Over the past few months of #covidlife we’ve all felt lonely and bored at some point, missing our friends and family, fun activities and gatherings. As a way to ‘pivot’ my business (don’t get me started on that word lol) which had to be shut down of course, I introduced the Vancouver Virtual Boudoir Shoot.

What is a virtual boudoir shoot?

Well, my client is in their home and we use their cell phone but it's connected to mine virtually so that I can control the captured images. Crazy right? Technology is amazing!

Ms. G was one of those women looking for something fun to do while isolated at home and so she joined me on a sassy virtual boudoir shoot adventure.

“The virtual portraits for me was a way to connect with someone, and play. I have done boudoir portraits in the past, and I like how I feel during the session and afterwards. I feel like it’s a great way to play, be creative, engage with your sexy, and overall feel empowered through your personal lens.”

We had a blast working together, creating and adventuring, and so it was no surprise to me that she shared that getting out in nature makes her feel amazing in her body. 

“Nothing feels more grounding than walking among the towered trees and mossy trails. For me, the natural world provides an injection of life, and positive energy.”

And being a nature and play lover, how cool and fitting is this quote she shared. It’s her fave.

"Like the wolf, intuition has claws that pry things open and pin things down, it has eyes that can see through the shields of persona, it has ears that hear beyond the range of mundane human hearing. With these formidable psychic tools a woman takes on a shrewd and even precognitive animal consciousness, one that deepens her femininity and sharpens her ability to move confidently in the outer world.”  ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Isn’t that quote fantastic?! The animal instincts or psychic tools equated to a woman’s femininity. Sometimes in sessions there is the feeling of animal instinct, whether it be physical, emotional, mental etc. I see it and I believe the women feel it too. We are sexual beings by nature. We are feminine and powerful, and it’s this that creates feelings and builds confidence, ultimately empowering women.

My goal is always to lift women up and empower them to see and feel their incredible beauty and power both inside and out.

When I asked Ms. G what advice she would tell her younger self she said:

“To not think so much about what my body looks like. I have spent most of my life concentrating on my physic - I still do actually. But what I have come to realize is that my body is great the way it is, and is never how I imagine it to be. I think the advice would be to ease-up and celebrate the body you have and be kinder to how you perceive your body- it’s badass!”

Like the wolf, Ms. G already knew her incredible-ness deep down. Through her instincts and natural femininity, she felt empowered and confident.

During our virtual session she says she felt:

“Energized! I loved the laughs and overall process of the virtual shoot. I felt like it was a great activity to re-engage your sense of play. Michele and I had a great time being creative in my home space.”

“If you are on the fence, Michele is the person to go with (for a boudoir session)! She provides such a great atmosphere - filled with lightheartedness, relatability, and play. Although she was not in the room with me physically, I still felt like she was able to guide the process really well. She offers great suggestions and has a way of understanding your style.”

Thank you Ms. G for playing with me that day. In looking at your post-session comments, I see you describe yourself as ‘adventurous’ and ‘creative’. I completely, and gratefully, agree, and I appreciate you sharing your perspective on nature and feeling badass. Your photos certainly show you feeling that and more. It was a successful day!

To those of you who haven't done a boudoir session yet:

Please don’t feel like you have to be adventurous to do these sessions. Not at all. Anyone can do them. You get to be you. Perfectly you. And it’s my job to help you embrace you, whomever you are. Adventurous or not. We’ve got this.

Oh and ps: my business is now OPEN again and I'm so excited and happy to invite you into my studio to do your session live in person! Virtual was a fun option during the shut-down, but in person is magical!

Shared with permission.

Michele Mateus is a Vancouver Boudoir & Portrait Photographer located in Coquitlam, BC. Hair & Makeup By Jenny Valla.