Postpartum Boudoir | Finding Your Confidence Again
Postpartum body image is such a struggle for so many women. Not only are we dealing with the influx of hormones brought on by body changes triggered before and after birth, but we’re sleep deprived and juggling the million tasks associated with motherhood. Whether you’re a new mom or a mom many times over, if you feel like motherhood has had an impact on your self-esteem, we can totally assure you that you’re not alone.
In fact, a study in the Netherlands recently found that many women experience a drop in self-esteem after pregnancy which can last up to three years. While adjusting to all the changes that you’re experiencing can be an exciting phase of life—changes to your lifestyle, your identity and your body—it can take a toll. So, it’s no wonder that mothers are searching for ways to regain confidence after having a baby.
It’s important to be gentle with yourself as you navigate the transition into motherhood. If you look up “how to improve your postpartum self-esteem” online, you’ll find plenty of tips. Many are focused on self-care and getting back in shape. While getting your hair done, going for daily walks, and trying to cut back on junk food are all fine and dandy, they don’t quite touch on the mindset shift that needs to take place in order to truly regain your confidence as a new mom.
But how do you trigger that change in perspective? How do you learn to not only accept, but love your new body as a mother? How do you remind yourself that you are still a strong, confident, sexy woman despite all the crazy changes you’re experiencing?
We know how!
Postpartum Boudoir Photography
We know, it may sound a little crazy, and having a boudoir session might not be the top thing on your priority list right now, but when something feels difficult and out of your comfort zone, it’s often the thing you need the most.
Believe it or not, plenty of mothers have had postpartum boudoir sessions, despite feeling insecure of their post-baby bodies. Many are anxious about the idea, but as long as you are working with a great boudoir photographer who knows what they’re doing—how to put you in the most flattering poses, how to fold light around you in all the right places, how to talk you through a shoot and leave you feeling empowered, comfortable, and gorgeous—the outcome is worth stepping out of your comfort zone.
Shelby (pictured here in red) was a new mom when she decided to take part in her Nashville boudoir session with The Adore Girls. Her husband is an active Marine and had been deployed just two days after bringing their daughter home, so she wanted to be able to send him a nice gift while also reminding herself of her own beauty, inside and out.
“As a momma who had a baby a couple months before my shoot, I can’t tell you just how much confidence I got back from doing it!” said Shelby. “I wasn’t in the best looking state with being a new momma, and had just gone through 9 months of looking like a hot mess. The day of the shoot I was so nervous going in. I have always been overly self-conscious about myself since I was a little girl, and a boudoir shoot wasn’t something I thought I could do.”
Like many mothers, Shelby was worried about not being pretty enough, about stretch marks and cellulite, and everything else involved with not only posing for a boudoir shoot, but doing it so soon after giving birth.
“After meeting everyone and talking, I became more comfortable and started letting loose,” said Shelby. “After having my hair and makeup done, I was like YES, I can do this!”
“The photographer, Courtney, had me be myself and caught me in natural, laid back poses. A couple days later, I went in for my photo debut and I fell in absolute love with the pictures! For a split second, I was like there is no way that’s me! I left that day full of pure happiness and in literal tears of joy,” said Shelby. “It was SO worth it! I got to see myself in a different light. I’ll definitely be doing this again, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to bring back my confidence that has been missing for so long.”
Shelby’s heartwarming story is a perfect example of how postpartum boudoir isn’t just for models, or people who are in the absolute best shape of their lives. In fact, boudoir photography is an amazing self-esteem booster for anyone, in any phase of life, including new moms and grandmothers.
Jamie Pfister is a boudoir photographer and owner of The Adore Girls boudoir studio in Nashville. As a mom of two kids, she understands firsthand the positive impact that a boudoir photoshoot can have on a mother’s confidence.
“After kids, your body goes through an enormous change which can bring many mixed feelings. It’s easy to get caught up in ‘what used to be’ with your body,” said Jamie. “I found I would get stuck on what had changed or didn’t go back to how it used to be, and this ended up being an internal struggle for me. I was more self-conscious than ever.”
When Jamie decided to start her Nashville boudoir photography studio in 2012, she knew she would have to do her own boudoir session before she could confidently encourage others to do the same. So, she handed the camera to her sister, Lindsey (who is also an Adore Girls boudoir photographer), and they had a little session.
“I did not expect it to have the impact it did,” said Jamie. “What it did for me, I really can’t put into words. I realized that all the little things that I thought were the end of the world for my self-confidence were really nothing. I saw myself differently. I saw that I am still beautiful and all those little ‘things’ did not define me. I learned to embrace this version of myself and love myself again.”
While boudoir photos can make a great gift for a partner, they’re ultimately a gift to yourself. It’s something you can return to whenever you start to feel your confidence waning, to remind yourself of the beautiful and sexy woman you are.
“I gained back confidence that I hadn’t felt in nine years,” added Jamie. “Now every time I let those ‘things’ creep into my head and start getting the best of me, I hand the camera over and have a session and it gets my mind straight again. We are all beautiful. We are all allowed to feel beautiful. We all DESERVE to see ourselves as beautiful and love who we are.”
So, if you’re looking for a way to regain confidence after having a baby, consider a postpartum boudoir shoot with The Adore Girls. It might feel a bit scary at first, but many women in situations just like yours have done it before, and the results can be life-changing!
Are YOU ready to become an Adore Girl?
Contact our office Monday - Friday, 9:00-5:00, via call to 615-336-4256
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