Every Body Is Worthy of Boudoir — Including Yours
A real client’s experience embracing self-love, one frame at a time.
Sanctuary Boudoir is an inclusive Dallas Boudoir Studio. Whether you’re petite, plus-size, or somewhere in between, our sessions are built to celebrate every curve, every story, and every woman.”
Sanctuary Boudoir is a photography studio where fine art meets fierce self-love. We’ve photographed every body type, size, and shape, and we believe that beauty is not confined to a specific standard. EVERY woman deserves to feel empowered and confident in their own skin. But for many women, the idea of stepping in front of a camera can be very intimidating. And that’s exactly why Sanctuary exists. This is your safe space. Your permission to show up, let go, and finally let self-love in. The best part? You don’t have to change a thing to deserve this experience… you just have to say yes to yourself.
One of my recent clients said yes to herself and then brought me to tears with her boudoir experience testimonial. With her permission, I am honored to share her story with you. Her inspiration to book the photography session was not a decision that she made lightly.
“I had been considering a boudoir photoshoot, primarily for my husband, for a couple of years, but kept putting it off because I was telling myself I would book it when I lost a certain amount of weight, or got to a certain pant size. I had it in my head that only women of a certain size would/could look good in a boudoir photoshoot. My whole life I've been a "big girl." My whole life has revolved around my size/weight. I don't remember a time I wasn't "dieting" or trying to make my body smaller. I cannot recall having ever seen another "big girl" boudoir photoshoot and I never thought it would be for me. Then, about 2 years ago a different boudoir photographer came across my social media feed and I became intrigued at the idea of actually booking a shoot. I followed them for a while, and saw how comfortable they made people of all sizes feel.”
After following an out-of-state studio for a while and finally convincing herself it was her time, she began searching for boudoir photographers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Afraid of losing her momentum and waiting another two years, she booked a phone consultation.
“My first call with Emma Jaye could not have gone any better, despite sobbing through most of the call. Emma Jaye was incredible. She was reassuring, she was understanding, she was sympathetic. She heard me, she heard my fears and she eased every single one of them. There was just an immediate connection, even over the phone. I got off the phone telling her that I would have to contact other studios to compare and make sure this one was right for me since this was literally the only studio I’d reached out to, but I didn’t call a single other studio. The next day I booked my shoot.”
I remember getting off that call wanting to hug her through the phone and strap her into something fabulous so I could show her just how radiant she truly is. Her openness, her vulnerability, and her trust made me certain this session would be something really special and I was right.
“I was so incredibly nervous going into the studio. This wasn't just a photoshoot. This was a photoshoot with all of my insecurities out in the open. But from the time I walked through the doors, everything felt right. There were no expectations. Just a "let's have fun" moment… Having Emma Jaye there to help, with her trained eye, was what I needed. There were several outfits that I wasn't sure how I felt about them and her encouragement to "just try them on, we can hate them later" brought me out of my comfort zone while simultaneously bringing me into my comfort zone for the shoot to come later.”
Hair, makeup, and styling are a huge part of what we do here at Sanctuary Boudoir. We handle everything so that you don’t have to worry - making sure you still feel and look like yourself, just elevated. “For make-up, you can normally find me completely bare faced. I'll throw on mascara for a date night, but that's about it. I was so thankful that we could do a look that wasn't overwhelming and somewhat on the natural side (but still glam-y for a photoshoot!) that left me still feeling like myself.”
The moment the session began, wrapped in lingerie, everything started to shift. What began with nervous laughter quickly turned into real smiles, deep exhales, and that unmistakable spark of self-recognition. We moved gently and intuitively. Always making sure that we were celebrating her comfort, her story, and her beauty. The studio filled with laughter and happy crying when I showed her a sneak peek on the back of the camera. That was the moment she saw herself - not through the lens of judgment, but through love.
“Emma Jaye is incredible, not only as a photographer, but as a director, as a stager, as an outfit chooser, and as a confidant. It was as-if I had booked a shoot with a friend I’d known for years. She was my own personal hype girl, reminding me how fierce and badass, how sexy and sultry I was. And she believes it! She was constantly showing me how to get into the pose, not just talking me into it. And for someone who can be awkward in front of a camera, having someone getting into the position first was incredibly helpful.”
The transition from lingerie to fine art nudes felt so natural, you’d never guess she once doubted she could do it.
“When body image concerns/struggles came up in my original consultation with Emma Jaye, I could have started basically at my shoulders and gone all the way to my toes. I had something to critique about just about every body part. My arms, my shoulders, my breasts, my belly, my lower belly, my thighs, my calves, everything was "too big" and "too soft" or "not feminine" enough. My biggest insecurity - my lower belly - was going to be on full display. As women, we are force fed this "ideal body type" from the time we can walk. I've always been the biggest friend in my friend group, the biggest woman at the office, and have always been bigger than my partners. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of brain-space diet-culture has taken up, or how much money I've spent on various ways to make my body smaller. I remember Emma Jaye telling me in our consultation that we would do shoots in two outfits, move to implied nudes, and work our way to full nudes. I don't know if I said this out loud to her, but I definitely thought, ‘You will not get me fully nude. I barely change clothes in front of my husband.’ By the time we got to the implied nudes, Emma Jaye had, how do you say this lightly, basically seen everything. So, I figured ‘if not now...when will you do this again?’ and trusted her. Boy, am I glad I ran with it.”
And boy, am I glad she did, too. Watching her step fully into that moment is something I’ll never forget. But the moment that truly took my breath away? It was when she saw her final images for the first time. The energy in the room shifted. It was raw, emotional, and deeply affirming… for the both of us.
“Incredible doesn’t even begin to describe it. I never thought someone like me, a “big girl,” deserved to have a boudoir photoshoot, much less look good, dare I say stunning, in lingerie and even nude. I fully expected to be struggling to pick enough photos for my photobook, which after seeing the photos, I could have ordered every single one. The photos started out for me, for “woman empowerment,” and so I could maybe, just maybe, see myself the way my husband does. The timing worked out that I was going to get my photos returned right around our 2 year wedding anniversary and I thought it would be a perfect gift for my husband as well. It ended up being a better gift for myself. We keep the photobook on a shelf in our closet and I pull it out often to look through it and recall the experience and remember just how fierce and sexy I really am. I now have extra grace for myself. I’m reminded frequently that Greek Goddesses had rolls and folds, imperfections and lumps, and were still idolized.”
When asked what she would tell a woman thinking about booking a photo shoot with us, she responded enthusiastically. “Book it! Book it yesterday! There is not a single negative thing that could come from this and about a million positive ones. The only regret I have is that I waited so long to do it.”
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t misty-eyed all over again writing this. This work is so much more than taking beautiful photos. It is truly art. My heart is in every session because I know what it means to finally see yourself with love, softness, and awe. My mission as a boudoir photographer is to reflect back the beauty, strength, and magic you might’ve forgotten was yours all along.
I’ve witnessed the most incredible transformations. I’ve experienced women of every age, background, and body stepping into the studio unsure, and walking out glowing from the inside out. Yes, you’ll leave with stunning images that capture your essence, but what you’ll gain is even more powerful: the confidence, the self-trust, the unshakable reminder that you are beautiful, powerful, and so worthy… right now, exactly as you are.
