Unapologetically
Over
40
The Masterpiece Project
Why The masterpiece project?
You have spent decades taking care of everyone else. It is officially time to step out from behind the scenes.
Somewhere along the line, society decided that women navigating their 40s, 50s, and beyond should step aside and let the younger generation take the spotlight. We are told our prime is in the rearview mirror and it is incredibly easy to start feeling invisible.
I completely reject that narrative.
Not a single one of them is a professional model.
I need to tell you a secret about the women you'll see below:
You are finally stepping into a season where you know exactly who you are and what you will no longer apologize for.
That undeniable strength is exactly why I created Unapologetically Over 40: The Masterpiece Project. I am photographing everyday women in this incredible season of life to prove that you are a masterpiece right now.
YOUR 40s, 50s, AND BEYOND are not a quiet downhill slide—they are your most powerful eras yet.
Watch what happens when a woman finally gives herself permission to take up space.
who walked into my studio feeling nervous, exhausted, and unsure. But they made the bold decision to step out from behind the scenes.
They are real, everyday women
“I didn’t feel like a woman! I felt like a mom, a supervisor, a dog lady, all the things but not a WOMAN. ”
So I wanted to find a way to find my goddess again to see if my hips could still swing! NOW IM IN LOVE! I AM BEAUTIFUL, SEXY AND STRONG. Cassy made me feel like we had been friends forever. She made me feel like I was young again! She laughed with me! She made 100% comfortable!!!
— JENNIFER
“CASSY IS AN ANGEL - the comfort level she provides, the encouragement… she made the experience one that I will never forget!!!”
Doing this shoot did SO much for me. After years and years of not feeling good enough, worrying about my post-baby body, pushing 40… I struggled a lot of days with just wanting to give up on myself. This shoot truly made me feel beautiful. Worth it. I’ll never forget going in to see the photos for the first time. I couldn’t believe they were so amazing. After leaving the studio from viewing them, I cried. Seeing myself in my true form, seeing myself looking so beautiful, so strong… I was speechless!
— HEATHER
“I wouldn’t go anywhere else! She is such an amazing person and we laughed so much!”
I felt absolutely amazing!! I didn’t think I would do just the white sheet, but by the time that came up, it was a free for all. I was afraid of looking at the pictures when they were ready. I wasn’t expecting to like so many. She made me feel so comfortable and great about myself. She was so positive and uplifting. (My Session) was not what I expected. I expected to wear some things and be done. I did not expect myself to be so open and care free during the whole process. I even showed some friends the pictures, I was that comfortable and wanted to show them off!
— SaMANTHA
“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 & what websites to look at. And any questions I had I could easily ask her! 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! And if ever I’m feeling down about myself, I look at my pictures and remember how far I’ve come!
— Karri
“I did one shoot shortly before I found Cassy. It was like night and day.”
Leading up to the other shoot, there was very little communication. During the shoot, very little direction. Long before I met Cassy in person, she had already video called me, sent me regular emails to help me prepare and feel more confident, and was always happy to answer when I had questions. By the time I got to this shoot, while I was nervous in myself, I felt like I’d known Cassy for a long time. I would recommend to anyone who gets a shoot with Cassy, hang up at lease a couple of the photos! Keep those feelings awake every day. There was also a significant change when I took the photos out of the box and put them on the wall. Seeing my photos up there every day normalizes my feeling of improved self image, making it more of a habit of thinking positively about myself.
— Crystal
“So happy I decided to do boudoir photos with Cassy. She made the experience relaxing and fun. The pictures tuned out amazing.”
The most enjoyable part of the session was the way I felt at ease and like you are just hang in with a friend that you have known your whole life. Definite makes it easier to take off your clothes. I would definitely say doing the shoot gave me more self confidence. I am shocked myself with the amount of people I willing to show the photos to. But The pictures look so amazing.
— Amber
“I was so nervous going into the session. Once I got my pictures back I was floored! ”
Being a bigger girl I thought there was no way I could pull of this clothing and look good. Never could I have imagined I could look that good! Cassy made me feel so comfortable from start to finish. From getting to know me during makeup, to detailed instruction through the entire thing. It was nothing like I expected. I was thinking I was going to be shy and uncomfortable the entire time. She brought me out of my shell and made me feel good about myself!
— Megan
experience includes:
The
Unapologetically
Over
40
Your portraits and story will be celebrated in our upcoming "Unapologetically Over 40" magazine, designed to showcase the undeniable strength of women in this incredible season.
05
Applied directly toward our signature album collections or handcrafted heirloom folio boxes. Your portraits deserve to be printed and celebrated, not trapped on a dusty hard drive.
04
A completely stress-free experience. I guide your every movement, every breath so you can simply exhale, drop the apologies, and enjoy taking up space.
03
Sit back and be pampered by my expert team. We customize your look to your exact comfort level so you feel like the absolute fiercest version of yourself.
02
We map out your story with a styling consultation, in depth Prep Guide, and my curated studio wardrobe. Select any portrait style from my portfolio to fit your comfort level.
01
The
experience includes:
We map out your story with a styling consultation, in depth Prep Guide, and my curated studio wardrobe. Select any portrait style from my portfolio to fit your comfort level.
01
Sit back and be pampered by my expert team. We customize your look to your exact comfort level so you feel like the absolute fiercest version of yourself.
02
A completely stress-free experience. I guide your every movement, every breath so you can simply exhale, drop the apologies, and enjoy taking up space.
03
Applied directly toward our signature album collections or handcrafted heirloom folio boxes. Your portraits deserve to be printed and celebrated, not trapped on a dusty hard drive.
04
Your portraits and story will be celebrated in our upcoming "Unapologetically Over 40" magazine, designed to showcase the undeniable strength of women in this incredible season.
05
Unapologetically
Over
40
genres
Your session, YOUR RULES
While you will see a lot of beautiful boudoir across my portfolio, this campaign is entirely about capturing your unique power. Your session is 100% custom-designed around you.
Whether you want to be photographed in an elegant evening gown, a sharp power suit, casual denim, or intimate boudoir, we will curate the exact aesthetic that makes you feel incredible. Explore the galleries below to find the aesthetic that speaks to you.
This total experience was well worth the money.
The actual shoot was awesome. I felt cared for the entire time by Cassy. She was so easy to feel comfortable with during the shoot! I felt she really took the time to bring out my inner beauty and dare I say, sexiness. I found that when I left the shoot, I had a new confidence about who I am on so many levels. I felt that I was no longer just accepting my body and who I am, but loving the entire package!
Would recommend Cassy hands down!!
She is so professional, classy, honest, caring, kind, sincere, she will always make sure you are comfortable ! Yes I was nervous but as soon as I sat down to get my makeup and hair done ( which was done to the nine) I started to feel easy and comfortable with everything! Cassy talks you through every pose, every idea she has, she will listen to your ideas and suggestions. I’m so happy I found Cassy and decided to have her do my pictures! You will fall in love will her work!
Her images empowered me.
After a year of stress and challenges, I realized I hadn’t been prioritizing self-care. Before my session my biggest concern was choosing the right outfits and how they would look in photos. I brought several options with me, and Cassy was incredibly helpful. Her guidance made all the difference and eased my worries. I loved how my images turned out and probably didn’t need to worry quite as much as I did lol!
Cassy provided the guidance and demonstration I needed to really allow her to capture amazing images!
My experience with Cassy was amazing and so much fun!
Since I received my pictures I feel more confident and can’t believe how amazing I look and how fun the experience was. I never felt confident, beautiful, any of that. After experiencing the session and seeing the finished results, I can now say I look damn good at 45! My confidence has improved so much and if I can get over the fear of doing this session, I know I can do anything I set my mind to
Cassy is incredible! 😍
I can’t begin to put into words how happy I am that I finally did this !!! It was so much fun !! I felt so at ease and relaxed during the whole session !!! I honestly feel so much better about myself !! My only regret is not doing it when I was younger …. but she definitely made me feel proud of my age and body !!
I highly recommend a boudoir shoot with Cassy.
It was such an amazing experience. Cassy made me feel comfortable right away. she posed me down to my toes. I had so much fun and the images are amazing! So glad I did this. I feel every woman should experience a boudoir shoot & have the opportunity to see themselves in such a positive way.
Cassy DELIVERED!!
I am not a particularly photogenic person and I was worried that would show in the pictures as it so often does in other pictures. But Cassy made me feel so comfortable and relaxed and did such a wonderful job of helping me pose and I loved it! I am putting a portrait of myself up which is something I never thought I would do. I felt amazing and I am so glad I did this. Also, Cassy is a trustworthy business person who delivered what she promised exactly when she said it would happen. And that is a big deal. I would do this again without a doubt.
I never in my wildest dreams thought I could look so beautiful.
When I booked these pictures I told myself it was for my husband but in the end I needed to see what everyone else was seeing and was so proud of me for. I felt comfortable because Cassy understood and could relate to my worries and insecurities. It (the experience) was beyond my expectations
Cassy made me feel so comfortable, like we had always been friends
She is very professional but she also made it so fun with a warm comforting atmosphere. I loved all the tips and suggestions she gave in advance. Cassy has a well thought out timeline to remind you when to shop and get hair/nails done, among other things. She helps you figure out your body shape and has tons of tips for picking out the right outfits for YOU.
Cassy has this amazing ability to put you at ease, immediately!
She has a gift for empowering women to see themselves as beautiful despite their self critical illusions. I believe every woman should experience a Chrysalis Boudior by Cassy at least once. Her coaching from the very beginning, leaves no detail uncovered. Thank you, Cassy, for helping me to find my self esteem and to increase my self-love.
I am so grateful that Cassy is who she is!
She was absolutely wonderful! She made me feel so comfortable, and positive through the whole day. I felt like a movie star! My biggest concern was feeling silly, and not achieving the sex appeal in my photos. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pull off sexy lingerie, and that my squishy would show too much that I would feel even more self conscious than I did before. But I was WRONG.
I felt like I could have been featured in a magazine!!
I felt glamorous, sexy, and beautiful. A little like I could do anything.
I really loved everything about it! I always wanted to be a model and I got to be that for an afternoon. I wasn’t sure if I would want to share my pictures at all. But after I saw them I would’ve taken out a billboard to show people. You get what you pay for and I wanted a professional, high-quality experience and that’s what I got.
Cassy is such a
great artist!
My biggest concern was not knowing how to be sexy but with Cassy’s incredible direction, I had no issues. She also made me feel very comfortable.
She definitely put my nerves to ease with her great and warm personality. I went in feeling a bit self conscious and left feeling beautiful! And the finished product was AMAZING! I highly recommend her services. Cassy is just such a fun loving, kind person. She has a true knack for this!
wouldn’t go anywhere else if I do it again!
I felt like I found a long-lost friend.
When I saw Cassy’s video of why she photographs boudoir I thought, “she is it, she knows what she’s doing”. As nervous as I was at the start, I truly enjoyed how I felt through the whole process. Cassy made me feel relaxed and I felt comfortable once I just let go and told myself to have fun and live life to the fullest in the moment! She truly captured that real smile I thought I would never see again!
How it works
Stepping out of your comfort zone is so much easier when you know exactly what comes next. From the moment you apply to the day you hold your final artwork, you are completely guided and taken care of.
Step 1: The Application
Fill out the quick questionnaire below. If we are a great fit, we will secure your date and make it official!
Step 2: The Vision
We will connect for a private consultation to map out your session and style you right out of the curated client wardrobe and your closet!
Step 3: The Experience
Arrive at the studio and sit back while my professional hair and makeup artist gets you entirely camera-ready. I will direct you through absolutely every pose, expression, and breath so you never even have to think about what to do with your hands.
Step 4: The Reveal
Whether you return to the studio or join me virtually, seeing your final portraits is the exact moment you realize what a powerhouse you truly are. We will select your absolute favorites together and apply your included artwork voucher toward a beautiful custom artwork collection of your choice.
Hey! I'm Cassy
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE CAMERA
My entire mission is to help women reclaim their stories and see themselves as fine art.
I know stepping in front of the camera requires immense vulnerability, which is exactly why I intentionally designed my studio to be a private, peaceful escape. I deeply value low-pressure, straightforward communication and creating a sensory-friendly, totally safe environment where you can finally drop your guard and just let yourself be celebrated.
faqs
Do I need to know how to pose? I am not photogenic at all & a little awkward
Not at all! Feeling nervous is completely normal, but being 'photogenic' is a myth. Posing isn't your job—it’s mine. I will guide your every movement, right down to the tilt of your chin and the placement of your hands. Your only job is to show up and let yourself be celebrated.
What if I want to lose weight before I do a session?
I hear this all the time, and I want to challenge that thought. Please do not wait until you hit a certain number on the scale to celebrate the powerhouse you are right now. This experience is about finding your confidence and feeling incredible in the skin you are in today. You don't need to change a single thing to be worthy of this experience.
Do I have to bring my own outfits? I have nothing to wear!
The dread of having 'nothing to wear' is exactly why we do a private styling consultation! You will have full access to my curated studio closet, featuring gorgeous pieces designed to elevate your look. Together, we will blend your favorite items with high-end studio pieces—or tap into resources like Rent the Runway—to nail your dream aesthetic. We map it all out together so you never have to stress.
Will my photos be shared publicly?
Since this campaign celebrates women, participation requires a model release for our final project (like a magazine, gallery exhibition, or social media feature). However, your comfort is my top priority! You have complete control over your wardrobe and level of reveal. We can easily exclude specific intimate images from public view. You always have the final say in what the world sees.
What happens after the photoshoot?
Within a couple of weeks of your session, you will return to the studio (or join me virtually) for your Reveal. This is where you will see your fully retouched portraits for the very first time! We will go through them together, and you can apply your $300 artwork voucher toward a stunning heirloom album or folio box so your images don't live forever on a dusty hard drive.
What happens after the photoshoot?
Within a couple of weeks of your session, you will return to the studio (or join me virtually) for your Reveal. This is where you will see your fully retouched portraits for the very first time! We will go through them together, and you can apply your $300 artwork voucher toward a stunning heirloom album or folio box so your images don't live forever on a dusty hard drive.
YOUR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:
- A Private Styling & Concept Consultation
- Professional Hair & Makeup Artistry
- Full Access to the Curated Studio Wardrobe
- A Fully Guided, Full-Service Photoshoot
- A Private Reveal & Ordering Appointment
- A $300 Artwork Voucher to use toward signature album collections or handcrafted heirloom folio boxes.
- THE FEATURE: Your portrait and story published in the final "Unapologetically Over 40" The Masterpiece Project (Magazine, Gallery Exhibition, or Social Feature).
The Project Promotional Fee: $349 (A $899 total value)
Love Notes
Miss L
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/e1hZQQ
If you're reading these reviews to make up your mind, let me start with this. BOOK WITH CASSY. You will not regret it. She is an artist and will capture your most beautiful self!
I can't say enough about how incredible this experience was! I booked my session last fall and spent 4 months planning for the big day! Cassy reached out to me often with shopping suggestions, hair/body care reminders (exfoliate!), pose inspirations and encouragement. We also set up a shared Pinterest board so I could share my vision with her and she could make suggestions and prepare for poses when I arrived. I had so much fun prepping and shopping and planning! Then the week before my shoot arrived and, ladies, I panicked. I had so many doubts about my ability to pose. And of course my body wan't the shape I "wanted" and I began to doubt my decision. As if she could sense this, Cassy emailed me to tell me she was excited for our shoot and I shared my concerns. She assured me she was there to take care of EVERY SINGLE DETAIL. I and I trusted. I spent the week psyching myself up and traveled from Des Moines for the big day!
Started with hair and makeup and felt my nerves subsiding. She partners with great local ladies to make us all look like a million bucks! From the moment I stepped into her studio, I could feel the excitement and the nerves were all but gone. We reviewed my outfit choices (I brought SO MANY options) and started with the one I was most comfortable with. She put on my requested playlist and we got to work. She helped me down to the smallest detail. Fingers, toes, arch of my back. You name it, she posed it and perfected it. She gave great direction and allowed me to pull off poses I was SURE were not in me - I was positive every shot would either have RBF or dead face. We had so much fun and she demonstrated every pose for me and made sure to take it from the best angle.
A few weeks later I returned to review my shots and... I. was. amazed. I've never felt more beautiful or confident in my entire adult life. Seriously. I took these photos as a surprised gift for my husband on our 10-year anniversary. And yet there I sat, wondering where I could put up all these pictures of myself to remind me of what a bombshell I was!
I have zero regrets and I've decided this needs to become a more regular event for me. And I'm going to talk all of the ladies in my life into taking a chance and get over the excuses to do this for THEMSELVES!
Miss J
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/dt2iYR
Cassy has this amazing ability to put you at ease, immediately! She has a gift for empowering women to see themselves as beautiful despite their self critical illusions. I believe every woman should experience a Chrysalis Boudior by Cassy at least once. Her coaching from the very beginning, leaves no detail uncovered. Thank you, Cassy, for helping me to find my self esteem and to increase my self-love.
Miss A
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/n3aQML
I felt self-conscious and worried that I would look foolish as a heavier woman trying to be sexy. Now? Now I actually feel sexier.
Cassy was wonderful during the session and the finished product is amazing. I rather feel like I can see what my husband does when he looks at me. That is a wonderful gift.
Cassy really had fun with things during the shoot. She kept things light, worked with any spur of the moment things I came up with and made everything work together. It is empowering.
You may feel self-conscious going into it, but you will actually feel better about yourself afterwards. Not something that I have ever felt before post-camera encounter. Cassy is positive and talented. She will make the day a great experience.
Miss A
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/J24ds3
Words can’t express how amazing my photo shoot and experience was with Cassy!
The pre-photo shoot pampering at the salon made the start of the day perfect. As soon as I arrived to her studio, Cassy made me feel right at home and it was like we had been long lost friends.
Cassy made me feel so comfortable during my shoot. She listened to my ideas and definitely knows how to pose you to make you feel and look sexy; but in a beautiful classy way.
When we sat down to review my photos, I was blown away with my pictures! It was so hard to choose!
When I went into my shoot, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Cassy made me feel beautiful in my own skin! She is definitely worth every penny!!
Miss T
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/cvVd3p
Cassy was fantastic to work with! She always made sure I was comfortable from planning to picking out my pictures. She never pressured me into anything I didn’t want to do or purchase. She always gave her honest opinion. She poses you from hair to your toes. Well worth the time and money!
Miss A
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/k2YkLy
Cassy took what could be an intimidating experience and turned it into a day that felt like one spent with an old friend. She made me feel valuable and showed me, "ME" in a light I have never seen before. What she does is well beyond pictures - she gives women confidence!!
Miss E
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/TJLHvb
OMG!! Do yourself a favor..book with Cassy now!!!!! This girl is unbelievable.
From booking your session to walking out the door, Cassy has so much attention to detail and is so organized! From the time you book, she keeps you informed with tips on preparing for your day. She then sends you this beautiful welcome kit with everything you need to know. You truly feel ridiculously pampered every step of the way. I never felt in the dark or concerned about anything.
On the day of the shoot I felt nervous about my winter bod.. HOLY SMOKES not anymore. Cassy is so talented with how she poses you and her lighting. She helps you through everything. You will never be saying " what do I do with my hands". You will walk out of there feeling like a brand new lady.. not even kidding!! She has this calming personality and you will feel like you've known her forever. I drove 5 hours to shoot with Cassy and I would turn around and do it again in a heartbeat! She truly has an unbelievable talent. Her final product will take your breath away.. seriously go see her now!!
Miss M
Link to google review: https://g.co/kgs/vDJa8F
Something I never thought I would say… I posed half naked in front of a lady with a camera that I’d never met before. Let me tell you, it was SO MUCH FUN!!! I highly recommend Cassy, she knows what she’s doing, shows you exactly what to do, makes you feel comfortable and confident and SEXY, and does a fantastic job with all aspects!
Even More Love Notes
Ready to Step Back Into Your Power?
Let's Do This.
Stop waiting for the "perfect" time, the perfect schedule, or the perfect number on the scale. You are an absolute powerhouse exactly as you are right now, and it is time you finally see it for yourself. Fill out the application below, and let's start planning a day completely dedicated to celebrating you.
