More Than Boudoir:

Capturing Confidence, Cellulite, and All the Real Stuff

Celebrating Authenticity Through the Lens: A Birthday Shoot That Taught Me So Much

Last year, the week of my birthday—actually the day before—I had a shoot location booked, but I hadn’t sent out a model call. (Whoops!) So, last-minute, I asked a friend if she’d be willing to model for me. Maybe I meant to ask her all along—honestly, I can’t remember, and it doesn’t really matter. She said yes, and that’s what counts.

She arrived with a suitcase full of outfit options (bless her), and we picked through them together. This wasn’t meant to be a traditional boudoir session. I wanted to capture something more personal—something that celebrated her, not for anyone else’s gaze, but just for the sake of being seen.

Not Your Typical Boudoir

Lately, I’ve been leaning into a style that focuses less on traditional “sexy” and more on soulful self-expression. I want to explore poses that are fun, glamorous, sometimes edgy, but always true to the person in front of the camera.

I still need practice in this direction (so keep your eyes out for model calls!), and this shoot was a big part of that exploration.

Outfit One: Yellow Sweater + Jeans (and That Darn Chin)

The first look was simple and bold—a bright yellow sweater and jeans. (Okay, full disclosure: I don’t love jeans… because jeans don’t love me back! Finding a pair that fits my shape and stays put is a saga. Anyone else?)

During this shoot, I did something I’ve never done before with a client—I gave her the majority of the unedited photos. I’m not sure I’ll do that again, but since she’s a friend, it felt right.

Her first reaction? Not about the clothes or the styling. It was about her chin. That familiar double chin we all notice when we look down. The one we all rush to hide in photos. I actually made a post about it earlier this week.

Here’s the truth: that angle? It’s how our kids see us when we read to them. It’s how our pets look up at us. Our partners, our elders… they don’t love us less because of a soft chin. They don’t even notice it. They just see us. The people they love. Why are we so hard on ourselves?

Outfit Two: Professional Power + Cellulite

The next look? She looked fabulous—like a woman who owns her power and pours that strength into supporting others.

But what did she notice first?

The cellulite on her arm. 💔

Let’s pause here: cellulite is normal. Seriously. It’s part of human anatomy. It's found on soft places, strong places, all bodies—regardless of size or fitness level. It’s not a flaw. It’s not a problem. It’s just part of being human.

In one of the images, her posture lacked a little confidence, which I totally understand. We all have those moments—especially in front of a camera. I narrowed down the photo set and asked her to pick her favorites. Then I asked her to be vulnerable with me and share what she saw. I'm so grateful she trusted me enough to be honest.

Outfit Three: Badass in Leather

The final outfit was bold: tailored pants, a bra, and a leather jacket. She looked so strong. She didn’t give specifics about what felt hard, just said she felt self-conscious overall.

And I get it.

Society has fed us such narrow images of who’s “allowed” to wear an outfit like that. We rarely see diverse bodies styled that way—so when we step into those looks ourselves, it can feel like we’re breaking some unspoken rule. But I say: break it. Shatter it. Let’s widen the lens of representation, one photo at a time.

She looked amazing. She is amazing. Let’s show her some love.

Also side note last image is something you can wear at your shoot if you want!

Closing Thoughts

This shoot reminded me why I do this work. Photography, for me, is about seeing people. Not just the polished versions of themselves, but the full, glorious, complicated truth of who they are.

If you’ve been feeling the nudge to step in front of the camera, to claim your story, your beauty, your wholeness—I see you. And I’d love to work with you.

Stay tuned for more model calls, and if you ever want to chat over coffee about your dream shoot… I’m here for it. ☕💛