It's about more than pretty pictures | Brooklyn Boudoir Photography Studio

I often receive fun comments from readers and every so often a comment comes in that really touches me.  A few weeks ago I posted about embracing your body the way it is, which in my case, meant coming to terms with my flat chest.  I want to share this comment, which comes from (of all people) a single father:

Hi Stephanie, I wanted to thank you for writing (and posting) your article about your small ta-ta's.  I'm a single father with two kids, one being a nineteen year old young lady, named E--.  She, like her mother,  also came under the "average" size in the breast department.  And being keenly aware of her feelings, I've always sort of known that it bothered her more than she would ever admit.  As she matured, and noticed that she wasn't quite filling out her clothes the way some of her other girl friends had, I found myself struggling to come up with the right words or the way to reassure her that she is beautiful through and through.  That is, until your article.  After reading it, I literally welled up, laughed, and went through an emotional ride that I couldn't wait to share with E--.  She read it, and gave me a big hug, told me she loved me and thanked me with a heartfelt sincerity. So I wanted to pass this on to you, and to thank you once again.  People say it takes a village to raise a child.  And up to this point, I've been doing so much on my own, but I realize now and again, that the saying is true.  Sometimes we have an effect on people and their lives and aren't even aware of it.  So thank you so so much for taking the time to write it and put it out there... and now you're aware.

I literally teared up reading this and was reminded of why I love shooting boudoir so much.  Yes, a boudoir shoot is a fun day out, a luxurious treat, and getting photos of yourself looking sexy & fabulous is definitely a bonus.  But boudoir is so much than just sexy pictures - it's about having the courage to accept yourself as you are and give yourself that kick in the pants you might need to remember how brave, bold, sexy, fierce, EMPOWERED you are.  Can you do that fully clothed?  Sure.  But what better gift to yourself is there than to put your insecurities aside, challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and allow yourself see how beautiful you are, just as you are.

I remember being 16 years old at the beach with some friends.  Having always been flat chested and somewhat pear shaped, I remember feeling like I had the "worst" body, and letting my self-consciousness ruin my time.  Years later I found a photo from that very day -- I couldn't believe how great I looked!  And I really couldn't believe how I let myself waste so much time and energy on those negative feelings from adolescence through adulthood.  As a boudoir photographer, if I can save one woman from those poisonous and self-sabotaging feelings and help her find that UMPH inside of herself again, regardless of how she fills out her swimsuits, I'll feel that I've succeeded.

Ready to get YOUR umph back?  Contact me here or email me directly at mybrooklynboudoir@gmail.com

xoxo, Stephanie

Just do it, Seize the Day, and other Clichés that are True

Happy New Year all!  It’s the day of resolutions, the day we set all the good intentions about bettering ourselves and not falling into the same patterns as last year.  My goal for this year?  Rev up this business.  Blog more.  Get on top of my social media.  Shoot more.  Find more like minded women to collaborate with.  

But wait, I think my phone needs updating.  I should do that first.  And that pile of papers that’s been sitting on my desk - that definitely needs addressing.  Is there milk in the fridge?  Hmm, yeah, I should probably go to the store and get some fresh milk cause I wouldn’t want for it to run out just when I need a big cup of coffee, which I will definitely need before I start all the blogging I plan on doing…

Brooklyn Boudoir was conceived several years ago while I was visiting my husband’s family in Miami.  A friend of ours had done a boudoir shoot as a Christmas gift for her fiance.  This woman was not traditionally sexy - she was rather tomboyish and I was shocked that she would choose to give her partner a boudoir portrait for Christmas.  And at the same time I was completely inspired.

It was such an ah-ha moment for me.  I had been wanting to build a portraiture business but had no real interest in photographing babies or children, or weddings.  I had already been exploring boudoir without knowing it or assigning the word “boudoir” to it in a self-portrait project.  I had no idea that boudoir could even be a business!  It was a perfect fit, something I had already essentially been doing, and a perfect marriage between all my interests - portraiture, sensuality, girl power…  and I felt so validated to know that there were other women out there who wanted to celebrate their sensuality in the same ways that I did.

Photography I felt comfortable with, but building a business??  That was a totally different story.  First I need to build up my portfolio.  And create a logo of course, and create business cards, and study the specifics of boudoir photography and of course then study what it takes to build a small business … and then I got pregnant.

And suddenly it’s 2 years later and while there have been a lot of valid delays to revving up the business (I had a baby after all), there were a lot that we mere procrastinations.  And procrastinations of course, just boil down to fear — fear of failure, fear of putting myself out there, fear of judgement, fear of not being able to provide for my family, fear of … 

How often is it that the anticipation of something is way scarier than the actual DOING of it??   I can either casually see what happens, or actively pursue the career that I’m passionate about, that I’m good at, that i can help people with.  Or, I can spend my time doing chores, browsing Facebook and letting more months pass by.  

Look, life happens, chores need to be done.  But here’s to spending 2017 working towards something for YOU, procrastinating the procrastinating and actively following your heart.  

The answer is YES - YES, this is the right time, YES you can do it, YES to whatever it is you want to do.

So let’s do this thing!  2017, yee-ha!

xoxo, Stephanie