The Wild Confidence Retreat
Hocking Hills, Ohio
June 26 - 29

Miss M’s Story

Miss M had wanted to book a boudoir session for about five years.

Five years of thinking about it.
Five years of wondering if she could actually do it.
Five years of maybe someday.

And then she finally booked.

For Miss M, this session was not just about getting pretty photos. It was about seeing herself again after becoming a mom, after body changes, after doubts, after that very specific kind of disconnection that can happen when your body has been busy taking care of everyone else.

She also added Just the Sheets and Wet Skin to her session, which gave us a mix of soft, stripped-back images and glossy, bold, dramatic ones.

View Her Full Gallery >

One of the things that helped Miss M finally feel comfortable booking was seeing that I photograph sessions in my own bra and underwear.

Not because a photographer has to have the same body, same story, or same insecurities as every client. That is not realistic.

Seeing me show up in that way helped her feel like this would not be a space full of judgment, perfection, or someone standing behind the camera acting like being photographed half-dressed is the most casual thing in the world.

It is vulnerable. Of course it is, and pretending it’s not would be weird.

Before the Session

Miss M came in nervous and still questioning herself.

“I’ve wanted to do one for about five years now, but I was still questioning if I could really do it.”

That is such a normal place to start.

We started with hair and makeup, which gave her time to sit down, breathe, talk, laugh, and settle into the studio before we started shooting. That part of the day became one of her favorites.

She described it as girl talk, and by the time we started photographing, she said it felt like we had been best friends for years.

That is the goal, comfortable, relaxed, and safe enough to stop bracing for a minute.

During the Session

Miss M described the experience as “extremely comfortable, very welcoming, and like hanging out with a bestie.”

Which is exactly the energy I want in the studio. The whole point is that you are not doing this alone.

Miss M also got to see sneak peeks on the back of the camera during her session, and that was when things started to shift.

She was seeing herself differently in real time, and sometimes your brain needs evidence.

(annoying, but true)

Just the Sheets and Wet Skin

Miss M chose two add-ons that gave her gallery completely different moods.

Just the Sheets brought in the soft, simple, intimate side of boudoir. No outfit stress. No extra styling. Just sheets, posing, light, and enough coverage to feel comfortable while still creating something personal.

Wet Skin gave her session a bolder, glossier, more dramatic feel. Shine, contrast, highlights, and that “okay, excuse me?” energy.

Together, those sets gave her a gallery that did not have to be one thing.

After the Session

When Miss M left, she said she felt free.

“At ease. Like maybe it’s not that hard to love myself.”

Boudoir does not magically undo every hard thought you have ever had about your body. It does not replace years of insecurity with one perfect gallery and a sparkly new personality.

But it can create a pause and a moment where you see yourself with less criticism.

For Miss M, the images also became something that mattered in her relationship. She shared that her boyfriend keeps some of her photos on his truck dashboard, and that seeing how much he loves them helped quiet some of the anxiety that can show up when you are a full-time parent and intimacy feels harder to access.

But for her, part of the meaning was being reminded that she was still wanted, still seen, and still herself outside of being a mom, which is very human.

Seeing Herself Through Someone Else’s Eyes

Miss M said:

“It’s made me see myself in ways I never have. It’s the closest I think I’ll ever get to seeing myself the way others do. It significantly helped my confidence.”

That is one of the things boudoir can do really well. It can give you a different lens.

Sometimes you need to see what other people have been seeing all along.

Advice From Miss M

Her words are simple but strong:

“DO IT. BOOK THE SESSION. You’ll only regret it if you don’t.”

Subtle? No.

Do I respect it? Absolutely (and I love it).

Thinking About Your Own Session?

You do not have to wait until you feel like “yourself” again.
You do not have to wait until motherhood feels less consuming.
You do not have to wait until your body feels familiar, your confidence is back, or your brain finally stops being weird about being photographed.

Miss M waited years before booking.

Then she showed up nervous, let herself be guided, tried something vulnerable, and left with proof that she was still in there.