Cornish Maine Boudoir Photographer // Cassie's Physical & Emotional Journey Through Boudoir
As a boudoir photographer, I've had the privilege of witnessing incredible transformations, both inside and out. As a matter of fact, I’ve had multiple repeat clients, just like Cassy, That come to me time and time again for the confidence boost that they find in boudoir. Like I mentioned, Cassy's session was more than just a photoshoot—it was a powerful journey of self-discovery and resilience.
Cassy shared her story with me, opening up about her ongoing battle with Hashimoto's disease and the recent challenges it had brought into her life. Hashimoto's, an autoimmune condition targeting the thyroid, can wreak havoc on the body, causing unpredictable fluctuations in weight and energy levels. For Cassy, this meant sudden weight gain and overwhelming fatigue, triggering a wave of frustration.
In her words, ”I have Hashimotos which developed into hypothyroidism at 18. If you don’t know what Hashimoto’s is, it is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid and like all autoimmune diseases it ebbs and flows. Recently I started putting on weight out of NO WHERE (I mean like 15lbs in two months or less). Nothing had changed in my diet and I had still been exercising regularly and the fatigue became UNREAL and I knew. It had been 4 years since the last time it destabilized but I knew it was happening again. And I have been SO ANGRY about it. I’ve shared before that I lost over 150lbs so to jump almost 20lbs so quickly and actively know it wasn’t my fault just INFURATED me. And so I’ve been in a funk, licking my wounds in the background over here quietly. So I was cleaning out my phone and I came across my most recent session with Val and my first session with her and I felt this INTENSE surge of confidence. Because I was absolutely in two completely different stages with my health and body in these sessions because my most recent session was right when my body started getting hijacked. I even remember going in that day and being so tired and knowing I was about 8lbs up since my last session and still leaving feeling so damn good about myself. When I look at the photos? I don’t see my imperfections, I see ME the strong, beautiful, confident, powerful, person; things that aren’t defined by the way I look on the outside. My body may hijack itself and I know the road back to stabilizing is so long and full of hard work but I also know my mindset wouldn’t be shifting the way it is without these photos. And that might sound incredibly silly but it truly is the power of photos. Because look at that woman; she is fire"
In the midst of her struggle, Cassy found solace in revisiting her boudoir photos from our recent session together. As she scrolled through her phone, she was met with a rush of emotions—a reminder of two distinct chapters in her health..
Despite facing physical and emotional hurdles, Cassy radiated confidence in each of her sessions. In her own words, she saw "the strong, beautiful, confident, powerful person" staring back at her in the photographs. It was a poignant realization that her worth transcended physical appearance and was rooted in her inner strength and resilience.
Through the ups and downs of her health journey, Cassy found refuge in the power of photography. The images served as a tangible reminder of her strength and beauty.
In sharing Cassy's story, I'm reminded of the profound impact boudoir photography can have beyond the surface level. It's not just about capturing stunning images—it's about empowering individuals to embrace their bodies, celebrate their journey, and reclaim their confidence.
