Miss T is quite the firecracker. This woman brought a whole suitcase of amazing garments, but perhaps my favorite item she brought was the 8X10 printed photo of Brad Pitt that we stuck around the studio when we needed her to "look lustful". It mostly just created laughter, but it was such a good time. Miss T was one of the gorgeous babes that responded to my casting call for babes over 40. The reason I did that specific casting call was that, while I do shoot women over 40 (up into their late 70s so far!!) many of them come from a generation where you don't share your naughty bits on the internet, or they have higher profile jobs that prevent them from sharing their images, so they are under-represented on my website and I needed to change that!! People need to see that age is nothing and if you aren't aging, you are dead, so embrace the laugh lines, the wrinkles, the age spots, and whatever else comes with it. (We have a project c0ming up to pushback against what the media makes us think of aging, so stay tuned for that!!) In any case, check out Miss T's glorious story below!
Let’s see, where to begin - it all started in a 5,000-watt radio station in Fresno, California. With just a $50-a-week paycheck and a dream. Haha…TV viewers of the 70’s might get that! As an 'older gal'...I have long entertained the idea to treat myself to such an experience. As often is my style...I waffled. Rewinding, I am unsure how I found Teri on facebook - but happily...I did. I adored Teri's work and I especially adored the courage of all the ladies who were 'doing it'!
Their resulting images were gorgeous – I especially enjoyed reading the stories – about the brave models, about their ‘herstory’, about their experience, about how they felt more powerful for doing it! As beautiful as the Universe unfolds - unplanned spur of the moment, I responded to Teri's 'mature' plus 45 year old gal “Casting Call”.
Absolutely I hesitated! Questioning the likelihood of being selected, questioning my ability to actually have the mustard to do such a boudoir session, and questioning myself why I was interested and wanted to do this! I somewhat ‘struggle’ with aging. Nope – I do not resent my aging body. Only post divorce (15 years ago) did I do some ‘self-work’ and discovered a girl who allowed her true colours to become lost and buried. Awakening a stronger, more confident me…I found happiness with being me. Back at 42 years of age I finally ‘fell in love with myself’, and not in an arrogant way, simply being happy being me. For me, the struggle with aging is and remains a mental or emotional ‘fear’. Ka-Boom. Sending in a reply to the ‘call out’ – the wheels were now in motion.
Giddy was I when I received reply from Teri. Few days later I found myself somewhat floundering about my ability/courage to do this, contemplated cancelling, then reasoned that I would regret not doing this. Slowly I warmly embraced the personal challenge – and – a big driver for me was a passage I read in Teri’s VIP Boudy Babes: Because I want you to look back in 10 years and say “I knew I was gorgeous” instead of I wish I knew how gorgeous I was… THAT drove it home for me! Like a prawn who yawns at dawn…it was on!
I became determined to push myself out of my cozy comfort level and let er rip! Results have left me feeling completely over the moon… I enjoyed the time and experience of having my make up applied by Nicole – she is a true sweet girl and I felt so comfortable in her hands. Certainly a fabulous prelude to this photo experience! The quick-thinking, warm personality, and great sense of humour of Teri immediately made me feel ‘at home’…I very much like that! I enjoyed the ease, the comfort…everything rolled up…giving myself permission to ‘dig in’ wake up and allow my inner bombshell to surface and breath!!!
I had picked up my album on a workday lunch break. Getting back to work I chose to wait til I got home to open the beautifully wrapped album. Rewinding... I pulled the boxed album out of the UBER kewl bag...nice. I opened the box and my eyes immediately landed on a little white envelope. In that precise moment my little heart pitter-pattered! Thank you Teri for adding the personal card. Your thoughtfulness is amazing and this little detail...well you could have knocked me over with a feather! I have loved every moment of this Epic Empowering Adventure! La Grrrrr *roar*
PS. Bombshell has NOT gone back to slumber. She is me. I catch glimpses of her in a reflection, I feel her in a quiet moment when a silent sly grin appears on my lips, I sense her courage when I recall this fucking fabulous experience. ~ Viva la Empowerment XO
To anyone contemplating doing a boudoir session: "Gather up your mustard - and - do it! You can do this! You will be happy you did. You will not regret it. Seize the moment. Celebrate the gorgeousness of you You YOU! Tap into & wake up your inner bombshell...she is in there!!!"
Her Life Was Never the Same ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
You may recognize this babely babe from a previous shoot (as well as our sample album in the studio!). We invited Miss S back into the studio to help with our latest video because she is a perfect example of how a photoshoot can change your life and affect the way you see yourself in the world (that, and she is a stunner, so that's fun!) One thing Miss S taught myself (as well as the other boudy babes) is that you can use swimsuit bottoms as panties for your shoot!! They are usually higher waisted, can come in some awesome colors and patterns, and bit better than panties for curvy babes. What did I teach Miss S? Well, she might say things like how to take a selfie, or to love yourself, but really, I also taught her about the awesome clothing selection at Boohoo.com for us plus size chikkas (sorry for your bank account, Miss S.)
But seriously, while I may have inspired Miss S in regards to body positivity, ultimately it is her decision to choose love for herself every day. She speaks openly in our video about her affirmation cards and her journey to continually falling in love with herself. Here's what she has to say about her experience through boudoir:Teri is your own personal affirmation card, she builds you up , she shows you how to see yourself as others see you NOT how you see yourself through judgment .
In the entire process of your shoot from consultation to reveal she teaches you how to love yourself believe in your self and gives you the confidence to see and believe your beauty in whichever shape or size it comes in . Teri is a beautiful soul and everyone needs to have a Teri experience your life will never be the same , you will never see yourself the same way again.
You can check out Miss S' story and video below:
These Years Are About Them, But This Day Was About Her ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss J traveled in for her Classy Session and we had a lot to chat about as she currently lives in the hometown where I grew up. This beautiful farm girl has a gaggle of her own and hasn't had a chance to acknowledge her womanhood in quite sometime, so she was excited to have the chance to feel pampered and have the spotlight on her for a bit. She brought some amazing heels covered in sequin which I couldn't pass up and I also found out that she does MMA! How cool is that? This little beauty is a perfect example of the quote "Though she be but little, she is fierce." Ps. check out how well our new rug photographs!!!!
Everything about my experience with Teri was amazing. I'm a stay at home mom to 3 and a farm wife. My kids leave the house all looking like superstars and I follow behind in sweats, a bun and no make up. That's always been okay for me because these years are about them. But being at Teri's, I got to be the attention. I was pampered and got to step out of my mommy shoes and just be a women again. I needed to remind myself that even though all my focus is on them it's okay if sometimes it's on me. And my husband will be very happy with the outcome!
I wholeheartedly agree. Her husband will be VERY pleased with these images, but more importantly Miss J was very pleased with her images and the overall experience. I think it's really easy for babes to forget they are women when they are focusing on just keeping their babies alive and healthy! So many of my clients are moms and wives, used to putting themselves last, but it is also important to take a few hours a week to remember who you are a woman and human. That may mean hiring a babysitter, locking yourself in the bathroom, putting on mascara while you are in the car parked outside your kids' school...SOMETHING. And when you have a few more hours, come see us and we will get you feeling all sexy, glammed up, feminine, and what not.
Too fat, Too saggy {and all the other lies she told herself} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss D, oh, Miss D. This epic babe came off as quiet and reserved, but as soon as the cameras turned on she tapped into her sensuality and femininity and gave me what I was looking for. This babe has been one of the most active women in the VIP group on facebook and I am extremely grateful to her for that because sometimes I get too busy, but she sees the need to keep people inspired, empowered, and motivated. What a woman! I loved reading her story (though I don't recommend this before going into a meeting, because tears will run down your cheeks and you will look stoned because of the red eyes...) and these women, I tell ya, they just blow me away. For her, this session was about helping her see the babe within so she could be a role model to her kids and help them develop a healthy body image before the world can tell them what is "wrong" with them. But, enough of my yammering, here is Miss D's experience straight from her!!
Boudoir photos were always on "my list" but were never prioritized for some reason or other...too fat, too saggy, too frumpy, too "Mom" and of course the cost - Moms don't spend this on themselves. Coming across Teri Hoffard Photography's facebook page intrigued me. The picture I saw was of a beyond beautiful woman of not so "society sized" portion...like me.
Reading the article, this woman had all the same fears, anxieties and self-consciousness I did but yet here she was, in pictures looking so gorgeous you can FEEL her energy. That is what I wanted, that is how I wanted to feel, that is what I wanted to show my daughters. I booked my consultation! Hair and make up was fun and certainly helped aide in comfort of what was to come next; but it wasn't what made my pictures come to life.
I remember trying to follow Teri's instructions precisely because I kept thinking "I don't know how to look sexy" and "I can't just turn that on!" Her words were assuring and sometimes silly, making me at ease and trusting that she could make "this" look good. I admit I left the shoot still unsure how they would turn out. Reveal day was exciting! I appreciated her guidance and method of viewing alone before showing my husband and turning off the judgmental voice in my head. I was surprised!
The woman in the pictures looked amazing! Beauty, confidence and a sparkle I barely recognized was in these pictures. My pictures. Teri posted one of my pictures on facebook, I shared it so all my peeps could see. (Previously thinking no one but me and my husband would ever see these) The response was overwhelming. One friend in particular commented "You look incredible. And like you FEEL incredible!!" and I had to laugh because it was all very mechanical in the moment. "Point this" "Arch that" was all I had in my head.
Receiving my album was even more special. To see myself in print, a collection presented so beautifully, was my "super-model" moment. My fat, saggy, frumpy, Mom body disappeared. I could feel the energy of the woman in the picture like I wanted. The sparkle I saw in the digitals was there too. That woman in the picture is not a super-model or society sized but she is strong and confident and beautiful. A woman I want my daughters to know. I AM that woman and on days that I forget, I have a keepsake to remind me. Don't think about it, don't wait, don't judge yourself, just do it. Prioritize your well being, find your sparkle, no one is better at helping you show your sparkle than Teri.
Miss D is definitely a sparkly babe and I am so proud of her for diving into her sensual side and empowering herself. Sometimes we have a very one sided and, unfortunately, negative view of ourselves, so to see ourselves as the rest of the world does helps to improve our self-love relationship. Especially as a parent or role model to younger people, it is so important to help them focus on themselves in a bigger sense....love your body, but love ALL the things that make you awesome. Start those conversations early. I know boudoir photographer and friend of mine, Lindsay Rae D'Ottavio has her little, redheaded babe say "I am beautiful, brave, and smart." It is our job to leave legacies, so what better way than to raise a generation more consumed with being epic human beings instead of getting the perfect Kim K butt. Anyhow, if you are ready to start your self-love journey, give me a shout and let's chat about it!!
And She Started To Take Care Of Herself Again ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photographer
The first time Ms. T bopped into my studio I knew we were going to be good friends. This woman's personality can only be described as "sparkly" and I could feel it as soon as I looked into her beautiful eyes. The past year has been a bit rough for this beauty, but she doesn't let it get her down, she just does what she has to do and moves on! As a single parent, Ms. T works hard to do the best for her daughter but along the way, she somehow forgot about herself. At the beginning of 2016, she vowed to start taking care of herself and doing things to give back to herself and her boudoir experience was only part of that adventure!
My favorite part about this bombshell, was the amount of swearing that came out of her mouth when she saw the Polaroid that I had taken from her session. I believe her exact words were: "Holy fuck shit goddamned." Ms. T had told me that seeing photos of herself in the past, she always picked at herself mercilessly and hated the way she looked, so it was extremely refreshing for her to fall in love with herself! When she came in for her reveal, it was even better. This beautiful woman with the mouth of a truck driver reveled in her gloriousness, appreciating the way her body looked, her expressions, her smile, and of course, those beautiful sparkly eyes. Every photo made her grin (and swear) and while she had a hard time narrowing them down, she was finally able to decide on some kick ass images to put into her luxurious album.
While Miss T.'s story maybe isn't that uncommon from a lot of people, but it is something that requires extreme strength. I find that mothers especially, have a hard time putting themselves first, investing in themselves, and doing something that could be seen as "vain" or "expensive" but when it comes to their kids, they will literally crawl to the ends of the earth and do what they can to make their family happy. The problem with this, is that a person can only give so much of themselves before they need to fill up their own cup...with experiences, self-dates, and most importantly, self love. Taking the time to reflect on the awesome human you are, how strong you are, and appreciate all that you give to the world is crucial to your mental health and making sure that you can give to those that need to take. Doing the things that make you feel happy, feel excited, and get you out of your comfort zone is absolutely key.
I always say that my boudy babes' stories are what inspires other women to live their life to the fullest, and Miss T is no exception. She gave me full permission to share her images, but also her experience with you! I am so excited for the next time this boudy babe comes back to the studio because she is super sparkly, delightful, and sexy as fuck. Here is what she had to say about her experience:"All I can say Teri is "holy shit! ". It is by far the best thing I have ever decided to do for myself. I've always been very self conscious about my weight. I've never enjoyed having my photo taken, and when I've seen photos of myself in the past I've always picked myself apart mercilessly. At the beginning of 2016 I decided that this is my year and suddenly I have a self confidence I never had before. That has only increased exponentially since meeting Teri! I was nervous about the shoot, although Teri has a way about her that really put me at ease right from the beginning! I think my biggest fear was that the photos would be good, but not as good as other girls I've seen on Teri's blog. After all, I figured, I don't have those great hips, long legs or beautiful faces that those girls have. I couldn't have been more wrong! I loved every second of the shoot and really gave it my all. Teri is so funny that the hardest thing was to wipe the permanent grin off my face while I was supposed to be looking sexy and sultry. She made me feel very comfortable and at ease, and made me feel super sexy too! I was probably more nervous to see the photos than I was having them taken. In England we would say I was "gobsmacked" when I saw them. (That's a good thing!). I swore a LOT, because I didn't know how to otherwise express how incredibly happy I was with the photos. I look amazing :). What I love most is that the photos look like me, they've captured who I am as a person, and I recognize and identify with that sexy girl too!! I can't wait for the next photo session! I'll be back for sure!"
Now, take Justin Beiber's advice, and GO LOVE YOURSELF.