Reading the words of past clients and hearing them talk about their OWN experience helps me (Sarah) and the OWN team know where we went right. When past clients have come in for a 2nd (or third or fourth or fifth) go around, then we REALLY pay attention... and you should to.
We first met this lovely woman a couple of years ago (as she tells you in this interview). She was going through some things and I love that we were able to reconnect again for her second shoot with us. She brought in some custom made cowboy boots, so just wait until you see those. She also is one of the most caring and focused people I've ever met and that makes me feel so honored that she chose us again. I basically just want to sing her praises for the next 72 paragraphs, but I'll spare you and let you figure it out yourself.
Read on,
Sarah
1) How old are you... or if you prefer, who were you listening to at age 14 :)?
27 years old
2) What do you do for a living?
NICU Registered Nurse
3) What/who made you decide to book a boudoir session?
My first session was 2 years ago. I was single at the time. Struggling with self esteem and self image my whole life because of constant bullying in school. I suffer from a birth injury that resulted in a alter walking gait. Of course kids always point these things out which in return made me very self conscious and shy. As an adult I have worked hard on myself to break through those emotions, however at 25 I still felt like I had so much farther to go. That’s when I heard about boudoir and thought this might be just what I need to over come my childhood insecurity and feel like the confident, beautiful woman I had become.
4) Did you have any obstacles or fears about boudoir?
My fears were of course taking the photos and only seeing everything I hate about my body. I gained over 30lbs in college, and struggled to loose the weight while working 12 hour night shifts at the hospital. When I decided to do my first boudoir shoot I also decided to live a healthier life style and was able to loose 30lbs and feel better in the long run.
5) Why did you choose OWN?
Honestly, I did a shoot with a local photographer in Rome GA. The finish product was not what I had imagined . So, I went to google and read reviews, looked at portfolios and that’s where I found OWN.
6) How was the actual session different from what you expected (if at all)?
It was nothing like I expected! My first session with another photographer I had to bring my own lingerie and come up with my own location and posses. That photographer didn’t really encourage me or couch me. It was a very awkward experience, so I was very nervous that that was just how these sessions would be. However, from the first email with Sarah the experience was completely different. She was very responsive, encouraging and knowledgeable. She also took care of everything from make up, hair, backdrop, and poses. She made me feel like a very important super model. A strange yet empowering experience. That’s when I realized it’s not about the pictures, it’s about the entire experience that gives you that confidence you are looking for.
7) What was your favorite part of the entire experience? (priming, the shoot, seeing images, giving the images..etc)
My favorite part was shooting and of course seeing the images. The sessions were both just so much fun, but of course nothing beats the excitement of seeing the finished product where it super hard to only pick a few imagines to take home.
8) How has the response been to your images?
At the time of my first image they were just for me. Not long after the first session I found a great guy who I am not engaged to two years later. He loves those first pictures I did. He uses one as my contact photo on his phone. He has not seen my bridal picture yet, however after hearing his responses to the first photos. I was able to really focus on the things he loves about me physically in the bridal session. I can’t wait for him to see those at our wedding.
9) What is your advice for women interested in such a session?
Just do it! Like Nike, haha. You will not regret it. Especially, if you struggle with self image or scares those seen and unseen you need this. It will allow you to see the real you not just the altered version of yourself that can be painful to look at . When you have this experience and have those photos it makes those ruts we all get into thinking about how we wish we looked like a celebrity that much easier to get through and realize you are one of a kind and beautiful just the way you are.
10) Did anything change about the way you see your own beauty as a result of this session?
I have always struggled with a mentality that I assume everyone only sees my disability. I always get theses feelings that people are not
Going to like me or think I’m beautiful or sexy because of my birth injury. My 2 sessions have really helped me over come those feeling of feeling like I am never good enough and that is with more then any therapy I could have experienced.
