Q: How did you first hear of Rachel Jasmine Studio and what made you want to book with us?

A: I heard of the Studio through an ad on Facebook of the giveaway. Boudoir was a bucket list item for me so I decided to go for the giveaway and won. I snooped the website and really appreciated how the studio showcased women of all body types and there was no shaming of anyone. That is something that was very important to me when looking for a photographer, I didn’t want to be slimmed down or changed with my images, I wanted me on full display for who I was, scars and all.

Q: What was your initial reason for booking?

A: Going into the giveaway questionnaire i just figured why not? So when I got it I went as far in as I could so not to miss an opportunity I had wanted for ten years. I wanted that empowering experience as someone who has been torn down my whole life and fat shamed, I wanted to do something to nourish and empower my body for once. I know that’s not a super exciting answer but that truly is the long and short of it.

Q: Did you have any expectations going into the shoot? What were they?

A: I really didn’t have anything to go off of, since any photography I’ve had done before was underwater. I went in with the mindset of I was going to trust my photographer’s vision and allow them to capture me how they saw me. My body is a work of art and I wanted to see myself how other’s get to, that is a luxury I don’t have. I’m very relaxed with nudity and confident with my sexuality so I was willing to try whatever was suggested and explore, it truly was a lot of fun and very freeing. I’m glad I went in with little expectations. The only thing I really wanted done was BDSM shots for my dom and some classy nudes, both of which I got and more.

Q: What was it like seeing your images for the first time?

A: I was blown away, it was hard to believe it was me at first? I don’t ever wear makeup or embrace my femininity so seeing myself so femme and sensual was surreal in a good way. I look so powerful and confident, not the timid person I had become over the years. My tummy was on full display too and it was really empowering to see myself photographed in a way that made me feel beautiful instead of the typical “selfie angle” or what I see in the mirror. I really loved it and I’m still looking at them a week later like WOW that’s me!

Q: Has anything changed for you since your boudoir experience and seeing your gallery? How has boudoir impacted your body image as a woman?

A: I’ve loved my tummy more since seeing my photos. Which I know is super specific but I had never seen my stomach through other’s eyes and it really changed how I looked at my body. My skincare routine completely changed too! The prep guide opened my eyes to the world of skincare and I don’t think I can ever go back to not being soft? I wasn’t exposed to beauty products growing up and so the prep guide went into detail on how to prep my body for photos and omg sugar scrubs are the best. I’ve found since starting a skincare routine I’ve been more gentle with my body and loved myself more. So not a direct result of the photos but a direct result of boudoir and the studio.
I feel pride when I see my gallery, I don’t often look at my nude body and not feel shame. But this was a really healing experience and I’ve learned to love more than my face and breasts.

Q: Would you recommend Rachel Jasmine Studio for the luxury boudoir experience to others?

A: Absolutely! Working with Rachel was such a blast! She was fun to shoot with and the studio was an all around vibe. I felt comfortable sitting there nude in front of her camera and her instructions for posing were clear and concise. She was accommodating for my health issues too and patient with me. I’m blown away by the quality of my photos as well. I think boudoir is something everyone should do and this studio was incredible to work with.

Q: What advice would you give to another woman considering the boudoir experience with Rachel Jasmine Studio?

A: Take the plunge, seriously. If you’re on the fence this is your sign to go for it. It was so empowering and freeing to just bare my soul to the camera and be me without the societal definitions of beauty. I got to do something for me and celebrate my natural body. It was so healing and it’s a feeling that is hard to put into words. Go in, be yourself, and celebrate you. Your body deserves it. Trust the process.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add to your interview?

A: I just want to take a second and mention body positivity. I talked about what I had been through while I was in the studio with the team, and I cannot stress enough how important this was to me. I had grown up being slut shamed for wearing the color pink and wanting makeup and perfume, surviving years of abusive relationships from step parents or partners, and have carried a lot of shame towards my weight due to my health. My body is the body I got and no one should have the right to tear me down for it. The last three years of my life have been recovering from a lot of that abuse, learning to love me, and taking steps to nourish my body physically and mentally. Boudoir is therapy in a way, or it was for me. It truly was life changing to see myself through the eyes of others instead of the dreaded mirror. Rachel made me look like a work of art and in the words of my bestie “This is why the men painted the renaissance” and “That would be Aphrodite’s body” (in regards to the last photo of the florals), which I will be cherishing these compliments for the rest of my life. For the first time in my life I can look at my tummy in the shower and love her, and not go “I’d be more sexy if she was an inch smaller, or if I lost just a few pounds more”. So I guess the takeaway for me was, I’m not too fat to be worthy of love or intimacy, I’m worthy just as I am, I just needed a camera to see how others see me and I don’t regret it.

So thank you Rachel for giving me a little ray of light after a rough year. I had so much fun with your team and I left your studio empowered, ready to take my life back, and not tolerating any more bullshit that I had been for months. Art is empowering and what you do in your studio is life changing and I’m really grateful I won that giveaway.