In My Element | Bridal Boudoir : Davina

“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

Happy Birthday to Me | Israel Boudoir : Danielle

I can still remember the skepticism in Danielle’s voice when we spoke for the first time about her boudoir session. She told me that she really wanted to give this experience as a birthday gift to herself to celebrate her body after the birth of her beautiful twins. It was clear that Danielle loved photography, art, and her femininity. The thing was, she just wasn’t sure if her boudoir pictures would come out the way she’d like because she is used to having more control over her own photography.

Danielle has a beautiful interior design portfolio and Instagram feed, and honestly, I get it. There is usually a bit of perfectionism that comes along with being creative and artistic.

Personally, it even took me a long time to feel like I could completely let go when I was being photographed. It’s so easy to try to take the reins, but ultimately, embracing trust and letting go yields the best results, both in our final pictures and within ourselves…

In Danielle’s words, “I decided that I would treat myself with a special birthday present: feminine photographs that will celebrate my body after all the changes it went through over the years, and especially after the pregnancy with my twins. I have to say that I always had a love/hate relationship with my body, and this year, I decided that I really want to resolve this issue with myself.”

“When I finally looked at them for the first time, I was really excited and also really scared. I ended up loving them!”

“I highly recommend every woman to do a session like this. It was simply an incredible experience, and it was all thanks to Rebecca, who takes you through a process of emotional preparation beforehand. The coaching with her was centered around self-love and understanding that the beauty standards are something that needs to be shattered.”

“Of course, I’m still working on my self-love, but totally feel that this entire process really advanced me.”

Danielle, your boudoir session was such a testament to your inner growth. I absolutely loved photographing you and helping you celebrate the woman that you are today.

Makeup and Hair by Beauty By Rhonda

Celebrating Out Loud | Israel Boudoir : Malka

“I am Malka. An artist, calligrapher, wife, mama, proud friend of Rebecca, and mainly a human just trying to figure life out.

I did a boudoir session as a treat to myself. I did it before I was ready or really knew why I wanted it on a deeper level.

That's how I do a lot of the more important things in my life. On a whim. So far so good.”

“I have admired Rebecca's work since I first came across it on Facebook years ago. I knew her talent was something special and worth following.

I never actually imagined myself doing a session though. I couldn’t envision for a moment that I would be the subject of such a photoshoot, despite my interest in it. Seems weird now! 

Then suddenly, late last year I got a strong feeling that I wanted to book a boudoir shoot with Rebecca after I had my best month in my business yet. That was my first idea for a self-love splurge! So I did it.

I decided to treat myself to a gorgeous boudoir experience. And I’m so thrilled I did.

The scheduled date fell at the perfect time, in a period of joy and self-love that I had no idea was coming. It was all so synchronized in ways I can only appreciate and can’t fully understand.”

“I have always been relatively happy with my body and appearance, but I was raised to see my body as something to be covered, to be somewhat shameful of, and to be hidden from the world.

I never really had a chance to think much of my body on a deep level or to come face to face with it because it was usually behind something. I did struggle with binge eating throughout high school and undiagnosed stomach issues, so I have struggled, but not really with weight or appearance. The challenge was more related to the physical sensations my body held and the treatment of my own body and self-esteem issues that come with the self-harm of stress-induced overeating. 

Basically, I considered myself lucky to be naturally thin and close enough to beauty standards, but I didn’t love my body deep down. I just accepted it and tried to stay thin.

Through my boudoir experience, I understood what celebrating beauty without constraint does for the mind, for joy, and for freedom.

I didn’t expect to feel that. I expected to feel beautiful but still hidden. This session allowed me to feel exposed in the best way. In a safe space, in beautiful light with my wonderful friend!”

“A lot changed in my life right before the session so everything actually worked out perfectly. A month before my session I had a life-changing plant medicine experience in Costa Rica that really changed my entire mindset about life.

It helped me finally kick my binge eating habit and negative self-talk out the window. It opened me up to joy and love and the self-acceptance of where I am right now. I began meditating. I was eating healthier and doing yoga. I’d also begun dressing more freely in a way that felt more me and less influenced by outside rules and obligations.

So my session came at the perfect time, and somehow, without preparing, I was more ready than ever. I healed from within, and it helped me be ready to heal in my external view of myself and my body.” 

“My boudoir session with Rebecca was perfect in every way. The makeup and hair by Rhonda was so glamorous and better than I could have ever imagined. Rebecca was so fun to hang out with, and she made me feel so effortlessly comfortable. During the preparations, I happened to get a call from a dream client (Dior!) so that was another exciting unplanned addition.

After that, it took me a few minutes to let go and feel the posing more naturally, but Rebecca was patient and encouraging every step of the way.

The experience was pure fun and an example of jumping into a newness that I think keeps us young and ensures life doesn't become dull.

The shoot went by so quickly. Rebecca made me feel really beautiful and confident in a situation that was entirely strange and overwhelming to me at first.”

“I was on a high for the rest of the day and totally kicked ass at Dior in full makeup. It left me forever changed. I realized celebrating my outer beauty had value.

I gave space for my body to be celebrated out loud, and that was certainly a first. G-d makes us beautiful, and that is something to share in the right time and place. This place and time felt right, and I’m thrilled it’s been captured as a true art form with Rebecca’s eye and guidance.”

“This experience changed my perspective on sharing our bodies with the outside world. It helped me understand why others would share images of themselves or dress in a way that’s more revealing. It allowed me to release judgment of people who do that.

I still have modesty police that lives in my head sometimes, but overall I feel I have a new understanding and acceptance of what a sexually and physically liberated woman brings to the world. And it isn’t a bad thing. It just is. It’s natural. It’s what naturally happens when patriarchal control is relinquished.”

“When Rebecca sent me my gallery, I lit a candle to set the tone and then scrolled and scrolled and couldn’t stop. I was so happy!

There were so many photos I loved at first sight, and some I couldn’t believe were me because they were so darn gorgeous. Even the few that weren’t my favorite because they focused on a body part I don’t love, it felt good to see them. I was able to approach them from a place of joy and understanding that this is my body and it serves me. I celebrated those parts of me, too. I don’t have to look like a model from every angle. It just isn’t the whole picture of who I am.”

“We all deserve to be treated, dressed, and photographed like goddesses. We all deserve to be given the chance to see how beautiful we are through another’s eyes. Sometimes we need that outside lens and perspective to know our worth. It sparks an inner knowing.

It’s ok to receive help in this area and learn to love your body more as a result.”

“I’d recommend this experience specifically to religious women who don’t celebrate their bodies and feel they’ve been taught to hide them like it’s a bomb that might go off.

Women who don’t know how to let go because they were taught to hold it all in.

Women who want to laugh and breathe deeper. Honestly, I think that’s all of us.”

Hair and Makeup by Rhonda Lev

Kodak Film // Processed and Scanned by Panda Labs, Tel Aviv

Empowered and at Peace | New York Boudoir : Rebecca

This breathtaking session took place last year, in October 2021. I know, I know. I can’t believe I haven’t posted it yet either!

As the first cold breezes flew through New York, my makeup artist and I arrived at our gorgeous Airbnb to begin the first of many boudoir sessions.

In my client’s words, “I’ve been speaking with Rebecca for years now trying to work with her. Splitting time between Israel and the US, conflicting schedules, and of course, Covid, we were finally able to make it work. This was years in the making!”

When my client, also Rebecca, walked into the Airbnb for her boudoir session, she lit up the room. After all this time, I could not wait to photograph her.

Through the pre-session process, I had the chance to get to know Rebecca more and help guide her through the physical and emotional preparations. I remember her telling me about her journey, sharing her feelings about her body, and giving me all the details of her stunning tattoos. Her coaching call gave us the opportunity to have a collaborative vision for her experience and the art we wanted to create together.

Afterward, she said, “This was the most intimate and personal set I have ever done in my life. Rebecca made everything so personal and important in all the best, happy, and healing ways. She makes you look within and asks the questions you are afraid to answer. I felt so much lighter and empowered after talking with her and spending time with her makeup artist, Rhonda.

Film photography has always been my favorite and most personal because of my late Aunt, so I’m not surprised that seeing the developed rolls, I feel at peace. I loved every second of this experience.

I feel at peace. I hope everyone can find that.”

The session really flowed so beautifully and naturally, and I see how that energy came through in the portraits…

I love traveling to new places and having different backdrops for the sessions. Even through the window, you know I’m not in Israel anymore!

Her eyes and the connection shots just totally blow me away.

When Rebecca saw this picture for the first time, she said, “This is the one photo I would want to represent me for the rest of my life. My jaw is on the floor. I can’t believe it.”

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have photographed you, Rebecca. Thank you for trusting me with these intimate and vulnerable moments on your journey.

For those of you who are in the U.S. and want to have this unique experience, there are still some openings left for the first week of May 2023 in New York. Feel free to e-mail me at rebecca@rebeccasigala.com to explore the possibilities together. xoxo

Follow my incredible client, Rebecca, on her Instagram page. @embersofbecca

Makeup and Hair by Rhonda Lev