nothing short of empowering. And I’m going to walk you through all the ways it’ll help you see only the positives when you look at your beautiful self.
First things first, well before the camera ever comes out of the bag, you get to enjoy a pre-shoot glam treatment. Professionally styled hair and makeup, plus any self-care treatments you indulge in at home, make it so you step on the set feeling like the most knockout version of yourself. And when you feel that good, it really shows in your photographs.
That “I’m a rockstar” sensation carries through your entire session, making it fun to wear your styled outfits and try new poses and get creative as you’d like. And if you’re shooting with the right photographer for you, any self-doubt will be easily drowned out by genuine affirmations, confident cues, and cool ideas coming from the other end of the camera.
That already sounds like enough to kick negative self-talk to the curb for a while, right? Well, some would argue that the biggest body image benefits arrive alongside the polished images themselves. When looking at their prints, so many women feel something close to shock. Like, “Wow! That’s me?! I’ve never imagined myself to look like that before.” They feel like an outsider looking in on their own body, seeing past what they long perceived as flaws to witness the truth — that they are a beautiful, sexy, and strong force to be reckoned with.
The best part? You get to keep these photographs as a reminder of your feminine power forever! You can share your excitement and pride for the images with your partner or your best friend, you can keep them all to yourself in a pretty black book by your nightstand… it’s entirely up to you. No matter how you choose to display them, they serve as a really important mirror that you can look into any time your insecurities or self doubts start to creep in again.
In the end, you walk away with the ability to reset your self-confidence in an instant by glancing at a true, unstoppable image of yourself. That is the true power of boudoir. ✨
With Grit & Grace~
Sarah Keenan, Photographer
Boudoir Studio Knoxville
Westland Farms Studio
