Client Feature Friday: So Much More Than Her Inner Mean Girl

Jezebel VonZephyr works with all kinds of women, from the suburbs of Seattle to all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We love connecting with each client, hearing her stories and capturing her unique spirit. We believe that every session is special in its own way, and we want to share that magic with the world. On Fridays we shine a spotlight on a client so she can share a part of her story. 

This week we feature a brave Belle who went on a long emotional and mental journey in order to get to her session. She’d originally booked a shoot with us a while ago, but didn’t feel ready. She had to fight her inner mean girl and summon her courage to finally make it to our studio. And we are so glad she did! She’s grown a lot and we are thrilled to feature her today! 

Age: 50

Where are you from? Rainier, WA

What is your theme song? I’m not really sure I have one. If I have to pick it would be “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.

What are three words you’d use to describe yourself? Before going to have my session I would use the words fat, frumpy, ugly, stupid and wallflower to describe myself. Yes, that’s five and not three words. I battle everyday with those words because they are the words I’ve been called most of my life. Two years ago I started on a journey to find myself. I hated my body. But in those two years a lot has changed and after my Jezebel shoot the three words I would use are fighter, feminine and smart.

Is this your first Jezebel shoot? If not, how many have you had? Yes, it is my first shoot. 

Why did you decide to book a session with JVZ? I decided to book a shoot because I wanted to see what others see. I wanted to feel pretty for the first time in my life. I wanted to finally not be the wallflower.

How did you feel before your shoot? Oh lord, I was 100% anxious, nervous and excited. I kept thinking “what the heck am I doing?” I kept thinking I don’t deserve this. 

I actually backed out of my first scheduled shoot and had to reschedule because I was overthinking everything too much. 

I had a panic attack on the way there, but thanks to my wonderful friend who went with me that day I was able to get through the door and experience JVZ. She was one of the women who inspired me to actually do a shoot.

How was your session? What was your favorite part? My session was amazing. I had so much fun with Sara and Tiffany. They helped me laugh and relax and have fun. My favorite part of the session was probably the laughing that occurred when I said that I had never worn butt floss before. Yes, those were my exact words and I had both Sara and Tiffany laughing–that made me laugh even more. 

What was your favorite look from your session? Why? My favorite look from the session is a toss up between one of my looks in the Tiffany outfit (Silver and black) and the purple and black outfit with me sitting on the chair backwards. I like them both because they made me feel like me. Like the person I had been looking for–there I was!

How are you feeling since your session? As I get my photos I find new joy. I fight with my inner mean girl a lot, but I am getting there. When she gets really loud I open the file with my pictures and look at them to feel better.

Did you bring anything special with you to the studio? Why? Originally I brought a dress and my Seahawks jersey because I was just trying to figure some outfits out. I showed them to Sara and Tiffany and we figured out that my dress was way too big because I had lost a lot of weight since I had last worn it. Plus, I have pictures of me in my Seahawks jersey so we decided to use outfits from client closet instead. 

How was your reveal? My reveal was stressful. I was so nervous and my day had been going crazy. But once we got started I cried. I didn’t know what to say. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe that was really me in those pictures.

I looked pretty and that was a surprise.

I’d actually wanted to cancel my reveal that day and not even see my pictures. I told Sara I was afraid I broke her camera. Yes, my mean girl was loud and out front and then I saw my pictures and she was silent.

Any advice for anyone thinking of booking a session with JVZ? I sat and waited for four or five years in the Future Belles Facebook group, talking to Sara every once in a while about doing a shoot before I actually decided to do one.

Fear kept me from doing it.

My advice if you are thinking about doing a shoot is to stop thinking and just do it. It will change the way you think about yourself.

Anything else you want to share about your session and/or experience? Most of my life I have been abused mentally, physically, emotionally and sexually. For years, those experiences and the words of my abusers were the things that made up my inner mean girl’s voice. 

This experience and session has been helping me to see my truth: that I’m not the things my abusers have said. This session helped me see that all the work I’ve been doing to find myself over the past two years is working. 

I am still a work in progress but I am getting there. This group of amazing ladies helps me to see that I am more than what my inner mean girl says.

So, in closing: ladies, find the courage to say yes to yourself. If I can make it through those doors and  into the love that is JVZ so can you. You won’t regret it, I promise.

Is your inner mean girl constantly critiquing you or keeping you from pursuing your best life? Do you need some support on your journey of self-love and growth? That is exactly what Jezebel VonZephyr is all about. We hear stories like this one all the time. And we believe that every woman deserves to see herself as worthy, beautiful, and enough. 

Don’t believe us? Let us help you discover the self-love you deserve. Because your inner mean girl is wrong. You are so much more than your inner mean girl. Step into our studio and find out just how incredible you truly are.