Once in awhile, you meet a someone who is so charasmatic, so real, so present in each day, it inspires you to get out of whatever rut you are in and DO something.
This woman right here….THIS ONE had me goosebumping and rejoicing in this path of work I’ve chosen for myself. Ms. B contacted me to celebrate herself on her birthday. It wasn’t a milestone birthday per se, just a good excuse for a badass woman to take some “Me” time and have herself a fantastic day that began with our boudoir shoot. To be honest, I was just coming off of my maternity leave and wasn’t entirely sure I was ready, but she was so kind and sweet and trusting, as soon as we started emailing, I knew it was the right time for me to go back to work. And I am just so happy that I did!! That day I not only met a beautiful client, I also made a friend.
Ms. B is so full of life, it’s impossible not to feel energized in her presence. I mean - look at this smile! We connected right away. She’s a nurse, a mother, and a dancer, so you know we had a lot to talk about. She performs Bomba, a traditional Puerto Rican dance — look it up if you aren’t familiar with it! It’s a truly exhuberent & joyful art form, and Ms. B here embodies the spirit of the dance.
I found the perfect location for what she was looking for - a hotel suite on the Brooklyn/Queens border that was the size of my entire house. Exposed brick, huge windows on 2 sides and some beautiful leather furniture gave a sexy masculine/feminine vibe. We captured 3 very different looks, including this gorgeous Thistle & Spire bodysuit that is one of my favorite pieces to photograph right now. Each look celebrated a part of her personality, from sensitive, to playful, to saucy, to powerful QUEEN. She BROUGHT IT, let her personality shine, and we captured some truly beautiful images together.
And what about that incredible tattoo? After suffering a knee injury & subsequent surgury, she transformed her scar into a beautiful tree branch alive with butterflies. Breathtaking.
In her own words:
My experience was beyond my imaginations and will be for me one of the best experiences I’ve done for myself. That moment my finger hit send, I was taken on an amazing journey, I felt supported, guided and genuinely cared for, all my questions answered and all the recommendations absolutely perfect. But more so Stephanie made sure she got to know me, just me, And that was everything.
Leave all the baggage that holds you back at the door. Be open to this amazing experience, there is only one you! Stephanie will absolutely bring out the best in you! So do your homework it’s all worth it! On My 53 Birthday, stepping into a new Decade (2020) Stephanie and her makeup artist made me feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. You will too! I should have done this sooner!
And with that, I’m again covered with goosebumps. This is what it’s all about. It’s about taking a journey into self love, bringing out the best in oneself, and recognizing how incredible YOU are. Thank you SO much, Ms. B, for your inspiration, collaboration, kindness, your beautiful words, and most importantly for trusting me to give you this experience and these finished products. You are amazing, and I’m over-the-moon that you have the most exquisite collection of images to treasure forever.
