Body confidence

KC arrived at my Calgary studio nervously hopeful. She was slender, the result of hard work paying off. She looked younger than her years, which she was quietly proud of. She wasn’t sure whether to credit genetics or her self-care, but she would happily take it. She still carried body insecurities—sadly, most of the familiar…

One Woman’s Calgary Boudoir Story about Joy, timing and seeing herself differently. After 48 years as a Calgary boudoir and nude photographer, and having photographed more than 5,300 women, I have learned all the many reasons women walk through my doors.  For some, a boudoir or nude portrait session is about embracing their body. For…

Sue came to me looking to see what the beauty they were talking about.  This is one of the side benefits, perhaps the defining benefit of boudoir or beauty photography. Your mind can’t argue with the evidence.  An image held from when you were young, flavoured by comments taken too personally for someone so young.  …

A Calgary Boudoir Photographer’s Insight Into Why the Most Popular Image Isn’t Always the Right One—for Her Her boudoir photo shoot was incredible! She daringly exposed the full range of her personality. She got bolder and more vulnerable than she believed she could. She is pretty excited to select images for a book, but even…

Frankie is the poster woman for this idea: that it’s your spirit—not your age—that defines you. At 70, she’s both young at heart and a wise soul. She greets each day with a grin and a touch of wild abandon. But behind that smile is a deep well of strength shaped by years of personal…

Divorce can shake your foundation, any breakup does.  Even when it’s the right decision, the transition leaves many women feeling untethered. The familiar roles have shifted, and the mirror can start to feel like a stranger.  It can be so many things at once – liberating, disorienting, painful, often oddly peaceful. What, is rarely talked…

If you are curious about a boudoir or nude photography session you may have heard it can be life altering. From the raves of the over 5,200 women that I have photographed, I can tell you it changed their lives. There are a lot of positives to a boudoir photo shoot that can shift your…

When we distill the essence of why women come in for a boudoir or nude photography session it is these two reasons.  They want body embracing and all that goes with that, like empowerment, confidence, body love, and perhaps seeing their own beauty or its level for the first time.  Or it is Body Celebration…

I have walked on fire. I believe in the benefits of breaking through comfort zones. My boudoir and nude photography clients experience the rush of breakthroughs in every session I do.  I admit I’ve gotten used to it; I still love it.  Emily, though, had not seen it. She was assisting me with a water…

I found Mark struggling.  Hi, I am Suzie. He was taking the conventional approach to explaining the experience that his boudoir and nude photography gave women.  He was approaching it wrong. I said there is nothing conventional about the nudes and boudoir photos you create.  So I offered my perspective, a woman who has been…

Would you jump at the chance to pose nude for an audience? Here is the story of a young woman who leapt at the chance.  Here is her story about being a nude art object for a live audience.  “Sleeping naked is natural and healthy for the body. Posing nude for a camera is liberating;…

I am a mother.  I am a role model to two growing and changing girls.  I tell them every day that they are beautiful, that they are radiant, how wonderful they are.  I encourage them to grow . . . to learn . . . to challenge themselves.  They are the light of my life.  I want…

Some Really Embrace It! The 1950s stereotype of what a woman should be has been replaced with a more empowering vision of what she could be. Boudoir and Nude portraits of women were not a thing yet. Today’s woman is complex, dynamic, and unapologetically a warrior. Can you imagine how a Calgary studio like Inner…

Jane was wonderful to photograph. She had come in for a mix of boudoir, lots of nudes and some glamour or beauty. She had searched through all of the boudoir photographers in Calgary before settling on Inner Spirit.  Jane had been here before but then as the support person for her friend. Checking out other…

Can You Be Too Old for a Boudoir Session Spoiler – It’s a Myth! There is no age when you are too old for a boudoir session. Here are some stories to my point. First, on her 70th birthday, Verona came in for her first boudoir session. I have photographed Verona and her family for…

Watching the reactions of clients experiencing boudoir and nude portraits over 45 years, I have learned a few things. The bolder the photography experience, the more profound and transformative the emotional impact. As you move from regular portrait sessions to glamour, boudoir, and finally to elegant, expressive nude photography, you can feel these escalating changes.

Describing beauty is a slippery slope, not a singular or universal ideal.  It is markedly different from nation to nation and even over our history.  The phrase “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”, penned in Margaret Wolfe Hungerford’s 1878 novel, best embraces this diversity.  The ancient Greeks described it as the harmony between…

Her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement as I handed her the book. This collection of images from a transformative nude boudoir session had reset her life, reshaping how she saw herself and interacted with the world. It was, to put it simply, life-altering. Carol often reminisced about the day she became “Carol, the fearless…

Kenisha’s image had a transformation path nearly as remarkable as Kenisha’s personal transformation.  The flow and result of her session reveals the power of boudoir portrait photography. Before I took her image, I envisioned it: a moody image of a woman leaning against an old brick wall, her open jacket revealing hints of sensuality in…

There’s something truly enchanting about the power of makeup, isn’t there? It’s not just about the physical transformation; it’s about the journey it takes us on—a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and confidence. Picture this: You sit down in front of the mirror, perhaps a bit nervous, maybe even a tad apprehensive. But as the makeup…

Fascinating Woman Reveals Herself Women who come in for boudoir or nude photography portraits are usually fascinating ladies. They explore what excites and interests them. Some come in for confidence building, and some to see themselves in a different light. They all reveal so much about themselves in their images. They discover so much about…

What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. What will you do today? “If your life’s work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you’re not thinking big enough.”– Wes Jackson This is from the Monday Morning Memo by Roy Williams.  I believe this is a great…

Why I shoot Boudoir Photography This may be hard to imagine, but at one time, boudoir photography was not an option for women in western Canada. Inner Spirit Photography was the first studio in Calgary to offer boudoir photography exclusively. This was 41 years ago. I can still recall my first client’s faces and their…

Busting Excuses: Why You Deserve A Boudoir Experience! Excuses are the knee-jerk reactions to doing something bold. Which a boudoir photo session is! Your mind may be uncomfortable with the idea, but the heart knows you need it. You are here, so there is a buried desire to do this. Your mind does not want…

My Boudoir Session – What Would My Kids Think? – I am a mother. I am a role model to two growing and changing girls.  I tell them every day that they are beautiful, that they are radiant; how wonderful they are.  I encourage them to grow . . . to learn . . .

Nude ESPN Athletes Talk About Empowerment ESPN is an unexpected magazine to have an annual nude athlete edition, especially talking about nude empowerment. Even more surprising is how many of the athletes talk about it being an empowering moment for them.  Sadly the ESPN Body 2019 issue was the last year for their print version.  Most…

Do You See Your Body Like This? Sarah cried out, “My legs are too big in the photo!” But, I pointed out, your legs aren’t in the photo. “I know,” she replied, “but they would have been.” This was as she viewed her images from her boudoir / nude photography session. This is a common expression of…

How Robin Empowered Herself Robin’s Life Coach, to empower her, had taken her up some pretty steep hills, cresting each peak, she felt more personal power returning. There were a lot of hills to climb, she softly explained. She had looked into some dark places within. This last step would be her breakthrough. Robin Decides…

The Matchmaker Experiences Her Thrill Working a nude and boudoir photoshoot. I did a nude & boudoir photography session with a Matchmaker the other day. It was such a delight. As we talked, I realized what we do is similar. We find each person’s personal beauty. We bring it to the surface for our clients…

Courage vs Confidence The Boudoir Factor Most people think that confidence is what they need, and it becomes what they search for. I must admit that few women first think that a nude or boudoir photo session can be a solution. I’ll come back to that in a bit.  What is interesting is a definition…

The Benefits of Signing Up For A Boudoir Session According to general studies, it is found that most women all across the globe sign up and go for a Boudoir or nude photoshoot only for getting photographed. But, in reality, a Boudoir session is much more than this. Yes, you read that right. Boudoir is…

It’s empowering! It doesn’t matter who you are or why you want to do it. Even men can book a  session! We’ve all carried different stories. In the midst of life’s chaos, it’s perfectly fine to acknowledge your worth. Being confident is beautiful and sometimes, we need to reassure ourselves we still got-it-going-on. It’s fun!…

When Being Nude Isn’t Being Exposed. “ I was photographed nude yesterday.” Is a conversation stopper, my clients have had fun with. They slide the comment in innocently during a pause in a conversation with friends. It always has the same effect. Each person at the table imagines what being nude is to them, usually…