The self love revolution took over the Internet in 2017, and I couldn’t ever identify with these people. Self love to me didn’t include bubble baths and trips to Sephora. Self love was rarely poetic and practical. To me, self love was forcing myself to come to terms with who I was, and committing to the fact that I was worthy, regardless of the worth that I was assigned by other parties. My assignment was forgiving myself for not meeting standards that were grossly unattainable, despite setting them for myself. It was understanding that one bad interaction did not mean I was incapable of romance, and did not mean that I was unlovable. This was no paved road, it was a backwoods trip to Hell, if we're being honest. Authenticity isn’t always pretty, and my path to it was no exception. I was committed to loving myself so fiercely that there would be no question of what I deserved from someone else.

I had spent so long living under the “if you just lost some weight” mentality. As if a number on a scale would somehow give me the validation I needed to feel respected? I got this idea that I could love myself just like I was, in a body that I swore wasn’t worthy. Acting on the idea was an entirely different venture. I toyed with the idea of boudoir for a bit, but I finally bit the bullet and I’m so glad I did. We’ll disregard the fact that I almost backed out at least 10 times in the 5 days before the shoot, and the 4,000 messages my friends received from me in total meltdown mode. I went through with it, and that’s the point here.

As far as the session itself, I could go on for days. I’ll leave with this — It is IMPOSSIBLE to not feel good about yourself when you have someone standing 5 feet from you telling you what an absolute goddess you are. You cannot beat that feeling. I wanted to bottle the entire experience up and take it home with me.

I got a set of my files shortly after our session, and to be honest, I couldn’t open them. I kind of just sat there for a minute and looked at the link. It was kind of like when you dial a number and can’t press call. I couldn’t do it. I knew that if I opened them, and I hated my body, this would be one big back pedal on all of the progress I’d made, and I was terrified. I opened them. I sobbed. I have never in my life felt so damn pretty. My eyes didn’t go straight to the parts of my body that I hate. I didn’t automatically start picking myself apart. I saw that sparkle again, the sparkle I thought that I had lost forever. I saw my worth. I saw love, not for someone else, but for me.

I’ll say it until I’m blue in the face — if you make one investment in yourself in your lifetime, make it boudoir. Don’t wait until you lose that last 20lbs, or until you get rid of the cellulite on your ass. Don’t do it for your partner. Don’t do it for valentines. Do it for you.

3 Ways to Make Your Boudoir Session the Best Ever

1. Hire a Professional Hair and Makeup Artist

If you are on the fence about professional hair and makeup, do it. DO IT. 1000x over, DO. IT. Don’t drink coffee that week, bring your lunch, whatever you have to do to make it happen. It was so nice to be able to sit back and relax while someone else tamed my mane and I didn’t have to stress about getting my lashes even with shaky hands. So, so nice. I wasn’t rushed, I wasn’t frazzled over something I couldn’t find.

2. Your Lingerie Should Feel Good and It Doesn't Have to Be Expensive

Lingerie does not have to be expensive, and lingerie doesn’t even technically have to be lingerie. Boudoir isn’t all lace and frills. Wear something that makes you feel like a million bucks, even if it only cost 2.

3. Find a photographer that you jive with.

Pick someone who doesn’t view you as another post to add to their Pinterest board. Someone who values you as a person, not a dollar. Someone who gets what you are going for, and who loves what they do. Jess is all of those things. To quote my overly ridiculous google review: “I sought her out for her vision, and artistic style, and booked her for a boudoir session. It took 2 messages discussing the shoot to know that it was going to be everything I hoped for and then some. She is energetic, kind, and encouraging, all while making you feel like her best friend."

Words by Kaity. Photos by Jessica Hunt Photography.

Jessica Hunt Photography Boudoir Photographer and Wedding Photography Columbia South Carolina

VENDORS

Apparel: Torrid
Makeup Artist: Pretty and Pinned
Venue: 701 Whaley
Hair Stylist: VIVID: Cut. Color. Style.

JESSICA HUNT

I’m a big dreamer and a lover of all things coffee, purple, and photography-related. Oh, and I’m a Columbia, South Carolina, wedding photographer serving wedding photography collections in South Carolina and worldwide. I’ve been shooting weddings professionally for seven years, and this job is my DREAM job.

My little family consists of one pup and two cats; I get along better with my furry friends than humans some days! I love to read novels and am always game for a good movie. Oh, and I'm also ALWAYS down for a craft beer from the tap!