Jane was feeling invisible at 50, but now she feels empowered
It was wonderful to be a part of Jane’s journey of acceptance as she turned 50. Her boudoir photoshoot helped her feel visible and empowered! Those self-critical inner voices have quietened down a little, and she is finally beginning to see her potential and how amazing her future is.
I had been dreading turning 50, but as the first year of Covid unfolded I changed my mindset and decided that, in actual fact, 50 was going to be MY year! My year to launch myself headlong into the next phase of my life and all that it had to offer, beginning with finally deciding to enrol in various courses and launch a company to run alongside my full-time job.
I had a love/hate relationship with my body and my 22 year marriage had left me feeling more ‘invisible’ than attractive, and so I happened upon a post from Foxlow Photography.
I had waxed and wained about doing a Boudoir photo shoot in the past but never got around to it and always thought I’d just be disappointed with the reality of how I looked, but I found the Foxlow photographs arresting and empowering. The women were "normal" women like me... and they looked incredible!
So, in my 50th birthday year, I decided to just go for it. What the hell…. What did I have to lose? That was it: I booked a shoot and then immersed myself in endless research for what to wear… My actual shoot was delayed by a year due to Covid and my ever hectic life getting in the way, but Danielle was so flexible and really accommodated me. Nothing was too much trouble.
On the day of the shoot, I think I was more excited than nervous. My drive through the Derby Dales was just glorious and when I arrived at the studio, I was greeted with warmth and immediately put at ease. Danielle guided me through how the session would work and advised me on which outfits would work best. I had my hair and makeup done and felt fabulous!
And so to the shoot. Who would have thought that strutting around in your undies would feel so natural and easy?! Danielle and Jon talked me through the poses so I knew what I was doing and made the whole thing so easy and enjoyable. The time flew by and I was actually disappointed when it was over.
I hadn’t told my husband what I was doing and had kept the whole thing secret. I wasn’t doing it as a present for him, I was doing it for me. To make me feel better and more empowered in myself.
I drove home with a glint in my eye and a sense of excitement about seeing the photos, and I didn’t have to wait long. A week later I was back at the studio, clutching a tissue and watching a slideshow of amazing images.
I hadn’t expected to cry, the crying part took me by surprise, but seeing images of myself in all my now 51 year old glory put things in to perspective.
It made me realise that I deserve not to be invisible. I’m still young (relatively) and have potential for so much more, and I felt good and looked great!
So thank you Danielle and Jon, you are doing a wonderful job: empowering us women, celebrating the female form and enabling our self-critical inner voices to calm the hell down and appreciate how bloody amazing we and our bodies are.
