Client Feature Friday: Four Sessions and a Whole Bunch of Swords!

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.

Today we hear from a Belle who’s done not one, not two, not three but FOUR different and very special sessions with us. She’s a Bothell resident who’s been a Jezebel VonZephryr Belle for years. (You’ll notice that some of her photos look a little more old-school than most of the ones we usually feature.) What we love most about this client is how beautifully brave she is about leaning into her growth and out of her comfort zone. Scroll on to learn more about this badass Belle and why she brought swords to one of her sessions!

Age: 44

Where are you from? I grew up in Port Orchard, Washington.  Currently I reside in Bothell, Washington.

What is your theme song? “The War Drummer’s Daughter” – by Adarna (It’s literally written about me.)

What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?  Always Getting Better.

Why did you decide to book a session with JVZ?

1st Session:  I often look back at photos and think: “Wow, I looked better than I thought back then”.  I’ve had this happen so many times, that I figured I should take the plunge and get some photos done since I would likely be very happy with how I looked after some time, despite not feeling “fit enough”.  I also had a 20-year-old mall glamour shot photo I really wanted to recreate and Sara was totally up for it. 

2nd Session: Shout out to my Girl Gang!  A friend wanted to do photos with a group of friends and 5 of us got together to do group boudoir photos.

3rd Session:  Country House!  I’m sad it’s gone, but I couldn’t resist doing photos at the Country House when that location was available.  Outside photos among flowers in the sun!

4th Session: I had just learned I had breast cancer and wanted to document my ‘before’ chest while I could, not knowing what I would be left with after I chose a treatment plan.

How did you feel before your shoot?  It helped that I had been friends with Sara for several years, so I felt pretty chill.  I was a bit worried about if I brought the right outfits or had enough bras.

How was your session? What was your favorite part? Overall, all of my sessions have been great!  That’s why I’ve done four. 

Favorite parts from each one: 

Session 1: Being pushed out of my comfort zone.  I’ve always been a tomboy and this was like nothing I’d ever done. 

Session 2:  Recreating my favorite Ladies of Twin Peaks poses – the advantage of doing a photo shoot with friends! 

Session 3:  The cat!  The house had a cat that I included in some of my photos.  My second favorite was climbing a tree for some photos in a gown. 

Session 4:  Putting on some war paint.  I wanted very dirty eye makeup for my sword pictures.

What was your favorite look from your session? Why? 

Session 1: Adventure Time Marceline sweater – Marceline is awesome!

Session 2: Classic white dress shirt – Our girl gang all agreed this would be our matching outfit.

Session 3: Chunky sweater and over the knee socks – My brand of sexiness is subtle.  I like to be covered up revealing a little bit of what’s underneath. 

Session 4: Black palazzo pants white longline bra – 100% 1987 Madonna inspired.  I’m still chasing her look everyday. 

How are you feeling since your session?  JVZ encouraged me to think more about body positivity and helped me embrace that for me this includes not participating in the makeup industry that is designed to make women feel like they are not good enough and that aging is something to disdain.  Nah dawg. 

Did you bring anything special with you to the studio? Why?  So Much!!!

Session 1: Santa outfit so I could recreate my high school mall glamour shot. Eight boxes of Ho-Hos because my wedding cake was ho-hos & twinkies.  Ariel outfit because The Little Mermaid is my husband’s favorite movie.  My Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi, because I super love doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  My Harry Potter wand, journal, sweater, tie, and underwear, because HP 4 life!  Also headphones and vinyl records, because I have a large music collection and my Marceline sweater to celebrate my Adventure Time fandom.  

Session 2:  Postcards.  I’m a snail mail enthusiast, sending and receiving postcards from around the world.

Session 3: Black plunging, flowy dress that makes me feel like I’m commanding a large army that will do my bidding when I wear it…so yeah you want photos of that shit.  

Session 4:  About 30 swords.  In retrospect, they really represent the battle I was about to walk into with my cancer treatment.  I also brought my guitar and amp, because I was letting them go for instruments that better suit the person I’ve become, but I wanted to capture what they meant to me. 

How was your reveal? My reveals tend to be quick.  I know what I like and what I don’t.  I’m a pretty even keeled person, so there isn’t a lot of emotion during my reveals.   I can be too critical, so I have brought a friend to reveals to help me from cutting too much.  It’s actually been really helpful having a third party there to say “whoa, you have to keep that one.”  

Any advice for anyone thinking of booking a session with JVZ? There is nothing I’ve wanted to do that JVZ wasn’t up for. There was also never any pushback on things I didn’t want to do that are considered common in boudoir photography. 

Don’t be shy about what you want and don’t want. No one’s feelings are going to get hurt because JVZ knows this experience is about you, not them.  

I’m a no jewelry, no makeup kind of person. The first time I had my makeup done I was shocked that I literally didn’t recognize myself, I didn’t expect to have that reaction and JVZ didn’t hesitate to tone my makeup down until I was comfortable. All sessions since then have had minimal makeup. I’m grateful this has never been an issue and there was zero pressure to look a way that wasn’t me. 

I’ve asked for glitter middle fingers, climbed a tree, cuddled with a random cat, recreated iconic poses from Madonna to James Dean to Twin Peaks–the JVZ ladies have been game for all of it. Their willingness to follow your vision, while also bringing their experience and keen eye, results in truly unique photos that you would be unlikely to get with other studios. 

Anything else you want to share about your session and/or experience?  My all-time favorite picture of myself was taken at JVZ.  Sara asked me to sit on a couch however I felt most comfortable. It had the least amount of direction and posing and as a result I got a picture that completely feels and looks like me. I don’t think I’d get that experience at other boudoir studios. 

My experience with JVZ has helped me see myself. The photos I took for other people are my least favorite. I thought my first session should include pictures I thought my husband would like, but it was the outfits and props I brought for me that most resonated with me.

Did her story resonate with you? Are you looking to truly see yourself? If you are craving a new chapter like this Belle was then Jezebel VonZephyr can help. We specialize in helping women see themselves in a new light and supporting their growth and self-love. We’re booking sessions for this spring and summer, so a new journey could be just around the corner for you. What are you waiting for? Let this brave, badass Belle be your inspiration and start writing your new chapter now.