Boudoir : Ms. O

This absolutely stunning, well-traveled, artist, mother and grandmother just turned 60 years old in July. For Ms. O's birthday, her daughter-in-law wanted to give her the perfect gift. Recently having fallen in love with the idea of a boudoir session, she surprised her with one as a beautiful celebration of the life she has led and the woman she is now.

I admire the relationship between Ms. O and her daughter-in-law. They are just like best friends, and she even joined us at the end of her boudoir session for coffee. I can't describe it as anything less than adorable.

It was a dream to photograph a woman with Ms. O's beauty and strength on this gorgeous summer day...

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Lorelle

She told me, it was cancer. Stage 4. The worst kind, virtually impossible to cure. But I had no way of knowing that then. I was only 16. How? Why? When? Millions of questions rushed through my mind as fast as lightening. I was terrified. My person, my hero, my best friend, my mom had just been diagnosed with a deadly illness. A time stamp was put on her life. It wasn't up to the appropriate life-cycle that had been drilled into my head from a little kid. "So kids, a baby is born in its mommy's tummy, becomes a toddler, starts walking, talking, eating and smiling. Then the toddler becomes a small child, plays and goes to school. The child then becomes an adolescent and then an adult. The adult goes to college, studies, works, has many friends and so on. The adult gets married and has babies of their own and then his own children go through the same process. The adult becomes an old man and then eventually dies. And that children, is the circle of life." This notion of a full and rich life had been ingrained within me. I felt lied to. My mom wouldn't be a part of this circle, her life would be cut short, mid-way. 

My whole entire world as I knew it was going to change. I became a mom to my mom and sister. I became an adult overnight. I learned how to dress a wound, drive to treatments, do the shopping and household chores.

But you see, here's the thing. Through all of this my mom was a light, a ray of sunshine. She could make anyone laugh. She could light up a room with her contagious smile. She had a very hard life. She faced many struggles and challenges. Yet, despite all of this she always, and I mean always, smiled. Even in the wake of complete trauma, she was positive. We never truly knew how sick she actually was because she never ever complained. I feel so guilty every time I complain about a sore throat or a silly cold. This is probably one of the greatest lessons I was able to learn.

She would always say:"Everything is going to be ok." Now, six years later I see that she was indeed correct. Everything is ok. Not amazing, not wonderful, but OK. 

There is a school of thought that believes that the spirits come back in birds and butterflies. I usually don’t believe in those kinds of things, but when I got married 6 months ago, guests at my wedding told me that butterflies where flying and circling around the top of the chuppah. Whatever you choose to believe, I know she is there. I know she is with me. 

Even though she is no longer alive, she still teaches me life lessons every day. I have learned so much since her death and I feel like I have become a stronger person, a stronger woman because of what I have gone through at such a young age.

I have experienced a great loss. I still have an empty, concrete and cold hole close to my heart. Nothing can ever come close to filling that hole, but I have learned to deal with the pain. I have learned to accept that which is gone and continue to model my life on my mother's legacy. 

I decided to do this boudoir shoot for many reasons. For one I salute all those brave women who have won their battle against breast cancer. I pay my respects to all those who have passed away due to this illness. I honor all those families affected by a loved one who is suffering or who has suffered from breast cancer. This was a tribute to all women. I took this opportunity to appreciate my own body, to be happy with the way I look, to feel comfortable in my own skin and love the body G-d gave me. We, as a society, are obsessed with the way we look. We constantly look at perfect photo shopped models and compare ourselves to the unrealistic standards of beauty. 

The biggest lessons that I can pass on is to really love yourself, respect your body and stop criticizing the way you look. Take care of yourself, check your breasts, go for regular check-ups and appreciate who you are and what you have to offer the world. 

My mom had a very low self-esteem, and I don’t want to follow in her footsteps as she experienced tremendous heartache because of this. "We accept the love we think we deserve." We all deserve to feel beautiful, and there's no reason we can't feel empowered and sexy every day. Rebecca is an outstanding photographer, and her team is so talented. Every woman should do a boudoir session at least once in her life, and if Rebecca is the one you choose to capture your inner beauty you've certainly made the right decision. 

Thank you so much to Mekuftarot for allowing us to use a couple beautiful pieces from your new collection.

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Ms. L

This beautiful and mysterious woman had been looking for a boudoir photographer for a long time. When she came across my website, it was perfect timing, as she was about to get married and wanted to surprise her husband-to-be with an album of intimate photographs.

When I began to photograph her, it was so comfortable and our session flowed to the R&B music playing in the background. I can't say much about her, since she chose to be anonymous for this blog post, but I will say that she is one incredibly successful, intelligent and stunning woman. 

After she received her images she said that she's afraid she might become addicted to this hobby, and honestly, I hope she does. Her session embodied everything I love about boudoir...

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham

Boudoir : Natasha

"I had never thought that I would ever do a boudoir session. It was only after my husband, who is a photographer, asked me if I wanted a photo shoot with Rebecca as a gift (to be honest I don’t know if it was really a gift for me or a gift for him!) that I started to consider it. 

Even though I think of myself as a free spirited person, I never thought I would be completely comfortable sitting half naked in front of a camera. Looking at Rebecca’s pictures I noticed how she had captured really beautiful images of women. As if each photo were a celebration of femininity and strength. I also wanted to have my turn to feel like a woman in-love with my own body.

My issues with my body run far deeper than what is on the surface. My husband and I have been struggling with Unexplained Infertility for more than 5 years now.  The journey has been quite a difficult one. As terrible and absolutely devastating as it is at times, it’s not ALL bad.

One of the more difficult issues, however, is a feeling of betrayal by my own body.  My body has been incapable of what women are meant to be able to do. I am a creative person but cannot create the one thing that I long for, a life, a baby. These feelings of betrayal have lead to feelings of anger, resentment and even shame.  With all of the operations, hormone injections, internal ultra sounds, blood tests and being poked and prodded by strangers, I battle at times to feel beautiful and dare I even say, sexy.

It is time for me to step out of the shadow of shame about my body and about my infertility and share my empowering experience of my boudoir session; an experience that helped me connect more to my body and my femininity.

Rebecca and her lovely hair and make–up artist, Cassy, are a formidable team. They made me feel like a goddess. Rebecca had a way of making me feel safe and secure and so comfortable during the shoot as if my skin was my clothing. Everything became natural, playful and free.  

Looking at the pictures, I see that Rebecca has captured me in all my complexity, each photo reflecting a different part of me and brings my story to the fore.

I am so glad that I took this opportunity to embrace my body and myself. During this journey of infertility I think its important to do what one can, to get through rough times and especially to develop a deep caring for oneself.

My husband and I have been focusing our attention on enjoying the small things life has to offer. (Like having a boudoir session!)  We do enjoy our lives. We have amazing family and friends. I have an incredible therapist. We both love what we do, and if our journey does not work out the way we want, I am sure we will find the strength to make meaning with what we have.

The struggle of infertility can be quite isolating and lonely at times. Many people mean well with advice and stories but nothing feels better then when someone just allows you to express what it is you are feeling without having to ‘fix’ things.

This journey has also led me to meeting interesting people, gurus, healers and experts in their fields. It has connected me with strangers in a very deep way. I have tried a range of alternative and western treatment and have learnt about new and exciting technology. I have learnt about myself and about my strengths and in some ways, it has humbled me. Infertility raises all kinds of really difficult issues within even the healthiest of relationships, but through it all I have fallen more in-love with my husband. 

Talking about my struggles is helpful at times and I have joined various online support groups. I have felt, however, that a support group was lacking in my area, and so in the next few weeks I will be starting an Art Therapy Infertility Support Group at my studio, Tel Aviv Art Studio. 

Thank you, Rebecca. I love these photographs..."

Hair and Makeup by Cassy Avraham