I Have a Confession to Make
Would you believe me if I told you I was pretty modest my first year of college?
I was very not into nudity. But my random roommate on the other hand… was very okay with it. What a strange combo we were. (Wednesday Addams + Enid Sinclair vibes minus the spooky shit. And if you haven't watched Wednesday on Netflix yet… start it asap)
There was one time that she took a shower while I was working on something for drawing class on our floor, and when she got out and started talking to me I'd assumed she'd gotten dressed and turned around to say something to her to find her with one leg up on the bathroom counter putting on lotion – completely nude.
I immediately called my mom and told her how mortified I was, hahaha
This makes me sound like a total prude, which is ironic since I'm a boudoir photographer now and obviously have changed a lot since that 18 year old version of me was so embarrassed to see her roommate naked.
During the second semester of my freshman year, I was in a figure drawing class for my art education degree. I knew drawing nude models was involved, but I figured we'd practice on clothed models for a bit. Spoiler alert: we did not practice on clothed models. 😳 The model walked in that first day of class in a robe, stepped up onto the platform, and dropped that robe like it was hot. I'm pretty sure my eyes were as big as saucers, lmao!
Safe to say I was not expecting that the first day of class.
But over the course of that semester, I got to draw so many different body types and slowly became more and more comfortable with the naked body. I learned about art history and saw the human form represented in art throughout time. From Venus of Willendorf to Venus of Urbino, I saw the female form not only represented but beloved. And I too fell in love with capturing the beauty in a person. For a few hours each week I was learning how to sketch the way someone's hips curve and dip, how their hair falls across their back, and how their skin folds and rolls when they sit.
That was the first time I truly saw the body as art.
It was also the first time I felt really fulfilled by the art I was creating. I wanted to show everyyyyone my charcoal sketches from class because I loved them so much. So when I discovered boudoir photography and started capturing people through that same lens (ha, lens. get it?) I was instantly reminded of that figure drawing class.
My job now is to show you your favorite parts of yourself in the most perfect afternoon light – and to show you the beauty I see in your not-so-favorite parts of yourself, and help you see your beauty there too. It feels really special and full circle to be able to create art like this with you, and for you to trust me to capture you honestly.
