Boudoir Photos can feel like a Huge Leap

If you’ve been considering having boudoir photos done – or even if you haven’t, and you’ve come across this somehow anyway (I mean, it can happen, I’m sure) boudoir photos might feel like a big leap. And I get it!! We’re not perfect (which makes us perfect!) and that’s stressful. The idea of taking off your clothes in a photography studio, or even in your home just with a photographer there… it can feel like an impossibility.

But I’ve got two things to tell you today. Firstly, that you are absolutely worth having a boudoir session done to celebrate yourself. You’ve done AMAZING things!! But we’ll get to that. Second, the holiday season is the perfect time, because it’s not just about kids, it’s about you too!

When was the last time you celebrated yourself?

You matter too, Mama. 

Let’s face it. As busy humans, especially if you do have kiddos, I bet the last time you truly celebrated yourself was ages ago. Maybe it’s months. Maybe it’s even YEARS. You might have gotten so caught up in all the things your family needs, or even just in the chaos that is existing in 2025. There’s a lot going on, that we all have to deal with on a daily basis. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth taking a break to celebrate YOU.

In fact it makes it that much more important, because (again, let’s face it) our lives are hard. And you’re surviving, and even just THAT is worth celebrating. Boudoir photos are an incredible way to do that! Having your hair done, having your makeup done (if you want those kinds of add-ons!) while everyone in my studio focuses on YOU, is a treat. And it’s something you’ll remember for years to come, too!

The holiday season isn’t just about kids

It would be fair if you were thinking, “But Jessie, the holiday season I’m super busy making sure my kids have a magical time.” And that’s fair! But it’s also not the whole story. You know this, but I’m going to tell you anyway. You CANNOT pour from an empty cup, Mama. You’ve GOT to take care of yourself too, because it’ll make you even better at taking care of your people.

So if you’re focused on your family and/or your kiddos this season, that’s amazing. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t focus on yourself too! Giving yourself a magical day of pampering in a photography studio, where YOU are the star, is a powerful way to bring your focus back to the present. And I don’t mean like, the “present” as in “the things you can give yourself” I mean the “present” as in “the now”.

Reflect on what you’ve accomplished

Setting up a boudoir session doesn’t have to be about getting naked, either. It can be, and you’re totally allowed to – but it doesn’t have to be about that. I tell all of my clients that boudoir sessions are about the attitude, not about the amount of clothing you are or aren’t wearing here in the studio.

We can set up a boudoir session that focuses on chaos. Or on growth. We can focus a session on your specific accomplishments this year, and it gives you an opportunity to tap into a side of yourself you don’t get to show off on a daily basis, while you’re busy being… well, a partner, or a Mom, or a human who is… surviving.

Reflecting on what you’ve accomplished is a huge deal – especially this time of year.

And, they make great gifts for partners, too…

Of course, you can keep your boudoir photos to yourself. They don’t NEED to be a gift for anyone other than you. Looking back at them later will be empowering – looking at them NOW will be empowering. But… they also make amazing gifts for the partner who has everything.

Whether you choose to share them digitally, or have an album of prints made (because we all know how volatile digital formats can be) – they make amazing gifts for the romantic connection in your life. And that applies whether or not you’re clothed during the session! Like I said, it’s about attitude.

Your photos are YOURS to do with what you want

Something I like to emphasize to anyone who’s thinking about having a boudoir session done, is that it’s entirely optional whether or not I share your images after the session. I mean, you see photos in this post – but these are used with full permission from the amazing humans you see here. If you want to keep your images private, you absolutely can. Just let me know, and none of your session photos will be shared on social media, or on my website – they’ll be kept strictly between me, you, and whoever you want to share them with.

I completely understand wanting to keep sensitive images private – and as an aside, that goes for any session with Jessica Strobel Photography. If you don’t want your images shared, they don’t have to be!

So if that was a reason you were avoiding booking a session, you have nothing to worry about! Just let me know, and we’ll accommodate your preferences, 100%.

Give Yourself the Gift of Memories

I promise you won’t regret it!

Whether you want to strictly use a boudoir photo session as a gift for yourself, or you want to have an album created for the special someone in your life, celebrating yourself in the holiday season is always a good idea. It’s a good idea in ANY season, and after ANY accomplishment – but let’s be real, even surviving the holiday season (especially if you’re a Mom like me!) is an accomplishment all by itself. So if you’re looking to celebrate YOU this holiday season, let me know. I’d love to talk to you about creating a session that focuses on something amazing you’ve accomplished, or just straight up documents where you are in life. The holidays end up with a huge focus on kids – but aren’t we, really, just kids in big grown up bodies? All of us deserve some of the magic too. And here in the studio, we can make that magic happen!