I am 36 and I work as a project manager for a the software development department at my work. I am not great at social situations or making friends. I suffer from depression and severe anxiety, which I don’t normally share.
I grew up in a very religious background, extremely conservative. Although my parents never body shamed me the church did. They did it to all females but I was one of the ones the few they tended to focus in on. I grew up being told to hide my body, that if anyone looked at it I was at fault and it was negative, until getting married and then only my husband should ever see it. The way they talked to us and shamed us had lasting effects for me. I grew up being ashamed of my body and looks. I was bullied by kids in church and school about my looks ( I know it happens to a lot of kids, I just wasn’t strong enough to not let it affect me). I was also taught to believe that if you find yourself pretty or beautiful you are arrogant and conceded. So I always struggled to accept or believe compliments. Over the years I have been blessed to be surrounded by friends and a husband who wanted me to believe I am beautiful. Even typing this is difficult to do. About 5 years ago, I did some research on how to become more body positive. An article I found talked about doing boudoir and why that can help. I did a boudoir session around that time. Over the past 5 years, my body has changed and mentally I have changed a lot! But I still had not managed to get that body positivity. So I thought I would try again with a different photographer. My body now has tattoos which I love and they help make me feel beautiful in the spots they are located. And my husband loves them as well. I decided to research and found Ayla. I fell in love with her style, the beauty of her technique, and imaging. I decided to give her a call.
This experience was a lot different, there is a whole team behind this operation and everyone did so fantastic! I can’t say there was a part that was the best, everyone did so great in each part they contributed! I will say, the thing that caught my attention the most was that everyone seemed genuine and real. It did not feel like they were putting on their customer service faces for me, if they were they fooled me!! 😊 but I don’t think they were, like I said they seemed genuine and real, and I super appreciated that. They were all very kind, very helpful, and supportive! From booking my appointment to picking up my items, they were fantastic. One of the reasons I chose them is because I would get to see the images the same day. When I saw them my jaw dropped and I started crying a little. 1. I could not believe it was me I was seeing. 2. I could not believe they hadn’t been edited! They were so perfect from the start. 3. I could not believe it was me! 😊 lol. They made me feel like an actual woman, something I super struggle with. They made me feel beautiful and sexual (over writing what I was taught to think and feel). They made me feel and see a beauty I had never been able to see before. Even in the areas that I am least comfortable with, that I am super self conscious with, Ayla and Rob captured in a way that made me feel great about them! When I saw my makeup Jessica had done I remember looking in the mirror and again, my jaw dropped, I just couldn’t believe it was me in the mirror! I started to cry. When it was time to pick the pictures Kat was so supportive and positive! I really appreciated her help and encouragement! There was one more gal, and I can’t remember her name (I’m so sorry!!) she was there to help me choose outfits at the beginning and she was so helpful! And helped me stay calm and comfortable when going from outfit to outfit. She could tell how nervous I was! My husband LOVED these pictures. The look on his face made it worth it enough! But honestly I flip through the pictures a lot, it feels wrong because it makes me feel conceded, but I admit I do. I need myself to believe that’s really me, and it has helped me feel so much better about myself and my body. Am I 100% cured? No, not yet. But I am way farther than I have ever been because of these pictures and these pictures will help me get there over time! I am so thankful I made the choice to do this!
I would say, do it! You will NOT regret it! The support from the team, the quality of the pictures, the way you feel when you see them. It’s amazing! Honestly! I am one of those that rarely leaves a review. If it’s bad I won’t leave a review, if it’s good I won’t leave a review, but if it’s amazing I take the time to leave a review, very rare. You cannot go wrong with this team. They care about you the whole way through and they will take care of you. And I don’t think I have seen a better quality of photo!
This team is amazing! These pictures are amazing! They make me feel like a real woman, which I have always struggled with. They make me feel beautiful which I have always struggled with! They are worth the money! They are worth the time! You cannot go wrong with this team! I have an issue with body positivity, and these pictures has helped me so much!!!!
