Ms M found herself again through Boudoir | Nashville Boudoir

May 6, 2021

How did you hear about Holly Douglas Boudoir? Well before I even knew what it was, I have loved boudoir photos. I didn’t know that there was even a name for it! What I DID know is that it is NOT porn. Far from it! It is sensual and beautiful. The older I got, the more I wished to look like the women in those beautiful photos so I looked into boudoir studios and found Holly Douglas Boudoir online.

Why did you choose Holly Douglas Boudoir for your session? I had previously done a boudoir session and it was an amazing experience but there was something more that I was looking for that I still can’t put into words. Ive read many, many clients stories from many studios as well as looked at their work. Holly’s clients photond stories just resonated with me. The first time I spoke to her on the phone, I felt like I was talking to an old friend I had known forever! That was the deciding moment for me. I know I have a very hard time even talking to people let alone be photographed the way I wanted to be so knew I had to be comfortable for that to happen and felt that I would be comfortable with Holly. I was right. I haven’t seen the finished images yet but I feel really good about them.

What made you decided to take the leap of faith and do a boudoir session? I have two divorces behind me and then met ‘the one’ and we got engaged. Sadly, he passed away early in 2019. I finally started to date again and was shocked at how much it had changed! It left me feeling pretty bad about myself. And on top of that, I turned 55! I wanted to feel better about myself. I needed to! Im still alive and want to live. I knew that when I looked at boudoir photos, I saw confident, sensual, beautiful women. I didn’t notice their shape or scars. I saw the look on their faces, unashamed and stunningly strong and beautiful! I needed to see myself the way I saw those women. So, I did what they did….a beautiful, liberating boudoir shoot. Its been a few weeks since my shoot and I haven’t seen my photos yet but theres something about being vulnerable and pushing yourself to face your fears and doing it in spite of the fears that sets a part of you free. It is strength I didn’t know I had. That, is an amazing feeling.

Were you nervous about the shoot beforehand? If so, what were you most nervous about? I was very nervous because there are very few pictures of me that I like even a little. Here I am, about to have photos taken and I planned to be wearing little to nothing! I questioned my sanity. How could I hope to have any pictures of me look as beautiful as ones I had seen of other women? But the stories previous clients told….how they felt after they did a session made me push past my fear. I am so glad I did! I was worried about what outfits to pick. What would compliment my shape? How would I pose? How would I do my hair and make up? I didn’t have to worry about any of that at all! I got several emails that set my mind at ease prior to my session. . My hair and make-up would be done for me the day of my session at the studio. Holly and her team would help me choose from my outfits and had a closet full of beautiful items in case I needed anything. And I was instructed on every part of posing from where to look, to what to do with my hands and everything in between!

Did you become more comfortable after the session started? If so, what helped to relax your nerves? As I was getting my hair and make-up done, we were talking about everything! They took my mind off of the session and I felt like we were just a couple of women at the salon getting our hair done and gossiping! Not at all like I was about to be photographed in lingerie.

What was your favorite part of the experience and why? About midway through the session, when I realized that I was ACTUALLY there, being photographed and I was ok with it. Until that point, I kind of felt like I was watching someone else doing the session. I have never felt comfortable being photographed but about midway through, I did feel more comfortable than I ever did having my picture taken.

How did you feel during your session? I was so sure that in spite of Holly’s skill, all of my images would look like mug shots or a driver’s license photo when I got to my session. But as I sat getting hair and make-up done and talking with them, I relaxed some. I went into auto-pilot mode when the first few shots were taken, just focusing on posing. It felt unnatural at first. Until Holly showed me the back of her camera. I got a glimpse of what I saw in other women’s photos! “That’s not me” I thought and may have said out loud. Perfect hair and make-up and looking beautiful! Then I began to relax, forget the cellulite and scars!

Describe how you felt when you saw your images for the first time. I really thought that I would end up being that one client that Holly just could not get a good image of. I had convinced myself that I would have a bunch of shots that looked unnatural or maybe like mug shots or DMV pictures but with lingerie. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved! No mug shots or DMV like photos at all! I couldn’t believe they were me!

How has your relationship with your body changed since your session? I feel like I have greater acceptance of my body. I have always focused on the negatives or what I perceive to be negative. I now see myself differently. I look at myself like I am someone I like. I look at myself like I looked at the real women in boudoir photos see the positive instead of focusing on the negative. I see me as I want others to see me.

What would you say to people who say they can’t do a boudoir session because they are too shy, nervous, etc? I know how you feel because I’ve been there. The year and a half prior to my session was the worst of my life. I was at such a low point since my fiancee’s death that I had to decide to live. Literally. I needed to feel better about myself if I was going to do that, not just exist. Push past your fear. Get out of your comfort zone – you’ve outgrown it. Be strong, courageous even! Learn to accept yourself and your body. You earned the stretch marks, scars and wrinkles by living! Read other women’s stories and be encouraged and do the damn session! You will feel so different. Like you’ve graduated to another level of womanhood!