“After looking at the pictures I thought… Hell yeah. I did this, that is me! Being sober doesn’t automatically mean happily ever after”

There are so many reasons women come to me to do a session.  As a gift, for themselves or someone else, celebrate a milestone, boost confidence, and even overcome trauma from their past.  During Ms K’s consultation, she shared with me she had just celebrated 3 years of sobriety.  There is a history of substance abuse in my family and I spent years in the Al-Anon/Alateen support program as a youth.  I’ve seen firsthand how ugly addiction is and the devastation it causes.  It is a huge, difficult step in sobriety to speak about overcoming addiction so K choosing to share this with me was big.

It was important to me we nail her session.  She had never worn lingerie before and felt intimidated by where to begin.  Did you know 98% of women are wearing the wrong bra size?  I didn’t want her to get discouraged so we set up a time for her to come to the studio to do a proper fitting. Afterward, I gave her personalized recommendations on different things to try.  Want to see what she wore?!?  Scroll down to check out her session.

Tell us your story, a little bit about you and why you decided to do a boudoir session?

On October 17th, 2021 I will be 4-years sober. I decided last February after going through a breakup and finally not being afraid to speak up about my sobriety, it was time to do something for me. After a 22-year drug addiction it’s hard to feel good about yourself. I thought this was a great way to celebrate how far I’ve come.

What was your biggest concern prior to booking your Boudoir Session? How do you feel now?

One of my biggest concerns about booking the session was I had never bought lingerie in my life. It wasn’t until 2 years into my sobriety that I bought clothes that actually fit me. I was always buying oversized baggy clothes. I was embarrassed about this. 

Cassy did not make me feel awkward about this at all! She helped measure me and let me know what size I needed. And what websites to look at. And any questions I had I could easily ask her! 

What, specifically, did you enjoy most about your portrait session and why?

I enjoyed getting my hair and makeup done. Even after getting sober, I have never really taken the time to pamper myself. Having someone do my hair and makeup made me feel really special. 

What did doing this shoot do for your self confidence, self worth, and self image? Tell me your story.

Oh my gosh! Gave me so much more confidence. I felt tremendous pride. And after looking at the pictures I thought… Hell yeah. I did this, that is me! Being sober doesn’t automatically mean happily ever after. There’s a lot of work of emotional work that needs to be done. The shoot, my photos, gave me a boost that I needed!

Was your experience what you were expecting? If not, how was it different?

I literally had no idea what to expect. This was a very bold move for me. Took me completely out of my comfort zone. Cassy made me feel comfortable and confident. And if ever I’m feeling down about myself, I look at my pictures and remember how far I’ve come!

K- You are strong, determined, and I have no doubt you will continue to conquer your recovery.  Thank you for trusting me to be a part of your milestone celebration. <3

Hair and Makeup by Danni Manning of True Beauty

Have you thought about booking your own shoot with Cassy? Download your complimentary Dream Shoot Planner by clicking HERE.  It will tell you all about the experience and what to expect.  I would love to chat with you! You can give me a call directly at 319-849-5152.  You can also email me at info@chrysalisboudoir.com.  I can’t wait to hear from you!