Boudoir Retreat Reflection
Shots From the Retreat!
Meg looking it a window with evening light coming in from a care with her hand in hair.
Meg sitting in front of a fire place looking away from camera in robe and lingerie
Meg holding a cup of coffee curled up on a couch admiring her body
Megs hands in her hair arching back in lingerie kneeling on a chair
Meg sat in front of the fireplace staring directly at the camera.
Meg curled up on the couch with coffee staring off camera
Candid shot of Meg looking down at her body on a chair in front of the window.
Meg twerking in front of the fire place laughing with tongue out.
Boudoir has been a part of my self love journey for most of it, although most of it has been self photography, especially early on in my journey. So I was ECSTATIC when Caleb of @calebtakesphotos asked me to facilitate a workshop at his first boudoir retreat! So I got to planning and organizing my workshop as well as getting photos done as well! Picking my outfits was so hard! Upon arrival I knew that it was going to be so magical. Everyone was getting ready, snacking, and getting to know each other (even Caleb got his makeup done!). No one knew each other until we all got there. We had people from all over Oregon as well as someone who flew all the way from Washington D.C.
Once everyone was ready to start the first set we talked about how the evening would flow. We all did the first set in a bedroom with stunning lighting alone with Caleb. Caleb did such an incredible job of creating a safe supporting environment that felt so comfortable and empowering to be in. The next set of photos was taken in the living room. We had the option to do these alone but we also could have an incredible group of hype women if we wanted. The most magical thing happened and everyone chose to have a hype squad. The lighting and fireplace gave such a good mood for this and empowering each other was such a beautiful thing to feel and be part of. A lot of the work I do is all about empowering others and helping them feel confident and sexy in their bodies so this part fed my soul and passion. Remind you we had all met each other that same day.
After the first two sets of photos being taken we took a break to eat and get refreshments. We all got ready for my workshop. This workshop was focused mainly on self love and embodiment. Starting a self love journey can be really hard especially if you have or do engage in negative self talk, it can almost be and feel toxic to jump straight to self love and body positivity. So I always start with body neutrality. Body neutrality is just cutting the negative talk we are taught and do. For example instead of saying “ I don’t like the way my arms look” try saying “these are my arms”. Eventually you can move to saying things “ I’m thankful for all I can do with my arms” or “ I love the way my arms support me to do (enter activities you enjoy).”
On top of the self love and embodiment I also walked everyone through some breathwork and ways to help create or grow a mind body connection. Breathwork is so important to me for my mind-body connection because it’s one of the only things we do completely subconsciously but that we can take control over at any time. That’s why it’s commonly used as a way to help with anxiety and mindfulness. Leaving room for questions and open discussion about how we felt during the two different photo sessions we had and the difference between the two ( in the room alone vs. in the living room with a hype squad). As we wrapped up my workshop we got ready for the image reveal portion of the night. Let me set the scene.
All of us cozy up in the living room while Caleb linked the laptop to the TV so we could see the high quality version and everyone else could see it on the TV. Remember we did one set of photos alone with Caleb and the other was in the living room with everyone. It was a really incredible experience to be able to see it all come together and to get to see them the same day as well as getting to hear everyone's reaction as you click to the next photo. I loved seeing that although we all had the same space to take photos, each person's set of them was so unique and beautiful just like the women in them. After we finished up the image reveal we each got to take a few film headshots on a really unique old film camera.
We then wrapped up Caleb went home for the night and we all settled in to our own spaces. This gave me time to reflect and really feel/ explore how I was feeling. I spent some time decompressing and connecting with myself through breathwork before going to bed (this is something I do most nights).
If you know me you will know that coffee is a very important if not necessary part of my life. So I brought my french press and freshly pre-ground coffee. So getting up the next morning I made coffee for all those who wanted it and we all kind of chatted did a slow cozy morning till Caleb arrived for our group shoot and cozy photo set. We did a really fun photo set all together with a bubble machine and us in our sexy cozy outfits. We each also got to take a sexy polaroid to take home as well! As we finished we all packed up and before we had to head out we sat and talked together about our experience at the retreat and connected with each other on social media. Then we parted ways.
A few weeks after the retreat I was having one of those bad body days. Yes, even I still have days where I just don’t feel good in or about my body. However it’s how we navigate the bad days that’s important, so I put on an outfit I like and was getting through my day just remaining neutral about my body until I finished pole class that day and saw an email from Caleb. It was my folder of images from the retreat. I honestly teared up going through all of them, my brain was like “ even I can’t argue with those”. Something about them made me feel so confident and beautiful that it truly changed how I saw myself in that moment. Seeing myself through Caleb’s lens and remembering the way it felt getting them taken with the hype squad really resonated with me that day.
I am always so grateful for the chance to grow and explore myself in different ways and boudoir is a way I do that. No two shoots will ever be the same, and there's so much room for self expression and exploration within boudoir both as self photography and getting them done by another person. Doing this retreat is probably one of the best things I have ever done for work. There was something so incredible about sharing this experience with people I had never met yet felt so comfortable, and empowered around. I cannot wait to continue to do more workshops and grow this aspect of my coaching. Doing this retreat/workshop lit a spark for me and helped me find a new desire and passion in what I am doing as a sex and intimacy coach. I can’t wait to see where it takes me and all of you!
With all of that said I hope you take away a few things from this:
1. Everyone should do a boudoir shoot and feel confident and sexy in their skin
2. Bad days will happen but they will also not last
3. Take time to explore and discover new things about yourself.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to have done this retreat and I can’t wait to plan the next one and maybe even different styles of retreats. If you are interested in booking me for a retreat please use this contact form. As always stay healthy, stay positive, and don’t be an asshole!
XOXO,
Meg Thurston
““When you see yourself through someone else’s lens it can change your perspective.””
