What I Wish Every Woman Knew Before Turning 40

I’ve never been one of those people who sits around worrying about turning a certain age. 40 was always just a number for me.

Until I started approaching it. And my skin started showing signs of aging. And I started to feel like I hadn’t accomplished anything. And thus, a small little spiral began.

Our society is littered with messages about how 40 year old women are old maids and their lives are over. Beauty is gone, body is fading, dreams are dying.

Remember, friend, that this is the same society that wants you to be stuck in low self esteem so you’re constantly buying things to make you feel better. Are their standards really the ones you want to base your life off of?

Yes, my skin is aging. But I know people whose skin never got to that point.

Maybe I haven’t accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish, but I’m not dead. There’s still time.

My knees hurt, my back hurts, I don’t get enough sleep.

But I also have more knowledge. I have more experience. I’ve met so many people who have brightened my life. My power is just beginning. Approaching 40 doesn’t feel like a decline, it feels like a rebirth!

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably heard me say sexy is a mindset, not a body type. That’s not just something I say, it’s true! Since it’s a mindset, it doesn’t expire. It only increases when you realize you don’t have to perform for others, that your confidence is for you. Your sexiness is for you. Boudoir is for you.

Every line and curve on your body tells the story of where you have been in your life. They’re your story. They’re your art. You are art.

Embrace your art.

This is not the beginning of the end, it’s time for you to rise! Own your desires! Wear the bold lipstick! Say no when something doesn’t serve you! Dance with the door open! Book your boudoir photo shoot! The best chapters of your story haven’t been written yet, and you’re the only one who gets to hold the pen!

My Worst Boudoir Photography Client EVER!

I would consider myself a very lucky photographer. I’ve worked with some really amazing clients.

If you twisted my arm and forced me to give you a percentage, I’d say 99% of my clients have been awesome, badass ladies.

But…there’s no such thing as a perfect record in service industries.

Which leads us to my worst client ever.

She only lets me shoot her from certain angles. To an extent, I understand. Most people have an angle that they believe they look best from. However, an important thing to note when you’re having a boudoir experience like mine, is that giving in to the process is very important.

If you get to dictate exactly how I photograph you, you’ll never get to see your beauty as interpreted by me. It’s your beauty as interpreted by you with me as a proxy.

She comes in with way too many options of outfits and wants to shoot all of them. That would take an insane amount of time, and it would limit the amount of photos we could take in each outfit.

Having options is great, we love variety. But, if you’re dead set on wearing every outfit, we’re never gonna get through them.

She doesn’t really let me get as creative as I’d like to be. There are certain techniques that I’d love to use with her or even things I’d like to try, but she just doesn’t make it possible.

She doesn’t pay me at all. She’s hypercritical of her flaws.

You might be thinking, ‘Shawna, why do you let her continue to come back? Time after time, just putting you through the wringer.’

I can’t really let her go. It would be hypocritical for me to stop photographing myself. I tell people to take the leap and trust the process. What kind of person would I be if I didn’t walk the walk with all that talking of the talk?

That’s right, I’m my worst client ever!

However…if I’m able to satisfy my most difficult client (myself), don’t you think I can provide you with an awesome service that you’re going to cherish forever?

If you’re in the Atlanta area (or are down for a visit), and want to book a luxury boudoir experience, come see us!