My Why: 2025
Hoping to make this blog a yearly tradition to help reflect on my experience as a photographer and my relationship to boudoir over time!
When I first got into photography, I never thought boudoir would become such an important part of my journey. In fact, I was only 9 years old and I had no idea what boudoir even was. My passion for photography started with simple photo walks with my best friends and taking portraits. Over the years, I tried different types of photography—equine photography in high school, working for a photographer at horse shows, and later doing branding photography for breweries after I graduated. (And for the record, I love beer—but beer doesn’t talk to you. It just wasn’t the same.)
I realized I was getting away from what I truly loved about photography. I loved capturing people, so that’s when I started working with women entrepreneurs on personal brand photography. While I still do some of that today, boudoir photography found me more recently—and everything clicked.
To start; I’ve never been fully comfortable with my body. I wasn’t even comfortable being naked around other women until after college. It wasn’t until then that I started to feel okay with my body. The more I got comfortable with myself, the more I felt free. So, when I learned about boudoir photography, it felt like the right next step. People started telling me I had the right personality for it, and honestly, I didn’t argue. Normally, I’d brush off compliments, but this time, I knew they were right. Boudoir wasn’t just about taking beautiful photos—it was about building confidence in myself and showing up as the woman I am.
What I love most about boudoir photography is how it empowers people to embrace their femininity. Many of the women in my family and among my friends have been affected by domestic and sexual violence (this is the reality for most of us, whether we know it or not). I see boudoir as a way to help fight the lasting effects of those experiences. It gives people the chance to reconnect with their bodies in a way that celebrates their strength, sensuality, and power—not just despite what they’ve been through, but because of it.
I also volunteer at San Quentin State Prison. I know-- that’s probably not the next sentence you expected to read. But in my time working at the university there, I work with people who have caused harm. I truly believe that empowering both survivors to heal and supporting people who have harmed others to change are two sides of the same coin. Whether you’re helping someone rediscover their power or supporting someone in their growth, there’s a connection in breaking free from harmful cycles. Boudoir, just like education, helps people make that choice, and I’m honored to be part of both journeys. It’s all about seeing yourself differently than you have before.
That’s the power of boudoir photography, and photography as a whole—it can change the way you see yourself. When I first started working with clients, I was amazed at the changes I saw, both during and after the shoot. A lot of my clients come in nervous, unsure of what to expect, but by the end, they’ve completely changed. The way they hold themselves, their body language—it’s like they unlock something within themselves.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is hearing clients talk about how the session affected their confidence. I had one client early on who had struggled with her body image. She came in with her best childhood friend, and when I stepped out of the room to grab something, I overheard her telling her friend that she had never felt fully confident in her body until that day. She said that for the first time, she loved what she saw-- entirely. She still noticed the things she normally would have nitpicked in the mirror, but those things didn’t matter today. She saw her full beauty, and she owned it. That moment really stuck with me because it demonstrated just how powerful a boudoir session can be. It’s not just about taking beautiful photos—it’s about helping people truly see their own beauty and feel that confidence from within.
Boudoir photography is empowering in ways I never expected when I first started. It’s not just about beautiful images or a special gift for a partner; it’s about seeing yourself through a lens of confidence, self-love, and empowerment. It’s about embracing your own unique beauty, no matter what society has told you about how you should look.
Up to this point, boudoir photography has been as much a personal journey as a professional journey for me. It’s about owning who you are, showing up authentically, and letting your inner light shine. It’s an absolute honor to be part of that journey for others!