Why Are We So Afraid to Be Seen? My Interview with Emma Walkinshaw on the Celebrate A Sister Podcast
The Truth About Boudoir, Confidence & Courage: My Interview with Emma Walkinshaw
It was an absolute joy to be a guest on Emma Walkinshaw's "Celebrate A Sister Podcast," a show dedicated to interviewing inspirational women from around the world, including entrepreneurs and women on a mission! Each week, Emma and her guests share fresh perspectives and personal stories of encouragement and empowerment. My episode was titled, "Why Are We So Afraid to Be Seen?" – a topic that truly resonates with my work. I'm so grateful to Emma for having me on her show to share my mission and insights.
What is Boudoir, Anyway? 📸
Emma kicked off our chat by asking me to explain what exactly boudoir photography is, and I love sharing this!
Boudoir is a French word that means a woman's bedroom.
In the photography world, it's evolved to mean a sensual, sexy, or intimate photoshoot where women can feel confident and empowered in their own skin.
For me, it's about creating a safe, private space for women to celebrate their journey and their lives, far beyond just taking photos. It's truly a mission to help women feel empowered! 💪
Beyond the Comfort Zone: The Transformative Journey ✨
We talked a lot about how stepping into a boudoir photoshoot is often outside a woman's comfort zone, and even a little taboo in a society that can often make us feel shame about our bodies. I completely get that! In fact, I did my own boudoir shoot 10 years ago and was shaking in my boots! But I came out feeling more confident and ready to show up in my life in bigger ways – and I wanted other women to have that experience too.
Here's how I help women navigate that journey:
A Safe & Private Space: My studio is 100% female-staffed, ensuring a comfortable and supportive environment. 🧘♀️
Personal Reasons, Powerful Results: Women come for all sorts of reasons:
Celebrations: Weddings, birthdays, new babies 🥳
New Chapters: Divorces, overcoming abusive relationships, or even breast cancer diagnoses. It's about marking a moment and embracing who they are now.
Sarah's Story: One of the most impactful stories I shared was about Sarah. She came in on the one-year anniversary of a near-fatal heart attack. She had significant surgical scars, and instead of hiding them, we highlighted them in her photos. It was her way of saying, "I am alive! These scars are a badge of honor." What an incredibly powerful testament to self-acceptance and life! 💖
Seeing Yourself Without the Filter 🚫📷
One unique thing we do at Chicago Boudoir Photography is show clients a slideshow of their unedited photos right after the shoot.
Instant Gratification: It's fun to see the images immediately!
See Your True Beauty: But more importantly, I want women to see how gorgeous, powerful, and beautiful they are just as they are, without any filters or retouching. Of course, we can do touch-ups later if requested, but that initial unfiltered view is so crucial.
"Is That Me?!" So many women sit down a little scared to see the photos, but almost without fail, their reaction is, "Wow, I look great! I can't believe that's me." It's often the first time they've seen parts of their body, like their back, captured so beautifully. It's truly magical to help women see themselves as the goddesses they are! ✨
Challenging Distorted Views & Cultivating Body Neutrality 🧘♀️
Emma and I talked about how phone selfies often distort our features due to the wide-angle lens, contributing to a skewed self-image. On top of that, we internalize distorted messages from media and childhood about what we "should" look like.
My mission is to help women see who they really are – valuable and worthy. We also touched on:
Thought Patterns: Our thoughts about ourselves aren't always the truth. We can choose to believe we're fabulous!
Body Neutrality: Instead of forcing "body positivity" (which can be a big leap), I encourage aiming for body neutrality. If you can't love your body right now, can you at least appreciate what it does for you? "My legs let me run, my arms let me hug, my belly lets me laugh." It's about gratitude for your body as a functional instrument, not just how it looks. 🙏
Overcoming Barriers: It's About Courage, Not Confidence 🦸♀️
Many women I speak with express feeling too nervous or not confident enough for a photoshoot. My response?
You don't need confidence to start; you just need courage! Confidence often comes during the session.
Baby Steps: I shared a story about a client who was so nervous she called me from the parking lot. We started with just a makeover, then some headshots, and slowly, gently, she eased into the full boudoir shoot. She was so glad she did!
Low Risk, High Reward: The "risk" of a boudoir shoot is much lower than people imagine. We only take photos you like, and you always have 100% control over how much skin you show.
Challenging Societal Conditioning: We often carry subconscious beliefs that there are "consequences" for women who put themselves out there or celebrate their bodies. In my studio, those consequences don't exist. It's a safe space to be seen and celebrated. ❤️
Nurturing Body Positivity in the Next Generation 🌻
As a mother of two teenage daughters, I'm incredibly mindful of how I speak about body image at home.
I no longer comment on people's body size or give appearance-based compliments. Instead, I focus on genuine connection.
I see my daughters growing up with a much stronger sense of self and confidence than I had as a teenager in the '90s. They're more attuned to their personal values than societal dictates, and that makes me incredibly proud! ✨
Thank you again, Emma, for providing such a wonderful platform on "Celebrate A Sister Podcast" to discuss these important topics. It was truly an honor!
What are your thoughts on being seen and celebrating your body? I'd love to hear your perspective!
Be sure to listen to the entire empowering podcast with the button link below!