It’s time for another client boudoir interview, this time with the absolute beaut, Jess.
I am loving doing this series of interviews because it’s so fun to hear how these ladies felt from pre-shoot, to during the shoot, to how amazing they felt after the experience! I know getting half-naked for photos can be a scary experience so I am determined to help you get first-hand stories from some of past ladies I’ve worked with so you can learn why they chose to do a session and what an empowering experience that these boudoir sessions can be. So without further ado, here’s interview #3 below! (And be sure to also check out my other boudoir interviews here!)
Tell me about your journey to doing a boudoir session. (Ie, What were your reasons for doing one? Have you wanted to do a session for some time? Or was this decision impulsive?)
I had been wanting to do a session for quite some time, but you live in Florida and I live in Cleveland. So that made it a little tough. Then I heard about your marathon session here in Cleveland and I thought, “Hmmmmm….this is my shot!” I was SO nervous, and because I knew if I waited too long then I’d chicken out, I said “Yes!” before I gave myself time to back out!
If you’d wanted to do a session in the past but didn’t, what was hindering you from taking the leap?
There were quite a few things that were keeping me from taking the leap:
1. I weighed more than I did when Rusty and I first met
2. My arms aren’t quite as toned as I would like them to be
3. I have more wrinkles than I used to
4. I can’t seem to hide my grey hair no matter how hard I try
5. I didn’t own anything “sexy”
What was the tipping point in you finally deciding to do a session?
For me, it was the opportunity to do a marathon session with other girls, specifically one that I knew pretty well. Danielle was such a cheerleader for me. I think we were for each other. I was scheduled to be the 1st session of the day, but I didn’t want to be alone. So I asked Danielle if she could come early, and she was all about that, and even asked if I’d stay to help her nerves. I think that was the best decision for me. It was like a slumber party where we could all just be our silly, goofy, nerdy selves.
Why did you choose me as your photographer for your boudoir session?
Easy answer – because I have seen the amazing photos you create. I know people (families and brides) that you have worked with and they all said the same thing: You are the easiest person to work with. The feedback from my friends was that you just make everyone feel at ease, and for me, that is key when doing a shoot you are already nervous for.
How did you feel in the days leading up to your shoot?
100000000000% scared out of my mind! I was scared that I couldn’t keep it a secret from my husband (it was a 3rd-anniversary gift for him). I was scared that I’d look as fat as I was feeling. I was scared that the photos wouldn’t come out looking the way I want because I don’t look the way I want. I was scared that I would look as nervous as I felt in all my pictures.
How would you describe the actual session experience? Did you have nerves? How did it feel to be in front of the camera?
I definitely still had nerves, but the champagne helped a lot. As I sat there getting my hair and makeup done, I started to calm a little bit more with every minute that passed. And while that happened, some of my nerves turned to excitement. I showed all the girls the outfits that I had brought, and the rave reviews helped, too. I felt almost like dress-up barbie, if that doesn’t sound too stupid.
As for in front of the camera, Tami really helped to make me feel beautiful as she took the pictures. She’s so easy to work with and she has this way of talking that just kind of melts the fear away. The first couple of pictures felt a little awkward as only my husband as seen me that…..free. But the encouragement from Tami with the “Yes, that was perfect!” Or “You are on fire!” really helped me come into my own. I started to feel like a model, which is something I’ve never felt like before.
How did you feel after the shoot? And then when you saw your photos for the first time?
After the shoot, I felt like a ROCK STAR! I felt beautiful, confident, sexy. And that was all without seeing the photos.
Once I saw the photos, I was speechless. I was pretty sure that Tami had photoshopped someone else into mine because there was no possible way that those pictures were of me. But THEY WERE! I couldn’t WAIT to show them to my husband, but I had to wait another 5 months!
Did your boudoir experience change the way you see yourself?
It definitely did change the way I see myself. I still have some times when I think I look fat, but then I remind myself about the photos and I remind myself that it’s really me. And that helps.
When my husband saw them, he said, “Next time you tell me you’re fat, I’m going to remind you about these. Because THIS is PROOF that you are beautiful!” And there have been a few times where I’ve been like, “Eh, I look awful.” and he’s like, “Do I need to get the pictures out?!?!” 🙂
What would you tell someone that was still on the fence about having a session done with me?
DO IT! You will NOT regret it. Do it now.
Think you are ready to take the leap and do a boudoir shoot for yourself? Let’s get you on the schedule before I am completely booked up!
See my boudoir portfolio page for more information about booking your Tampa boudoir session!
Also, if you’d like to see some sneaks peeks before everyone else does, join the St Pete VIP Boudoir Group by Tami Keehn on Facebook today!
