Boudoir Photography, Spirituality, and Empowerment: My Interview on Women Waken Podcast
Why Boudoir Is About More Than Photos: Embracing Confidence, Creativity, and the Divine Feminine
Boudoir photography is so much more than taking pretty pictures. For many women, it’s the first time they allow themselves to be fully seen, celebrated, and embraced for exactly who they are.
I recently had the privilege of joining Whitney Walker on the Women Waken Podcast to talk all things boudoir, empowerment, spirituality, and how owning our beauty can change the way we see ourselves — and the world.
My Journey Into Boudoir
Over ten years ago, I was working in a Chicago photography studio that happened to offer boudoir sessions. At the time, I didn’t know much about boudoir, but I noticed something incredible: women would walk in nervous and unsure, but leave glowing with confidence. I thought, What is going on here?
Eventually, I decided to experience it for myself. That first boudoir session I did — where I was the one in front of the camera — was life-changing. It allowed me to embrace a confidence and power I hadn’t fully tapped into before. From that moment, I knew I wanted to create a safe space where other women could feel the same transformation.
In 2018, I opened Chicago Boudoir Photography, a boutique boudoir studio in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. It wasn’t easy — I took out a business loan, worked through a pandemic, and photographed dozens of women for free to build my portfolio. But through it all, I kept coming back to my “why”: helping women see their worth, beauty, and confidence through powerful imagery.
Boudoir, Spirituality, and Body Positivity
Whitney asked me about my upbringing and how it shaped my path. I grew up in a large, conservative Christian family in Washington, D.C. My parents are wonderful people who instilled strong values in me — but like many women raised in religious households, I also absorbed unspoken messages about sensuality, sexuality, and bodies being “bad” or “naughty.”
As an adult, I’ve evolved. Today, I don’t see a conflict between spirituality and boudoir photography. In fact, I believe celebrating the body can be deeply spiritual. If we’re created in God’s image, then our bodies are not shameful — they are sacred, powerful, and beautiful.
That shift in perspective allowed me to reconcile faith and art, and it fuels my mission today: to create a space where women can release shame and instead embrace freedom, confidence, and divine embodiment.
Family, Taboo, and Breaking Stigmas
Of course, not everyone in my life understands what I do. My parents, for example, find boudoir taboo — we’ve had very few conversations about it. And I respect that. It’s uncomfortable for them, and I don’t force it.
But that doesn’t stop me from doing the work I know I’m called to do. My sisters have even come into the studio for boudoir shoots themselves — which makes me so happy. It’s a generational thing: older generations often see nudity and sensuality as shameful, while many younger women are ready to reclaim it as art and empowerment.
And that’s what boudoir is about: busting the stigma around the female body.
A Supportive Partner
I couldn’t have started this journey without my husband. When I first considered working in a boudoir studio, he had never even heard of it — but he encouraged me to go for it. Years later, when I dreamed about opening my own business, he was the one who said, “You should do this. You’re good at it. You love it. It’s your calling.”
Now, he helps behind the scenes in the business, and we’ve even done a role reversal in our household — I became the breadwinner while he stepped back from corporate work. He also understands the mission of boudoir: it’s not about voyeurism, it’s about empowerment. With two daughters of our own, he wants them to grow up confident and strong in their own skin, too.
Community, Collaboration, and Creativity
Beyond photography, I’ve built a community of over 10,000 women through my Facebook group, where we talk daily about confidence, careers, relationships, and body image. I also host Live with Liz, where I interview local women making a difference.
We’ve done in-person events too — from pole dancing classes to self-defense workshops. These experiences remind me that boudoir isn’t just about photos; it’s about creating space for women to come alive, connect, and support each other.
At its core, boudoir is an act of creation. And creativity is life force. As Whitney and I discussed, when women pursue creative passions — whether that’s painting, photography, writing, or even a boudoir shoot — they come alive. And when women come alive, the whole world benefits.
Why Boudoir Matters
During the interview, we explored how women often grow up with mixed messages:
Be beautiful, but not too sexy.
Be confident, but not too bold.
Be nurturing, but not “vain.”
Boudoir photography challenges those narratives. It’s about reclaiming our bodies, our sensuality, and our sense of self. It’s a reminder that you are worthy of being documented and celebrated at every stage of life — whether you’re 25 or 55.
As I shared on the podcast:
“Every woman deserves a moment to feel like a queen for the day. We give so much to others — our spouses, our children, our careers — but how often do we pause to truly celebrate ourselves?”
Watch the Full Interview
Whitney and I dove deep into body image, spirituality, confidence, creativity, and why documenting yourself is one of the most radical acts of self-love. Watch the full interview below!