If I can do it, you can too!

I’ve been photographing boudoir photos for a little over nine years now and finally (after being asked several times by clients if I’ve done photos myself),  it occurred to me that it was time for me to bite the bullet!

Oh, how I wish I would have attempted this BEFORE I HAD TWO BABIES, it would have been a lot less prep work!

I asked Tryg (my photographer husband) to take my photos, we set a date, and I went to work.  I gave up carbs for a month, hit the gym 5-6 times a week, and added in more Body Pump classes (grueling!).  This was seriously the most motivating thing I’ve ever done.  I know, I know, I tell everyone not to worry about losing those extra pounds,  dah da dah dah.  Trust me, I know the things I can do with photoshop to tweak this and tweak that, but I really wanted the challenge to get into shape for this. I mean heck, why not? It was also our five year wedding anniversary, so I really needed to step it up for my husband.

So in the end, I fell a little short of my goals, but was very proud of what I had accomplished.  I’ve never been thin.  I have short, stalky legs and knees that I’ve always despised and no matter how hard I try, the underarm jiggle will never go away.  I loathe my profile and my skin tone, and have always wished for longer, more glamorous hands.   But dammit: I am now proud of what my Momma gave me!   She gave me curves and boobs (rather deflated ones now). She gave me long eyelashes and a booty.  She gave me my big blue eyes.  For the first time in my life, after looking through my boudoir photos, I can point out things I love about myself and it feels great!

When I originally thought about doing the photos, the thoughts of actually having breakthroughs in my self-esteem really never occurred to me.  Additionally, I really got to put myself in my clients shoes.  I now know how it feels to have a camera in your face as you let all your guards down and try to put on your “sexy face”.  Granted, I may have had it a little easier, being that my husband took the photos. But for those of you that know my husband, putting on your sexy face with his goofy ass comments spilling out, is not an easy task!  No really, in all sincerity, my husband did an absolutely amazing  job and I am so thankful for his work (this does not mean he can do boudoir photography now, lol).  We had a blast, but believe me, I was so nervous at first.  I still can’t believe how nervous I was.  So now, when I tell women that it’s totally normal to be nervous in the beginning,  I am not blowing smoke.  I mean come on, my husband took my photos and I was stiff as a board in the first few shots!  It was the thoughts and feelings like these, that  truly gave me more insight into the whole process and I am so thrilled that I did it.  By doing boudoir photos, I have walked away with more than I ever thought I would. I am positive it has made me a stronger, more confident woman, and a better boudoir photographer, without a doubt!

It was a very hard decision for me to decide what photos to put on my blog for you all to see, I was pleased with a lot of them.  Even though this is my job, I’m just not used to putting photos of myself up for all to see, and especially not “sexy ones”. Regardless, I am so proud of these photos that I must share them.

I did it. And if I can do it, you can too!