I am in this for you. I am in this with you| oceanside, california boudoir photographer

This photo was taken (by me) in July 2021 - the week I moved into my new studio.

It’s funny how a photo can resurface so many memories and emotions. I remember feeling exactly how I am feeling today - in this moment here.

I had just taken on the biggest expense as a business owner in my career - my studio. It was $2500 then and it’s $2675 now.

I felt anxious and scared and alone. The excitement was there, but I would call my mom crying every night because I would put myself in a failure bin thinking that it could never work out for me to succeed now that I was responsible for this studio.

Since then, In these two years, I’ve photographed over 200+ wonderful humans. What’s even more incredible to me is the ways in which I have been able to stretch and grow creatively in my self portraiture practice. I am simply not the same (in many ways) thanks to my beautiful studio and all the WONDERFUL people who keep me booked and busy and able to stay in business.

This is a gratitude post - even though my anxiety around this slow(er) season is high. I have the most beautiful photo studio filled with love and light and good energy. I have worked with so many incredible people who saw just a little bit of themselves in me and wanted to be a part of what I’m doing. People trust me to lead them fearlessly through a photographic journey where we peel back layers and learn about ourselves. It’s so much more than hiring me to take your photos.

We take up space together. We work through anxiety and fear together. Because I am just as real and as human as you are. We are stronger - together.

Owning a business is a true labor of love. It means a lot of the time you’re scared and unsure and experiencing doubt. But we keep showing up because what else would we do? Being a photographer - and a boudoir photographer - is truly what I was meant to do in this life. An artist that uses a camera to help tell the stories of her client’s relationships with their bodies - that’s me.

Someone who has done the work, also. Someone that understands and takes seriously how unbelievably vulnerable it is to allow yourself to be photographed.

THANK YOU ALL for being here.