Healing Through Boudoir: A Woman’s Life Journey
“Emma healed a huge part of me and I have never loved my body more than I do now. I walked out of the photoshoot feeling like the most beautiful, confident, sexiest and the absolute badass woman I am. The pictures are absolutely stunning and exceeded all my expectations. Emma is truly passionate about her work and it shows. This experience will always have a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to do it again for my 40th! ”
A woman’s life journey is a beautiful tapestry of experiences that vary from moments of challenge to chapters of incredible growth and happiness. Through these milestones and transitions, we often find that though our own story is very unique, we are not alone in our capacity to feel deeply and experience raw emotions that make us all human. If we care to listen, these emotions remind us that beneath the surface that defines our path there is an unbreakable bond that we all share.
For Ms. R and I, that bond was something we shared long before she walked into The Vixen Society photo studio. In fact, the Universe knew we were destined to create together the moment that her and her best friend walked into our lingerie store. They were celebrating a birthday with a shopping trip that was much more than just picking out a bold corset, or lace bralette. Lingerie, known to be hidden beneath everyday attire, holds a potent power to transform a woman’s confidence. Contrary to societal belief, lingerie is not just for a romantic relationship, but it is a secret source of empowerment for oneself. Our lingerie store exuded this belief, which often lead us to talking about our boudoir services. And I couldn’t be more grateful that we told these two, because Ms. R’s friend ended up booking her a shoot for her next birthday. She told me on the initial consultation call that Ms. R needed and deserved this more than anyone. I learned once our session began, that she was right.
There is a magical moment during hair and makeup when I get to connect on a more personal level with each and every Vixen. I am able to understand why they booked their shoot, how they want to feel when they see their final photos, and most importantly I get the opportunity to hear the highlights of their life story. We were quick to talk about past relationships and how they can effect you moving forward. Our hearts connected instantly, because as women we have ALL been there…the struggle of being an unappreciated partner in a relationship. For most of us the essential elements of admiration and mutual respect were lacking. We were seldom told that we were beautiful, from our bodies to our thoughts and ideas. And after a while the emotional toll leads to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and fear of rejection or further neglect. Even in current healthy relationships, that shadow of emotional distress can linger. And after years of fighting my own demons with these exact feelings, I knew that I was meant to help Ms. R fight hers. Because the woman that stood in my client closet that morning was an absolutely breathtaking, intelligent, and kind woman that truly deserved to see herself that way.
We began with styling and picked out the lingerie that not only complimented her figure, but made her FEEL like the smoke show that she is. Together we deliberately picked out the perfect accessory combinations from jewelry to our designer shoes and made our way to the first set. Even through the nerves, Ms. R trusted me and our process. We began to flow through each outfit together seamlessly. By the time we got to the implied nudes, we were so in-sync you would never believe that we had never worked together before. And the most magical moment of the entire session, was the moment that I let her move on her own for a series of photos. After explaining what I was going for, I sat back ready to capture and even thinking of it now makes me get teary eyed. Because I watched her break free and finally let that vibrant soul inside shine bright.
The morning after our shoot we received a comment on our instagram post from Ms. R that made me Kim K cry at 9am. It read “Yesterday I had my first boudoir shoot EVER. I don’t have the words to express how sexy, beautiful, and badas I felt. Emma is THE BEST!! I have never felt so comfortable in my own skin. Thank you for such a positive and healing experience. I cannot wait to see the pictures.”* Comments like these are exactly why I continue shooting boudoir and why The Vixen Society continues offering these intimate sessions. I also couldn’t wait for her to see her photos, so the instant that her and her wonderful fiance stepped into our ordering room I wanted to scream with excitement. Which we absolutely did as soon as the first image popped onto the screen. From there we gasped, we cried, and by the end of the slideshow we were hugging with tears in our eyes. She expressed how much this meant to her, and I explained how much it also meant to me. We were a part of each other’s self-love journey and continued healing. Regardless of our own specific paths and previous encounters, we were reminded that the richness and complexity of a woman’s story is a tale of strength, beauty, resilience, growth, community, and boudoir.
Xox Emma Jaye
