Thym 4 Tea with Mikita
Welcome to 'Thym 4 Tea with Mikita,' where we spill the tea on all things self-care and living boldly. This podcast is your invitation to cozy up and dive deep into conversations that get real about mindfulness, wellness, and finding joy in the beautifully messy journey of life. We're here to chat about the big stuff, the little stuff, and everything in between, with a focus on embracing our true selves and stepping into our power. So grab your cup of tea, get comfy, and discover what it means to live unapologetically.
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www.beautifully-unbalanced.com
Thym 4 Tea with Mikita
Becoming THAT Girl: A Conversation on Confidence with Marie Malvosin
Marie Malvinson's transformative journey from Army officer to empowerment photographer reveals the profound power of reclaiming your authentic self. After serving 20 years in the military, Marie found herself emotionally depleted – functioning externally while dying inside, caught in an endless cycle of giving without receiving. The turning point came during a deployment when she discovered the revolutionary concept that "no is a complete sentence."
Through her luxury boudoir photography studio, Bohemian Vision, Marie has created something far more meaningful than a photography business. She's built a sanctuary where women can safely explore vulnerability, often for the first time. What makes her approach revolutionary is her deep understanding of energy dynamics – many women operate predominantly in masculine energy as a defense mechanism when feeling unsafe in their environments. Marie's studio becomes the rare space where they can safely surrender to their feminine energy: creative, fluid, and powerfully vulnerable.
The session experience engages all senses – from carefully selected scents to textural elements like satin and velvet, creating an environment where clients gradually shed their armor. Marie describes the magical moment in each session when something shifts, and a woman sees herself through the camera and exclaims, "That's me!" with genuine wonder. For many clients, particularly those who've experienced trauma, this becomes the moment they reclaim ownership of their bodies and stories.
Marie's philosophy of "do it scared" encourages women to push beyond their comfort zones, reminding us that true confidence comes from facing fears rather than avoiding them. Her work demonstrates that vulnerability, is our greatest source of power. Through her lens, women discover they are indeed "that girl" – the confident, sensual being they've always been but perhaps never fully recognized.
Ready to rediscover yourself through Marie's transformative lens? Visit bohemianvisions.com or follow Bohemian Visions Photography on Instagram to begin your journey of self-reclamation.
#selfdevelopment #Wellness
#thym4teawithmikita #manifest #purposefulliving #liveunapplogectically #freedom #podcast #womeninpodcast #podcastlife #empoweringwomen
You know, one of the questions I ask is what would you do with an extra boost of confidence? And then, as I've kind of developed more and more into the business, I've realized that a good majority of women are very insecure. They're very insecure about their bodies, they're insecure about their voice, they're very insecure about their sensuality, their sexuality, and I want Bohemian Visions to be like a therapy session where you have pictures that remind you that you are that girl.
Speaker 2:Hey there, I'm Makita, a small town girl with big dreams who started a podcast with an old headset and a laptop at my kitchen table and made my dreams come true. On my podcast, time for Tea with Makita, we chat about living life unapologetically, on your terms, from career advice, entrepreneurship, relationships and everything in between. This is your one-stop shop for real conversations and inspiration. If you're looking for connection, then you've found it here. Join me every Tuesday as we dive into those sometimes hard to have conversations. So grab your cup of tea or coffee and get comfy, because this is time for Tea with Makita, and the tea is definitely hot. Ever feel like you need a superpower boost of motivation with exclusive tips and tools with your goals in mind? Well, say hello to your new inspiration hotspot the Tuesday Tea Newsletter, your weekly infusion of big thinking energy that will propel you to chase your wildest dreams and never shy away from using the power of your voice. Sign up for the Tuesday Tea Newsletter today at beautifullyunbalancedcom and elevate your goals to the next level. Welcome back everyone. I'm Nikita. I just want to thank you so much for sharing your time, your space and, of course, your amazing energy with me.
Speaker 2:Today, this season, we're diving into the theme of planting seeds, exploring how small, intentional actions can lead to powerful transformations in our lives. And today I'm so excited to welcome an extraordinary guest, marie Malvinson. Marie is a 20-year Army veteran turned entrepreneur and founder of Bohemian Vision Studio. It is a luxury Bordeaux photography studio based in Richmond, virginia, and I just I want y'all to understand something Marie's work is not just about photography. She is a trailblazer, helping women rediscover their confidence and celebrate their unique stories through the art of boudoir. Share not just her photography and what she's doing to help women transform their lives, but also to share a little bit about her transformation and how she was able to step into that power to help other people.
Speaker 2:And I just want you to know something else this is not just physical, this is emotional, it's a spiritual shift, it's that ripple far beyond the season. So I want you to grab your cup of tea, people. I want you to settle in and get ready for a conversation that will help empower you, give you the confidence and self-love that you need to plant seeds for tomorrow. Marie, thank you and welcome.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. Oh, my God, it was just everything that you're saying when I tell you I am obsessed with you. I'm obsessed with your pillars, your values and what you are creating in regards to being a better you, both mentally, emotionally and physically, and I'm like yes, thank you so much. I'm so honored and blessed to be on your show.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, and I just want people to know that it's very humbling and very amazing to have people like you come on the show with so much genuine energy and just the ability to want to help other people, but also walk the walk, been on the journey and want to share it with other people, so I'm just as excited to have you. Yes, now, marie, let's start by talking about your journey from 20 years in the army to founding Bohemian Vision Studio and planning for you to make such a bold transition, and I planted that seed for you to make such a bold transition.
Speaker 1:Of course, of course. I joined the army in 1999. So I was 17 years old and it was homecoming week. I was bumping heads really bad in my household and me and my mother did not see eye to eye on where I wanted to go after high school. And I remember just walking into the army recruiting station and I was like I want to join the army. And they're like what? I got to get out of my mama's house and they're like how old are you? And I'm like I was 16. And they're like, uh, when do you turn 17? I'm like September. And they're like, okay, well, you have to. Can you wait till you're 18? No, I got to get out of my mama's house, so I had to do some sales pitch because I had to get a waiver and went through the entire MEPS process, graduated from high school and a month later I shipped off to Fort Leonard Wood, missouri, for basic training. And I'll never forget the first night of the basic training. I was like where did I get myself into? And I cried myself to sleep. It was 4th of July, weekend, 1999. And I cried myself to sleep and I was like where did I get myself into?
Speaker 1:And my friends went off to go to college. I wanted to go to college but I didn't have the money to go to college and I kind of slacked off my senior years. I was cutting class and I was just over it. I was mentally checked out and I was like I should have went to college. Oh my God, oh my God. And I was like this is not for me and I cried like I can't wait to get out. It's about to be a long three years.
Speaker 1:And one thing led to another. They sent me to Korea and my life changed and they were like hey, do you want to stay for like another three years and we'll pay you $14,000? I'm like, well, I got nothing else to do. Sure, why not? And every time I thought about getting out, I was thinking can you stay? We'll give you some money. I'm like, sure, why not? And then, the entire time I was in, I was taking college courses and I was trying to be better.
Speaker 1:And I remember this piece of advice that one of my non-commissioned officers gave me. It was like leave with more than what you came with. So every time you go to a duty station, if you came to a duty station with no college, leave with a little bit of college, leave with a little bit of money in your pocket, leave with more. And it's not something like physical and materialistic, but leave with more knowledge, leave with more experience, leave with something that you can show for. And so I started doing that.
Speaker 1:And then one of my mentors was like you know what you should be an officer. And I'll never forget it was just like yesterday. I was like I don't want to be an officer and I'll never forget. It was just like yesterday. I was like, oh, I don't want to be an officer. They're lame, they don't have any common sense, right? I like being an NCO. And he's like, no, we need officers like you. And I was like, okay, I'll do it. And I went through the program and I finished my bachelor's degree and I was like, okay. So I went on to be a logistics officer.
Speaker 1:And it was just like, challenge after challenge after challenge, and I'll never forget my first deployment to Iraq and I had one of those self-cathartic emotional experiences where, growing up, I will put my issues in a box and I'll just pile it in a box, in a box constantly. And then one thing led to another, everything just exploded. Because when you're deployed, it's just you, your thoughts and the mission. And so when you're not on mission and you're not doing work, you're just alone in your thoughts in this like 40 foot container that is your room that you're living in and there's no privacy, and you're just like why am I feeling so emotional? And I cried so much? And it was just one of those things where it was like okay, I've been battling demons and battling a lot of issues that I've just kind of been snuffing and shoving into the box, and then the box finally exploded rediscover and find myself and find my peace.
Speaker 1:And I was still struggling with balancing boundaries, knew nothing about boundaries, and I was really struggling with balancing motherhood and being an army officer. And then I got married. So it was balancing being a wife, being a mother, being an officer. And then, because I was struggling with juggling these competing requirements, my ex at the time was like you're not giving me enough attention. And then my son was just kind of withdrawn like oh, she's just busy, she don't care about me. And then my job was like we need more and more and more.
Speaker 1:And then it got to the point where I'll never forget I was just in tears because it was like everyone was pulling at me Take, take, take at me, take, take, take. And so that was the one part in my life where I felt like my cup was bone dry, just bone dry. Everyone was just take, take, take, and I had nothing for myself and I fell into this deep depression. So I was depressed but I was functioning like I had on this mask that I always had a smile on my face, but if you saw behind the smile, I was just dying on the inside. And I remember sitting in my truck in tears, wanting to just escape, and I was going to therapy trying to unpack and process my emotions and my therapist was like, are you suicidal? I was like I'm not suicidal. I feel like I fell in a hole and every time I try to climb out of the hole, the hole just kept getting deeper and deeper. And while it's getting deeper, it's because people were taking, they were taking away from me and I could not breathe. So I had a son who I could not be present for.
Speaker 1:I had a career that was just toxic and demanding, had a husband who was like you're not giving me any attention and you're not being there for me, wait, wait, wait. And I was like I didn't sign up for this marriage. I didn't sign up to be a mother to a second child. No, and I'll never forget. I ended up having to have surgery because I did not realize, in hindsight is 2020, when you're dealing with a lot of stress.
Speaker 1:Stress manifests in a way where I was suffering from chronic pain. My back would just lock up on me and I couldn't move. And then, because I couldn't be as active as I was, I had gained a lot of weight. And then I was depressed to the point where I would sleep 12 hours on the weekends. I could not wake up and it was just like oh my God, this is not my life, this is not the life that I want. Oh my God, this is not my life. This is not the life that I want.
Speaker 1:And then, after I had got back from leave sick leave they're like hey, we got some news for you. You just came down on orders to go to Afghanistan. I'm like I'll take it, I will take it. It's been seven years since I had a deployment. I said I will take it. So this was 2017. And I'm just thinking to myself, you know what, even though I'm dealing with the mission, let me go. I go to Afghanistan.
Speaker 1:Two weeks into the deployment I was like what did I sign up for? And I was like this is about to be a long year. And that was the year I was like let me focus on me, let me focus on filling my cup. So I started, I went on mission, I did my job. When I wasn't doing my job, I spent time in the gym and then I started listening to audio books, and I'll never forget the book how to Be a Badass by Jen Sincero. And they were like love yourself.
Speaker 1:And this is the first time I learned boundaries. I learned boundaries at 37 years of age and they were like don't be afraid to say no. And it was the little things, because I was the type of person I never said no and people would just spring things at the last minute. And it was like take, take, take, take, take. And I'll never forget. Someone was like do you want to sign this card? No, what? I'm like. I don't know this person. No, well, do you want to go to this farewell and put money into this gift? No, when I tell you, it was the most liberating feeling like oh no, and it became my favorite word no is a complete sentence. No is a complete sentence. It was the first time where I said no without offering any explanation, no, without giving any excuses. It was no, why not? Because I said so. No is a complete sentence and it was just the most cathartic, liberating, freeing experience ever.
Speaker 1:And so, when I got back from Afghanistan, they're like what are you going to do? I am going to be Marie. The whole time I was in Afghanistan, they were like what do you want to do when you come back home? I said I'm going to retire. They're like you look so young, you should stay long. No, they're like well, what are you going to do when you retire? I'm going to be Marie. I am going to live my authentic self. And people did not understand what I meant by that. So I'm going to start living my authentic self. The whole time I was in the army, that was Captain Malvison and then there was Marie. They were always for it, but the first time I am Marie. I'm Marie the business owner, marie, the mom, marie, just Marie. And it's so freeing, it's so liberating and that was like the best decision ever. So 2020, I officially retired with 20 years and eight months, and I don't regret it, I'm happy.
Speaker 1:And while I was transitioning, I was like, well, what do you want to do? I said I want to do something that makes me happy. I don't want to work for someone else. I want to do something that makes me happy. I don't want to work for someone else, I want to do something that brings me joy, something that will help inspire other people. And so I was like you know what? I'm very good at photography. I've been doing photography as a hobby. It was just so relaxing and I loved the art that I would create and I was like I'm going to go ahead and be a professional photographer. And you know, six years later, it's been like the best decision ever and it's the most rewarding aspect. Like I was like you know what I would rather make $50,000 a year doing something that brings me joy than making $130,000 a year that makes me miserable.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:Yes, and then the first thing that come out of my mouth when I wake up in the morning is F this, f it versus. You know what? I'm hustling, I'm grinding, I'm marketing my business, but the reviews that I get where my clients are like thank you so much for making me feel like a goddess. Thank you so much for making me feel so beautiful. I never thought I could be this beautiful. No amount of money in the world can replace that, and I love what I do can replace that and I love what I do.
Speaker 2:I can definitely tell it seems like your whole journey, from making that decision to join the Army, even when there's moments when you had those self-reflections, some challenges, some struggles, some moments where you just had to sit with it, it seems like it was all preparing you for what it would take to be the entrepreneur, to find yourself. And through every journey, through every self-discovery, I don't think sometimes we realize that when we're in the journey, that we are already becoming everything that we don't even know yet, like we're working on it, we're walking into it. On it, we're walking into it, and you mentioned that you were this. Photography was something you just love to do for relaxation at one point, and then it became like a part of you. Now how did you take the photography and turn it into something that empowered women in such a way and turn it into something that empowered women in such a way.
Speaker 1:So it's interesting because one of the things like I will give the Army credit for is my organizational skills. Like I was an operations officer, I was a logistics officer, I was a commander, I knew how to manage people. So I am actually a second generation entrepreneur. Like I come from a line of entrepreneurs. I just avoided it for the longest because I saw how difficult it was and the grind, but it was just one of those things where I'm like you know what I'm going to do. This on my terms, I am going to work and do what makes me happy. Like I never want to see another PowerPoint presentation for as long as I live PowerPoint presentation for as long as I live. And what ended up turning into empowerment was that I was doing some test shoots with an old coworker and she's like you're so natural at it. And I'm like you know, tilt your head, smile, close your eyes, do this. And he's like, wow, you're so natural, like I feel so comfortable with you.
Speaker 1:And boudoir ended up being a happy accident. I thought I was going to be a general photographer where I did student photography, babies, maternity shoots, engagement shoots and all that and I remember I did one wedding and I hated it with a passion. I said, oh no, no, absolutely not, I don't think so. I left one high stress career. I'm not going to start another one. No Like, since I've retired, it is all about protecting my peace. Since being divorced, it's been protecting my peace. It's my peace first and foremost. Anything that disrupts my peace, you got to go. So I always look at it as you are a guest in my ecosystem, that's right. You disrupt my ecosystem, you will be immediately ejected. You got to go. So wedding photography was just not my thing. I said, okay, I need to figure out something.
Speaker 1:So I went to this meetup group with other photographers. I was like we're going to do boudoir, and at first I avoided photographers. I was like we're going to do boudoir and at first I avoided it. I was like I don't know, I'm not sure, nudes, whatever. And I just saw how creepy the male photographers were and I was like wait, hold up.
Speaker 1:And I remember this one male photographer was telling the model hey, can you get on your hands and knees? And where we were shooting at, the floor was unfinished. And so the model, I'm glad, spoke up for herself. She was like I'm not doing that. I stepped in and was like, what are you doing? Because he was just like I could see through his viewfinder. He was taking pictures of her in such an inappropriate way and I'm like, whoa, time out, this is not cool. And then I remember asking her I was like, are you okay? And she was like, yeah, I'm okay. And I'm just like yo, this we need to stop. And, mind you, we're like mixed gender, so it was like women and men, but I was the only one that was speaking up, like yo, let's not be creepy about this.
Speaker 1:So I'm on YouTube and I ended up watching this boudoir photographer out in LA and he's making content. I'm like, oh so this is what boudoir is really about. It's about empowerment, it's about women feeling good about themselves. And that's how I was like you know what, let me take this mastermind course. And it just went from there and it has been the most rewarding. I wished I would have stumbled into boudoir when I was in my twenties and thirties, really understanding how empowerment works, really understanding how, when you love on yourself, when you are protecting your peace, you know how to say no. You know how to enforce boundaries. People don't like that. They don't like that.
Speaker 2:No, they do not. When you understand and know who you are, it's a different feeling and people understand that energy, energy. They just can't treat you anyway. They can't say anything they want to you like they.
Speaker 1:They really have to kind of step back and the people that don't honor that will definitely stay out of your way oh yeah, and you know people tell me all the time they're like you're so intimidating, you were like no nonsense, straight to the point, and it's like it's it's a lot of being in the military, but at the same time it's like you're not going to play my face. And society is very conflict avoidant to a certain degree, where I see it in my business all the time, where people will schedule a consult and then, instead of just canceling it, they'll like ghost. Or instead of saying hey, I can't afford the services, they'll just like not answer the phone, not pick up, or they'll just completely ghost me and I'm like, look man, I got more important things to do to chase after you. It's okay. If you're not ready, you're not ready. There's no pressure because you're investing in yourself and this is a commitment. Also, you're investing in being the better version of yourself. You're investing in being the person in your head that is strong, that is confident.
Speaker 1:One of the questions I ask is what would you do with an extra boost of confidence? And then, as I've developed more and more into the business, I've realized that a good majority of women are very insecure. They're very insecure about their bodies. They're insecure about very insecure. They're very insecure about their bodies, they're insecure about their voice. They're very insecure about their sensuality, their confidence, their sexuality. They're so insecure that they don't know how to communicate with their partners like kiss me here, touch me there, go slow, go fast. They're intimidated by that and I want Bohemian Visions to be like a four and a half hour therapy session where you have pictures that remind you that you are that girl, you have that sauce and you are the main character in your book, in your narrative.
Speaker 2:I love that. Yeah, because you're right. Like growing up, especially for me, my mom never talked about like owning your sexuality. You know you're not really taught to own it, to embrace it, that it's okay to just lead with that. Yeah, if that's who you are Like, if you're honest, you can't go wrong.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, absolutely, absolutely it's. It's cathartic, like a lot of my clients are like. I just want to be feminine. I'm, I'm, you know, operating in my masculine. I want to know what it's like to be feminine. And one of the things that they don't realize is when a woman is operating in her masculine energy is because either her environment or the person that is in her proximity is making her unsafe. It is a subconscious defense mechanism.
Speaker 1:You are not safe because when you're in your masculine, you're constantly on alert. You're like charge, you're a soldier, right, that was me when I was in the army. I was constantly in my masculine because my environment was not safe. I was emotionally unsafe. I was, to a degree, physically unsafe, because when I say physically, it meant I didn't trust anyone. And because the military had a sexual assault issue, I viewed every man that I worked with as an op. When I was deployed in Afghanistan, when I was deployed in Iraq, I walked around with knives on me. I was G'd up F around, if you want to. But, baby, let me tell you something. Try me if you want to. There will be physical evidence that in a court of law, there is no doubt something happened. So I walked. I mean, imagine walking around in this heightened state of anxiety, right, you're not safe. So when I tell women this, they're like, oh my God, I didn't realize that I was like something in your environment is making you unsafe. This is why you're operating in your masculine when you're operating in your full feminine.
Speaker 1:And it's interesting how people they don't necessarily know how to articulate the difference between masculine and feminine energy. Feminine energy is extremely creative and fluid. You're flowing, you are free, very, very free. It's soft, kind of like air and water, right, you're just moving. So if I had to sit there and describe the different elements of masculine and feminine, the feminine is water and air. They move and they flow and they either occupy the container and then, if something's not right, they'll break free out of it, and then masculine energy is earth and fire. They're very constant, they're steady.
Speaker 1:Another example of feminine and masculine is masculine energy is the sun. It's constant. Feminine energy is the moon. It goes in phases because it's flowing. You know, you have the full moon, you have the new moon, the crescent and the waning, and so we both occupy both energies. It's just one is going to be a little bit more dominant than the other.
Speaker 1:So since I started boudoir photography, I'm more in my feminine, and by me being in my feminine, it allows me to be extremely creative. But there's going to be times where I have to turn that off and become a business woman and be like okay. So when I'm in my business woman mode, I'm in my masculine. Okay, we're straight to the point. It's not about emotions, it's not about your feelings. It's like look we, we got to get this done, and all that. When you step into my studio, it's the feminine, it's how are you feeling? Let's, we are going to tap into our emotions. We're going to tap into our basal instincts and our basal feelings and tap into what turns you on, what makes you feel sexy, what are your fantasies and everything else.
Speaker 2:And this is the first time in so long being in my 40s where I've learned how to balance it how you described that feminine energy versus that masculine energy, because we all kind of step into and out of that so many times. But you're right, when you come in there, when you I don't care what type of studio you walk into you're already kind of a little on edge because you don't know what to expect. You have an idea, but your guards are up and in that moment you are vulnerable. So, like stepping into a boudoir session, how do you help people emotionally? You know, settle that and be in that emotion. And it's also kind of spiritual, like you're sitting there and you're like really absorbing who you are and who you want to become in those, in those photos, so you can, like you said, look back later and say I am all of those things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that is an amazing question. So my studio is a total olfactory, total sensory experience. It's the scent, with the candles and the plugins that I have, where you smell the musk and the vanilla and it's very sweet and it's very earthy at the same time. Then there's the ambiance. You know how, whenever you're about to take a bath and you light the candles and you dim the lights, that's my entire studio just dimming the lights. When you step into a studio, it's about stripping down, both literal and figurative. You don't necessarily have to take your clothes off, but you are stripping down to who is Marie, who is Makita? Not the mom, not the wife, not the business owner, who are you.
Speaker 1:And that's when you get to really tap in. And then, when you step in, I expect my clients to be nervous. They're like, oh, I'm so nervous. I'm like I want you to be nervous, you know, because it's natural. And it's normal because you're, you're stripping down in front of me, you're being vulnerable. And another thing about feminine energy is the feminine is about vulnerability and people are afraid of that, right. And so vulnerability is actually strength, because you are bearing your soul, you are bearing your skin.
Speaker 1:So when you step in and you see like the satin and the fur because it's also textural, you know sensory feeling, where you feel the satin, you feel the velvet couch, you feel the fur rug. And then when you sit in the glam room, my team is like, hey, how are you doing and how long have you been thinking about it? And we're just getting you comfortable. Then we turn the music on. It's like what makes you feel good? What type of music do you like to listen to? So it's a complete, total sensory experience where you're going to be nervous. And that's why my sessions are a lot longer than the standard industry, because I want to take my time and I want you to feel relaxed and you know what?
Speaker 1:The most beautiful thing and it never gets old with me is when that light, something switches, where they're like okay, I got this. And they see the photos. And I turn and I show them. You know their photo Like I take a couple of shots and I'm like okay, close your eyes, turn your head, cut your eyes at me, lift your chin oh my God, that's me, I'm so pretty. And then they're like okay, I got this, we're good. It is the most rewarding and beautiful feeling in the world.
Speaker 2:Well, my music would definitely be some Janet Jackson, I think.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, yes, Velvet Rope and Janet, yes.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'd definitely be tapping into my Janet era.
Speaker 1:Absolutely oh, tap in. I've had clients that are like I'm not taking my clothes off, it's okay, it's okay. And another thing is, while you are being vulnerable with me, you're still in control. So it's the little things like may I touch you, may I adjust you? You still have control. How are you feeling? I feel good, I feel okay. And then I have a fully functional copper tub. That's huge. And sometimes my clients will have the bath experience and I'm like, okay, we'll take a couple of shots and I'll just enjoy this beautiful bathroom. They're totally submerged and my plus size clients are like I've never been this covered up, like the water comes completely covered.
Speaker 1:They get to just sit back and they relax and they're like I wish I could have this bathroom yeah and they change and they're like okay, I could be naked and I still keep them modest and it's all about the art, and so the studio is so artistic and it's all about like turning you into a work of art to say, wow, that's me.
Speaker 2:I love that reminder and, for anyone that's listening and they're like a little unsure about embracing their own confidence or trying something outside of their comfort zone, what advice would you give them?
Speaker 1:Can you repeat the question one more time? My love.
Speaker 2:Sure, you know people are. You know, and I've seen some of my friends like. I had one friend that she took the whole boudoir experience and I was like man, I understood that I could, but I was a little unsure about embracing my own confidence, like stepping outside of my comfort zone. And now I'm 40, I really don't. I don't have all of that. That's what it is. You grow into who you are, but we all hit those different phases in our lives at different times. So for anyone that they're like, I want to embrace it but I'm not quite sure how do I step into that zone of saying just go with it? Like what advice would you give them to say I would say think about what's stopping you.
Speaker 1:You know, the number one reason most women want to do it but that stops them is like their weight. I was like sweetie, the weight don't mean nothing. What will take you six months in a gym, some shadow lighting and some uncomfortable poses will get you snatched Right. I would say remember when you were a child and you were learning how to ride a bike for the first time and you kept falling and you were so scared. And then, when you finally got it and you were rolling, you're like I got it.
Speaker 1:I did it, I did it. That's why I say do it scared. The biggest confidence booster is when you're scared and you're terrified of something and you do it. I remember the first time I went rappelling I was scared and terrified out of my mind. Do I want to do it again? No, but the fact that I did it it was like, oh my God, I did it. I did it. And that is the biggest confidence booster is what is something that terrifies you Public speaking, posing nude for some art and then it's like, oh my God, I did it. Okay, we're good and it's awesome. And I said do it scared, like don't let that hold you back. And one of my favorite philosophies since I've, since my twenties do you want to be the type of person that wish they should have could have did it, or do you want to be the person that did it?
Speaker 2:Hmm.
Speaker 1:If you were to die tomorrow? Are you satisfied with the life that you live today?
Speaker 2:yeah, and that's the, that's the mentality I have about everything that scares me. But I'm like because if it scares me, then evidently, um, it's moving me in the right direction because there's some growth there. There's definitely something I need to learn there. And I take those scary moments and I remind myself when I happen like you did that, like you actually did, and if you did that, like you actually did, and if you did that, you can do anything. And that's what I say about.
Speaker 2:I'm afraid of heights, but I'm the first one to be like we should take a flight. I am always like we should take a flight. And then I'm like why did you say that?
Speaker 1:The first time I went scuba diving, I was so terrified. I was like, oh my God, I did it. And after it was done and I got over my fear, I was like, oh my God, I'm 40 meters underwater and I'm swimming with the fish and I'm scuba diving. And then the next time, yeah, I want to go scuba diving again. Or the first time I went jet skiing, it was like, oh my God, let's do this.
Speaker 1:Or crossing over a bridge with ATV, it's a 100-foot drop and I'm scared of heights. And I'm like why do I always do things with heights? And when it's done, it's like, oh my God, I did it, I did it and it's something that I do with my son. He's like are you scared? He's like, yeah, I'm scared. And then I was like I got you, I got you. He's like, yeah, I'm scared. And then I was like I got you, I got you. He's like okay. He's like do you trust me? I trust you. And he did it. And I was like how's your confidence? I can do it, let's do it. And it's just, it's the same thing with my clients. It's like I understand you're scared, but do you trust me? I got you. And then, towards the end of the sessions. When they see their photos at the end, it's like that's me. That's my favorite expression. I hear the most. That's me, yeah it's awesome.
Speaker 2:I love the fact that you really take your time with like getting to know the person because, like you said, even though sometimes I think we walk into situations we kind of forget that we are still in control of what happens that whole respect for saying can I touch you, can I move you here? You know, tell me what you like. Like you, you have the perfect personality and a complete warmth for like really bringing out the best in someone to show up as their authentic self as they go through their journey. And to me, I think it's really all about going through the journey and part of that self-discovery is seeing yourself in all the layers. And, like you're saying, it's like pulling back the layers and seeing yourself in a way that I think, in a beautiful way that you never dreamed possible, that you could see yourself.
Speaker 1:All right. I remember working with a model and she was so scared you know she's not really a model per se. I was like rebuilding my portfolio and my content chief was like my sister wants to do a boudoir session and I was like, okay, she's never modeled before. I said that's okay, because she is a exact archetype of my client. They've never modeled before. And we did a session for Halloween and she was like, okay, I'm scared. I said I got you, boo, I got you. And she's like this is so awesome. And she cried and I was like I just want you to remember, when you see your photos, you are that girl and you have that sauce.
Speaker 1:So I called her back in to do another session because I just love the glam look, like my makeup artist did, and since it was a Halloween, I wanted to add her into my portfolio. But I loved her Halloween photos so much because it was the first time I created a brand new set. I call it the Courtyard. It's just my favorite set and just the way she was just really stepping into her feminine and it was the first time she really let go and she's really feeling herself. I said you know, I'm going to put you in a gallery, she didn't know when. So the photos came in and I hung her up in a gallery and she was in the middle of doing her hair and makeup and I was like you know what, call her down here, it's just like she's not done yet, it's okay. It's okay Cause if she starts crying and you know, jojo, my makeup artist can fix her makeup.
Speaker 1:And what I did was I walked her backwards and I was like you remember when you first oh man, I don't want to cry. You remember when you came into the studio the first time, she was like, yeah, and I was like you remember how you felt? And she's like, yeah, and I was like you remember what was going through your mind and how scared you was. And she was like, yeah, and I'm walking her backwards. And then I stopped her and I turned her around and she saw her portrait on the 30 by 40. Oh Lord, a 30 by 40 canvas.
Speaker 1:And she just broke down and cried and she's like that's me and I'm so pretty. And I'm like, yeah, this was Friday too, so it was super recent. And she was like that's me. And I'm like that's you, that is you, you're in my gallery, because I have a gallery on the first floor and I was like I want you to know that you are that girl and you are beautiful and you are enough and don't, ever, ever, let anyone take power from you to make you feel less, than to make you feel worthy, to make you feel like you're not beautiful. I want you to know, look at your photos and know that you are that girl. And she cried and she's like that's me and I'm on your wall and I'm like, damn, that is you. And it just reminded me of why I do what I do.
Speaker 1:I have this rule that I don't cry on social media or in media, but this is so powerful because it's like. You know, I've had my clients cry, but to see her, I'm like you are beautiful, we all know you're beautiful. You just need to see that you're beautiful. And it was like I'm like, oh, don't cry, I'm doing an Ariana Grande thing, like I'm not doing it.
Speaker 1:I'm not doing it. I'm trying not to throw my makeup because we're filming content and just seeing the look on her face this big 30 by 40 canvas wall art of her naked in the courtyard just serving face body, is tea and I'm like I do this. This is my passion, do this Because I want women to know that you are that girl. Never, ever give power to someone to be the author of your story, your book. You are the author of your book and just seeing that was like the most rewarding, and I think about it and I'm like I love my job and I never had this feeling being in the army. You know, being in the army is go go go and it's like being present, being in the moment, and it's like I get paid to pour into you, I get paid to fill your cup. It's deeper than the photos.
Speaker 2:To me, boudoir is about being enough. You have to be present and you have to be in the moment, because you have to appreciate every second of it, but to see the end result, to really own it and say this is me, I'm enough, I'm beautiful, I'm all of those things. It's a feeling and it's a transformation that you can't get anywhere else.
Speaker 1:It's the most rewarding feeling in the world to help transform women who experienced something traumatic, who's victimized, had their personal space violated in the worst way, and for them to reclaim their power yeah take it back people thing. It's like you are reclaiming your power, you're reclaiming who you are, and it's. I can't ask for anything more rewarding than that.
Speaker 2:And they're doing it in the most vulnerable feminine way of flow and energy that ripples out. Because when you leave there I'm sure every woman that leaves that studio with such empowerment they take that energy and they spread it to the next person, because that's how empowerment is for me. When I'm in that energy and that source of confidence and flow, I can feel the ripple effects as I pour into other people and give them that empowerment. So it's more than just touching them in the studio. It's all about the ripple effect of that experience and how it affects everyone. Absolutely yes. Now, marie, before we wrap up, how can listeners connect with you and learn more about what you do and to book a session or just be in your space to learn more?
Speaker 1:Well, of course, um, you can schedule a consultation and we can talk on wwwbohemianvisionscom. You can follow me on my Facebook and Instagram at Bohemian Visions Photography. My Facebook and Instagram at Bohemian Visions Photography. And yeah, everyone deserves to invest in themselves, to feel this level of confidence where you walk into the room and you just shine. I don't want every woman to experience that, and they will.
Speaker 2:They will woman to experience that and they will. They will With you, they will, all right. So, everybody, if you don't have a pen and paper, that's okay. If you look in the show notes, all Marie's information will be there for you to connect with her. All right, all right, you guys. Until next time, my friends, namaste.
