A New Chapter in Life after Breast Cancer | Boudoir : Chaya

There are stories all around the world about women surviving breast cancer. While survival may not be rare, what is so incredibly unique about these experiences is the emotional journey that having a life-threatening illness tends to take you through. Chaya’s story intrigued me because, to me, it was clear that she took the opportunity to redefine herself as a woman and reawaken her sexuality. When the news came that she was cancer-free, she left her home in America and moved across the world to our little, beautiful state of Israel. Her shining confidence, her amazing dance classes, and her supportive, loving nature has illuminated the lives of so many.

“I want my boudoir photos to tell women that I survived, and you will too. I’m 46. I’m divorced. I’m out here living my best life. Whatever you need to survive, you will. Life is not over because you had a mishap.

I’m standing in my power today because I’m embracing who I am.”

“When I was healing from breast cancer, I didn’t have many things to look at. I saw a lot of really train-wrecked photos and sad faces. Hopefully someone will see these and say, OK she has scars, but she still smiles.”

“My boudoir experience was so amazing. I walked away feeling powerful. I have to say that Rebecca is really a queen. She speaks to you and your soul when she is taking your photos. This experience has added meaning to my womanhood. I learn something new about myself each day because I am in this stage of growth, but having a boudoir session really helped me embrace all of my flaws.”

Makeup by Tiferet Lehrman

Embracing Vulnerability through Boudoir | New York Boudoir : Ekka

For many years I struggled with my weight, but I still always loved my body. About 10 years ago, I had weight loss surgery, and I realized that while I didn't hate my old body, I loved my new one. Then, 5 months before my wedding in August of 2018, my weight loss surgery began to fail me, and I needed an immediate revision. Very quickly I saw my body returning to the way it once was, months before needing to fit into a wedding dress.

I was devastated.

With help and support of those around me I was able to have it fixed, and my weight went back down, but my body was still different. That was the moment that I realized I wanted to capture how I felt.

Through doing a boudoir session, I also wanted to give my biggest supporter, my husband, a token, a gift- beautiful pictures of the body he loves and the person he loves most. He loves every flaw and every part of me and has helped me love and embrace those parts of me too. What makes him happy makes me happy. We love my little tummy pouch that I will never loose, my stretch marks on my wide hips and thighs, my multiple laparoscopic scars on my tummy and my mushy arms.

As my session approached I hoped for a wonderful space where I could learn about myself and my confidence, and a take away of a really beautiful time in my life, both physically and spiritually…

My experience was beyond any expectation. As much as I told myself and others I wasn't nervous, I think I was on the inside. But at the same time I was so ready for this experience. I got to know Rebecca Sigala through a wonderful and close friend of mine whose endorsement of the experience and, moreover of Rebecca, put me at ease and even made me eager to have this experience.

I loved chatting with Rebecca and Marcus Santiago, the makeup artist and hair stylist, leading up to the shoot. It broke the ice and made us all feel like friends. By the end of that one hour we were all following each other on social media and looking forward to the boudoir session.

I felt confident and vulnerable at the same time. My confidence came out of knowing my body and not being ashamed to share my flaws with the camera and the woman behind it. My vulnerability came from not knowing how to act in front of the camera. Rebecca helped me overcome that vulnerability and guided me through the process to help create with her the best looking pictures of me.

Overall, I couldn't stop speaking about the experience with my close friends and family. Even telling people I did this no longer made me feel bashful. I was so excited waiting for my photos!

When Rebecca sent me the final gallery of images, I viewed them together with my husband, and he was blown away. I knew he would be. He loved the intimacy of the shots, the style of the photography, the color and the black and white, and he loved the little personal touches I added by making sure we featured parts of my body that I know he loves, and I love too. I was also happy to have been able to have the creative freedom to wear special items I knew he would love and would make this session really special.

I ended sharing a bunch of pictures with my closest friends. They loved them too! I was also super proud and honored each time Rebecca shared a picture from my session on social media!

I took from this experience a greater sense of confidence. I not only accept having to be in a vulnerable state, but I embrace it. It no longer makes me feel vulnerable. I guess my husband has also helped me with this. With him I have always felt like my best self; free, open, and confident. I never felt like I ever had to be ashamed or hide any part of me. Until my session with Rebecca, I didn’t feel that same way around others.

This session made me realize that it isn't about the others, it’s about me. I now have that confidence and comfort-ability to be really open and free.

5 Reasons not to do a Boudoir Session

There are so many reasons that we can come up with for not doing a boudoir session, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorites. As women, I think we can all identify with some of these, and I hope that my responses will shed some light on what a boudoir experience with me is truly like.

1. “I need to lose weight.”

This is the number one reason I hear from women who are interested in a boudoir session, but do not feel quite ready. I wish I could scream this from the rooftops, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL EXACTLY THE WAY YOU ARE.

If you are not happy with your body the way it is now, chances are you won’t be 100% happy with it, 3 months, or 5 months or even a year from now. Self-love and body appreciation comes from within, not from how you look.

Boudoir is an amazing tool that can help you see yourself, inside and out, in a new light. Perhaps you have fitness goals, and that’s great, but it doesn’t mean you won’t look sexy as you are in this very moment. Every stage of our lives and our bodies has it’s own, unique sexiness. It’s been a long road for me, but at this point, I’m appreciative of my body when it’s more curvy, less curvy, pregnant, not pregnant, post-partum, younger and older, and thankfully, I have beautiful photographs that have documented it all.

2. “I’m just not the type.”

I’m still trying to understand what this even means, but I can’t tell you how many e-mails I receive saying, “I’m so not the type to do a boudoir session, but I’d love to hear more details.”

Boudoir is for women. If you’re interested in boudoir, it doesn’t mean you love being photographed or that you’re vain or freaky in the sheets. It means that you are a woman, with a body. It’s pretty clear to me that as women, it’s important for us to connect to our bodies, in our own individual way. A meaningful boudoir experience is just one of those ways that we can delve deeper into ourselves, and flirt with different sides of who we are. Femininity and sexuality cannot be defined for everyone. If you choose to do a boudoir session, the experience can be a catalyst for finding your very own definition.

3. “I don’t have time.”

In theory, we all know that we make time for the people and things that are important to us. But throw in a little mom guilt, and there are lots of things that get overlooked.

I think a lot of women DO value time alone, space for personal growth, and self-care. If you haven’t experienced that “me time” yet, take a walk on one of these beautiful summer nights, meditate, write in your journal, go out for coffee with a friend. Breathe in that goodness you deserve and know that you are better because of it.

Then book a boudoir session with me. Because let’s be honest, it’s ONE morning of your time.

Yes, it’s true, there is a little preparation for it.

I recommend that my clients pay extra attention to themselves in the days leading up to their session. I ask them to moisturize, eat healthy, drink a ton of water, do a little bit of physical activity (even if it’s just stretching!), and of course, it’s fun to get a manicure and pedicure, go to the spa, and pick up a new set of lingerie, if it’s possible. All of these things are do-able and are small adjustments to your day that will make you happier and probably even more productive!

Just so y’all know… Even with my most luxurious package, the day of your session won’t take more than 5 hours of your time. Hair and makeup takes 2 hours, and your actual session is anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on which package you choose. Most people spend about 4 hours total with me!

4. “I can’t afford it.”

I understand you. I hear you. Life can be expensive, and the bills aren’t going to pay themselves. I wish I could offer boudoir to every single woman on this planet, and I try to do everything in my power to make it within reach.

I offer four different packages, from a completely “Stripped Down” option to a more luxurious, all inclusive experience. This way, most women can find an option that fits their desires and budget! I’m also always happy to offer monthly payment plans, without any interest.

Boudoir is an emotional AND financial investment, which sometimes makes the commitment a courageous one. I’m proud to say that my clients never look back on the money spent because their experience is far more valuable than any price tag. It’s common that they end up coming back for more boudoir sessions! Feel free to check out testimonials on my website directly from women who have taken the leap: www.rebeccasigala.com/testimonials

5. “My pictures will never look as good as the ones I see you post.”

If you know anything about me, you know I’m so not a fan of before and after pictures. I don’t think I’m giving hundreds of women “makeovers,” but rather simply tapping into another side of who they are.

Especially when it comes to sensuality, you’d be surprised by the “boudoir transformation.” I find that when a woman feels confident and free, she is in one of her most beautiful elements. I try to capture that radiating beauty, and I think that is why my photographs come out the way they do.

I think with this one, you might just have to try it for yourself. :)

Reclaiming My Own Power | Boudoir Mini-Session : Anna

I immediately became connected and excited about Anna’s personal vision for her boudoir session when we first spoke over the phone. As a photography lover herself, she mentioned how much she loved film, particularly black and white film, and how she’d enjoy pictures with movement and grain. It’s the best feeling as an artist when you know that your client not only appreciates your body of work, but that you are free to create. There’s a beautiful flow that happens between a photographer and their subject when that initial trust is established.

On a Friday morning in Tel Aviv, during our annual Valentine’s Day Mini-Sessions, I began photographing this breathtaking woman. I could just feel the depth of her story coming through my lens. With her quiet, yet graceful demeanor, I didn’t know much about Anna yet, but I knew she was special…

“I came to Israel from Latvia at age 18. Until then, I was actually a very self-confident and strong person, I knew I was a good looking girl, and it came with benefits. It was never a bad or a scary thing, but suddenly it all changed.

Coming to Israel, a country today I love with all of my heart, made me to go through a "coming of age".  Only years later I've realized that putting on more than 10 kilograms of weight and changing my dressing style completely was my way to deal with this new self of a silent (no Hebrew, I was only trying to communicate in English) and a little bit scared young woman. Men were reaching to me, often flirting aggressively, and making me very uncomfortable. It took me years to get back to my voice, my confident self, and to decide, that no one shall make me uncomfortable because of my looks or for any other reason.

This boudoir session was a symbolic closure for me. I'm not afraid to celebrate my womanhood, sensuality or my looks anymore. I have grown into being proud of myself, to defend myself and love myself completely. My loving partner and father of my son also played a significant part in my becoming the woman I am today…

For me, going through this boudoir experience is also  the way to get a piece of Art , by the Great Artist, that celebrates Me. One can call it a pure Narcissism, and I’m OK with it. A Narcissist. A Feminist. An Art Lover. I don't owe anyone the definition of Myself.

It's between Me and Myself.”

“What surprised me most about my boudoir session was that I was able to let my control freak go, and I still enjoyed myself. I’m not perfect, I’m me. I believe that that whole experience made me a bit more loving and self-accepting.”

“I would recommend this experience to every friend of mine and to any woman in general. Rebecca takes your self-love and brings it to the next level. She knows how to put a light on all of our best angles. She knows how to make you comfortable. Even her voice and her speech manner help you to believe that you're doing great and the results will surprise you, even if you are someone who already learned to love yourself. And if you haven't, Rebecca has even more to offer you. Rebecca brings a loving eye. That's the main thing that matters, not even her great technical skills and not her experience manage this act of love, but her eyes that see the best in you. I'm looking forward to a full boudoir session with her soon.”

Makeup by Makeup by Shosh