Stronger With Her Scars: A Double Mastectomy Boudoir Journey
When people hear that I’m a professional boudoir photographer, their first assumption is often that I just take “sexy photos.” And while we certainly can capture gorgeous sultry images, the true power of boudoir photography goes far beyond that. It’s about creating a safe, supportive space for emotional healing. Whether that emotional healing stems from finding confidence or something much deeper, the transformative nature of a boudoir session is something many people are unaware of. Even for some women who come to us looking for a session.
Embracing Change: Boudoir Photography Before & After Mastectomy
For women undergoing, or who have already undergone, a mastectomy, boudoir photography can be an incredibly powerful part of their healing journey. Whether it's pre-mastectomy, in the midst of treatment, or post-surgery, these women are taking control of their bodies in a profound way. A mastectomy is much more than just a physical change. A lot of women who have experienced one say that it’s also a mental and emotional transformation. The process can make a woman feel disconnected from her own body, especially when it comes to the loss of her breasts or the appearance of scars. Some clients choose to preserve the memory of their breasts before surgery through intimate, delicate portraits. Others choose to showcase their scars in a post-surgery session, embracing them as symbols of strength rather than imperfections.
The beauty of boudoir photography is that it offers a unique opportunity to do both and there’s no right or wrong way to process it. What resonates personally with each woman is all that matters. Every session is as unique as the woman herself, and that’s where boudoir photography transcends the typical photoshoot. It becomes therapeutic, allowing women to reconnect with their bodies in ways they may not have thought possible, and empowering them to reclaim their power after all that they’ve been through.
Embracing Her Story: A Boudoir Session With Scars
One of the most powerful sessions I’ve had the privilege of photographing was with a woman who was two years post-mastectomy. She came to the studio that I was working at wanting to celebrate her body and the journey she had been through. She had been preparing for an elective procedure when her world was turned upside down by a breast cancer diagnosis. No one is ever truly prepared to hear the words "you have cancer," but my client was determined to fight. After undergoing treatment and a double mastectomy, she wanted to document the woman she had become - a survivor, a warrior, and a woman ready to embrace her body once again.
When she arrived at the studio, she was eager to get glammed up. She had an incredible strength about her, and her positive spirit was contagious. She looked at her experience with gratitude, which shone through her entire session. When we were finished with the photoshoot, we scheduled her ordering session and discussed our professional retouching services. Some clients request to have scars removed, but when I asked her if she wanted her scars to stay or be retouched, she made it clear without hesitation — she wanted them left in. “They’re part of me,” she said. And that’s when it hit me… for her, her scars weren’t something to hide; they were something to embrace. They told the story of her battle and her victory.
When she returned weeks later for her ordering session, she brought her best friend along for moral support. She was nervous, despite how confident she had been during the shoot. Knowing what was in store for her I gave her the biggest hug and pressed play on her slideshow. She told me that what we captured was even more incredible than what she had imagined. And when the final fine art nude image proudly took the screen, we all found ourselves in tears. She was brave. She was beautiful. She was a true warrior. In that moment, I realized that photographing her not only helped her heal, but it helped me heal, too. From there, she made the instantaneous decision to allow me to share her images with the world, hoping that her story would inspire other women to embrace their own healing journey and recognize that they are stronger with their scars.