My Journey to Creating Hello Gorgeous Boudoir

bondage kink boudoir session — Photo of me in early 2019 taken by Lacee & edited by me.

It was 2015 when my life took a transformative turn. Pregnancy brought about remarkable changes in my body, but what I didn't expect was the mental battle that accompanied those changes. Following an unplanned caesarian and a traumatic birth experience, I struggled to see myself as beautiful. The stretch marks and the scars became constant reminders of the changes I feared and resisted. However, it was through photography that I eventually found a path to self-love and acceptance. In this blog, I'll take you on my journey from self-doubt to empowerment, highlighting the pivotal moments that led me to co-create Hello Gorgeous Boudoir with Lacee. Together, we've embarked on a mission to redefine beauty, celebrate flaws, and offer a luxury experience that includes handmade albums, video playbooks, retro-viewers, and more!

Discovering Self-Love Through Photography:

A month after giving birth to my daughter, I decided to explore milk bath photography and dabble in boudoir sessions with a photographer from a mom's group. Though I cherished those images, I wasn't ready to fully embrace self-love. I fixated on my perceived flaws and chose only the photos that concealed them. Looking back, I regret not buying all those photos, as they captured a part of my journey that I now cherish.

Meeting Lacee and Embracing Body Positivity:

Fate led me to meet Lacee during a milk bath play date organized by a group of moms. We instantly connected, sharing a passion for photography and a desire to uplift others. Lacee's body positivity events, where she offered free confidence-boosting shoots for new moms and individuals in need, resonated with me. I attended my first shoot with her and even volunteered to edit her photos, despite my initial lack of expertise. Together, we decided to start a boudoir business, facing judgment and criticism as we transitioned from free sessions to paid ones. While it was mentally and physically challenging, it allowed me to grow as a professional and later provide a high-quality experience for Hello Gorgeous clients. Lacee continues to attend events and models and teaches self-love + confidence courses. Lacee is a personal empowerment instructor and specializes in providing personalized instruction on effective self-portraiture techniques. Check out Lacee’s class here.

Transforming Perspectives Through Boudoir:

Photographing women became a powerful catalyst for self-reflection. I began to see the beauty in others that I had long failed to recognize in myself. It was a revelation that defied logic. Never once did I perceive my clients' "flaws" in a negative light as I did my own. Shoot after shoot, I started to realize that I, too, was beautiful—flaws and all. I learned to appreciate my stretch marks and stopped retouching them. This newfound self-acceptance solidified my belief in the importance of working with experienced professionals who understand the art of posing and retouching. Building genuine connections with clients, I help them navigate their insecurities while respecting their self-love journey.

Embracing Growth and Expanding Horizons:

In 2019, driven by passion and years of practice, Lacee's exceptional boudoir posing skills propelled her to become Hello Gorgeous Boudoir's Professional Model and Ambassador. Meanwhile, I devoted over 500 hours to expanding my knowledge and honing my craft. With videography in my repertoire, I now offer optional video capture during boudoir sessions, providing an enhanced experience for Hello Gorgeous clients. Now being Boise, Idaho’s first Boudoir Film maker, I bring the boudoir experience to life one shot at a time. The pursuit of knowledge remains ongoing as I continue to broaden my education and enrich the services I offer. Today, Hello Gorgeous Boudoir provides an array of luxurious offerings, including hand-made albums, acrylic blocks, video playbooks, retro-viewers, playing cards, gaming mats, and much more.

My personal journey from self-doubt to empowerment has shaped the vision and mission of Hello Gorgeous Boudoir. Through photography, we celebrate the beauty of imperfections, encouraging self-love and acceptance. Our commitment to excellence, continuous education, and expanding offerings ensures that every client receives a luxury experience that captures their unique essence. Join us on this transformative journey, where we redefine beauty and empower individuals to embrace their authentic selves at Hello Gorgeous Boudoir.