Miss A and I spent a lot of time together while in Minneapolis because she wanted to put herself into her clients' shoes, but also she wanted to get her mentorship on! I had the pleasure of photographing her in my gorgeous AirBNB and then hanging with her at her awesome Minneapolis studio! This babe was nervous, but also incredibly saucy once we started shooting! She totally gets my mission and promotes the same female empowerment at her boudoir studio, focusing on shooting ladies with curves. Both of us talked about how it was important for there to be diversity of body types in the media, and since we are technically the "media" we could help make this change! So, without further adieu, here is Miss A and her beautiful story.
I loved the experience and just the feeling of confidence afterwards and knowing that I have done this not only for myself but also for my clients when I photograph them. 
I was so scared and nervous and seriously thought that she couldn't bring out sexy in me because I don't feel that way... I sometimes feel cute or silly but not sexy and beautiful. And to be okay with my body, which is a size 28 and to actually see it being strong and holding those poses {which were hard work) and yet I could do it even at my size!
Overall, the experience really had me thinking and re-evaluating my body and how I perceive myself! Thank you for letting me see a different side of me and pushing me out of my comfort zone!
Not only did this babe kill it, but she now knows exactly what her clients feel: before, during, and after the shoot. You can see Miss A's own bog post about her experience here! I cannot wait to see her business grow! This is why I love, love, love to do mentorships (or teritorials as I call them)!! I, as one person, can only empower so many people, but if I can mentor and educate photographers to help them go forth and empower women, then so many more women will have their lives changed!! So, if you are a photographer wanting to impact more women and do more with your business, let me know or if you are a client who is ready to take the leap and do something you will NEVER regret, shoot me an email!
More Than Just a Mom ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss T walked into my studio a few months ago as part of a casting call and little did I realize just how much this shoot would impact her. (Ps. if you want to get in on the casting call action, come join the VIP Boudy Babe group on Facebook! We kept the session relatively minimalist, aside from the faux fur coat I bought for Vegas. Being a photographer, Miss T had spent her life BEHIND the camera (as many of us do) and so she was a wee bit nervous to take the leap into this shoot! She had forgotten what it meant to feel like a woman as she slid into the role of Mom and started putting herself on the back burner as so many women do. Enjoy her story, of a Mom taking a chance to remember what it feels like to be a Woman and having her expectations thrown all around!
I answered a casting call of Teri's a while back, and was stoked when I got the chance to be in front of her lens. Actually, no - I was terrified. Anyone who knows me, will think that this is bullshit. I had a brief stint “modelling” I come across fairly outgoing and confident, but truth be told, my life and roles are always changing. So my confidence comes and goes. Lately, its been on the lower end of things. So jumping in head first, is pretty much the only way I can do things, otherwise I wouldn’t ever do anything.
I myself am a photographer, and I struggle getting in front of the camera. My current main role, is a mom to a two year old gorgeous, energetic little girl, and my daily life is lived in pyjamas or sweats, no make up and hair in a messy bun. I often am surviving on little sleep, and since pregnancy have developed more anxiety then I ever had in my life. My body image has changed. Any Moms out there will likely relate. Women’s bodies are amazing. They bring life into the world, and are capable of so many things. One day, I will love my body, find an outfit that looks good, and I feel confident in. Another day, I don’t. I feel ugly, I feel old, I hate gravity, my stomach, my thighs that touch, the bags under my eyes, my chewed nails. You name it, I will beat myself up. People don’t see this, because I joke it off with humour. Even worse, I see this so often with other Moms. “Don’t get me in the photos, just the kids” or “ I look fat in photos, Photoshop it out” Life is fleeting and your kids won’t think that you are fat, so I often encourage women to get in photos with their kids, because truthfully one day - that is all their kids will have, photos and memories. I try to practice what I preach, and do family photos, but the truth is: there is more to me than just being a Mom. I am also a woman, under all the PJs and messy buns, there is still some sexy left. If I wait until I lose my ten pounds or my hair done, or my make ups on, I will never get photos done of myself. I will never take care of me. So I jumped in, not entirely ready or sure how I would feel about any of it.
When Teri replied and set up the shoot time, I panicked, realized that post baby, none of my “sexy” stuff fit, and went to the mall. I struggled with what the F should I wear and none of the stuff out there was really my style. (seriously, I couldn’t figure out how to get into half of the stuff) I eventually decided on something simple, a black tank, and underwear, because well, at almost 31, that's what lingerie feels like to me. I lied to my partner, told him I was doing something educationally related to photography, and off I went. I arrived at the studio, sat in the chair and was brought back to that place that I remembered from being younger. Having your make up done, makes you feel like a star. Teri was great. She was very directive, and knew exactly what she wanted, and made me giggle with her pose directions. The shoot itself, was rather quick and painless.
Due to my schedule and little one, instead of a reveal we did an online viewing gallery. Its weird to admit but I had mixed feelings of the photos, some I immediately loved, while others, I am still learning to love. Seeing myself made up was a little surreal to me, it felt strange. When I came home, I think I took the make up off with in an hour, because I don’t consider myself glamorous anymore. Because of the changes in my body, it still feels foreign some days. But I am busy, and distracted, so I don’t have time to dwell.
I actually sent my fiancee a screen shot of one of the images. His reply was “boobbbbs” and I got SO MAD. Why couldn’t he just tell me I looked great? Why did he have to turn into a 12 year old boy!? Why the fuck did this bother me, anyways? Due to my anxiety, I over analyze everything. So I took a break from looking at the photos and looked at them several times after. Instead of saying what I didn’t like about each one I needed to warm up to, I picked one thing that I liked about it. If I felt less confident about the pose, the hair or the make up or expression looked great. If my stomach was showing and made me uncomfortable - well my tits look fantastic. Or in true photographer geek style, if I didn’t like something I’d look at the light. Ive become a master of faking it, until I make it when it comes to my body image. A lot of positive self talk, and switching perspective. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of make up and a pretty dress.. but other times, it doesn’t. And that's ok. But sometimes, you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, which I did. And when I am having a day of feeling less than, I can look at the pictures, and remember that I am not. I can remember that I am more than just a Mom. Women wear many hats, and there is so much criticism in so many forums these days. Its exhausting. You are allowed to be more.
Having people like Teri out there in the world, saying its ok to feel pretty/sexy/confident/bold/
And Miss T nails it right on the head in her last paragraph. "You can think you need the makeup, fancy clothes, etc." and this is the furthest thing from the truth when coming in for a boudoir session with me. I want you to wear what is sexy to you. I have said it before and I will say it again: The less "stuff" you have on, the more we can focus on YOU. In consultations, I always warn people that the makeup will be heavier than you are used to because it is photo-ready makeup and it is not to "transform" you, but rather to make you shine on camera. Again, not every one is comfortable seeing a side of them that has been hidden for so many years, or a part of them that has rapidly changed due to having children, but I think it is necessary to expose yourself to the parts of you that you find less desirable so that you can start to see their appeal. In my experience, the repeated exposure of photos of oneself can lead to a more positive body image and overall experience because we start to see the big picture and don't hyper-focus on the tiny parts of ourselves that are inconsequential. Having photos of yourself look fab, fierce, and confident are a great reminder that A)you ARE still a woman regardless of what life throws at you, B)you ARE worthy of feeling sexy, hot af, and desired, and C)documentation of a somewhat fearless & courageous act, thus further enhancing the fact that you are a bad ass mamajama, capable of looking fear in the eye and proceeding anyway. So, what do ya say? Are you ready to take the plunge and do something your future self with thank you for? If so, hit the contact button up top and let's chat!
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!!
The Hardest 3.5 Minutes of Her Life ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
I think my makeup artist Nicole said it best when she told Miss K "It's like you have happiness shining out of you." This gorgeous woman bounded into my studio with such excitement that it couldn't be held in. Her infectious smile, sparkly personality, and sassy self definitely fit the "boudy vibe" and I knew that for her it was going to be important that she saw herself as a sexy woman. She kept saying she "didn't know how to be sexy" (If I had a dollar for every time a boudy babe uttered those words....) I also advised her that for some people, smiling IS sexy. I think we have this stupid idea of what sexy is, but it (like most things dictated by "society") is bullshit. Sexy is you in your most natural, unapologetic, confident state. Anyhow, I will let Miss K take over the blog now, with her feels about boudoir. I love this babe.
At first I was rather nervous to do the shoot wth Teri as its something outside of my comfort zone as I was (not so much anymore) self conscious about my body. Growing up as a bigger kid those feelings of self consciousness don't go away and tend to linger regardless of working out a fair amount and losing weight it's hard to shake those negative self thoughts that you've had for such a long time.
The only thing i regret is doing my consult so early from the shoot as I was dying from excitement waiting over two months to do the actual shoot. The day of the shoot itself I was certainly nervous but after some delightful directions from Teri and tons of laughter I definitely became more confident and comfortable!! No second thoughts when she asked "Sooo you wanna do some topless pictures" or "do you want to get naked now" it was just yup! Let's do it!
Throughout the actual shoot as well Teri just makes you feel so amazing. It literally pumped my confidence and self love so much I'm almost still bursting!
AND THEN THE REVEAL!! That had to be the hardest 3 and a half minutes of my life looking at all those pictures and seeing myself in another light - I am gorgeous. Amazing. Confident and no longer care to or want to strive to be anything but myself and love the body I have the way it is. I can't thank Teri enough for being such an amazing eye opening support and laughing with me, passing me the tissues whilst crying like a blubbering baby and for aiding me in my self love quest!
Miss K also showed her images to her momma and here is what Mama K had to say:"LOVE YOU and I must say, I’m very proud of you, Kasia – you are very beautiful – inside and out and I rejoice in your discovery of you!!! I say that from my heart not just because I’m your Mam!!!"I asked Miss K if I could share her images and her story, not only because they are beautiful, but also because I think it is important for people to realize that women of ALL sizes struggle with body image and feeling okay with themselves. We are all just trying to fit into these stupid boxes that the world tries to put us in (even though regardless of how much weight we lose, gain, or change, we will just be forced into another box) and I think that the more women take the time to show themselves some self love they will start to realize that they ARE enough and all along they WERE enough...and the people that can't get on board with that?...well, they can just fuck off.
She Hated Her Photos { Vegas Diaries} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
This is one post I have been dying to share with you. Miss S met up with me in Vegas and it was destiny! She told her man friend that she was going to be "doing makeup" for one of my boudoir clients (which she was...as she did her own makeup) and so he dropped her off at my suite at the MGM Grand. After he said goodbye, Miss S and I got to work. MAN! This girl could pose and work her face like nobody's business. I knew that she was no stranger to the stage, so that definitely helped her when it came to taking direction. In my mind, this was one of my best shoots to date. Everything was amazing. So, you can imagine my reaction when I received her testimonial telling me that she "hated her photos". What. The. Fuck. Where had I gone wrong? Could she not see what I did? Could she not see how amazing she did? How confident she looked, how she posed and how she rocked her shoot? Unfortunately, she could not. And this is the part where my heart broke into a thousand pieces. I always tell clients that a boudoir session is not the "quick fix" to repairing a negative body image, but it does help in getting there. It takes clients like Miss S to remind me that there is still so much work to be done. It mostly hurts my heart and my soul to hear these wonderful women disregard themselves and pick themselves apart when they are so much more than just those bits. Anyhow, I am going to let Miss S. take you on the journey of her feels for the rest of the blog post.
My photo shoot with Teri was an eye opening experience. I'd been talking myself into boudoir photos for ages and was hiding behind the "in 5 more lbs" and "when I'm more toned" mentality. When she posted that she was going to be in Vegas and it happened to coincide with when my husband and I were going to be there I took the Universe's hint and finally booked.
To be honest taking the actual photos was the easy part for me; I've spent most of my life in performance and so I actually found being directed and photographed pretty easy. Before I knew it we were done and I left feeling surprised with myself at how well I had done. As the days drew nearer to my reveal I started to get anxious.
The anxiety I'd expected to feel pre-shoot. It's one thing to have my picture taken and walk away, it's another to look at them. Finally the day came and my husband sat in awe as we looked through all my photos. We chose our package and left and I kept my opinion to myself but if we're being honest: I hated them.
Teri says to look at the photos as if it were a best friend but I just couldn't. Staring back at me was every blaring imperfection. Every bump, soft spot, pore, you name it. The photos didn't feel like me: I'm not sexy. At all. It was awkward for me but I didn't want to say anything. People always post about how empowered they feel after a reveal and it made me feel awful. I felt like I'd failed Teri. (She didn't btw)
Almost immediately after my reveal my cat got sick and the money we'd put aside for the album was used for her. So, very slowly (and without my husbands knowledge) I paid it off with the idea that I would give it to my hubby for his birthday. I felt disappointed in myself for not working harder before the shoot but a commitment is a commitment. I received the album 2ish weeks before the birthday and kept it at work so my husband wouldn't find it.
Everyday I took a second to flip through the album and challenged myself to find one or two photos I liked. By the time I gave it to my husband I was feeling the tiniest pang of excitement over them. At the very least, looking at them doesn't make me feel uncomfortable anymore.
I want to be clear about something: this is why we need Teri (and women like her). Her artistry is amazing, her eye is impeccable. She's not only a master of her craft but she's loving and supportive in a way I've never experienced. Me not liking my photos has absolutely zero to do with her and everything to do with how I see myself. While this photo shoot didn't change how I view my reflection in a massive way, every time I look through my album a crack shows up in that mirror.
I look forward to my next shoot with Teri (and I'm determined there will be a next time) so that over time I will be able to feel as beautiful and sexy as those photos make me seem. If you've every considered a boudy shoot do it. Message this gorgeous gal and just do it. It may not seem like it but that album was a life changing moment for me and while I may not be feeling like the bombshell she keeps telling me I am, I'm convinced that there will be a day when I sit down for a reveal and go "holy fuck, I look hot".Women like Miss S are why I do what I do and do it with such passion. I applaud her honesty and sharing her story because I want future clients to know that if they do not see themselves as they are in the photos, to tell me about it. I will not be upset. I am confident enough in my work to know that I created some awesome images, BUT it is important to me that we talk through feelings of self-doubt, insecurities, and body image issues. In addition to the photography, my studio is a safe place for us to discuss your body image and feels and if you don't feel like you match the images, that is something we definitely need to chat about because I want to help with the journey. After a variety of projects, I also realize that repetition and exposure to images makes people see themselves in a more positive way. A lot of times women have already made up their mind that they are going to hate their photos....BEFORE They even see them, so of course they are going to be uncomfortable with them. BUT my experience has proven that repeated viewing of the images makes individuals start to see themselves a bit more like the rest of the world does. The stop zeroing in on the "flaws" and start seeing the bigger picture. I wanted to share Miss S' story and testimonial because I think it is important for people to understand how boudoir does and doesn't help. While it is not the end all to be all in terms of body positivity (that requires constant practice), it is a fabulous place to start to, as Miss S put it, start "putting cracks in the mirror" of how you see yourself.