A Boudoir Empowerment Session with Emerald Fox
Read all about a client’s boudoir experience, right from their point-of-view!
When I was asked to write about my boudoir experience with Emerald Fox, I was excited! I’ve always seen boudoir as something amazing, but it wasn’t until about a year ago that I ever thought it would be something I would do for myself. But after my best friend had her own experience with Emerald Fox in 2021 and raved about it, I slowly thought that perhaps I could do it as well. Her photos were gorgeous and I wanted to see if I would have a similar result too. Plus, after an intense break-up, I knew I needed some sort of pick-me-up.
On the day of my boudoir photo shoot with Emerald Fox, I woke up with a bazillion nerves. I’ve never liked the way I look in photos and I knew I would be nervous, but I didn’t know I’d be THIS nervous! On their instructions, I’d washed my hair the night before and since I didn’t have to do my hair or make-up because it would be done for me at the studio, I didn’t have much to occupy my mind. I remember absent-mindedly doing a bit of cleaning as I waited until it was time to head out.
Getting Ready
After what seemed like hours, I finally arrived at the studio and was led into a hair and make-up room by a friendly hair and make-up artist. It was cute and welcoming, which immediately helped to calm my nerves. If so much thought was put into this space, I knew I was in good hands. I was immediately offered something to drinks and given some chocolates to snack on.
The hair and make-up experience alone was incredible! I’ve only gotten the professional treatment to these things once in my life (for my wedding day), so it was a huge treat to be pampered. Not only that – it was also so much fun!
The artist made sure to ask about my preferences and continually kept checking in to make sure I was happy with the progress and encouraged me to wear false eyelashes. I was reluctant at first, but am SO HAPPY she convinced me to do so because they really did make my eyes look that much more beautiful. Nicole, my photographer and Isabella, the shoot stylist, were also present during hair and make-up. Getting to meet them and chat really helped calm my nerves too!
The Photo Shoot
After hair and make-up, I was led into another room and was instantly happy with the little studio. It was so cute, it smelled really good and was very clean! I could tell that a lot of care had been taken to keep the space looking great! Nicole showed me the Client Closet and I was awed at all of the beautiful options! She helped me pick out what to wear and what would look good on my body type and in which set.
Like I said, I NEVER like photos of myself. My biggest fear going in was that I would hate the photos.
I had absolutely nothing to worry about.
I’d, of course, seen photos on their website and instagram. Of course, I’d imagined what I might look like in some of the poses. I realized, afterwards, that in these imaginations, I always saw myself with my flaws front and center: putting my double-chin or a large belly or extra armpit fat.
I never imagined myself as beautiful.
Beautiful Me.
Nicole put my in the first pose on the couch that featured my back side (I was facing away from the camera) after she snapped it, she exclaimed, “Oh my god! Look how great your butt looks!” She ran over and showed me the image on the back of the camera.
I gasped.
“That’s my butt?!?!”
She nodded and then put me into the next pose. This one you could see half of my face. Before she took the photo, she instructed me to close my eyes and gave me specific instructions on how to breath. She looked at the back of the camera and came over to show me, “look how beautiful you are!”
I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. I always look and feel ridiculous in photos that I’m not smiling, but somehow, by some miracle, there I was in this amazing pose, actually looking good! Looking like a gorgeous model.
“I can’t believe that’s me.” I said breathlessly.
The rest of the session was just as magical. By the time we moved away from the couch, I realized I wasn’t nervous anymore. I was having fun and was so excited to see what was next. I felt like a different girl. Newfound confidence I had never realized I was lacking was swarming all around me and literally inside of me.
I liked this girl!
After the session experience was over, I went home feeling like I was walking on air. I’d never realized that a simple photoshoot could have such a profound effect on me.
The Reveal Session
5 days later, I was feeling the nerves again because it was time for my Reveal. I went back to the studio and met Nicole. I was nervous that, perhaps, I wouldn’t like the photos or that my body didn’t perform as well as I had first imagined. I told Nicole eagerly, “I am really hoping that I like at least 5 of them!”
She laughed and said, “Well, I’ve got 76 good ones to show you.” Then, she opened her computer and as she showed me the first one – the same backside photo she had showed me on the back of the camera during the session and it was better than what I remembered! She kept going through and I loved every. single. photo. I was flawless. I looked like a model.
That’s not me!” I said. “That CAN’T be me!”
She laughed again, “It’s you! You are beautiful!”
“Did you do a lot of photoshopping?!?!” I asked, knowing that she would say yes.
But she didn’t.
“I actually didn’t retouch them at all! These are all you!”
She explained that any of the photos that I chose to purchase would go through a simple retouching process, but these ones she’d only don’t a quick edit and color fix.
As we looked through them a second time, I just couldn’t believe it.
I’d never been the pretty girl. I rarely wear make-up and consider myself to be more boxy and boy-ish. When I was a kid, I’d always thumbed through magazines and felt ashamed that I didn’t look like the beautiful women inside of it. But suddenly, it was me who was the beautiful woman. I was finally the pretty one.
– Emerald Fox Client
