Every year I do a photography project highlighting the beauty of aging. One of my biggest pet peeves is that society makes us feel that once we hit a certain age, our sexiness vanishes. My Over 40 campaign highlights incredible women over the age of 40, and every year they bring the fire. Our latest client testimony speaks to the wonders of the experience.

Miss N was one of our participants. She chose to work on herself and started her therapy journey to help process grief. As she healed herself and got to know her inner goddess, she knew she just had to do a boudoir session. Read a partial exert of her testimony below. And reach out if you want in on this year’s Over 40 campaign.

“My recent journey has been like a blank canvas, empty and colorless. After suddenly losing my husband in Jan 2021, grief knocked me down, and then again in Feb 2022 with suddenly losing my best friend. It was not until then that I realized every breath of life is SO precious. I’ve always been everything to everyone as a mom, wife, employee, sister, family support system, and friend, but never making space for who I am. I’ve realized that life is too short for waiting. It’s time to do what makes me happy and is necessary for me to live a lot. I have been holding myself back from so many things- I am my own culprit standing in the way. Fear, doubt, and insecurities of my body have been holding e back from feeling comfortable enough to even think about doing boudoir photos.

“Who me? Life happened and forced me into therapy, which is why the discovery of myself began. A transition unexpected by necessary to find the person hiding within. I am now loving my body and the version of me newly discovered. Although life has happened, there is no better time than stepping into my 40s to celebrate me. This moment is a celebration of life and all the good things to come. I am worth the investment.

“My pressures were primarily encompassed by negative thoughts of my body after having kids. Mom boobs, mom butt, mom pouch, and everything else that we think goes south after birthing and nursing children. I wasn’t proud to see my body in the mirror. Before the shoot, I can honestly say I still wasn’t completely happy with the present state of my body. But the real workout was mental. I had to change my mindset overall about how I treated myself. I recognized my inner child really needed healing. I’ve been determined to heal and break the thoughts of not being enough or not being authentically me.

“The experience from beginning to end [with Boudoir by Ria] was AMAZING. Starting with the customer service I received from Allie, to the stylists who were entertaining, very welcoming and so talented in their skill of beauty, and finally… (drum roll) to the GEM bomb photographer herself, Ria! EVERYTHING was more than I expected and I am pretty picky. My photos absolutely blew me away! I immediately noticed a shift in my confidence after the shoot. I gained a greater appreciation of my body. It was an empowering experience that reminded me to love always. This is my body regardless of how the world creates comparisons and regardless of who likes it. It’s a wonderful feeling. I am so happy I conquered fear and doubt and went through with it.”

XOXO,

Miss N