20 May BodyTalks: Tummy Tuesday!
On Tuesdays, We Talk Tummies..
At Jezebel, we celebrate you. This encompasses every facet of who you are – who WE all are. We show you ways to see yourself through the lens of unconditional love, and we understand that some days it’s easy to appreciate ourselves, and other times it can be more of a challenge.
This is where we want to flip the script and really talk about what our bodies can do for us. Honest discussions can lead to acceptance, and acceptance can open our eyes to the possibilities of love.
Tuesdays at Jezebel are all about tummies! Each week we’ll be showcasing some of our favorite images where they have a starring role. We’ll be discussing the challenges we face with an often disliked part of our bodies and hopefully turning those conversations towards ones of appreciation.
But what if I don't like my tummy?!
Welcome to part three of our mini-series on how boudoir can change our lives! In the final installment of this feature, we’re diving into how preparing for your session physically can be the beginning of a shift in how we relate to our bodies. This week we’ll be covering self-care and pre-shoot pampering, with suggestions spanning a 4-week time period.
If you have less time than that before your shoot, don’t worry! Most of this timeline can be condensed if need-be. Where recommendations for timing are important, we’ll make sure to include the reasons why we’ve seen this recommended schedule work best.
For all of the planners out there (like myself!) as well as for everyone who’s so excited to come in that they worry about forgetting something, we’ll be wrapping up this post with a written checklist of all the things you’ll want to do right before heading to the studio ♥
Loving our bodies is a journey
📆 4 Weeks Before the Shoot
✨ Self-Care & Preparation✨
Become Besties with Water: Yep! You heard correctly – upping your water intake is not only a healthy habit that is easy to maintain, it does wonders for your skin!
Book Important Self-Care Services: If you’re thinking a spa day would be a pretty fantastic way to prepare for your shoot, we couldn’t agree more! Take this time to research and book appointments for services like facials, massage or a fresh hair cut!
Begin Skincare Treatments – If you’re considering skincare treatments such as facials as part of your pre-session pampering, we encourage you to start these now. This is especially important if you’re new to this type of pampering as your skin can react in different ways with different products and services. If you’d like recommendations, we’d be happy to share some of our favorite local spots ♥
Begin Gentle Workouts/Stretching Routine – Even if exercise isn’t part of your daily routine, light stretching or short walks in your neighborhood are fantastic for everything from feeling better physically to connecting with nature and yourself. Think of this as a time just for you!
📆 2–3 Weeks Before the Shoot
✨Beauty & Grooming✨
Visit the Salon: Your session at Jezebel includes pampering by our incredible hair and makeup team, so a last minute salon visit isn’t needed! However, if your Pinterest board of the hair color or style of your dreams is begging to be realized, now is the time to go! While we all love a good hair day, booking an appointment a couple of weeks prior to your session will allow any new looks to settle, and it’s a fun way to implement new joy into your self-care routine!
A Note on Spray Tans: Our goal is to help every woman feel beautiful in their own skin, exactly as they are, so we discourage spray tans or using a tanning bed before your session. We love your natural skin tone! It can also be incredibly hard to photograph skin that has been altered by bulbs or chemical spray. If you feel like you’ll be your best self with a spray tan, then you will want to time it very carefully otherwise, your photos may have you looking like an Oompa Loompa. We encourage you talk with the Jezebel team during your consultation to figure out if you should come into the studio with an artificial tan.
Go Shopping! Even if, and maybe especially if you’re shopping from your own closet – now is the perfect time to decide what outfits you want to include in your session! If you’re planning to shop for new items online, doing so now will allow time for shipping and selecting the sizes that feel and fit the best for you! If you’re not sure what looks you want for your shoot, our incredible, expansive client closet is ready for you to realize all of your fantastic outfit dreams!
📆 1 Week Before the Shoot
✨Final Touches✨
Hold a Fashion Show at Home: The final week before your session is Hype Week! Try on all of the things you have set aside for your shoot – show your friends, your partner, or just revel at the incredible womxn you are in the mirror ♥
Get a Massage: It’s not uncommon to be nervous before a session, especially if its your first time! Massage can be an incredibly relaxing way to put yourself first, release pent up tension and nerves and boost your confidence!
Gentle Exfoliation and Moisturizing: This is likely something that is already part of your normal routine! If not, a sugar or coffee scrub during your shower paired with your favorite full-body moisturizer is a way to spend purposeful time with your body. Whether you plan to show a lot of skin or none at all, this practice is a good way to invest in yourself; when we feel good in our skin, it shows! The best part is, exfoliation and moisturizing doesn’t require an expensive or time-consuming appointment, so even if a trip to the salon or a massage therapist isn’t for you, self-care can begin at home ♥
It’s the Final Countdown!
This is it! Your session is mere days away, and you’re so excited! Maybe a little nervous too. Both totally valid feelings! As promised, we’re wrapping up this post by sharing some last-minute reminders and details that will help make your session be the incredible, stress-free and exhilarating day it’s meant to be!
If you’ve read this far and are worried because your wardrobe isn’t new or your hair isn’t freshly cut, please remember to be kind to yourself — none of the tips in this post are required, and we want you to know you’re worthy of feeling beautiful and confident exactly as you are ♥
📆The Day Before the shoot
✨Keep Calm & Hydrate✨
Girl, Wash Your Hair: If you wash your hair once a week or everyday, do what feels best for you. This all depends on your style needs; but day-old hair often styles best.
Finalize and pack outfits – Rarely do folks leave packing for the day before, but it’s perfectly acceptable to do so! It can help to write down a list of each look you want to focus on for your shoot, along with any of the clothing or accessory pieces that go with that look. This is a great way to be sure you don’t accidentally forget anything – though, even if you do our amazing client closet will be there to back you up!
Hydrate! – You’ve been focusing on drinking more water for the past month, and we recommend to keep that trend going! Even after your shoot, maintaining a healthy relationship with hydration is important for both your physical body and mental clarity ♥
Sleep Well – We know you’re excited, and nervous, and there are probably about a million other feelings you’re experiencing, but getting a good nights’ rest (think 7-9 hours) will help you feel well-rested and energized for your big day!
Do a Light Stretch or Yoga – If you’ve been incorporating exercise into your daily routine as part of connecting with your body, feel free to do a light routine the morning of your appointment, especially if it helps you feel relaxed!
📆 today is the day!
✨Final Checklist✨
- Eat a Light, Energizing Meal: Think protein + fruit/vegetables, lighter meals are often encouraged!
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water in the 2-3 hours leading up to your appointment is good, but easing up on the water intake directly before your shoot is the best way to avoid feeling bloaty!
- Last Minute Glam Sesh: Eyebrow shaping or treating yourself to a mani/pedi is a good way to start your day! If this isn’t something you want or need to do, then no need to worry about it! If you do, be sure to leave yourself enough time!
- Wear Loose Clothing to the Shoot: Choose some loose fitting clothes to travel in. Make sure to wear nothing that leaves elastic marks on your skin! This includes socks. Flip-flops in the summertime often make the bottom of your feet dirty and it will show up in the shoot. Unless you are coming directly from the pedicure salon (and even then) we suggest wearing loose fitting socks and closed toed shoes.
- Leave Early: This is one that’s easily forgotten about! Be sure to leave with enough time to get to your session without stressing about traffic, weather or parking. Downtown Snohomish can be challenging to find open parking in depending on the day or time, so be sure to incorporate that into your travel plans!
- Get in the Zone: Play your favorite music, say kind, fulfilling affirmations, stretch, smile—and have fun, we can’t wait to see you!
Whew! There is a lot of information to take in this week!
Did you find the tips helpful? What would you like to see added to the list?
If you want to be part of the conversation, we’d love to hear from you! Your ideas, opinions, tips, favorite affirmations and more can be featured in some of our upcoming themes and discussions, so head on over to our socials and let us know your thoughts!