My Journey to Creating Hello Gorgeous Boudoir

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.

Images from my Boudoir Maternity Session at my studio in 2022 with Jolene Hembree.