When we ask women what inspired them to do a boudoir session, we get all sorts of beautiful answers. “I just turned 50,” “I am recovering from an eating disorder,” “I'm getting married,” “I had a mastectomy and want to celebrate my new body," “I am having my first baby and want to document this pregnancy,” or…

“I just went through a difficult divorce/breakup and I want to feel good about my body again and celebrate this new chapter in my life.”

Whatever the reason, we love meeting women where they're at and helping create a session that empowers them and goes far beyond just capturing photos. But today we want to talk a little more about the last reason we've highlighted above - and why boudoir sessions can be so helpful after a divorce or breakup.

Self portrait by Jen in her wedding dress, captured after her divorce.

Boudoir Sessions are empowering for women at any stage in their life. But here are a few of the ways we think they are particularly helpful after the end of a relationship.

Regaining Independence. For many of us, relationships can be an all-encompassing part of our identity. Especially when those relationships have lasted years or even decades. When those relationships begin to fail, or become toxic, many women start to feel lost or confused about their individuality. Far too often, we cater our needs to our partner- maybe within the walls of your relationship you felt stifled, like you couldn't get that tattoo or piercing you always wanted, or wear a certain type of lingerie, or maybe even celebrate parts of your body that your partner made you feel insecure about. You created a version of yourself that functioned within your partnership, and now that the relationship has ended, you want to figure out who you are in the world as an individual. Booking a boudoir session can be a really exciting way to embrace this newfound freedom and get curious about what turns you on about yourself. In our studio there are no rules. You can wear anything you'd like or nothing at all, wear bright red lipstick or go all natural, have slicked back hair or wild curls, bring high heels or go barefoot. You get to be YOU. And we are here to celebrate you as an individual, in all your perfect and unique glory.

Celebrating your body, now. As women, our bodies are constantly changing and shifting. Society tells us that we should celebrate youth and hide ourselves as we age. Marriage and motherhood often mark a shift in the way we see ourselves and our bodies. We take on caretaker roles and our sexuality takes a backseat while we cater to the needs of others. All of these notions are bullshit lies that our culture feeds us. Women are beautiful, sexual, and wonderfully dynamic at every age and stage of their lives. Our bodies are miraculous, resilient, and capable of so much. For many women, these sessions are a reason to celebrate their bodies for the first time in a long time (or ever.) Perhaps you didn't feel wanted or prioritized in your previous relationship, and so you hid yourself, your needs, and your body. Boudoir is like ripping off the bandaid and saying “hey, I'm here. I'm not hiding anymore.” It's an incredibly empowering step to take- and it never fails to bring out newfound confidence and self love.

Doing it for YOURSELF. Growing up, we are taught to play dress up and look pretty, in hopes that we will attract the attention of a partner. This deep seeded belief is hard to shed. We wander into adulthood thinking we need to look good for others. We incidentally cater to the male gaze that society tells us is always watching. For many women, their only experience with feeling sexy or beautiful is when it is validated by another individual. These session are a big F YOU to the idea that we need a partner to make us feel sexy. We love when women come into the studio knowing that these images are JUST for themselves. That they get to be the viewer who says “DAMN, I look hot!” This seemingly small step is a way to take your power back and make your own choices.

Rewiring your perceptions. Divorce and breakups are really taxing. They sometimes feel like a “failure” or a “giving up.” But oftentimes, they are the first step towards a better future. Shifting your mindset into seeing this as the beginning of a new journey, rather than the end of another, can be a helpful way to look at things. It's okay to celebrate moving on. It's okay to celebrate breaking away from something that was making you unhappy. It's okay to prioritize yourself and your needs. Go easy on yourself during this time. Treat yourself with kindness, love and forgiveness. We would love to be a part of your unique journey- please reach out to us if you have any questions or want to chat more about a session.

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