Feb 11

Feb 11 "I WAS NEVER THE PRETTY ONE"... CREATING CONFIDENT CHANGE THROUGH BOUDOIR

Cate Scaglione | Editor, Photographer, Business Owner

I am a boudoir photographer. It is not an easy kind of thing for many people to understand. “But Why?” some people ask. And the truth is, unless you have experienced it for yourself, or can see the reactions of my clients … it is hard for many women (and men) to comprehend.

How can shedding one’s wardrobe and amplifying vulnerability be considered empowering? How does that make sense? It is sometimes even hard for me to explain it. But luckily — I don’t have to. My clients do this way better than I can describe.

Here is Miss K., and she has kindly agreed to show some highlights from her session so we can share her story.

I have known her for many years, as we crossed paths in the corporate business world. Sometimes in that context, you don’t stop to notice a person. You notice what their business agenda is, their goals, or their successes. But in that environment, you never TRULY stop to SEE that person and appreciate them for who and what they are.

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED IMAGES 2019 | Cate Scaglione | www.lifeasfineart.com

Luckily, in my new life as a boudoir photographer, I was given this chance. And WOW how do she not stop me dead in my tracks? She is tall, and powerful and has such incredible stature as a woman. How did I not stop and notice how gorgeous her hair was? Her eyes? She had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. She exudes a modesty combined with a strong confidence. It is not the kind of thing you’d get to see in her unless you were intimately connected. A photo shoot helped her see the ways others would see her. She IS in fact, the beautiful one…the hot one … the one that stops a room.

Here is how she described her experience, and wow it opened my eyes on SEEING the beautiful people, no matter what the context.

"I have always been the smart one. The responsible one. The ambitious one. The funny one.

…But never, EVER the pretty one or the hot one or the "wow, who is SHE?" one. -Miss K

I have struggled with my body image for nearly all of my life and I scheduled a boudoir session with Cate as a motivating goal to encourage me to lose those extra 20 pounds. Well, I didn't lose the weight. And I went to the session anyway.

And it was the most empowering, liberating, self-loving action I have ever taken. Because you know what? I AM beautiful. I AM hot. And the butt that I have hated for 38 years is actually pretty damn awesome.

I confess that my body image struggles haven't vanished, and yes, I still want to lose that 20 pounds, but I find myself regularly returning to the images from that day last summer (both in the gorgeous album Cate created and in the digital album I keep on phone) to remind myself that I truly am captivating.

What I have found equally as inspiring is following Cate on Facebook and getting glimpses of many of her other clients. You know what? ALL women are beautiful and absolutely perfect exactly as they are.

I became Facebook friends with Cate, as we had crossed paths professionally years ago. But she had pivoted her career to this amazing new photography business and I was enchanted by the images she shared in her feed.

I never researched another artist and haven't regretted my choice once. I will return to Cate again and again, not only because the images are beautiful, but also because the session itself was such a gift.

My hair and makeup were done by a warm, talented artist, I sipped champagne and I have never received as much encouragement, validation and frankly, adoration, as I did that rainy afternoon in Red Bank in a former church.”

I love her honesty, her openness and find her so inspiring.
If you think you might want to experience this for yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll tell you everything you need to know. No risk. ;) Click here.

CREDITS:
Styling by Toni Messina
Photography by Cate Scaglione
Wardrobe + Shoes: from Life As Fine Art studio closet, Agent Provacateur; and client’s own (Victoria’s Secret); Jimmy Choo and Pour La Victoire