06 Dec Client Feature Friday: Dancing through your Feelings
Jezebel VonZephyr loves to shine a spotlight on womxn of every age and size. We live to connect with each client; and we pride ourselves on holding space for each of them so we can hear their stories and capture their 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 they can share a part of their story.
Happy Friday beautiful friends! We’ve officially stepped into the start of a new season! Warm up this month with self-reflection, a good cup of comfort and time spent making memories with those you hold dear.
Our client feature Friday this week introduces us to a tenacious and kind Belle who has a fondness for the rain, an incredibly diverse taste in music and the sense of comfort that comes with calling the Pacific Northwest home. After stumbling upon our booth at ECCC, this beautiful soul found a renewed interest not only in previous hobbies, but also in HERSELF! ♥
Where are you from? Where do you live now? What’s your favorite thing about where you live?
Where am I from? Well, I was born in Snoqualmie but I did 18 in the slammer known as Iowa before following my mama out to California for a few years. I finally got tired of going 9 months between the good rains and dodging wildfires, and I was homesick. I wanted to move back to the rain and the mist and the mountains and experiencing four seasons.
So, now I live in Kirkland and my favourite thing about where I live is that it’s super “mid”. It’s not super built up but also not super rural. It’s not bordering Seattle but it’s like… 20-30 minutes usually. It’s not the most beautiful place in Washington but it could definitely be rougher on the eyes as well. When we find a place to really build in deep, it won’t be hard to leave, but it’s a pretty decent place for us “right now”.
What are some of your favorite songs/artists? Do you have a theme song–if so, what is it and why does that song(s) resonate with you?
I have all the favourites. I grew up on classical and classic rock. I’m a child of the 90’s & early 2000’s internet, so meme songs have a special place in my heart. I used to DJ at an internet radio and was exposed to all kinds of trance, techno, darkwave, melodic metal, tons of Nightwish and Cascada. I like finding new artists as well as staying with some favourites.
This year I found TALK, a Canadian musician with a big heart, a big voice, and a big body and his music feels ACHINGLY “real”. I got to see him in concert in February. I also discovered Tender Misfit whose whole vibe is “dancing through your feelings”.
What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?
Let’s get REAL honest with this one:
Kind, Tenacious, and Big.
And when I say “big”, I’m not just meaning my body size. I also mean my heart, my emotions, my ideas, my range of interests… I exist in a BIG way. I’ve struggled with feeling like “too much” for quite awhile and I’m trying to learn that just because I’m “too big” for someone in any particular way, that just means their world is smaller than the one I exist in. That’s on them, not me.
Is this your first Jezebel session? If not, how many have you had and in either instance, what was your favorite part?
Yes!! But I’ve already booked another one. Couldn’t resist that Black Friday opportunity! My favourite part of the DAY would be feeling unconditionally supported in my skin, a place I’ve struggled feeling at home in. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was so SO much fun.
What made you want to have a boudoir session and what made you choose Jezebel as your studio?
I LOVE boudoir. Since I discovered it was “a thing” I’ve wanted to look at it, do it, learn about it. I find it so sexy and sensual and powerful. It has always felt focused on the PERSON rather than on their pieces. And I love how versatile it is. You can show as much or as little as you want, emphasize this, obscure that, build up the parts that make you fall in love with yourself.
I kind of fell into the Jezebel studio. The husbeast and I had decided to do ECCC and we’d been up and down and around and we were just going to “whip through the vendor hall” before leaving. I was tired. I was HOT. I was NOT feeling my best and then BOOM!!! What do I see but bodies like mine, on display, elevated to absolute art! My husbeast actually had to convince me to go over but everyone at the booth was SO welcoming. I was going to be having a hysterectomy in just over a month at that point and I had no idea how I was going to feel about my body and something in the way you all spoke… I just KNEW I had to take the leap and give it another shot.
What were your expectations going into the session and was the experience different or as you expected and how?
JVZ wasn’t my first boudoir experience. In 2022, I picked up a “boudoir shoot w/ 2 free images dealio with another company just to see how it was. While I still had an OK experience, having now had the JVZ experience uh… there’s no comparison. On my first go-round, I got very little information up front, they had NO “client closet” and I had a lot of trouble figuring out what I even felt “pretty” in (which is what they suggested I bring with me), and the VERY FIRST POSE was something that I not only had trouble with but actually had a giant muscle spasm getting into. I’d had concerns about being a larger body and although they SAID they worked with people my size and shape, the actual session felt rushed and very “cookie cutter”. Plus, I had to pick my 2 free images RIGHT AWAY. Not only the two free ones but also what kind of package I wanted of any others! Which like… talk about pressure much?! I liked my images… but I don’t go back to them the way I do with my JVZ ones <3
From my interactions at ECCC, I already felt more comfortable with JVZ as a company. And then all the kindness and compassion I received when I had some problems with post-anesthesia memory stuff and honestly didn’t remember ACTUALLY SIGNING UP… that was about 3 seconds of awkwardness followed by some of the best communication from a business ever. I basically took all my expectations, wadded them up in a ball, and TOSSED EM out the window! I was still nervous about “doing it right” when I got there, especially as there was traffic and I’d been gathering up stuff the night before and was mostly running on adrenaline and a protein shake… and then it all disappeared when I got up the stairs and actually met the team. In 30 seconds flat, I felt like I was in the hands of professionals, they knew what they were doing, and they would answer ANY question I had and take as much time as necessary for ME to be comfortable.
Tell me about your session–your favorite set? outfit? prop? moment? favorite studio piece you used/wore? What stood out the most?
My favourite set has got to be the Something Wicked. I LOVE a twisted Little Red Riding Hood vibe and I got all that and more with a mixed set from my own closet, a FANTASTIC red cloak from JVZ’s closet, and Something Wicked. The mix of real candles w/ fake candles. The lights. The… moodiness.
I also loved how easily Sara worked my walking staff into everything. I brought it mostly for the stairs and for posing help if needed and Sara embraced it whole-heartedly. My mobility aide was not just accepted but actually CELEBRATED! Although it’s a tool that I hope to need less frequently, I will NEVER look at my JVZ images and think “Ugh, wish I hadn’t needed that stick” and that’s real magic.
How did you feel about the guidance you received during the session?
It’s very clear that Sara has experience both behind AND IN-FRONT of the camera. It was like she could tell when I didn’t know what to do with a hand or where to look. And she also ran with it when I got into “a zone” and was just feeling it. She walked that balance between “AHH! Tell me what to dooooo!” and “OMG Don’t tell me what to DO!” She’s like the opposite of the person in Rome that would follow triumphant generals saying “Remember thou art mortal”. No, she’s there going “OMFG GET IT YOU GORGEOUS GODDESS!!” and helping you strut EVERYTHING you’ve got… including stuff you didn’t even know you HAD! I was so in it that I wasn’t even fidgeting with all the little straps and bows and whatnots and I’m a BIG fidgeter.
Tell us about your hair styling/makeup application? How was your time in the chair? What did you really love?
I love, love, love the size of the chair. I feel so embarrassed that I can’t remember her name properly, Angelica I think? She was amazing. So gentle and she listened to my concerns. While I still feel the underlying foundation was a tad yellow, having been around the foundation block a few times… I’m a hard match. Next time, I might bring in my own just for the example, but ultimately she was the professional and she rocked! She had such great presence and calmness too. The husbeast has been going gaga for whatever amazing lipstick colours she chose and uh… he’s absolutely right!
How do you feel JVZ managed your privacy and confidentiality, both of your images and of you during your time with us?
Spectacularly. I’ve never worked with a company that puts as much care and attention into preserving the privacy of their clients as JVZ does. I actually had a different person’s photo shoot fee charged against my Shopify account at the previous company because no one taught them to setup their device to not remember login and card details. They took care of it right away but it helped cement my decision to not use that company ever again. With JVZ, everything is so… “tight”. Like, watertight.
How were you feeling leaving the studio and leading up to your photo reveal appointment?
I left the studio feeling sexy, tired, and ready for anything. Believe it or not… I actually almost had a fight with my husbeast when I got home but I had this air of calm empowerment around me and I knew that we could work through whatever it was and both come out the other side feeling better. And we did!
Leading up to the photo reveal appointment was the same way. Just this quiet “I got this” hovering over me even while I had this building excitement. My sneak peek had me SCREAMING and wanting to show EVERYONE and I had to remember that not all of my friends want to see me in that way. Consent is a two way street, always. I actually got a little nervous that I was making this experience too much of my whole personality but I decided to lean into the excitement instead of cutting myself off at the knees. I loved going through the Facebook groups and commenting on other people’s posts, getting THEM hyped up… it’s a great community.
How was your reveal appointment? What did you like the most about it? What did you take home with you?
The reveal appointment was like… a single balloon pop away from “too much birthday”. The nerves I felt ALL DAY. The timing of everything from the end of work until the appointment. The absolutely REALNESS from the Kaitlyn & Sara as soon as we got on Zoom. I was so grateful to be able to have my husbeast be part of the reveal appointment. We both sat at our computers and he would look over at me or reach out and squeeze my hand when I started crying because YES I absolutely cried. I cried from excitement and fear and love for myself and love for everyone at JVZ who helped that version of me shine through.
And I’ll be honest, even in that amazingly supportive environment… those little back-brain goblins were still trying to chew away my self-confidence. “Oh look at that belly” or “What is that foot even DOING!?” but I couldn’t sit there, surrounded by THAT MUCH SUPPORT, and actually give those thoughts any credence. Those are other people’s words, other people’s opinions and values. And those other people weren’t in the room with me. They weren’t on zoom with me. I was surrounded and uplifted by joy.
Have you had any lasting impact/perspective shifts since your appointment? If so, please share as much as you’re comfortable with.
I hadn’t realized how often I FELT like I had “lost” (lost a fight, lost out on an opportunity, been served an “L” by life) until I’m facing my quote card from my session: I never lose. I either win or I learn. I’ve never really had a mantra but I think this comes close. I still catch myself saying things like “I just need a win this week” but in the back of my mind I’m already saying “I never lose. I either win or I learn” to remind myself that just because I haven’t WON doesn’t mean I’ve LOST. And I think I really needed that this year. When you’re in one of those times where life is serving you lesson after lesson after lesson, it can be hard to remain open to learning and changing and growing. I am a human becoming, constantly undergoing changes.
Other than “just do it”, what advice would you offer a friend interested in a session to book with Jezebel? What tips might you give? What were the best tips you received either from us or from others?
Most of the tips I would give would really depend on who I was talking to. For instance, I now know that tiny little bows on panties bug the CRAP out of me in photos and I’ll be removing them from anything I want to bring with me next time. However, if someone had said anything to me ahead of time about something like that, I really don’t think I would have gotten it. Something else I’d suggest is to not try to orchestrate everything perfectly beforehand. Bring OPTIONS and enjoy the collaborative spirit between photographer and model. As long as you don’t show up looking to judge yourself… no one is there to judge you. Bring yourself. Bring your WHOLE self. Bring that thing you just finished that you’re proud of. Bring those shoes you think are amazing but can’t actually wear to walk in. I brought my wedding shoes which have a 2 inch platform, a 6 inch heel, and negative arch & ankle stability. And they SLAYED!
As for advice on booking in the first place? The advice I would give really does mostly come down to “just do it” partially because that’s what finally pushed me over. I think Jezebel has a really great pricing structure that really gives all kinds of budgets room to engage with this art form, especially with the sales and the discounts and the underlying understanding the team has about how “life uhh… finds a way” (and if you DIDN’T hear that in Ian Malcom’s voice… read it again!). So, finding what your budget is and then ask “When was the last time I celebrated MYSELF and all that I am?” If you can’t remember… get in touch. Even if you don’t know what you would wear, what you would do, where you would put the photos… You don’t have to know any of that ahead of time to say “I want to celebrate myself”. And 100% – YOU ARE WORTH CELEBRATING!
Anything else you’d like to share?
If it was up to me… I think I’d do a boudoir shoot every year. Twice a year? Maybe more. This experience has reignited my interest IN MYSELF. I’ve picked hobbies back up. I’ve dusted off my cameras. I’ve packed away clothes for donation that I’ve been holding onto “just in case” because I want to get things that feel good and make me feel good NOW. Because I deserve it. I was able to say “No thank you” to clothing I was offered because I’m investing in MY OWN vision of who I am. And I have only gotten more aggressive in my support of those around me. I want EVERYONE to have the chance to see themselves represented as gorgeous and strong. And anyone who wants to fight me on that? LET’S. FUKKEN. GO!!!
This client’s story really shows how magical a boudoir photoshoot can be in reclaiming our authentic selves. Her session with JVZ wasn’t just about taking beautiful photos; it was an incredible opportunity to rediscover herself and her passions!
Were you inspired by this clients session? Are you looking to celebrate an exciting event? A birthday? A professional milestone? Maybe you just want a little getaway on a random Monday this winter? A boudoir session may be the answer! Check out our availability here and give yourself a little treat – you deserve it ♥
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