5 Ways to Treat Yourself Like Your Best Friend and Love Yourself Again | Maryland Boudoir Photographer
“Love yourself.” It’s a saying we hear all the time these days—from TV shows, magazines, blogs, and books. But what does it really mean to love yourself? How do you make self-love a part of your everyday life? Here are some ways to treat yourself like your best friend, and learn to love yourself again!
The best way to truly love yourself is simply to treat yourself just like you would your best friend. When it comes to our closest friends, we only see the positive in them. We don’t criticize them or point out their flaws. We help them feel empowered, encouraging them and cheering them on.
But we rarely treat ourselves this way. We’re often hyper-critical of every mistake we make, every minor flaw, and our insecurities distort the way we see ourselves. If we treated ourselves more like we do our best friends, then maybe we’d feel stronger and more empowered and see ourselves as we really are.
Treat Yourself Like Your Best Friend and Forgive Yourself.
How many times have you lain awake at night, thinking about a slip-up at work or a poorly-thought-out remark made to a friend or family member? We run our mistakes over and over again in our minds, punishing ourselves until we feel like we can’t do anything right.
It’s important to accept blame for the things we’ve done wrong, but being quick to do so can often cause us to be overly hard on ourselves—and to take the blame for things that aren’t our responsibility.
When your best friend screws up and apologizes, you’re ready to give her a second chance. Show the same kindness and understanding to yourself. Remember that one mistake doesn’t erase all the good things you’ve done or any of your fantastic qualities.
So treat yourself like you would your best friend — forgive yourself and move on.
Listen to—and tend to—your own needs.
When your best friend is up late the night before a big exam or work presentation, you tell her to go to bed and get some rest. You make sure she doesn’t drink too much when you go out and offer her advice when she needs it.
Your own body and mind let you know what you need to stay healthy. Listen to them. Too often, we push ourselves too hard, trying to get everything crossed off our to-do list. But sometimes you need to slow down, for both your physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself is a great way to show self-love, just as you do so by taking care of your loved ones.
Surround yourself with people who love and respect you.
The people we let in our lives have a huge impact on how we see ourselves. If you spend your time with people who don’t respect you, you won’t respect yourself.
If your best friend had relationships that were toxic or hurtful, you’d tell her to drop those poor friends. But when it comes to yourself, you may think you deserve what you’re given. Instead, try to make sure your life is full of people who genuinely care about you. When you’re well-loved by others, it’s easier to see how deserving you are of that love.
Stand up for yourself.
You wouldn’t allow anyone to tell your best friend she’s unattractive or terrible at her job. Why would you allow someone to say those things to you?
Unfortunately, the meanest person in your life is sometimes yourself, which means you have to stand up and remind yourself of your own worth and value. It can be a challenge to learn to stick up for yourself, but it’s well worth it.
Treat yourself like your best friend -- just treat yourself.
Some of the kindest things our best friends do for us are unexpected surprises: bringing you your favorite drink or inviting you out for a spontaneous lunch.
Show yourself that same love with the occasional treat. Sometimes you just need a latte or a massage to make a rough day a little better.
Maybe even enjoy a boudoir session with Annapolis Boudoir!
Your best friend is your best friend for a reason. She wouldn’t stick around if you she didn’t love everything about you, and you wouldn’t hang out with her if you didn’t love her just the same. If you learn to show yourself the same care and kindness you show your best friend, then you can truly learn how to love yourself.
Linda McCarthy is a premier Maryland boudoir photographer conveniently located in Davidsonville, MD, between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and serving the Greater Annapolis area, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Ready to learn more? Let’s chat!! I would love to get to know you better and guide you towards falling in love with your self and greeting the world with love, confidence and a renewed sense of energy.
Join Annapolis Boudoir’s Private Facebook Group and hear from like-minded women who can share their experiences in finding themselves through a boudoir session:
Celebrate Your Body with Boudoir Photography | Maryland Boudoir Photography
One of my favorite things about boudoir photography is the way it allows women to truly love their own bodies, often for the first time. We spent most of our lives hearing how we need to lose weight, hide blemishes, avoid wrinkles, and on and on until we feel like we’ll never look how we should.
Boudoir challenges these ideas and suggests something radical: You are beautiful just the way you are. There’s nothing wrong with losing weight, eating healthy, and getting fit. In fact, those things are awesome! But you should do them so you feel better and stronger, not because advertising and the media are telling you to. Boudoir photography is all about showing the world just what you’re made of!
Feel empowered through Boudoir Photography.
No matter your age, chances are you’ve had struggles, and your body may reflect some of your experiences. That’s not something to be ashamed of—it’s something to be proud of! We all have body issues, and boudoir is a great way to remind yourself of how strong and capable you are. These photo sessions invite you to change your thinking and to show love and respect to the body that has carried and continues to carry you through life.
Love the body you have.
Maybe you want to get fit before your photo session. That’s a great goal! But instead of setting a goal weight to reach, consider working to feel great and to be in your best shape, whatever that means for you personally. It can be so dangerous to tie your worth to your weight because you may not always be able to maintain it, and that can be devastating for your self-esteem. But a boudoir photography session can be an awesome and fun way to celebrate looking and feeling great in your body—and you’ll have the photos to prove it!
Show off your strength.
Whether you’ve spent months lifting weights at the gym or you’ve got a family and/or career keeping you busy, you are strong and powerful, and you deserve to feel that way. A boudoir photography session is a great way to remind yourself of your unique strength. In the years to come, when you face challenges and struggles, you can look back on these photos and remember just how tough you truly are.
Express Yourself through a Boudoir Photography Session
We all have different ways of showing off our personalities and feeling at home in our skin. But if you’ve never tried boudoir, you may be surprised at how awesome it will make you feel. I love helping women see their own beauty and feel sexier than they’ve ever felt before! Strutting your stuff not only makes you feel beautiful—it makes you feel powerful and allows your unique personality to shine through!
No matter your reason for booking a session, boudoir photography can offer a boost to your self-confidence and can help you see yourself in a brand-new light. You deserve to feel amazing, to feel strong, and to love your body!
Linda McCarthy is a premier Maryland boudoir photographer serving the Greater Annapolis area, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Ready to learn more? Let’s chat!! I would love to get to know you better and guide you towards falling in love with your self and greeting the world with love, confidence and a renewed sense of energy.
Join Annapolis Boudoir’s Private Facebook Group and hear from like-minded women who can share their experiences in finding themselves through a boudoir session:
3 Reasons to Do a Boudoir Session If You’re Curvy | Annapolis Boudoir Photography
Wondering if you should do a boudoir session if you’re curvy?
The thought of doing a boudoir session can be intimidating. Maybe you’re intrigued but afraid of how you’d look, afraid you’re not thin enough, young enough, or hot enough to look sexy. Maybe you’re afraid that a camera trained on your nearly naked body will only highlight the parts of yourself you’re insecure about.
It can be hard to feel good about yourself and your body when the media is constantly telling you that you need to lose weight, be tanner, etc. But you are beautiful just as you are, and a boudoir session is a great way to prove that to yourself.
Here are three reasons why plus-sized women should give boudoir a chance and why you should do a boudoir session if you are curvy:
1. Change the way you see yourself.
Boudoir is all about seeing yourself from a new perspective and recognizing your natural beauty that’s always been there. Maybe you’ve avoided being in photos because there are parts of your body that you wish looked differently. At Annapolis Boudoir Photography, I will highlight your beauty and make you see yourself in a whole new light. It all starts with a Zoom consultation where we will address your concerns and I will show you how to custom design a boudoir session with YOU in mind.
2. Love Your Body
At Annapolis Boudoir Photography, you’ll be amazed at how great you look. Lighting is key in directing you into the most flattering poses. A boudoir session allows you to highlight the parts of your body that you love—and maybe even discover new appreciation for parts of your body that you’ve always felt insecure about.
3. Empower yourself and prove your worth.
You don’t have to be super skinny to do boudoir, and you don’t have to be a model to look absolutely stunning. You are gorgeous just as you are and worthy of love and respect, including love from yourself. Boudoir can be such a liberating and empowering experience, helping you to truly embrace yourself for who you are. All of my clients that you see on my website or in my VIP group are regular women of all sizes who come from all different backgrounds with different experiences. The average age is 50 years old.
Want to hear about one of our plus-sized models on why you should do a boudoir session if you’re curvy?
Check out Jennifer’s testimonial here:
It will help you to see yourself in a new light.
And, in the words of Marianne Williamson,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’
Actually, who are you not to be?
Ready to learn more? Let’s chat!! I would love to get to know you better and guide you towards falling in love with your self and greeting the world with love, confidence and a renewed sense of energy.
Linda McCarthy is a premier Maryland boudoir photographer serving the Greater Annapolis area, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
Join Annapolis Boudoir’s Private Facebook Group and hear from like-minded women who can share their experiences in finding themselves through a boudoir session:
Boudoir Builds Self-Esteem and Confidence – Annapolis Boudoir
But boudoir photography is so much more than sensual, intimate photos. It’s about you—learning to love yourself and your body, feeling empowered in your beauty and femininity. No matter what you may think when you look in the mirror, you are strong, sexy, and unique, and your beauty deserves to be celebrated. Remember: boudoir photography builds self-esteem and confidence.
Still nervous about getting in front of the camera? Here’s how a boudoir session can help build your self-esteem and confidence.
Seeing yourself in a completely new light builds self-esteem and confidence
Boudoir photography allows you to see yourself and your body from a different perspective. Instead of noticing your perceived flaws and disliking your body, boudoir can help you see just how incredible and beautiful you are. Spending a day getting pampered and strutting your stuff is more than just a good time—it can completely change your self-image. When you stop to see how gorgeous you truly are, you begin to appreciate yourself and your body a little bit more. Plus, you’ll have those stunning images to look back at on days when you’re just not feeling yourself to remind you of how sexy you are.
Showing yourself a little more love is a great way to build self-esteem and confidence.
I think we could all admit that we’re a little better at loving others than loving ourselves. But every single one of us deserves love, and you definitely deserve to love yourself. A boudoir shoot can help you feel more confident about the way you look and more comfortable in the skin you’re in. That’s a big deal! As women, we see so many negative images from the media and people around us about what we should and shouldn’t look like. Boudoir can help you push away all that talk and learn to better love yourself!
Step outside your comfort zone -- build self-esteem and confidence.
If you’ve considered doing a boudoir session, chances are you’ve thought that you could never look as sexy or confident as the women in those images. But guess what? Those women have things about their bodies they don’t like to, but they took a leap of faith and reminded themselves that they are beautiful. You can do the same! A boudoir session takes you out of your normal, day-to-day life and shows you the sexiness and beauty that you often just don’t see. Again, remember: boudoir photography builds self-esteem and confidence.
Celebrate you—and have fun doing it!
One of the most intimidating things about a boudoir session for many women is getting nearly or completely nude in front of a photographer. Trust me, I get it! But it’s my job to help you feel completely at ease. After all, I’m here to capture your beauty and make you feel like the gorgeous woman you are. Boudoir is a fun opportunity to celebrate who you are and to bring your sexy self out of hiding!
Feel a sense of empowerment and build self-esteem and confidence.
No matter your age or where you are in your life, you deserve to love and celebrate your beauty. A professional boudoir shoot can help you do that and allow you to see yourself as the gorgeous and incredible woman you truly are.
Check out our blogs to read about women who have discovered how a boudoir shoot changed their lives:
Join Annapolis Boudoir’s Private Facebook Group and hear from like-minded women who can share their experiences in finding themselves through a boudoir session:
Ready to learn more? Let’s chat!! I would love to get to know you better and guide you towards falling in love with your self and greeting the world with love, confidence and a renewed sense of energy.
Linda McCarthy is a premier Maryland boudoir photographer serving the Greater Annapolis area, Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
A LA MODE Intimates | Annapolis, MD
There is a lingerie boutique in Annapolis that is a must go place to shop for your lingerie needs from bras, panties, luxurious pjs and robes (think Paris). A La Mode Intimates Annapolis, MD, is a lingerie boutique second to none. The moment you walk into a La Mode, you are drawn in. This boutique is visually alluring and intriguing. As a result you want to explore your sensual side because all your senses are on alert!
a La Mode Intimates Women Owned
Patti Platt and Sharon Borland, who own A La Mode Intimates, are local businesswomen who believe in giving back to their community and supporting other women.
Enter Theresa Kurtz, realtor and great friend who spearheaded a fundraiser to support Chrysalis House, a provider of addiction treatment for women and their children. As a result, she and Patti hosted a very successful evening of fun, laughter and lots of shopping. Who doesn’t love a new bra?
To see women come together to support such a worthy cause and to greet and meet warmed my heart. I took pause to look around and really appreciate the time, effort, and love that was poured into creating this fundraiser. It was such fun spending a few hours in the company of like-minded women knowing that in some small way we are doing something good in our community.
Bra Fittings
To learn more about a La Mode, check out their mission statement and their website. And, did you know that they have a second boutique located in Fells Point?
It’s the perfect place to visit when you book a boudoir session with us or purchase something extra special. I bought a lounging pajama set that feels like butter and is now my go-to when I want to sit back, relax and enjoy the evening after a day’s shoot.
Want to know how to book a boudoir session with confidence? Check out this blog post. To learn more about our services and products, let’s chat!
Linda McCarthy is a professional boudoir photographer in the Greater Annapolis area serving Baltimore, DC, Washington, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware
Book A Boudoir Session With Confidence
Book a boudoir session with confidence. But, how do you ask? You have every reason to feel hesitant and not so sure. It’s all very normal. Add to that the insecurities you may have about your physical appearance and the nagging voice in your head says “ahh, no.” Here at Annapolis Boudoir Photography, you are in perfectly good hands in getting over your fear of booking a boudoir session with confidence.
I’ve had women arrive who are literally hyperventilating. It is not unusual to stop a session so my client can take a breather. Again, it’s all over normal. So, how do you get to a place of confidence before booking a boudoir session? Well, you don’t. There will always be self doubt . But there is good news. You are not alone. Almost everyone goes through the same thing before they book, when they book, before they arrive and when they arrive. Again, it is all over normal
My blog post, “One Thing To Do Before Your Boudoir Session “ addresses the most important thing you can do to book a boudoir session with confidence and this is to get out of your own head. Your inner self is so uncomfortable with the thought of you doing something so extraordinary that it will do everything in its power to stop you and keep you at your current comfort level. We all know that in order to grow, we need to get out of our own space and take that leap of faith. If it’s uncomfortable for you that means you are taking that risk to do something that will only help you grow. Know this:
You are enough, you are worthy, you are deserving, you are beautiful!
When you start to recognize this, you will come to a place of self love. You will recognize it as your time and you will be ready for the next step. By reaching out to Annapolis Boudoir Photography, your questions and concerns will be answered and from here we can start a dialog as to how best to serve you and your needs. Your boudoir session is custom designed with YOU in mind.
To get you started in the meantime, I would suggest you set up a mood board as if you are already booked for a session. Check out the boudoir images that match your body type on Pinterest and collect the ones you like. Look them over and then imagine this is you. How does it make you feel? How does it resonate with you? Can you visualize yourself bing photographed? If the answer is”yes”, you can now book a boudoir session with confidence.
Ready to learn more? Let’s chat!! I would love to get to know you better and guide you towards falling in love with your self and greeting the world with love, confidence and a renewed sense of energy.
Linda McCarthy is a professional boudoir photographer in the Greater Annapolis area serving Baltimore, DC, Washington, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
One Thing You Need To Do Before a Boudoir Session | Annapolis Boudoir Photography
One Thing You Need To Do Before a Boudoir Session | Annapolis Boudoir Photography
Meditate
Tapping
Journaling
Self Care
All of these will help you get to a place of self love and confidence so that when you walk through that door on the day of your session (which is the hardest part of all!) you will be not only ready for your boudoir session but you will be wanting to ROCK IT and rock it you will!!
20 Things to Do Before Your Boudoir Session | Annapolis Boudoir Photography
Your boudoir session is coming up and you need to prepare but not sure where to start, right? I have complied 20 Things To Do Before Your Boudoir Session | Annapolis Boudoir Photography. Nothing feels better than being organized and confident before your photo session. These steps will help guide you to a smooth and stress free day!! Enjoy!!
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1. STOP WORRYING
- You are in great hands with Annapolis Boudoir Photography and my professional hair and makeup artist!! I promise you that once you step inside, take a deep breath and relax as Lily or Samia work their magic! It’s your hour to decompress and take it all in.
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2. DRINK WATER
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I can’t stress this enough. The more water you drink, the more hydrated you will be which in turn will make your skin glow. Start early, drink often.3. OUTFIT PREPARATION
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We will discuss your 3-5 choices during our Zoom call. In the meantime, you can check out my blog post, “What Do I Wear” for guidance. Your clothing options should flatter your body type and make up feel beautiful. For example, if you are concerned about your tummy area, you can opt for high waisted panties that have a high-thigh cut or a sexy body suit. If you need to buy one item, I would really suggest a body suit that fits you properly and flatters you. I can create so many amazing images with one body suit! If you can only purchase ONE item, purchase a body suit that will flatter your body type.
I forgot one last thing…you are going to look and feel so amazing afterwards!!! Make a date and celebrate you and your badassery!!! You deserve it!!
I hope that 20 Things To Do Before Your Boudoir Session | Annapolis Boudoir Photography is a source of information for you. If you have any questions, please click the link below and let’s chat!!
Annapolis Boudoir Photography located in Greater Annapolis serves Maryland, Delaware, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and beyond. To learn more, let’s chat!
What is a White Sheet Boudoir Session?
What is a White Sheet Boudoir Session?
What better way to celebrate the NEW YEAR, NEW YOU than a WHITE SHEET BOUDOIR SESSION with Annapolis Boudoir, located in Davidsonville MD serving Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Delaware. The boudoir session will be in the luxury of our beautiful, natural light white and airy bedroom. There is something so freeing and so empowering being wrapped in nothing but a white sheet to get in touch with your sensual side and to feel sexy, gorgeous and empowered ???
A white sheet boudoir session starts with us getting to know each other, and my guiding you by helping you to choose your outfits and to design a mood board just for you. Not only will we conduct a white sheet session — which is freaking amazing — but you can also choose 2 other outfits to complement your look. What about an oversized white shirt (I have a man’s white tuxedo shirt which is the most sought after item in my studio wardrobe), a white slouchy sweater (I have that as well), a white body suit, and/or a bra and panty set. To get more ideas, check out our blog post, “Sexy Things You Have In Your Closet Right Now For Your Boudoir Session” Not only do we pose you on the bed, but you also have the choices of being photographed by the window, against the wall, sitting on the white settee, and sitting on the white claw tub in our natural light bathroom.
I am looking for 2-5 models of all ages and sizes to help build my portfolio.
Interested in exploring this amazing experience? Then click below for all the details.
Jennifer’s Testimonial
Jenn’s Testimonial
by Linda McCarthy
Meet Jenn who was one of my models who answered my White Sheet Model Boudoir call earlier this year. We initially met on Zoom for our consultation call and straight away I knew she was going to be amazing.
On the day of the session, she did not disappoint. She was like breath of fresh air!! Her energy, positive vibes were contagious and it wasn’t long before she rocked her session!
To show you what I mean, check out her testimonial and some of the images below.
Being a curvy plus size woman does make it a bit harder to have confidence in yourself. You’re constantly being fed that curvy girls aren’t pretty, that lingerie doesn’t look good on you or you need to change.
I saw Linda’s advertisement for Boudoir Photography and thought… why not? I’m so happy I did!!
I walked in and Linda was so welcoming! We had a few conversations through zoom chats, but it was nice to meet her and feel the positive energy she gave off. We got right into hair and make-up! Lilly does wonders! I wanted to have that 50’s pin-up girl style and Lilly did not disappoint. Getting into the photo shoot I was a bit nervous, but Linda was very supportive and encouraging!
After a few takes, I began to settle down and realized my own potential. It was such an uplifting experience. The session flew by so fast and it was so much fun! I got to see a preview of the pictures and I teared up. I never saw myself the way Linda was able to capture me on film. The pictures were beautiful! I looked beautiful, curves and all!
This was the most inspiring and empowering experiences I’ve had. I’m so glad to have met Linda and to do this photo shoot! I think every curvy girl should do a boudoir shoot with Linda. Trust me it will give you a new perspective of yourself. I can’t wait to schedule another shoot!”
Thank you so much for everything,
For most of us, we focus on our negative bits which stops us from seeing ourselves as others see us. As Jenn says in her testimonial, most women do not see themselves as being gorgeous, beautiful and awesome, curves and all. By embarking on this journey of self-discovery, you will fall in love with yourself and you will greet the world with confidence, love and a renewed sense of energy.
For more information on how you can be empowered by a boudoir session, please click here:
ANNAPOLIS BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY
3272 Davidsonville Road
Davidsonville, MD 21035
410-353-3702