Boudoir as Healing: My Conversation on the Free to Be Mindful Podcast with Vanessa De Jesus Guzman
I recently had the honor of joining Licensed Therapist and Mom Coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman on her Free to Be Mindful podcast for an inspiring conversation about confidence, body image, and how boudoir photography can be a powerful act of self-love and healing.
We explored how mindfulness and self-compassion intersect with beauty, and why appreciating yourself isn’t vanity — it’s resilience.
This episode aired in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we discussed how moments of self-celebration can become acts of courage, survival, and renewal.
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The Deeper Meaning Behind Boudoir Photography
At Chicago Boudoir Photography, I’ve witnessed firsthand how transformative boudoir can be. Women often come in thinking they’re “just” taking photos, but what actually happens is far deeper: it’s a reconnection to worth, strength, and identity.
As I shared with Vanessa, boudoir isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
“Sexy isn’t a size — it’s a vibe. It’s the energy that comes from believing you are desirable and confident from within.”
Every woman deserves that experience — not someday, not “when I lose ten pounds,” but now.
Mindfulness, Body Image, and Healing
Vanessa and I talked about the powerful overlap between mindfulness and body image — how noticing, appreciating, and staying present with your body can begin to heal old wounds.
Instead of saying, “I hate my body,” what if you shifted to, “I have a body”?
That simple reframing moves you from criticism to gratitude.
Together, we shared practical ways to nurture that mindset:
Practice gratitude for what your body allows you to do every day.
Replace self-criticism with curiosity and compassion.
Celebrate your body not for how it looks, but for how it holds your life story.
When women step in front of my camera, these ideas come to life. You can see the shift happen — a new ease, confidence, and sense of peace with oneself.
Healing Through Self-Expression
Many women who walk through my doors have experienced loss, trauma, or major life changes. For survivors of domestic violence or difficult seasons, boudoir photography can be part of the healing process — a way to reclaim ownership of your body and your story.
As Vanessa and I discussed, this kind of session isn’t about being “sexy” for anyone else. It’s about rediscovering that you are strong, worthy, and whole.
When you see yourself reflected back — powerful, beautiful, and unapologetic — it reminds you that your body is not the enemy. It’s your home.
Overcoming the “I’ll Do It When…” Mindset
We’ve all told ourselves some version of:
“I’ll do it when I feel more confident.”
“I’ll do it when I lose weight.”
But as I said on the podcast, confidence doesn’t magically arrive — it grows because you take action.
Doing something bold for yourself is the confidence-builder.
A boudoir session becomes the proof that you can own your space, celebrate yourself, and see your body through a lens of gratitude rather than judgment.
Free to Be Mindful — and Free to Be You
This episode of Free to Be Mindful is full of heart, vulnerability, and practical wisdom. We unpacked everything from perfectionism to self-care, from mindful body acceptance to the art of celebrating yourself as you are — right now.
If you’ve ever judged your reflection, postponed joy, or told yourself “I’ll feel confident when…,” this conversation will change the way you see yourself.