Stacy's Boudoir Experience

Stacy shares the story of her own boudoir photoshoot

When I asked a few past clients if they would share their boudoir experience with me, Stacy quickly responded that she would LOVE to! When I first read this, it brought me to tears. Stacy’s transformation and story here has been one of the most memorable ones.

Here is her story, written by Stacy herself.

Undecided confidence…

How does one decide they are going to take vulnerable pictures with a complete stranger? Obviously after having carrying your 2nd baby and having a difficult C-section that you were still healing from… as I laid in bed I saw yet another post, in awe of the sheer confidence and beauty that these women had. Coxing myself up for hours, I decided what a wonderful Christmas present it would be for my husband. So I picked the furthest date out thinking to myself I should be able to lose some baby weight by then! No problem.. Then instantly reading all the information Olivia provides thinking how prepared I will be able to make myself over the 7 months I have until my appointment. Took screen shot after screen shot of all the items I needed and took a break… for the quickest 5 months of my life… then received an automated email saying my photos were 2 months out and I straight up set myself into a frenzy. My intrusive thoughts began to flood.. Fully contemplating of what this complete stranger of a photographer would think of me if I canceled on her.. She photographs a lot of women, she wouldn’t even think twice about a quick cancel… what extravagant outlandish stretch of the truth do I come up with to justify to her and to myself making it okay to do something that I absolutely dread…. Letting someone down… I could not commit to a cancel so I told myself it was happening and to man up. Mad dash, I started trying to find the perfect attire not knowing what to do I just started ordering anything that I convinced myself I could hide my post baby body in that I didn’t work on at all in the many months, like I had planned. Then my mind started to overflow with prep work: hair, nails, body hair, eyebrows, and the list goes on and on and on and so I started to make appointments. I did prep work but didn’t think any more about the day itself in hopes to not set myself up for failure.

Fast forward to the morning of, passing on my usual coffee ritual as my nerves were already at an all-time high. I forced myself into a leisurely morning, to lessen the inner panic attack that was lingering… As an individual who prides herself in always being early the nervousness of sitting in my truck waiting until 10:29am weighed heavy. It was time. I walked to the door, attempted to compose myself to the best of my ability and I pressed the buzzer. The door opened by a face I have seen, a voice I have heard but a person I have never met and was invited by a hug, instantly greeted by full body hug. I take in my surroundings, noting the furniture that featured in photos I have seen posted before in this very place. Light chitchat engages while I notably internally compartmentalizing. Starting to gain traction and be more comfortable, I’m asked, “What made you decide to do this?” I answer with “a Christmas present for my husband” with a delayed “but also for me too, in hopes to remind me” with that a light tear fell. I knew covertly had high hopes in maybe I would find something this day I didn’t know was possibly missing.

Face on and hair done, I felt fancy.. Brittney did a remarkable job with the very little assistance I was able to give her as I hadn’t the slightest idea of what I wanted to look like. Asked next what I pictured for my revealing attire, again not a single help other than “my comfort color is black”. Olivia went on the search without another question. To my surprise, I look at the rack and there is color, Olivia advised pick what draws you in. I instantly thought my husband would love the red and that is the last color I would pick. I put it on. I noted the long full body mirror refusing to look more than a glance to make sure I wasn’t walking out more exposed than I already felt. When I say instant genuine hype girl went down, I am not exaggerating. I full body felt a confidence I didn’t know I could have with a person I didn’t even know, without really even knowing what I looked like. With so much unknown other than I had more exposed skin than clothes on, not a single moment passed where I didn’t have unwavering confidence in Olivia, she knew exactly what she was doing and her energy was undeniably genuine. Throughout the entire process I was coached, we laughed a lot, and made it weird without ever feeling the slightest bit of awkward awkwardness as I laid sprawled on the floor being sprayed with chilled water by now a familiar stranger I just met.

As we wrapped up my session and Olivia dripped honey on my body whilst in contorted arches to show my tits to Jesus, I knew that she was by far one of the most endearing and genuine people I could have ever had this experience with. Olivia was able to within a few short hours, remind me of a side I quite forgotten was there. I knew I was a mother, a wife, a boss, but I am also a decidedly confident woman and for that, I will never be able to thank Olivia and her team enough for showing me that. Without a single doubt, when I return to her studio for another future session, would bring a more confident woman I didn’t know was there. This experience will resonate with me for the remainder of my life and I have the pictures to prove it.