“Becca, we’re engaged!”
I hear my little sister’s voice on the other end of the phone. Tears well up in my eyes, as I think about how her life has led up to this moment.
It felt like just yesterday that we were giving dance recitals in front of our fireplace and laughing so hard that we fell to the ground.
I still imagine Davina as a teenager, my partner in literal crime… (If you know, you know)
…navigating the world for the first time together.
I have so much love in my heart for the moments we’ve shared together over the years, and it’s been amazing to witness who she has become. Especially after overcoming lots of obstacles that we faced in our early years.
I don’t think either of us would have ever imagined the paths that we chose in life or the places we’ve arrived in.
Which makes it all really beautiful and obviously Divinely orchestrated…
In the words of Davina, “My story is complicated, chaotic, and very overwhelming to discuss at times.
After growing up in an environment where I was violated and taken advantage of, I had these patterns that continued to show up over and over again. Those who were watching from the sidelines noticed the scary and dangerous trajectory I was headed down.
At some point, I knew that I needed to make a change. I realized I didn’t know how to love myself. Fast forward to my late 20s, I stopped blaming everyone else around me and created change in my life. I finally found my purpose and someone in my life that not only fulfilled what I was looking for in a life partner but also someone that continues to make me a better person each and every day. I feel seen, I feel appreciated, and most importantly, I feel loved.
This boudoir session embodies exactly who I am and how comfortable I feel in my own skin today. I wanted to do this as a way to honor and celebrate how far I’ve come on my journey as well as gift my husband-to-be something meaningful and sexy…”
“Leading up to the shoot, I did experience some fear and anxiety mostly surrounding logistical things. There was also a voice in the back of my head that didn’t feel totally prepared because I had never done anything like this before.
But I trusted my sister when she said she would help guide me every step of the way, and that’s exactly what she did.”
“I felt so comfortable and safe having Rebecca photograph me. Whether she was my sister or was not related at all, I know that she makes the experience so personal. We spoke a lot beforehand, and she kept everything in mind to give me the best experience.”
“When it came to some of the more “risqué” moments, it honestly felt so natural and actually very liberating! You can see it in my facial expressions as you look through my pictures. I am glowing from head to toe and truly felt in my element. I walked away from my shoot feeling very empowered and proud of myself.”
“It wasn’t until I received the photos that I realized this may have been one of the first times in my life where I can say I really fell in love with myself and my body. There are no words to explain how I felt when I received these pictures back from my sister, but I do know that it changed me.”
“I have grown from this experience. My self-confidence and the way that I look at myself have really improved. I know what a badass I am now.
I have been put down for my physical appearance my whole life, and I finally figured out that those hurtful words probably never had anything to do with me.
It’s a special feeling when it all clicks, and you finally understand your worth.”
Kodak Film // Processed and Scanned by Panda Labs
Makeup and hair by Alex Simcosky Glaviano - AG Artistry Kansas City
Venue: Beehive Studios in Kansas City, Missouri