In boudoir photography, the goal is always to help you see your best self and embrace and love yourself exactly as you are. With a boudoir session, you are gifting yourself empowerment, and taking steps to make your next year amazing.

It is reflection time. How can you take action in resolving to prioritize and care for yourself? Both inside and outside of a photo studio, a boudoir session can help you to achieve the all-encompassing idea of self compassion and self-care. A few of the ways of boudoir shoot can both challenge and nourish you on this path are:

1. It can improve your relationship with your body. You no longer need harmful body resolutions. Release them. Size is irrelevant. Your session forces you to be present in the glorious, incredible skin you are in. 

2. Leave fear behind. When we do things that scare us, we challenge our limiting beliefs. These beliefs may tell us who we are, and what we can do. Push back a bit. Take a step out of your comfort zone. A boudoir session can be just the right amount of scary - the kind that thrills and shows you that you can do things that you didn’t know you were capable of. 

3. Follow positive and encouraging social media. Body positivity is more difficult when we are bombarded by messages that we are not good enough. Take care of yourself by paying attention to the ideas that you are surrounded by and curating them carefully. Only allow in messages of love. Body acceptance is a worthy goal. Boudoir is about recognizing the beauty that exists in every body. See it in others. See it in yourself

4. Use beautiful and positive words to describe yourself. How we speak to our ourselves matters. Identify the negative stories you tell yourself about your worth. Would you allow someone to speak to your friend or your child the way you speak to yourself? The people around you hear your messages. Love yourself, be kind and gentle, and embrace self-love. You are deserving.

5. Take stock of the ways you care for yourself. So many of us are caregivers, in our relationships and our careers, and it is important to include caring for yourself on that list. Before we can provide empathy to others, we must have compassion for ourselves. Your well-being matters. You can’t carry on giving when you don’t replenish yourself.

6. Commit to doing things that bring you joy. Welcome joy into your life. You may need to try new things, like a boudoir session, to find all of the amazing things that spark your joy. You are a role model. Model something new and different. Commit to finding and doing the things that bring you joy.

7. Resolve to prioritize and invest in yourself. You are worth it. If you want to gain the energy you need for the rest of the year, it is time to focus on you. Maybe your session will allow you to create space for sensuality. Maybe you want to celebrate your survival. Whatever it is, tell your self-doubt to take a hike, and put your self-love resolution into practice.

8. Dress in things that make you feel good. This is for your session, yes, but also for your life. Wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Fashion is not about age or rules. It is about wearing what makes you feel like your best self.

9. Set boundaries. In a boudoir session, you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable. Boudoir photographers practice consent at all times, so this will give you an opportunity to set boundaries that you know will be respected. Expect this from everyone in your life

10. Go after what you want. When you love yourself, you know what will enhance your life. This is about putting self-doubt aside and working toward recognizing your value to yourself. When you care for your whole self, you can reach for things that improve the world around you.

Acceptance and compassion are your birthright. You are worthy today and every day. Treat yourself and make 2024 the year you love yourself as you are.