October 10, 2015

My boudoir shoot!

Yesterday was a very busy day, so I didn't get a chance to write. I had my boudoir photo shoot, which I was really looking forward to! If you're not familiar with boudoir photography, boudoir photos are basically very tasteful photos done wearing lingerie (or even nude, although I didn't do that). A lot of times, women get the photos done as a gift for their husbands or partner; and while Jerry definitely loved the idea, my reasoning was a little different.

I've *always* had body issues. I was overweight the whole time I was growing up, and I really just wanted to look like the other girls my age. When I finally lost the weight in 2010, I had loose skin and stretch marks. Even after having the loose skin around my midsection removed, I was (and am) self-consious of my stretch marks and the loose skin on my thighs and arms.

My sister had a boudoir shoot done last year when she turned 40, and her pictures looked amazing. I really wanted to do it, but I kept waiting for "the right time". I finally realized that there really isn't a "right time", because there will always be things about my body that I will find flaws in. So, when I saw a Groupon for a mini-session, I thought it would be a great way to get a little taste of what a boudoir session would be like.

I originally bought the Groupon for the photo shoot, which was a very basic package for $99. When I went to the website, however, I saw that I could upgrade to the "Luxe" package for another $100, and it would include hair and make-up (plus more outfits/shooting time). Since I only ever planned to do this once in my entire life, I figured I'd better just upgrade. And the more I thought about the idea of the boudoir shoot, the more I liked it! I've never really felt "sexy" because of my body image issues, so I hoped that by taking professional sexy photos, I would see that I actually AM sexy ;)

I waited until my Groupon was about to expire before I finally booked the appointment. Looking at the website for Catherine Kellie Studios, I really liked Catherine's thoughts about boudoir photography. Her goal with the sessions is to basically empower women and make them feel absolutely beautiful, no matter what their size, shape, age, etc. I met Catherine earlier this week to talk about the shoot, and I felt very at ease with her. I knew I'd be comfortable with her doing the photos. My personal goal for the session was to feel pretty and sexy, in a way that I never really had, and see all the good parts of my body. I always tend to focus on the flaws, but Catherine would pose me in ways that would make me truly LIKE what I saw.

Anyway, my appointment was at noon, and it was about an hour and fifteen minutes away, so I left at 10:30. Traffic was bad, but I still got there in time. I brought along about seven outfits, hoping that Catherine could help me choose the best outfits to use. I don't want to get too detailed about what I wore, so I'll just leave it at that ;) She helped me plan everything out, and then she organized it very well to make things easy when it was time to change during the shoot.

While she did that, I sat down to get my hair and make-up done. Again, because this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, I chose to be pretty bold with my make-up. Larrissa, the hair stylist/make-up artist, did dark, smokey eyes and "soft red" lips (not super bold red, but a nice color--still much bolder than I would have chosen). For my hair, she did big, loose curls, which I really liked!

Once my hair and make-up were done (and I hardly recognized myself in the mirror), I put on my first outfit. It was one of the more modest ones, so that was a nice warm-up. Catherine gave me perfect directions for each pose--all I had to do was mirror what she wanted me to do, and she got some awesome photos. I didn't see ALL of them, but occasionally as she was shooting, she would show me a photo. I honestly gasped out loud a few times, because I couldn't believe it was even ME--I looked so good!

The whole shoot was actually really fun, and not at all awkward. The only people in the studio were Catherine, Larrissa, and me. The door to the studio is locked, so that people can't just walk in, which was nice to know. Occasionally, Catherine would get really excited about a certain pose or photo, saying something like, "This is SO PRETTY!", and that always made me feel good. Some of the poses felt very odd, but I trusted she knew what she was doing, and when she showed me a picture or two, I realized she really knows her stuff.

By the time I was done, I felt absolutely amazing. I really should have done it a long time ago, before I lost the weight! It would have made me feel so much better about myself, and to stop thinking I had to be thin to feel pretty or sexy. I'm really excited for Jerry to see the photos, because I know he will love them :) (I may share a couple of very modest ones here on my blog--I'll decide after I see them). Catherine said that most photographs capture moments in life, but a good boudoir session has the power to do more. "I don't just capture moments, I change lives!" -- And that's totally true. I feel different now, in a good way.

When I mentioned the boudoir shoot before, several people commented that it's something they would like to do "someday"--I want to encourage you to do it now! A good photographer will pose you to show your best qualities, and you will feel very feminine and pretty. The photos are not cheap--I think I probably hyperventilated when I started comparing costs last year--but again, this is something I'll only do once in my life, and I'm sure I'm going to love the photos. (Jerry and I will go to the studio next week to see them and order what we like).

Catherine is offering anyone who I refer a $100 voucher good toward the Luxe boudoir package (which is the session that I did). That would make it only $99, and it includes hair and make-up! (If you're interested in booking, you can email Catherine at hello@catherinekelliestudios.com. It has to be booked by 10/19 and shot by 11/30/15).

I was nervous about whether I should even share THIS photo, and it's pretty modest ;)
Final thoughts on the boudoir session: I loved it, and I feel amazing. I'm so glad that I did it!


Last night, I went out to dinner with Andrea. And then today was crazy busy in the morning. The kids had a cross country meet AND a double-header baseball game back to back to back. The cross country meet started at 8:15, so we had to be there by 7:15. It was at a golf course, and there was a collection of fog that looked so eerie that I had to take a picture:


The kids did awesome! Noah got a new PR (again), finishing in 8:45-ish (I don't have the official results yet); and Eli ran his first sub-10:00 mile!

The baseball games didn't go so well--the kids' team was crushed by the other team (I don't even know the scores, but it was bad!). It was their last game, which is kind of a relief. They both really enjoy cross country right now, and said that next year, they don't want to do fall baseball because they have meets and games on the same day. They only have two more meets until cross country is over!

24 comments:

  1. I thought the picture was an ad. I didn't realize that was you I thought it was a model. You look great.

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    1. Hahaha, I actually did the same thing when Catherine sent me the email. It took me a second to realize that it was one of my photos she used! ;)

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  2. I agree with Dre- thought you were a model! You are so pretty and have such a great genuine smile. I'm glad you had such a great experience :)

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  3. I also thought that was an ad. Wow. Gorgeous!

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  4. I also thought that was an ad. Wow. Gorgeous!

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  5. I think it's so amazing that you decided to do the shoot! And even more that you told everyone about it, and encouraged others to do it, and to NOT wait for that perfect body. I never thought about doing it before, but you really made me think about it. I'm a single mom with no interest in or time for dating so it really would be for me. I did something a little like this when I was pregnant and I loved it.

    I totally can't tell that it's you in that photo!

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  6. I also thought the picture was a model until I read the description and I looked closer at the pic...Katie, you are so brave to share the experience with us and even tho at first I didn't recognize you, you look absolutely stunning. Not because I think you look "better" than your everyday pictures or because you had your hair and makeup done but because you looked relaxed and confident. I know that this was a huge leap out of your comfort zone but thank you for sharing this with us and encouraging us to consider it too. Honestly Katie, if I wasn't already a loyal reader and completely inspired by you, this post would have tipped the scales for me. Well done! Jerry has to be so excited to go see the pics...not THAT kind of excited lol But he has to be so proud of you for doing this and I'm sure he can't wait to see you, being confident in yourself. So cool!

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  7. So glad you had a good experience! I'm still losing.... maybe next year I'll have this done. I've bookmarked the photographer site!

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  8. HA! I thought it was simply an Ad too until I read the other comments....I guess that is the sign of a good photographer and model. Way to go.

    (Although, honestly this is something I could never see myself doing.....)

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  9. I had no idea the photo was of you until the comments (clearly I don't read closely enough) -- you're gorgeous, Katie! So glad you did this -- I hope to do a shoot one day as well (I'm about halfway to goal, and I want to tone some from there so not yet) and it would be great to see more of the pics when they're ready if you're willing to share. I'm surprised at how cheap it seems to be for that experience and for great photos that will always lift you up. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Smoking Hot! If I lived in Michigan, I would totally sign up. Hot! Hot! Hot!

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  11. Katie....WOW! I agree with the others, I thought it was regular ad. Good for you! I have been looking at doing this too, but waiting for the weight to come off...but I need to love my body now and later. I think you have convinced me!

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    1. You won't regret it! I kept waiting and waiting for me to love my body before doing the shoot, but then I realized that I'd be waiting forever because I'll never be "perfect". You will feel fantastic about yourself as you are right now!

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  12. Oh my gosh, I didn't realize that was you in the ad until I read the comments!! Katie, I have always thought you were beautiful (even in your heavier photos) but seriously, girl...DAYUM. You look hot!! And I love hearing how happy you are about your shoot. I really want to do one for my husband...he would freaking love it. I'm so happy for you!

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  13. Wow, Katie! You're always pretty and that picture just puts it over the top. Catherine needs to use you AS one of her ad models. :) I hope that you feel comfortable in sharing some more of the photos, but no pressure.

    Congrats to the boys on their continued success in XC.
    -Martine

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  14. Gorgeous, Katie!! I'll have to look into it in my area :) I also hope you'll share more that you're comfortable with!

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  15. Wow! I had to scroll back up when someone said it was you in the ad! I also thought it was a model too. You look beautiful! So proud of you!
    I'll be doing a boudoir shoot eventually too. It must be so empowering!
    -Kim

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  16. you look STUNNING Katie! If I was in the area, I would hire that woman instantly.

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  17. I also totally didn't realize this was you! I've been thinking about this for a long time, but have also always been waiting for the "right" time. I wish I lived closer to you to take advantage of this specific photographer, but it's definitely made me think differently about boudoir photos in general. As always, thank you so much to opening my eyes to something I never thought I'd try. Katie, you are truly an inspiration in everything you do, I know you don't try, or even know that you're inspiring with these things, but please know that many women appreciate and gain from what you share of your life on here. :) Thank you.

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    1. That is one of the nicest compliments I've ever received. Thank you! And please stop waiting for the "right" time, because it will never come (you'll always find a reason to wait a little longer). Why not feel amazing about how you look right now?! :)

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  18. Oh wow! I didn't know that was you and I still have a hard time "seeing" that it is you. Of course it's a side profile and so that's challenging since I don't know you well. I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on the pictures when you see them. I wish I was closer to this photographer too. She has great pics online. I did baby/children/family photography for a couple of years but know I could never do boudoir as posing adults was not something I excelled at. I *really* hope that at minimum you post some kind of front on heat shot for us to see. I really want to see your hair and makeup! The photo in the ad is stunning and you really do look so confident in it! It could be the cover of a romance novel!!! :) I agree with the above - you are an inspiration. I've been reading your blog for a few years (I have no idea when I found you) and you've gone out of your comfort zone many times. I've often thought "if Katie can do this or that, I can too!"

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  19. So beautiful!! I thought about having one done as a wedding gift to my hubby but I had gained SO much weight before the wedding. This might go on the list for an anniversary gift though!! Glad you had so much fun!!

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  20. Wow!! I totally didn't realize that was you!! You are beautiful and that just proves it! :)

    You've really got me thinking about this. Might be a good present for the husband. And it does sound very empowering! Thank you for sharing!

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  21. Stunning!

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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