A Life-Changing Experience: Rachel’s Boudoir Photography Journey
A Fresh Start with Unexpected Challenges
My story starts about seven years ago.
I was freshly 23, just moved into my very first apartment, and had my first “big girl job” at a company I loved, in an industry I loved.
It was going great—I was promoted in the first year to a department that I excelled in, I had friends there that I loved, and life felt like it was really starting.
Then, one day in March of 2018, I fell ill and was hospitalized with an unknown flu virus for two weeks. I was bed-bound and sleeping 24/7, not knowing what was happening to me but too weak or tired to care.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
Thankfully, nursed back to health in a fortnight, I was about ready to go back to work. I finally had use of my body again and was excited to return to my normal routine.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
When I hopped out of bed to start that first day back, I got two steps and then collapsed. My leg felt like it was on fire, and it wouldn’t support my body. It was THE most painful thing I had ever experienced up to that point.
After another brief stint in the hospital, I found out I had herniated three of the discs in my spine, which crushed my sciatic nerve, and I was given a diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease. At 23.
That’s when my whole world changed.
Doctors’ appointments, MRI testing, neurology consultations, and endless treatments and therapies—even two spine surgeries—had taken my 20s from me. I had to leave the job I loved so much, I was bed-bound again, and I could barely walk most days.
Now at 30, I still deal with severe, daily chronic pain and am now disabled.
A New Chapter: Love and Rediscovery
Stay with me—there’s a bright side.
I reunited with my high school sweetheart a few years ago after, coincidentally, we both went through tough breakups and were living on our own. We slowly fell in love again, and it is sincerely the best relationship I have ever been in. He is my absolute best friend and the most thoughtful and precious human being on the planet. I am truly so lucky to have him and his support.
We got engaged this past summer (ahhh!!!), and in planning for the wedding, my MOM actually sent me a link she saw for a contest to win a VIP Georgetown Boudoir Photography session!
Overcoming Self-Doubt with a Georgetown Boudoir Photography Session
I thought, Oh gosh, can I do something like this? In all these years of different medications and lack of activity, I really didn’t like my body or feel connected to it at all.
I’ve gained weight, I’m not as mobile as I once was, and I haven’t felt beautiful—let alone sexy—in a LONG time. (Looking back, I think that’s probably why my mom sent it to me in the first place.)
My second thought was, Taylor (my new fiancé) would LOVE this! I wanted him to see my sexy side again. Heck, I wanted to see my sexy side again. I missed her!
So, with newfound confidence and a point to prove—that I could still be beautiful and sexy even if I’m disabled—I entered the contest!
Winning the Georgetown Boudoir Photography Session
You would not BELIEVE my face when a few weeks later, my name was called and I won!! (I’m not kidding, my mom cried. We love a supportive Queen.)
From our first phone call, I felt connected to Amanda immediately. I knew I would feel comfortable with her. We talked and scheduled the appointment, and before I knew it, the day was here!
The Georgetown Boudoir Photography Experience
I felt really well-informed on what to expect and what to bring from looking at Amanda’s website and speaking to her, but I still brought so much stuff with me because I was so excited!
Amanda was so sweet right from the beginning. I immediately felt comfortable as she explained the process and showed me around the sets/backdrops. Oh my gosh, they were GORGEOUS! I was ready to dive into this experience, headfirst.
Hair and Makeup Magic
We got right into it with hair and makeup, and oh my gosh—she is a magician! And FAST! I definitely took notes as I was getting pampered.
She gives the most genuine compliments too and made me feel so beautiful. I LOVED the transformation. Hair, curled to perfection. Makeup, smoky and sultry. It was EVERYTHING.
The Outfits and Posing
She has a great variety of things to choose from in her client closet, which was SUPER fun to look through and experiment with. I do wish there were some bigger sizes, but honestly, there is so much to choose from, you won’t miss out.
Before we got started, I was a little apprehensive about posing in front of the camera as I had never done anything like this before, but with Amanda’s gentle guidance and direction, it went so smoothly and I felt awesome! She was communicative through the whole process and posed me so I looked and felt the best I possibly could. She was really adaptable and worked with me if I wanted to do something specific too, and she had a great music playlist on in the background which helped with the whole vibe of the day.
Seeing Myself in a New Light
All in all, Amanda is absolutely amazing and truly made me feel so beautiful and empowered. I’m so thankful she does what she does. And she’s such a fabulous host!
Ooooh, and when I saw those photos? My face, I’m sure, was priceless… I had never seen myself like that before! I felt beautiful and poetic, but sexy and confident at the same time. She took tons of photos, which was awesome, and after we looked through them all, I picked my favourites and then waited to see how they would turn out!
We met again, and I received this gorgeous hardcover album with all my favourite photos in it, as well as an absolutely timeless ice block. How luxurious!
An Experience Every Woman Deserves
It was seriously an experience of a lifetime, and I would recommend literally every woman do this—even if, and especially if, you don’t think your body is “ready” or “good enough” for something like this.
I PROMISE YOU, you are. You are ready at any age, any weight, any restriction. Amanda will make it happen. I truly believe that. And it is fun!! It is SO fun!
This was an investment in myself, and I am so glad I did it.
Take the leap. It is SO worth it.
(Oh, and my fiancé LOVED the photos. He keeps them proudly displayed on his nightstand and admires them all the time lol. He was so happy to see me enjoying myself and looking good doing it!
I’m so glad I recorded his reaction when I gave them to him too… I’ll be giggling at that video forever! 😉)
XOXO,
Rachel
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