While a potential client's initial e-mail to me may reflect that they're interested in a boudoir experience for an anniversary present or a wedding gift...the more that I learn about them, the more I discover the real reason for booking me. THAT is why I do what I do: Each woman's REASONS. Whether it's struggling to see her own beauty, desperate for a self-esteem boost, battling an eating disorder, going through a nasty divorce, or any other number of factors, my clients recognize that my mission is to help.

Miss B had a few reasons, and I was delighted to read her thoughts on the process afterwards to learn that we definitely pulled through on providing an empowering and eye-opening boudoir experience for her. That's what it's all about, y'all! Gift-giving is the cherry on top (Albeit one of the juiciest, yummiest, highest quality cherries everrr....but, I digress.). The ice cream and the whipped cream and the sprinkles and the chocolate chips.....that's.all.for.you.

"I was fortunate enough to get the chance to shoot with Kara commercially before booking her for my private boudoir experience, and she didn't change her demeanor at all! She was the picture of professionalism both time, coaching me on best angles all while making me feel so comfortable, I felt like I had known her for years!"

"While we shot, she asked about my life and why I chose to do this shoot, while also opening up about herself. Her studio is gorgeous, even though it was a super gloomy day when we shot."

"During our photo reveal she just sat back and let me look at my shots at my leisure and helped me to choose the best ones, while cheering when I chose each one. It was an amazing experience and she is an amazing individual."

"I struggle with body confidence, battling eating disorders and depression, so to have someone so genuinely and effortlessly kind about my body was... well it just felt great! I had such a spring in my step after my shoot and my reveal!" -Miss B

"My shoot started out as a gift to me, but ended up being one for me and my man, because he is also one of my life's great cheerleaders."

My deepest thanks to Miss B for coming back to the studio and trusting me with her boudoir experience. T O T A L K N O C K O U T!

YOU HAVE A REASON FOR WANTING TO DO THIS. WHAT IS IT? LET'S CHAT, DAHHLING.

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I am pretty much the worst at keeping amazing things under wraps. So when I found out that, #1-I was getting a big spread in PHILOSOPHIE magazine and #2- The images and story I used weren't allowed to be shared until the magazine was published, a little piece of me died.

And then every time I was scrolling through my "to blog" images and saw the ones that I used for the article and knew I couldn't share them, I died again.

Carly.

This woman...I call her my "serial shooter". And I mean that in the best way possible. She has booked me...geez...I don't know...a dozen times or so? She truly values the photographic experience and we get new and exciting stuff each and every time we shoot.

Our last shoot was on my last trip to my hometown earlier this year. We have ongoing conversation about society's harsh judgements against just about every body type. If you're too large, you're fat and disgusting and need to stop eating. If you're too thin, you're anorexic and disgusting and need to eat a cheeseburger. It's absurd.

To add to that slap in the face, "skinny" women aren't "allowed" to have insecurities. If they express any sort of dissatisfaction with their bodies in any way, they are met with harsh criticisms and eye rolls.

I've noticed an ongoing trend amongst my clients...they come to me, tails between their legs, and say things like "I don't have ANY curves. Can you still make me look sexy?!". Uhh. yes.

It makes me so sad to know that so many women are ashamed of their figures because of body shamers or what society expresses to be acceptable.

I feel very passionately about how society condemns those size zeroes. And I know Carly does, too, as she has to live it every single day.

Carly wearing a crystal ensemble...that she MADE!

SO I wrote an article about it. And used some of Carly's testimony. And threw in some amazing (if I do say so myself. TOOT TOOT!) images of her from our past few shoots. And it was selected and published in Philosophie Magazine. An EIGHT PAGE SPREAD, might I add!

This magazine has come a long way from it's first few publications. I was so pleasantly surprised with not only the outstanding design work, but the phenomenal quality of the content. It's been an amazing ride watching the boudoir industry elevate year after year.

I'm truly grateful to have been included amongst some of my favorite industry photographers in this issue, and to help spread the word that skinny shaming is no more appropriate than fat shaming is.

ZERO IS A SIZE.

To purchase the digital or print version of PHILOSOPHIE magazine, click HERE.

Subject: Carly Gillis

Makeup: Lindsey Allen

Photographer + Author: Kara Trombetta