On a sunlit, late summer morning in Yafo, I had the honor of photographing this breathtakingly beautiful woman.

Her boudoir session felt light and easy. One set just flowed into another.

I had photographed Lee’at once before, several years ago. This felt different.

There was a presence, a depth, and an unspoken language between us.

Just like every woman I photograph, Lee’at has her own unique story. Her own journey towards body acceptance and self-love.

When her keepsake album arrived at her doorstep, she left me this voice note…

“I don’t even know where to start. Looking at the photos again was like looking at them for the first time. I realized that I needed to look at them on my own because it was about me. The whole thing has been about me.

I’m going to cry.

I saw me and everything I wanted to document of myself. It’s a reflection of what has been and what has passed.

I was able to see me.

When I looked at those pictures, I saw a vulnerability and a strength. The strength wasn’t so much the physical strength. It’s the strength that I’ve needed out of necessity and out of sadness.

They’re beautiful, soft, strong, vulnerable, mature, and sexy, but not provocative. Anyway, I’m crying as I’m walking to the gym. I love you, and I thank you for giving me that. It was so much more than just a photoshoot, and it means the world.”

Keep reading to get a glimpse into her story…

“I wanted to share a little background about this shoot. Because it didn't happen from a good place. In fact, it's a result of my sadness and part of my journey out from underneath the shadows.

I've been working out consistently for about the past 4 years.

When corona happened, my personal and business life crashed around me.

Working out became more than just about keeping healthy. It was my escape. My therapy.

For one hour a day, all my worries vanished. My mind, instead of being weighed down by worry, was occupied with picking up the heavyweight at my feet.

Gradually the purpose of the my workouts changed.

Instead about being about my physical health and weight, it became about my mental health and literally getting stronger to lift big. It was the activity itself that I craved to succeed in, not the result.

As a result, my physique changed. A lot.

My appearance now gets stares in the streets.

I have been asked by complete strangers in the street if they can touch my arms. Friends and family ask dubiously whether I like the way I look and when am I going to stop.

Even my husband's friends ask him if he still finds me attractive.

It's made me question myself. My appearance. Am I too bulky? Too masculine? Unattractive? Do I have to stop doing what I love?

The answer is hell no.

I need this. I want this. I love what I do too much to even consider stopping. I need my escape in the mornings. I need somewhere where all my burdens and troubles don't follow me. The gym became my safe place. I'm not giving it up.

What everyone else thinks is not of my concern. I need to love and accept my new body. Most of the time I do. Other people's preconceptions about strong women need not bother me. This is something I have to learn to deal with.

This is where Rebecca came in…

We had already one boudoir session a long while ago when I just got back into training.

This time around, I told her everything. I told her how I wanted to feel. That as a strong woman, I can still be an attractive, sexy, sensual woman too. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Rebecca heard me and understood me.

And as if everything was intended, we were able to set up a session within days.

Which I think made this so right. The intention and the moment were there. I felt I needed to act on something immediately, and we were able to.