Your Body Is Enough: Boudoir Photography for All Body Types
If you know anyone who’s experienced their own boudoir experience, you’ve probably heard them gush about it and tell you, “You should totally book a session, boudoir is for any body type, and you’ll feel so confident after!”
And you say,
Yeah, totally! Sounds exciting! But your internal thoughts are more like Yeah, ok… Boudoir photography for all body types? Who is she kidding??… Not mine.
It’s unfortunate that our minds tend to lead us down the road of skepticism when it comes to our own bodies. We are all told different stories about what a beautiful body looks like, but social media and the people closest to us have the most influence on how we experience life in our own bodies. How we digest information and the company we keep can make or break how we feel in and about our bodies, so it’s important, and also very difficult, to limit outside negativity from seeping in and tainting how we feel about ourselves amongst the rest of the world around us.
As a female boudoir photographer, this topic is near and dear to my heart, because I have experienced many of the same feelings as my clients have around body image. Let’s talk about some of those negative thoughts that creep up when we consider if we are worthy of a boudoir experience.
Do You Need a Perfect Body for a Boudoir Shoot?
This is obviously a loaded question, but the short answer is NO — you do NOT need to be in perfect shape to celebrate your body and the journey it took to get you here. You knew I was going to say that, didn’t you? Smarty pants.
Reframing the Notion of Perfection
But one question you should ask yourself is… What makes a body “perfect” to you? Is it the shape, or how toned it is, or its health? A lot of how you feel about your “readiness” in regards to a boudoir session has to do with what has implicitly been told about your own body – direct compliments or criticisms, comments you hear people make about other bodies, and what you see on social media all count. A whole lot of noise, if you ask me.
The Photographer’s Perspective on Beauty
As a boudoir photographer, I see a LOT of bodies, and one thing about me is that I always notice the beauty in the differences, ones you might even consider flaws; what makes that person’s body unique from others? I can honestly say that, prior to the boudoir session, many clients can’t appreciate the parts of them that I think add to their beauty.
Many times, you as the client, are too focused in on what should disqualify you from a boudoir shoot. Imposter syndrome, fear of failing, performance anxiety, you-name-it seeps in, and you’re trying not to talk yourself out of showing up altogether. And just when you thought going through with the shoot itself was the struggle, then it comes time for what might seem even scarier– SEEING the photos in front of the photographer. After all that, will you even like how you look?
The Reveal: Facing Your Photos
You and I both know what it’s like to see photos of yourself for the first time – we want to see the beauty, but instead we do that thing where we look for what we can pick apart. Your eye zooms straight into “that” area of yourself, looking for that thing that’s going to let you down, a reason to criticize yourself. Past trauma may amplify this habit for some more than others.
Embracing What You See
So you start viewing the photos with that mindset. But… as you’re swiping through… you’re not finding the usual flaws. Actually, in most of the photos, you’re overwhelmed by the beauty of you as a whole, and you find that the scariest parts of yourself don’t actually look so scary. They actually… look beautiful? YOU look beautiful. And you make remarks like,
“You know, these rolls in my side would usually make me feel uncomfortable seeing them in pictures, but somehow you’ve made it into art. I think this might be my favorite photo!”
Or...
“I really thought I was going to come in here and ask if you could photoshop all of my stretch marks, but now that I see them in these photos, I realize they’re a beautiful part of my journey and they actually add to the photo. Please don’t remove them!
The Boudoir Photographer’s Joy
SUCCESS, this is what it’s all about, they get it now! You have no idea how happy it makes me feel, as a photographer, that you feel as beautiful as you look to me. Of course not every single client loves every image I love, and that’s fine – they either don’t see what I see, or they’re still on a part of their self-acceptance journey where some things about themselves still bother them. Everyone moves at their own pace. No judgement, and no love lost.
Embracing What You See
So you start viewing the photos with that mindset. But… as you’re swiping through… you’re not finding the usual flaws. Actually, in most of the photos, you’re overwhelmed by the beauty of you as a whole, and you find that the scariest parts of yourself don’t actually look so scary. They actually… look beautiful? YOU look beautiful. And you make remarks like,
Body Image as a Journey
I’m human too, and I experience many of the same feelings as you do about my own body on a day-to-day basis. But through being photographed by other professional photographers, and taking my own self-portraits, I’ve come to an understanding. My body is ever-changing, never constant.
Its shape changes on a monthly, weekly, daily, even hourly basis depending on my diet, exercise, cycle, mood… the stars, the moon, who knows. Sometimes I feel great in my body, and then the next day, not so much. But, through the therapy of boudoir photography, I’ve learned to give it love and patience through every stage, and know that I am not defined by my body at any given moment.
“Do I need to lose weight for boudoir photography?
This is the first thing most women consider when thinking about booking a boudoir session. If I had a dollar for When I lose 20 pounds I’m going to book a shoot! I’d be on my way to becoming rich. The short answer is NO, you don’t need to lose weight for a boudoir shoot. Boudoir photography is for all body types, including plus-size shapes.
The real question you should be asking is, "How do I feel in my body?” If the answer to that question is that you feel great, and at home in your curves, then there’s no need to change a thing about you! If your answer is that you’d feel a whole lot better physically and mentally if you lost a few pounds, then make some changes. Maybe you haven’t been feeling great because of a lack of physical activity, or your diet is constantly making you feel tired and sluggish. Making a few changes might make a huge difference in how you feel, and there’s no better motivation than an upcoming boudoir session to stop making the old excuses. I’ve experienced it myself, and have had plenty of clients tell me that setting a shoot date was all they needed for their motivation to kick into gear. Realizations and following through with them is all part of the journey toward feeling like your best self and feeling great in your body. The boudoir session is the celebration, and the photos will be a reminder of how necessary that part of your journey was.
Using a Session as Motivation
Imagine this: A boudoir session has been on your bucket list forever, and you decided you’re going to use it as motivation to feel good in your body. You join a small group training class at the gym and make new friends, meet the love of your life, and you had no idea how much fun it all would be. You’re feeling better than you have in a long time, the sluggishness is gone, you’ve learned so much about yourself, and you now have commitments to look forward to. You gained all of this all because you committed to doing something that felt scary and outside of your comfort zone, something you didn’t think you felt ready to do.
The magic is you. Growth, baby, this is what life is all about. The perfect body? A myth that might motivate you, but a myth is all it is.
Boudoir Photography for Real Bodies: One Client’s Story
So many stories come to mind, but this one really hit home. Body-image struggles aren’t exclusive to women—men feel them, too. With this particular client, I didn’t see it coming.
A Real Story: Love Handles, Photoshop, and Self-Acceptance
Meet “Brad.” He discovered my work after seeing another male client’s photos on Instagram. Both men are signed to the same talent agency, and Brad messaged me saying, “If you could make Ben look like that, I definitely need a shoot with you!”
- Goals: Showcase his physique and capture versatile, clothed headshots for an upcoming film project.
- Reality: Brad already had an impressive, hard-earned build—but he still saw “problem areas.”
During image review, he pointed to his waistline and vowed to “work extra hard” before the next shoot so those “little parts” would be gone. I could barely see what he meant—our own eyes can be harsh critics.
I asked if he was comparing himself to bodies he follows online. He showed me a few Instagram fitness accounts and explained his strict diet and workout tweaks.
To prove a point, I opened Photoshop and—using two quick edits—molded his waist to match those influencer physiques. Then I placed the edited image beside the original and explained how often social-media bodies are digitally reshaped.
His reaction: shock, then relief.
“That’s me, and I know how much work went into this shape. I wouldn’t feel proud of an image that isn’t real.”
Success. Brad chose the unedited photo and left with a new perspective on body authenticity.
“How Social Media Skews Our View of Real Bodies”
What You See Online Isn’t Always Real. Read that again. Be very careful about how you compare your own body to what you see on social media and the internet, because most of the influencers you follow are using Ai and the best apps for photoshopping their body shape to show you all how “perfect” they are in their “perfect” lives. Most aren’t naturally achieving those results, though, and you’re falling prey to it. They are using the liquify tool to photoshop their body in seconds, creating an illusion of perfection for you to choke down as you question your own self worth.
Photoshop Culture & Its Consequences
Earlier this week, I was updating my Lingerie guide and adding Skims to the list of recommended brands, which led me down a rabbit hole into Kim Kardashian’s instagram. Clicking through her photos, I noticed a few photos, some more obvious than others, where she did a poor edit to her already slim waist before posting.
Hey, we are all human, wanting to feel good about our bodies and look good on social media. But as famous as she is, with so many followers “keeping up with the kardashians”, women are constantly using her as a standard, not considering or realizing that they’re comparing their real bodies to photoshopped images of hers. It’s a real struggle for women to feel confident as it is in this world, and influencers are not helping by putting this unreal material out there.
The Real Solution: Celebrate Yourself
How to battle it? Celebrate your real body with boudoir photography.
Empowering women through intimate photo sessions is what I do best, but it's also my passion. I can confidently say that boudoir photo sessions are a great solution to any negative feelings about body image. Boudoir photography is like therapy for self-love, and can heal the trauma that leads to low self-esteem and body image issues.
Of course you want to find the best boudoir photographer in the area, since one without adequate experience could actually have the opposite effect, but if you want the best results, don’t base your decision on the price of boudoir photography over the quality of your experience.
Your real body, vs edited bodies online, should be celebrated for all it’s been through and provided for you along the way, so take the experience and investment seriously. Through my own experiences and my clients testimonials, I can attest to the transformative power of boudoir photography for self-love. You deserve to have a solid reason to stop comparing yourself to others and love your body at any stage.
Why Boudoir Photography Is for Every Body Type
Celebrating Body Diversity
I know the self-love trend is hot right now, but when I say that boudoir photography is for all body types, I hope it doesn’t just sound like more toxic positivity. You might think, Yeaaa yea yea, not this again. But here’s why I feel the truth of this so strongly.
All bodies are built differently. That’s the beauty of diversity, and in my opinion, it would be boring if it was any different. Not one other person has exactly what you have. No one can be you better than you can, and that’s a privilege we tend to overlook. On that note, don’t women with our similar looks deserve to feel represented in the realm of beauty?
Putting a Spotlight on Representation
If I was showing images of the same exact body type throughout my entire portfolio, shouting “beautiful” from the rooftops, and you were shaped differently, how would that make you feel about your own body shape? Would you question working with me since I’m not presenting women in my portfolio who empower you to book a boudoir shoot for yourself? I know I would have all of those questions.
Photographing all different body types is not only important to me in my business, but I’ve also made it my own personal vendetta to prove that beauty resides in diversity, so as to squash society’s long-standing standards of the “right” body type.
Not everyone’s tastes in beauty are the same.
Beauty Is Personal
What attracts one person to another is different for everyone. Curvy, slim, tall, short, athletic, assertive, submissive, naughty, nice, adventurous, safe, impulsive—the list goes on, and the combinations are endless. Is anyone wrong in their attraction? Nope. Is there someone out there who thinks your combination is the most beautiful they’ve ever seen? You bet.
I saved a quote one time that said, “Somewhere, someone, is searching for you in every person they meet.”
The cool thing about boudoir photography is that it’s a very vulnerable experience, and it’s not just about looks. It’s about attitude, personality, style… it’s about your energy. What I’m doing as your boudoir photographer is capturing your essence—all of the pieces of you that make you who you are.
In this way, body type is actually irrelevant as far as what goes into a successful, empowering boudoir experience. Your attitude and your energy can also be the sexiest, most attractive things about you. So when you’re comparing yourself to some other person’s body on the internet, it’s really just a waste of your precious time. She can’t be your perfect combination of sexy—only you can—so embrace it!
Are you ready to let the walls down and experience the kind of self-acceptance and self-love a boudoir session can provide? I know it might feel a little scary to let your guard down, showing up in a way you’re not used to—letting yourself be seen—but I promise, it’s not about being perfect or having it all figured out.
It’s about giving yourself permission to take up space, to feel something different, and to finally see the version of you that everyone else already sees—the one that’s real, worthy, and so damn beautiful in your own way.
If something in you is whispering “maybe it’s time,” click below and I’ll walk you through everything—no pressure, just a chance to talk about what this could be for you.
