Why Boudoir?

The story behind why I started photographing Boudoir

I get asked at nearly every session, “Why Boudoir?” “What got you started in this niche/genre?”, etc.

So, I thought why not blog about it!?

I suppose I should start with “why photography?”

I grew up with a camera in my hand, my grandfather always had a camera or camcorder with him any time we all got together, so I guess it just came natural! I had thousands of pictures of my family, friends, pets and the clouds growing up in dozens of photo albums - you know the kind, where you stick the photo to the page and cover it with a flimsy plastic sheet! I was always snapping photos any chance I could!

Fast forward to becoming a mother, and that did not change. However, I NEVER thought I would pursue it as anything more than a hobby. I remember when I was younger, saying that I never wanted to be a manager, or even a supervisor, because it was too much responsibility and I just wanted to work for someone else for the rest of my life because it was easier *laughs in ignorance*. And then we took my son for professional photos, at Sears, and they were… cringe. Now, I am not knocking the young woman that took the photos, she was only doing what she was trained to do, but while I loved my son in them, I hated the photos. The cheesy props, the bright light…I just didn’t LOVE the photos, and I thought ‘I can do better than that!’

One of my most recent sessions

So we bought me a fancy, expensive new camera, and my love for photography exploded! I carried that thing with me everywhere and took a bazillion photos any chance I could! 😅 I wasn’t good, but I loved the photos so much more than what we got from Sears. That’s when the spark was lit, I could do this for other people and they’d like them way more than going to Sears. This was the time when Professional Photographers started to really emerge, or at least when I started to notice them…everywhere! So that’s what I did for a few years. I took photos of my friends families and made a little extra cash on the side. Truth be told I had NO IDEA what I was doing, photography-wise or business-wise! But I was having fun and learning!

Then I had my second child, and a week after returning to work, I was let go. My (then) husband told me to get my photography business off the ground, and picked up extra work to support us while I tried. I still had no idea what I was doing, and eventually, I found myself back at a corporate job. I still did photography on the side, but I found contentment in my job, so I didn’t see the need to do more than that. I mostly did family sessions, but tried a few boudoir sessions, too. I didn’t get the point back then, they were just pretty pictures for your boyfriend/husband…

Image from one of my very first ever Boudoir Photoshoots

And then SHTF… my marriage fell apart, and I found myself pregnant with our 3rd child. I worked up until my due date with her, and when I returned to work after she was born I. Was. Miserable! I hated my job but didn’t see another option. My husband and I were not doing well, and he was so nasty to me. He insulted me for my weight a few times, so I decided it was time to make a change. I joined a program and dropped 30+ lbs, and from there started a new business venture in Multi-level Marketing and fitness. I loved my life, but was BROKE. So we divorced and I moved in with my parents, trying and failing to get this fitness business to take off for years.

My first Boudoir Session after returning to boudoir in 2017

Fast forward, again, to finding myself pregnant with my 4th child 😬 Single, broke, and living in my parents basement…I knew I had to change something! Her dad told me I was going to be stuck living with my parents forever, and that lit a fire under me like nothing ever had before! ‘Challenge accepted’

While I was divorcing my ex husband, he had also insulted my work, and told me nobody would ever pay me for it. That, I unfortunately took to heart and gave up for a few years. I sold half my gear and decided I didn’t want to pursue photography as a business anymore.

Well after the Baby Daddy’s comment I realized that I missed photography, and decided I’d give it another shot. I did a few family sessions for friends, to get back into it. I quickly realized that was not the direction I wanted to go any longer, so I decided to give boudoir another shot!

Recent image from a session in my current studio (in the light room)

When I tell you it was love at first click… I. Fell. In. Love!!! I finally “got it”. I understood what boudoir was about, and it was SO. MUCH. MORE. than just pretty pictures! It was empowering, and fun, and deeply healing. And that was that! I knew right away that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I put it out into the universe and just 2 days later, I got an email from an educator on how to build a profitable boudoir business! Talk about manifesting! So I signed up for the course and now here I am, 6 years later photographing women full time, changing the lives of hundreds of women and creating a massive ripple effect in the world!

Image from my most recent session in my current studio (in the dark room)

I’ve been able to move my kids and I out of my parents’ basement and into our own home, and I earn more money than both my ex husband and my baby daddy, y’know…the ones that said nobody would ever pay me for my work, and that I’d be stuck living with my parents forever? Yeah…that feels REALLY good to say! I am so SO incredibly grateful for each and every woman that trusts me with such a vulnerable and intimate experience, and I wake up every day so grateful that I get to do this as my JOB! I am so proud of myself for where I am in life! Not only have I been able to change my kids’ lives, I’ve helped change the lives of hundreds of women, and inspired thousands of others!

Image from a few years ago when I was still learning and growing in my skills

So, when you’re ready to book your Denver Boudoir Photographer, know that I come with TONS of passion, and I am on a mission to change the world, by empowering women to fall in love with themselves! ❤️ Whenever you’re ready to move forward, schedule your free consultation call here. I can’t wait to talk to you!