More Than Photos: How Boudoir Photography Helped Me Heal and Love Myself Again

Embracing confidence and self-love, one pose at a time through boudoir photography.

In stillness and shadow, I found the strength to be seen.

Radiating self-love & confidence in every moment. Boudoir is about embracing your beauty and power.

Unapologetically joyful, confident and radiant. Celebrate yourself with every smile.

Embracing strength and sensuality, a moment of pure confidence and joy.

Confident, radiant annd unapologetically myself. Celebrate the beauty of self-love .

Owning the spotlight with grace and confidence. Celebrate your unique beauty.

Boldy embracing self-love, confidence, and authenticity.

Elegance meets confidence - redefining beauty with poise and grace.

A quiet moment of strength - celebrating self-love, healing, and the journey home to myself.

Eyes closed, heart open - this is what reclaiming power and loving myself without looks like.

Wrapped in self-love, I hold myself with power and grace - every pose a declaration of worth.

Bathed in gold, I rise - an embodiment of sensuality, grace, and unapologetic self-love.

In teal and tenderness, I return to myself - whole, radiant, and free.

Naked and unshaken. An unfiltered embrace of self, strength, and sacred truth.

A silhouette of surrender and strength, I rise in sensual grace and unapologetic self-love.

Teal, laughter, and a whole lot of self-love - what once dimmed my light, now helps me shine.

Reclaiming her power and confidence - A goddess of her own making, unafraid to burn bright.

She lies in velvety softness but nothing about her is fragile.

She leans into the dark, draped in shadow - not to disappear, but to become.

Self-love is a concept we often hear about, yet we rarely explore what it truly means in a world that constantly tells us we aren’t enough. For many of us, the journey to self-love is anything but straightforward—it's shaped by our past, our insecurities, and the wounds we carry.

For much of my life, self-love felt out of reach. It wasn’t something I thought I deserved, and honestly, I didn’t even know what it looked like. My relationship with myself was tangled in years of shame, trauma, and a persistent belief that I wasn’t “enough.”

I’ve been fat-shamed. I’ve overeaten to fill emotional voids. I’ve endured difficult chapters in my childhood that left scars I didn’t know how to heal. I’ve stood in front of the mirror, picking myself apart, convinced that I was too broken, too unattractive, and too unworthy of love—both from others and, most painfully, from myself.

But over time, I’ve come to realize that self-love isn’t about perfection. It’s about healing. It’s about unlearning shame, embracing myself as I am, and finding ways to honor who I am—even when it feels hard. Recently, I took a step I never thought I’d take: I booked a boudoir photo shoot. It wasn’t just about capturing images—it was about reclaiming my body, my confidence, and my worth.

This is my story of how I turned pain into power through the lens of boudoir photography - and the lessons I’ve learned about self-love, acceptance, and reclaiming my body along the way.

A Past Shaped by Shame & Self-Loathing

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wrestled with the feeling of not being "enough." Growing up, I was teased for my weight, and those harsh words stayed with me long after childhood. I internalized the idea that my body was something to be ashamed of—something I needed to hide or fix.

Food became both comfort and a coping mechanism. I overate to numb feelings of inadequacy and to fill the emotional voids left by pain I didn’t know how to process. But the comfort was fleeting, and it quickly gave way to guilt, shame, and self-loathing.

A particularly difficult chapter in my childhood left me even more disconnected from my body. It shattered my sense of safety and control, making me view my body as a source of pain and shame—something I wanted to escape. Over time, that disconnection grew into something darker: a deep-seated hatred for myself. I began to internalize the belief that I was broken, that something was inherently wrong with me. My body became a constant reminder of what I had endured, and instead of offering comfort, it felt like a prison. I blamed myself for the pain, convinced that I somehow deserved it, and that belief took root in every part of my identity.

For years, I clung to the belief that I wasn’t pretty enough, thin enough, or worthy enough to be loved—not by others and certainly not by myself.

The Turning Point

Healing didn’t happen overnight. It’s been a messy, nonlinear journey—marked by moments of progress, painful setbacks, and unexpected breakthroughs. But somewhere along the way, I came to a pivotal realization: I couldn’t continue living in a state of self-hatred. That awareness became the first step toward change.

I began to seek out tools and practices that could support my healing, including working with a psychotherapist and exploring the transformative realms of tantra and spirituality. These paths helped me slowly reconnect with myself, not just mentally and emotionally, but spiritually and somatically as well.

I began to see that my worth wasn’t tied to my appearance or my past. I started questioning the narratives I carried and exploring small ways to reconnect with myself. Some days, that meant practicing forgiveness—forgiving myself for overeating, for struggling to love my body, for holding onto shame that wasn’t mine to bear. Other days, it meant learning to say “no” and setting boundaries to protect my energy (I’m still working on this one!).

I knew I needed to take this journey further, to do something bold that challenged the old stories I told myself. That’s when I decided to book a boudoir photo shoot.

Why Boudoir Photography?

For me, the boudoir shoot was more than just taking pictures—it was a declaration: This is my body, and it’s mine to love.

After years of feeling disconnected from myself, I was ready to reclaim my power. I wanted to see myself through a new lens—one unfiltered by shame or self-criticism. I wanted to celebrate my body for everything it is: strong, resilient, and deserving of love, just as it is.

At first, the idea terrified me. What if I didn’t like what I saw? What if all my insecurities came flooding back? But I knew growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. If I wanted to rewrite my story, I had to take the leap.

On the day of the shoot, a surge of emotions swept over me—equal parts fear and anticipation. Vulnerability has never come easily to me, and the idea of being seen so openly—both physically and emotionally—felt almost unbearable. The thought of exposing parts of myself I had spent years hiding stirred a deep sense of unease, but also a quiet hope that this moment could mark a turning point.

But the photographer created a safe and empowering space. Each pose and each click of the camera felt like a small act of defiance against the voices in my head that told me I wasn’t enough. I could feel myself letting go of the old narratives that had held me back for so long.

For years, I felt like my body no longer belonged to me.  It had been judged, criticized, shamed, and hurt in ways that left me feeling disconnected from it.  But during the photo shoot, something unexpected happened.  I felt like I was reclaiming my body – not for anyone else, but for myself.  With each pose, each moment of vulnerability, I was silently declaring, “This is mine.  I get to define how I see myself”.  And for the first time in a long time, I felt beautiful—not because of how I looked, but because of how I felt: confident, powerful, and free.

What I Learned About Self-Love

The boudoir shoot wasn’t the beginning or the end of my self-love journey—it was a powerful reminder that self-love is something we practice, not something we “achieve.” Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned:

1. Your Body Tells Your Story

   Every stretch mark, scar, and curve is a chapter in the narrative of your life. Your body is not something to hide or fix—it’s something to honor, to celebrate, and to thank for carrying you through.

   
   

2. Healing Isn't Linear

   There’s no shortcut to healing. It’s a winding, often messy path that unfolds in its own time. Be gentle with yourself. Progress isn’t always visible, but every step counts

   
   

3. Self-Love is a Daily Choice

   You don’t have to wait until you feel confident or worthy. Self-love begins with choosing kindness toward yourself - especially on the days when it feels hardest.

   
   

4. Self-Love Isn’t Always Easy

   Some days, self-love will feel like second nature. Other days, it will feel like a struggle. That’s okay. What matters is showing up for yourself in small, intentional ways—through rest, compassion, or simply acknowledging your worth.

   
   

5. Vulnerability is Strength

   Letting yourself be seen—flaws and all—is an act of courage.  The more you embrace your authentic self, the more freedom and connection you’ll feel.

   
   

Self-Love in Everyday Life

The boudoir photoshoot was one of the boldest acts of self-love I’ve ever done, but self-love doesn’t have to look like that for everyone. Here are a few other ways to express love for yourself:

• Write Letters to Yourself: Acknowledge your strengths, forgive your mistakes, and remind yourself that you are worthy of love.  Revisit these letters when you need encouragement.

  
  

• Create a Self-Care Ritual: Develop consistent rituals that nurture your well-being.  Whether it’s a calming morning routine, a skincare ritual, or a solo date, carve out time to prioritize and care for yourself.

  
  

• Speak Kindly to Yourself: Replace self-critical thoughts with affirmations or gentle reminders of your worth. A gratitude journal or a ‘win’ jar can be helpful tools – jot down things you love about yourself or small victories worth celebrating, even amidst all the chaos and setbacks.

  
  

• Move Your Body: Engage in movement that feels good for your body.  Whether it’s dancing, walking, yoga, or stretching, find ways to connect with your body in joyful and mindful ways. 

  
  

• Set Boundaries: Protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being by saying no to what drains you and yes to what aligns with your values and goals. 

  
  

• Practice Mindfulness: Spend a few moments each day being fully present. Whether through meditation, deep breathing, or simply observing your surroundings, mindfulness can help you feel centered and calm.

  
  

• Celebrate Your Achievements: Honor your progress, no matter how small. Treat yourself to something special or take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come.

  
  

• Seek Support When Needed: Invest in your mental and emotional health by reaching out to a therapist, coach, or trusted friend.

Closing Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt unworthy, unlovable, or broken, I want you to know this: you are not alone, and your past does not define you.

Self-love is a deeply personal journey, and it looks different for everyone. For me, it’s been about reclaiming my body, my confidence, and my voice. For you, it might mean something entirely different—and that’s okay. What matters most is that you find ways to honor yourself.

What’s one thing you can do today to remind yourself that you matter?  Maybe it’s saying a kind word to yourself, writing down one thing you love about who you are, or even doing something bold like booking a boudoir photo shoot. 

Whatever it is, take that step. 

You are worthy of love—not because of your accomplishments, appearance, or past, but simply because you exist.

Choose yourself.

And always remember: you are enough — exactly as you are.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore self-love or looking to deepen your connection with yourself, I’d be honored to walk alongside you. If my story resonates with you, I invite you to reach out through my contact page on my website at www.awakenyourpleasure.com. As an ABS Board Certified Sexologist and Certified Tibetan 5 Element Tantra Practitioner, I offer compassionate, holistic guidance to help individuals reclaim their confidence, self-worth, and joy.