In Her Own Words: A Teacher Rediscovers Herself

Editor’s note: Below, one of our clients shares her journey of doing her boudoir shoot at our studio. A self-proclaimed extroverted introvert, she identifies as a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher and bookworm. Here’s her story of how she finally took the leap to do a boudoir shoot to celebrate herself, and share an intimate gift with her husband. 

The writer has requested to remain anonymous. Minor edits have been made throughout for clarity. 

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Turning 50 made me want to remember who I used to be. I got married and had kids at 22, and I was never really an adult who wasn't responsible for others: so much personal neglect mixed up in that. 

I am very insecure about myself physically. I had been working on the way I felt about myself and talking about doing a boudoir shoot--mostly talking about having the guts to do it. Maybe. Someday. 

Then a friend forced me to deal with the idea by entering me in a contest Amanda was running. Who else but a best friend since age 13 would do such a thing? 

While I did not win the contest, it truly got me thinking . So I booked a session before I chickened out.

Leading up to the shoot, I was terrified. My shoot was scheduled for late March - then COVID happened. We rescheduled to April. To May. To June. I was honestly starting to believe that the Universe was against me doing the shoot. I was terrified in the first place, then had to wait an additional four months of rescheduling. 

Because Of COVID, I had nothing to do but think about the shoot and work on getting my head straight about it as the date approached. I wanted to get my hair cut, nails done, and a serious waxing post-lockdown. I was an absolute wreck walking into that studio - a feeling which only lasted a short time. Amanda has a way of making you forget that you've ever doubted yourself. 

My favorite part was actually going into the second outfit change - the worst was over in that I actually did it - I wore lingerie and posed for the first pictures! My second outfit change was something I brought with me as a BIG maybe, but Amanda said that was my next change and that choice broke the dam on my anxiety. I was actually having fun after that.

On my husband's birthday, I handed him his coffee and a box. He opened the box to find a metal print of me - leaning against that gorgeous brick wall in the studio, wearing a few scraps and a far away look. He was speechless. When he could finally articulate, he mostly stuttered as I handed him the other print and the album. 

Between the ‘Oh my gods’ and the ‘Wows’, I got the impression he was quite pleased, as well as shocked. I was feeling rather smug at that moment, if I’m being honest. 

I had no idea how he would react. I know he did not believe I’d come out of my shell enough to do something like a boudoir shoot, he has been wonderfully supportive about the whole thing. 

I loved every last picture, but one of my favorites turned out to be one where I was wearing something I didn’t even buy for the shoot; it was an article I've owned for 25 years. Make sure to bring something personal that means something to you - not just all new lingerie.

Right after the shoot, I felt great about myself. Now, six months later, I still feel that way. Whenever I doubt myself, I can always look at the album or up on the wall, see the pictures Amanda took, and remind myself that I am that sexy badass in those pictures. 

If you’re on the fence about booking your session, do not let fear hold you back - that will completely disappear once you are with Amanda in the studio. 

Don't wait until you are the "perfect" weight or in the "best" condition - most of us never quite get there. Do it because it feels right. Amanda is never going to take a bad picture of you - in fact, you will have a difficult time choosing from the plethora of fantastic pictures that make you feel sexy as hell. 

You will walk out of there feeling like the Queen that you are.