You have seen this saucy minx countless times on my website by now....but probably never like this. You see, Miss S has known me now, for about 3 years give or take and since our first meeting where I apparently told her "you are already beautiful, bitch" she has become the THP Studios cheerleader. This babe had such an inner transformation since her first shoot, but we all know that self love and body image doesn't get overcome in one day or one photoshoot. So, when she came in for her Glambassador shoot she was expecting the usual hair and makeup we always do for her, but I knew she needed another little nudge (also I needed something different for photos of her). When she walked in I told her we would be doing natural makeup, sticking with pinks and nudes and you could see her panic start up a wee bit....then I broke the other news....we were going to go outside. Miss S had already been photographed in my studio like 4 times, so we needed to shake it up a bit. Well, once makeup was done, she had a hard time accepting her makeup (you will read about it during her part) because she had come to know herself as the red lipped-winged liner babe and we stripped that away. I told her we were on Empowerment Level 2. She graciously trusted me and of course, killed her session....because we all know that sexiness, sassiness, and sauciness is not just found in a lip color, the way we shadow our eyes or in our wardrobe...it is found in our actions, our voice, and our ability to love on the world. Miss S has so much love for the people in her life and literally will do anything for those close to her, she is a true champion of body positivity, and she loves lifting others up....and I needed her to see that those are the types of things that make her sexy and to not be afraid of seeing her natural lip color. Anyhow, I am so proud of this OG boudy babe and I am going to let her relate her story to you because it's important.
When I walked into the studio, it was a beautiful Friday afternoon and I was excited like I always am when I walk into Teri’s studio. So she looks at me and she has this look about her and she said today we are doing something completely different and I said oh are we going outside ? Her response was sure we can totally go outside but you are going natural and my heart plummeted to my stomach and I am sure the look on my face was pure terror.
What do you mean natural ? Like Natural make up no wing tips no red lips just a natural lip color and natural tones …oh and we are going to shoot in more natural tones for outfits. I wasn’t comfortable at all during makeup I think I questioned Nicole a 100 times on what she was doing.
So then we were shooting I was worried about my small lips , and worried about my skin abrasions I have on both legs , which I have asked every time Teri has shot me to try not to get them. We shot in the studio and I think Teri could sense that I wasn’t as comfortable as I have been in others. I was more comfortable without clothes on in front of her camera then I was without makeup.
Honest to goodness it sounds ridiculous but it was true. We decided to go outside , I was nervous butterflies were intense in my stomach I was going into the public in a trench coat and bra and panties at 3:30. This was liberating, it was crazy!!!
I was happy and had forgotten all about the fact that I was not “wearing my face “. Now fast forward a couple weeks and Ms Teri messages me and says do you want to see your pictures and I responded yes?? As I scrolled the 1st image I saw was my ass and the skin abrasions …she told me that you will see that I left in your spots…to which I replied “I noticed” and I cried. 
I still don’t know why I cried …I don’t know if I cried as a release because they are me and I have to love them or if I cried because I wasn’t ready to see the real me, the stomach rolls which I know I have been have never really allowed them to show, or the red dots which pain me greatly. I still don’t know why I cried. Teri reminded me I am beautiful not because of the stomach and the red dots but because of who I am even with the red dots and stomach rolls.
I reviewed the pictures 10 times in 30 minutes and I quickly scrolled past the pictures that show my stomach and I picked about all my flaws in each picture . Teri reminded me to look at my pictures like they are someone else and picture by picture I started to smile . I actually think the red dots are cute. This learning to love myself business is very hard but I am learning to accept ALL parts of me not just the ASSETS ( like really DAT ASS is for days) but also for my perfect imperfections … As she called it empowerment level 2 ….and from here it can only get better …as I learn and grow into the empowered confident woman I am becoming.
For me, it is important that EVENTUALLY women face the reality that is their body. As women we already compare ourselves to other people and the younger, smaller versions of ourselves and it's bullshit. Usually the first session I will take care to acknowledge your areas of insecurity and what not, but if you stick with me long enough (like Miss S!) Tough Love Teri is going to step in and we are going to work towards accepting all the bits that are unique to you. I don't want you comparing the body you see in the mirror to the body you see in one of the images I take of you and noticing a huge difference. I need you to SEE yourself, accept it (I'm not even asking for love, just acceptance) so you can start focusing on bigger and better things! (Like going outside and getting naked).
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?{ranty post} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Mr. D came to the studio ready to kill his session. I mean, can you believe this guy has an eight-year old?? Look at that bod! There's no waaaaay, he's had a kid....no possible way. And 31?? I doubt it. He looks so good for his age.
Do we realize how fucking ridiculous that sounds? I have yet to see this shit on a post of a man. While surviving any birthday and the ability to have children are milestones not awarded to many, I don't think the intent of people commenting these things are thinking of that perspective. I am in far too many photographer groups/facebook groups/and social communities where this bullshit chatter is the norm...in regards to women. Whenever a photo of a woman who fits the stereotypical societal standards of beauty is posted, there is a caption and comments that applaud her for "looking so good after having babies" and "This woman just gave birth and she looks sooooo good".....ummmm....I am not saying don't appreciate the women who fall into the societal standard of beauty nor am I saying don't celebrate the ability of women to have children....I am saying we need to stop saying shit like this and reducing women to their capacity to have children AND maintain a svelte figure. We can appreciate beauty without saying shit like "CAN YOU BELIEVE SHE HAS 3 CHILDREN??? OMG I WOULD DIE TO LOOK LIKE THAT!" It just continues to perpetuate the fallacy that women need to get back to a pre-baby body (which, fyi, is technically impossible unless you are willing to shove your baby back up your hoo ha) Same thing with the age thing...."SHE LOOKS SO AAAAMAZING FOR 65"....MAYBE SHE DOES LOOK AMAZING, BUT IT'S NOT DESPITE HER NUMBER OF YEARS ON THIS PLANET!! When we say things like this, it continues to remind women that they have to uphold a certain look or aesthetic despite having children, getting older, etc. Can we just stop please? Next time you are viewing and appreciating a woman's beauty, try to refrain from using phrases like that. Next time you are having a chat with your friends, avoid saying things like "Omigod, you look so good for just having a baby" or "You age beautifully" and while people may look beautiful and "so good" you don't need to tack on the reason why you are SURPRISED they look so good...it's a shitty thing to do and I assume you are a good human. So, after this ranty post, I urge you to listen to the conversations around you, online and in person, compliment people for their qualities, both physical and not, be mindful of the chatter you are contributing to...oh and enjoy some photos of Mr. D who delightfully shared his life and time with me so I COULD write this ranty post.
She Didn't Want It To End ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Meet Regan, one of our Glambassadors, chosen for her exciteable personality, care for others, and passion for empowering the women in her life. This babe's energy is so incredibly infectious and when she came to her shoot she came ready to kill it. I am sure there were some nerves there, of course, but she hid them pretty well and during her session we unleashed her babeliness. But I won't chat too long...I want you to hear how SHE felt during the experience!
"I really didn't believe I was good enough,pretty enough or thin enough,not tall enough to have a photographer believe that I was.
My experience with Teri was amazing. I come off confident but I was scared of what the outcome was going to be.
I am sooo comfortable taking pictures of myself but I've never had a female photographer take pictures of me before so I didn't know nor was prepared if there was going to be judging.
Right before our session I explained to Teri that I'm not very good at taking directions very well and there she was, Jedi mind fucking me lol. (meaning she was fine at taking my directions) Slowly as the camera started clicking I came to believe that I was at party and didn't want it to end. I so wanna party again!!
ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE PARTY? IF SO, SEND ME AN EMAIL AND LET'S START CELEBRATING!
Kiana {curve model} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photographer
Kiana is a gorgeous curve model who popped by the studio for a test shoot with myself. I fell in love with her via her instagram and knew we needed to do a session together, so we pulled together some metallic pieces for the shoot and got down to business. The babe brought the curves, but she also brought THE FACE. This girl can turn it on and off like you won't believe! Not only is she a fab model, but she is also a fierce makeup artist!
Liz { Florida Diaries} ~ International Boudoir Photographer
Miss Liz is probably one of my favorite people in the world. I have only seen her in person twice in my life, but each time it's like no time passed between. Another beauty brought to me courtesy of my colleague and friend Lindsay Rae Photography, Liz has been our curve model on 2 seperate occasions! The first was in Vegas, the first time I attended WPPI and played in the desert, the second time was just recently in Florida, where Lindsay and I hosted our Florida Curves Workshop, inspiring and educating photographers to improve the diversity in their boudoir portfolios! Just like in Vegas, Liz never disappointed. She got crazy with us, letting me put her in the pool, going skinny dipping with us in the ocean, and making us delicious dinners.
