Chasing Joy

Chasing Joy is Getting Naked!!!

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First up, really really quickly, before I get to me being
naked and all, I have an announcement. 
The winner of the 23 and Me genealogy giveaway is Kelsey Reese.   
Unfortunately since I announce the giveaway
the FDA has stepped in and said 23 and Me can no longer provide the health info
only genealogy.   The winner will be
contacted.  If they are no longer
interested in the giveaway because of this change a second winner will be
selected.  I do apologize for this change
in the prize but we can’t argue with the Feds right!
Now back to Chasing Joy Getting Naked!!! 

Ok, so maybe I didn’t really get naked.  But I did take off my clothes!!!  Way back in the early days of this blog I came up with a list of things that I was interested in doing to keep me
occupied and avoid letting boredom steal my joy.  Most of the things on the list were pretty
ordinary, things like take a ballet class, help someone, dye my hair etc…   There
was one thing on the list that was quite a bit more risqué.  It involved me stepping way out of my comfort
zone and even my clothing.  It was to
take a boudoir photo.
Almost 3 full years after adding it to the list I did
it!!!!  It took almost 3 years because I
was afraid.  First I had to come to terms
with my body.  I am not a thin or petite
girl.  I knew if I did not learn to love
and accept my body for what it was I would not enjoy taking the photos or like
them when they were done.  While I cannot
say that I love my body I have reached a level of acceptance where I knew I was
ready.  I reached that point around my 33rd
Birthday.  I even told my co-worker
friend that I thought 33 seemed like the perfect age to do my boudoir photos.
The next big obstacle I had to get over was the idea of
being very close to naked in front of a stranger.  Now I am not a prude.  I have no problem changing at the gym in the
normal changing area as opposed to hiding in a stall.  I wear bathing suits without a cover up.  I even walk around my apartment naked pretty
often.  But to put on sexy lingerie in
front of someone and strike a sexy pose just felt terrifying.  Its one thing to put on lingerie to help you
feel sexy for your significant other who you are fairly certain will love
it.  It is a completely different story
to put it on and try to look sexy for the camera.
Then one day I was on FB and I saw this photo by my bloggy
friend LaShawn AKA @RosesDaughter  from her blog. 
Photo by LaShawn Wiltz Photography 
It is such a beautiful photo!!!!  I loved the yellow.  I thought about when I met LaShawn at my
first Blogalicious Conference and how I have watched her photography get better
and better over the last  two years.  The light bulb went on and I thought I want
her to do my boudoir photos.  I trust her
to take good photos of me and I trust her to have them in her possession.  The only problem is she was based in the
Atlanta area and I am in Philly.
Enter fate…  It just
so happened that this year Blogalicious 5 went back to its original home
Atlanta where LaShawn is located.  I
reached out to LaShawn and, Yes!, we were both planning to attend the
conference.  I was nervous about asking  her to do the photos.  I’d seen her post tons of photos but none
like what I wanted to do.  We did not know
each other well outside of sharing this blogging life.  She might be just as uncomfortable with me
being almost naked in front of her as I was at the thought of it.  So to make sure we were on the same page I
created a secrete Pinterest board of Boudoir Photo Inspirations (It’s notsecret anymore . View it here).  I asked
LaShawn to be my photographer and gave her access to the secrete Pinterest
board so she’d know what I had in mind. 
She quickly agreed.  We worked out
her fee and the logistics and it was on!!!
Reason number 317 that Blogalicious is awesome: You get to
do amazing things like Boudoir Photo Shoots with your Photographer Bloggy friend
while at the conference!!!!  While the
other Blogalicous peeps were getting ready for the McDonalds 80’s party Lashawn
and I were up in my room doing the photo shoot.  She was great. 
I was so scared to do the shoot and she knew it (I probably told her I
was nervous a million times).  She
humored me when I talked about having my cocktails before we got started.  She made me feel comfortable by having a
normal conversation with me (as though I were not in my undies) during the shoot.  She did not rush me at all.  I could tell she was having fun which made me
relax even more.  One of the things I
really appreciated is she had done her homework.  Not only had she looked at the Pinterest
board she had done her own research and had a few poses in mind for me. 
When it was all said and done I love love love my
photos.  Because these are not the kinds
of photo’s you post on Facebook, Instagram or your blog for everyone to see.  I put them into a photo book, easily
accessible by me to be shared with close friends.  I also had one made into a curved glass frame.  These now reside in my bedroom on the bedside table.   
I am so glad I did this. 
I found the entire experience to be both liberating and confidence building.  If I am ever not feeling sexy I can look at
my book and have proof that I am.  Also I
think it will be really really neat to have this book when I am like 80 years
old.  I will have proof that back in 2013
I had it going on. 
Have you ever taken boudoir photos?  Did you do it for yourself or give it as a
gift to your significant others.? Would you ever consider taking sexy or nude
photos?  Why or why not?
If you are in the Atlanta area I highly recommend LaShawn
Wiltz for your photography needs.  You can
see samples of her work on her blog http://lashawnwiltz.com
and on Instagram. You can also find her on twitter  @RosesDaughter and Facebook as LaShawn’s PhotoBlog. Please tell her you heard about her on
Chasing Joy. 

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Comments

  2. Woot woot! I did a budoir photoshoot a few years ago not long after having my first baby. I was nervous but they turned out great and I created a photo book as a surprise for my hubby 🙂

  8. You go girl!!!!!! I am a photographer that shoots boudoir and it is a priceless gift women can give to themselves. And I am so jealous you got to go to Blogalicious. I missed it this year :(.

  11. Your new found appreciation for your body in image form has to be very empowering. Here's to conquering our fears and embracing all of ourselves! Your courage is fantastic.

  12. I love boudoir shoots! I work with a photographer who specializes in these, I love how vivacious and confident women become once they've gotten comfortable!

  13. Very empowering… I have a friend who helps women with these shoots… She loves what she does and she feels that it is important. I still haven't tried it…

  24. Congratulations to stepping out of your comfort zone! I know this is not easy to do – as it first involves even realizing the boundaries of your current comfort zone (this alone takes a lot of self analysis).
    Best wishes to you to continue your growth and sharing!

  25. I have always wanted to have a boudoir session done and surprise my husband. I can see it being great for self esteem and self love too!

  26. I've never taken pictures like that before. I might be able to do it for my husband, but I'm honestly not sure. It's a very intimidating thought. You are an adventurous soul!

  28. I have been seriously debating a boudoir photo session. It's not that I would mind taking off most of my clothes, it's that they all charge SO MUCH for a session.

  32. You go girl ( in Martin voice! I think it's really cool that you decided to step out of your comfort zone and take the boundoir pictures. This post has encourage me to step out and try things that i am afraid to do.

  33. How awesome! I had boudoir pics done as my gift to my hubby on our wedding night. I (and of courser, he!) loved it! Good for you for stepping outside of your comfort zone. Gotta love our Blogafam 😉

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