Boudoir : Reflections

I've always loved to write. As a young girl, I imagined my adult self as a journalist or a novelist, maybe even a poet. There was something comforting about the idea of escaping to my own world to create a reality that was only mine. Writing has helped me get through the darker times of life; through the confusion of my early teenage years, through heartbreak and my parent's divorce, through times where I felt like the only person in the world. I often think back to short excerpts I wrote, my poetry, my journals with pages ripped out and doodles along the sides. These dark times when I turned to myself, I turned into myself and it has led me to the woman I am today. I have this burning desire to bring forth and into the light what may lie just beneath the surface. I realize now that everything I have expressed in words, are fragmented pieces of my personal story.

When a camera fell into my hands, I began to tell more stories. About myself, but also about other women. I've had the honor of listening and learning and understanding the people who have been in front of my camera. I've seen women emerge from incredible pain with astonishing strength. I've seen the unspeakable magic that happens when the layers are stripped away and we are real with each other. Through boudoir, I have the ability to tell your story through my lens, to be with you and feel with you. When I can't seem to put things to words, I have my camera, and often times, it truly says everything.

Hair and Makeup by Katy Taurel

Boudoir : Hadas

"As a rape survivor, I always felt my body betrayed me. I was mad at it for being so weak, for letting everything happen, for not saving me from the worst nightmare I could ever imagine. I was just 11 at the time, amidst of growing up. I was discovering myself, femininity and sexuality. All was stopped at once. All I could think of, all I wanted, was for my body and I to be separated. As years went on I developed severe Bulimia. Nobody knew of course. I was always the strong-powerful-wise woman for everyone. How could I ever share with them how weak I really was? So I constantly punished my body, by not taking care of it, by pretending I'm really disgusting, ugly, fat, and so many more things that I will spare you. So I was drowning for years, deeper and deeper, pretending all was fine.

When I started recovery, there was one person who saw me - an amazing blind woman who saw me with her heart, and that changed everything. It was a long road, it still is. Yet I can say today, that I'm a much wiser woman.

I'm beautiful, I'm sexy, and I'm strong. I believe that because I learned to love my body and take care of it. Thank it for making me who I am. Being beautiful, sexual and strong is a good thing. Not something to be ashamed of.and because of that, I wanted to give myself, my body, a present. Thank it for sticking with me even when I did everything possible to ruin it. Give it the love it deserves. 

Society expects us to diminish how we see ourselves. I'm not willing to do that anymore. What makes me as strong as I am is that knowledge I learned the hard way. Choosing to be you is the best present you can give yourself."

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Kity

Over lunch at a cute cafe on Emek Refaim, we talked about life, spirituality, photography and our upcoming boudoir session together. She was planning a birthday surprise for her boyfriend who lives abroad. The way she described their love was so sweet and mysterious, and I could understand how she kept this a secret from him through the entire process.

When I look at Kity, I see a gorgeous woman from a decade far before us. A true classy, feminine and courageous soul. 

I think that these images just say it all...

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Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Jo

When I walked through the door into Jo's home, I did not expect to meet such a dynamic and beautiful human being. Her story gave me inspiration, and her openness made this session everything that is was. 

I am so privileged to have met Jo and take a small part in her journey...

Jo asked me not to photoshop her stretch marks, and I was overjoyed. What an incredible affirmation for motherhood.

Hair and Makeup by  Cassy Avraham