I’ve heard the term self-love thrown around a lot lately; hell, even I use it daily… but what does it actually mean? Self-love is the act of prioritizing yourself and your well-being. It’s about recognizing your worth and treating yourself with the same kindness and respect that you would offer to others. And while self-love may seem like a selfish act, it’s actually quite the opposite. When you love yourself, you become a better partner, friend, parent, and human being.

When I use self-love in terms of my own clients, it’s because self-love in boudoir photography is absolutely essential. Here’s why:

It builds confidence

Confidence is literally key when it comes to your boudoir session, and at the core of it, self-love is actually the foundation of that confidence. When you love and accept yourself, even in the most basic sense, you start to feel more confident in your own skin. Those nerves melt away, and your self-consciousness and self-doubt stop mattering so much. You stop focusing on all you see that’s “wrong” in the photo and, instead, start to see EVERYTHING that’s beautiful and right. And when I tell you you’re perfect just the way you are? I mean it.

It’s a form of self-care

Self-love is an act of self-care. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s essential. If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you know during the safety talk they ALWAYS say to put YOUR oxygen mask on FIRST before helping others- including your children. Because when you prioritize your well-being, you’re better able to show up for the people in your life. And I’ll absolutely be the first to tell you that booking a boudoir session is a form of self-care.

Honestly, I think it’s one of the best ones. You not only get to see yourself in a whole new light, through my lens? But you get pampered to hell and we spoil you during your entire session day… and even after. Your session is a chance to celebrate your body, to feel confident and sexy, and to treat yourself to something special. Doesn’t that sound like a beautiful form of self-care?

It sets a positive example

Not only does it sound beautiful, but when you love and prioritize yourself, you set a positive example for others to follow. You show others that it’s okay to take care of themselves, to prioritize their well-being, and to love themselves unconditionally. And in a world that often tells us we’re not enough, this is a powerful message to send. And I think that’s why I absolutely love working with each one of you so much. You’re setting that same example to others that IT IS OKAY to love yourself, IT IS OKAY to take care of yourself, and IT IS OKAY to prioritize yourself.

Self-love isn’t selfish. So put yourself first today, babe. Because quite frankly? Loving yourself (and letting us love you) isn’t selfish at all.