Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault
I have had the honor of doing a few session with this Queen, and she has now booked out for almost the rest of the year! I am not only grateful for the opportunity to shoot with her, but also proud of her and everything she has overcome to be able to do these sessions with me. So, you already know the drill, here are a few sweet and vulnerable words from Kristin, as well as some of her stunning photos.
This was my third time doing a boudoir photoshoot with Phoebe, and although I was still a little nervous, she sent out a lot of encouragement and information leading up to my shoot, which put me at ease. I am 10 years out of chemo, turning 40 and I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin. It’s like Phoebe, and this process has allowed me to take off the cloak of self-loathing, insecurity and fear and really help me step into the woman I am becoming. I am on a journey to love myself and live life to the fullest!
I initially decided to do my first shoot last year in 2023 before I got braces for the second time. I decided to do this to force myself out of my comfort zone. I am 10 years post chemo and cancer while pregnant. I have had several surgeries, including a radical mastectomy and a partial hysterectomy. Two c-sections and a host of other procedures, and I wish I had taken photos before I lost my breasts to cancer.
I have never told this story before, but as a pre-teen and teen, I was repeatedly raped and molested. I was told I was fat, I was worthless, I was ugly, no one would ever want me, I was nothing. The sad part is I hid this from my family and my friends because I thought it was true. I tried to make myself so small and disappear inside a hole. I will spare the details of how it came out, but we went to court, and there was sudo-justice in the punishment that he received. I was 17 and forever changed.
I met my now husband in college, and he was the kind and patient man I needed in my life. He helped me, along with therapy, start to sort through the trauma. I feel like by the time we were married, we had hit the accelerator button, and I had started to get comfortable with my body, and then bam, I was pregnant with my first daughter. I had one horrendous and rough pregnancy and ended up having her via emergency c-section due to pre-eclampsia. I worked hard over the next 18 months, got in the best shape of my life, and did well. I got pregnant with our second daughter, and 17 weeks into being pregnant, I was diagnosed with stage 2B grade 3 aggressive hormone-positive breast cancer. Essentially, the cancer was feeding off my hormones. Since I was pregnant, we headed into survey immediately, and I had my right breast removed in a procedure called a radical mastectomy. Then I started chemo, and yes, all while pregnant with my little warrior baby, who is now 10! So now I am turning 40, and I am 10 years out from cancer, two very traumatic pregnancies. My girls are now 10 and 12, and I love seeing how much they love themselves and their bodies. Documenting and celebrating my life has become my number one priority since the cancer diagnosis, surgeries, chemotherapy, and hormone suppression therapy.
During my session, I felt the most at ease I have ever been and was inspired to try things I never thought I would. In this session, we even used snakes! I am not scared of them, but they require handling and respect. The snake’s owners were also there, and she was amazing in working with Phoebe to capture the most amazing shots.
I can’t rate Phoebe high enough. She has this innate ability to make you feel like you have been friends forever and sets you at ease as. You know you are safe. She also ensures you understand the pose and models how it would look, as she knows what she is doing but makes you feel like you are a part of the process and comfortable with it all.
After my session, I felt AMAZING! So naturally, I booked another one and another one, and now I have May through October scheduled with Phoebe. The high and adrenaline of leaving after the session with your hair and makeup done was probably my favorite part. It was as if I glided out of there, knowing I had just accomplished something really big for myself. Each session I do, my confidence builds even more.
If you are considering a boudoir session, you HAVE TO DO IT. I refuse to live my life with regrets and I am so glad I did this because you will never look back and be like damn I am so upset I did that photoshoot.
Thanks for spreading light and being you, Phoebe. I appreciate you, and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity and experience to work with you.
~ Kristin
