Glamour : Shelley

I was so excited to photograph Shelley in honor of her 32nd birthday. When she approached me to do a glamour session, I could already envision how everything would come together beautifully. Shelley's foundation of confidence seems to come from a strong sense of herself in a physical, emotional and spiritual realm. It is evident to me, and I think everyone who comes in contact with her, what a special and gorgeous woman she is.

A few words from Shelley...

"I have often had hair, makeup and portraits done but it has always been for an occasion. The experience of having all that pampering attention feels rushed and gets swallowed up in the excitement of the day - graduation, family simcha, or a wedding. I wanted to enjoy the process without the pressure of rushing to the big event. I so loved working with Cassy who made both the hair and makeup experience pleasurable and whose work really shines in the photos. 

I was marking my birthday, but on that day there was no obvious accomplishment or milestone to celebrate, but I did want to take a moment, an expression of a “mesibat hodaya” a celebration of gratitude, for this ongoing process of personal growth and development of self love to recognize how far I have come and anticipate all the good the future holds. The past couple years I experienced acute injury, recovery, and shifted gears professionally from communication and visual arts to embrace being a yoga teacher as part of my journey. I knew I could trust Rebecca to connect to and reveal that gratitude and renewal in still photographs.

I am so touched by the final series of portraits."

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Noa

It is not often that a person touches your soul. When it happens, it is a true blessing, as many of these encounters are defining moments in your life. When I met Noa, I knew very little about her. Through designing our glamour and boudoir session, I began to see the strength she had and her ability to draw light from seemingly dark places.

When Noa found out that she had a very high risk of breast cancer, she decided to have her breasts surgically removed to eliminate these risks. She chose life. She also chose to let this process be a positive one, allowing for her emotions to be genuine and embracing herself and her life in the most healing way.

I was absolutely honored and thrilled that our session could be part of her journey.

In Noa's words, "I chose to do a boudoir session before my scheduled mastectomy as a way of saying farewell to my breasts. It was important to me to have a beautiful memory of the breasts that fed and nurtured my 3 children, had been part of my sexual life. I didn't want to remember my breasts as a body part that had betrayed me, but rather as a part of me that had given so much. I also did not know how my new breasts would turn out (they are beautiful too!), and I knew it was possible that I could end up with no breasts, or severe scars. I wanted one last image of my body as it was created."

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Britt Wainer

Glamour : Shoshana

I had the honor of photographing a really incredible woman last week. Shoshana has approached life with strength, optimism and faith. This past year, she met a wonderful man and fell in love. He proposed to her on his last trip to Israel, and they will be having a beautiful, Spring wedding! This session was a documentation of this special time and to represent a life-changing renewal within herself. Here's to being 45 and absolutely fabulous...

Year in Review : 2013

I walked into my first boudoir session, not sure what to expect. In front of me was a beautiful woman in her thirties. With multiple children, and having given birth just a couple years before, she wasn't run down, jaded or distracted. She was determined and kind. Strong and maybe a little apprehensive. Days spent being a cook, therapist, taxi cab driver, cleaner, teacher, personal assistant, accountant and all those jobs that intertwine into being a mother does not always allow time for us to stop, breathe and love ourselves. As she sat down in her living room for hair and makeup, I saw a woman transformed before me. It wasn't just a change in her outer appearance that struck me, but she had an inner glow and confidence that truly radiated from within. It was amazing. My hands shook a bit as I placed my lens on my camera, and together, we created magic.

This was the first of many women I would meet and photograph. No one's story was exactly the same. I learned about their passions, their insecurities, their childhoods, their relationships, what makes them happy, what doesn't. I saw the power of femininity, of being in touch with our inner and outer selves.

I cried the first time a client said to me, "Is that me? I'm really that beautiful? Did you photo shop everything?"

I said, "Yes, that's you."

and she said, "Today I'm going to stop hating myself."

The media tells us that to be pretty, we have to look a certain way. That our bodies are not perfect, feminine and gorgeous the way they are. We need Botox, liposuction, face lifts, boob jobs, and if all else fails, then we do.

It's just not true. I believe, because I have seen, that every woman is beautiful. It's really incredible to be able to give women, in any stage of their life, the space to feel like a queen. I feel fortunate to have started this part of my journey now. I know that there is so much more to learn, create and give. The following are some my favorite images, that I'm allowed to share, of 2013...

I’m really grateful for everyone who has played a part in this new beginning. With the exception of my husband and children, I have never ever been so inspired and in love with what I do every day. I’d like to invite you, through my blog, to continue on this journey with me. I can only imagine what an amazing year of glamour and boudoir it will be!

Make up and Hair by
Avital & Avital
Miriam Veffer
Lia Veffer
Leah Neppe