Here’s the latest instalment in my new Boudoir Series, focusing on some of the INCREDIBLE journeys my clients have faced and are facing.
I aim to share, inspire and celebrate their strength and touch on how their boudoir photoshoot with me has had a positive impact on their journey.
I am excited to share Nicky’s incredible journey to self love and realisation that she IS enough.
Nicky’s story…
“As far back as I can remember I have hated how I’ve looked, constantly feeling that my body isn’t enough- that it needs to be smaller, trimmer, tighter.
I’ve always compared myself to others who in my mind were the ideal body type. These feelings of self-loathing gradually led to years of depression, eating disorders, extreme exercising, body dimorphism and self harming.
Over the years I’ve sought help to try and tackle some of those demons, with some success, but those feelings of physical inadequacy have remained.
Embracing body positivity
I came across Johanna Elizabeth on Facebook and I loved her ethos of promoting positive body imaging.
The women in the photographs I saw were beautiful and their stories so inspirational. I wondered if that could be something that would be positive for me.
I decided to enter their competition for a free boudoir photoshoot and unbelievably the next day I received an email to say I had won this.
An emotional experience
What then followed was a whirlwind of emotions. I was so excited about having this opportunity, but also nervous and anxious as all those feelings of inadequacy kept bubbling up.
By the morning of the shoot I was a nervous wreck but I wasn’t going to give this opportunity up. I drove to the studio through tears and sat in the car for a while to regroup.
As soon as I entered the studio Jo and her team were so amazing, guiding me through the whole process and reassuring me at every step of the way.
What started as nerves turned in to smiles and laughter as I giggled my way through the poses. It really was a truly amazing experience. I left on a high feeling elated- I had done it!
My boudoir portraits make me smile every day
My reveal session was two weeks later and, as happened before, the initial excitement from the shoot started to wane. By the morning of the reveal, I was an anxious mess, fearing that the photos would be dreadful.
The reveal was amazing though. I could not, and still cannot, believe that person in the photos was me!
Each captured a little piece of me in a way that I was never able to see. I was happy that I felt like that, but also sad that I had wasted so much time with feelings of not being enough.
Those photos are now in my bedroom and I smile to myself whenever I catch a glimpse of me.
I am enough!
I’ve made myself a promise that if I start to feel any of those feelings of inadequacy, to look through the photos and to remind myself that I am enough as I am.”
Congratulations Nicky!
Thank you SO much Nicky for sharing and making this happen. You’re incredible.
Read more from my incredible Boudoir Series
You can read other inspirational client stories here on the blog. Don’t miss these!
- Andrea’s shoot with Johanna puts her first
- Belinda’s confidence boosting shoot with Johanna changed her world
- It was time for Allie to be brave and celebrate
To find out how a photoshoot experience can celebrate and honour where you are RIGHT now, click here.
Johanna
~x~
