28 Nov Client Feature Friday: Bloom in the Dark
Jezebel VonZephyr loves to shine a spotlight on women 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. Client Feature Friday shines a spotlight on a Belle each week so they can share a part of their story ♥
Step into the studio with us as we welcome our featured client of the week: a self-described funny, goth, loving siren whose heart beats to the rhythm of Hozier, Sleep Token, and the magic of the PNW. She arrived with a love for rain, moody greens, and all things witchy—and left a little trail of enchantment everywhere she went. From thigh-high boots to fog-soaked vibes, this first-time Jezebel beauty brought her whole spellbinding self into the experience… and trust us, you’ll want to follow her into the mist. 🌲🕯️
Where are you from? Where do you live now? What’s your favorite thing about where you live?
I grew up in Denver, and currently reside in Redmond. There’s no shortage of things I love about living in the Seattle area, but particularly I adore the abundance of greenery in the PNW! Growing up in a high-altitude grassland during a major drought, I vividly remember visiting Seattle as a kid and being astonished by all the plants. Shit just grows! I’m also very lucky to genuinely love rainy/foggy weather – it’s perfect for being cozy, and I find the gray/green/fog contrast to be a beautifully striking combination.
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?
Hozier is my favorite artist (beautiful bog siren of a man), and I feel a very strong connection between his Unreal Unearth album and the PNW.
I also fell down a deep Sleep Token hole this year with their Even in Arcadia album (yet another beautiful ethereal siren man singer, clearly I have a type), though I’ve been practicing sexy dances in a mirror to some of their sexier songs for years.
Other favorites include: Mallrat, The 1975, Tame Impala, alt-J, Cautious Clay, Fred again…, Still Woozy, Bob Moses, I could go on. The songs I tend to love most are ones I can sing, but my preferred genre changes greatly with the seasons and my moods.
What are three words you’d use to describe yourself?
Funny, Goth, Loving
Is this your first Jezebel session? If not, how many have you had and in either instance, what was your favorite part?
Yes, this is my first session.
It’s very difficult to choose a favorite, but it was probably just getting to play dress up for several hours. Sara assembled perfect outfits from pieces I brought and things they had available! I loved their thigh-high boots – I’d never met a pair that fit my juicy “thick-thighs-save-lives.”
What made you want to have a boudoir session and what made you choose Jezebel as your studio?
Honestly, I got an instagram ad for a session fee sale, said “f*ck it”, and put in my contact info. Sometimes the algorithm really pops off ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I didn’t think much of it until I got a call from Kaitlyn later that day, and talking to her absolutely sealed the deal! She was super kind and reassuring, told me about the spooky room theme they had available, and overall spoke in a way that put me at ease and made me trust that the folks at Jezebel are perfect to trust with something this intimate. AND they have a spooky room?!! My goth heart sung. It was time to show the world the sexy, soul-snatching siren witch I know myself to be.
Tell me about your session–your favorite set? outfit? prop? moment? favorite studio piece you used/wore? What stood out the most?
I adored the rain room! Have you ever experienced getting out of a shower, and your hair falls in that beautifully tussled way on your face, and you think to yourself “damn that looks incredible” – now imagine that, but you’re also in a hot outfit and a full face of magically-unmelting-makeup, and you get to splash around to your heart’s content. It was a real throwback to my childhood main-character-energy walking around in the pouring rain, listening to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls.
How did you feel about the guidance you received during the session?
Sara is an incredible photographer – she has a knack for making you at ease while simultaneously hyping you up during the shoot so that you feel empowered to be creative with your poses.
My nights of sexy mirror dance practice (and a side hobby of burlesque) helped me intuitively know which poses to strike, but Sara was there making minor adjustments here and there to ensure the best possible photograph, and ensuring we made full use of the spaces.
The guidance I loved most was when it felt like a collaboration, where we all worked together to find cool photo opportunities. I would point out an area I wanted to explore more, strike an initial pose, Sara would point out different props or furniture to use, while also getting ideas from Angelica (my amazing makeup artist).
I also liked that we could all be goofy when the moment called for it. Moving your body in new ways/new clothes can be awkward, the best way to handle that is to laugh it off!
Tell us about your hair styling/makeup application? How was your time in the chair? What did you really love?
Angelica is so talented! I’ve never gotten a full face of makeup professionally applied, and I loved sitting there being pampered while casually chatting with Sara and brainstorming outfit ideas. The end result was incredible! My hair looked AMAZING and she knew exactly how to deliver on my vampy/witchy aesthetic, including custom mixing a black lip liner with red lipstick for that lush, dimensional bold lip. She made sure to ask questions as we went to ensure I would still feel and look like myself (i.e., do you generally fill in your eyebrows, do you like your eyelashes more defined, etc).
How do you feel JVZ managed your privacy and confidentiality, both of your images and of you during your time with us?
Very well! No complaints, I trust JVZ completely 🙂
How were you feeling leaving the studio and leading up to your photo reveal appointment?
I was walking on air leaving the studio, how could I not?? I had just spent several hours playing dress up, looking sexy, and getting hyped up. I couldn’t wait to see the results!
How was your reveal appointment? What did you like the most about it? What did you take home with you?
I was more nervous for my reveal than for the shoot itself – over the following week before the reveal, I kept thinking of “missed opportunities” during the shoot (“oh darn, why didn’t I wear that accessory with this outfit? Should I have used a different prop there?”) because brains are assholes and tend to focus to our own detriment on “shoulda/woulda/coulda”s.
That all changed the moment I saw the photos. I stopped nitpicking at memories and was able to take in the full glory of what we HAD created. Sara chose an amazing spread of photos showcasing the huge variety of scenes/poses. I also appreciated the music choices matching not only my favorite artists, but also the overall vibe of the shoot. I loved the photos so much I opted to buy a package that included the entire collection in full resolution – the hardest part has been trying to choose which photos I like the most to put in my album/wall art!
Have you had any lasting impact/perspective shifts since your appointment? If so, please share as much as you’re comfortable with.
I am so grateful to have this version of myself memorialized in such an incredible way. I think many of us have experienced at first disliking a photo of yourself, but then seeing it years later and looking upon it with “much kinder eyes” (in the words of Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek).
My eyes are already pretty damn kind on these photos, but I’m sure it will be such a gift to be able to look back upon them in years future as well. This may sound strange, but I’ve also thought about my (future/hypothetical) grandchildren stumbling across these photos in several decades and going “damn Grandma!”
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?
Sexy mirror dancing! I’m not kidding, I recommend this to everyone. Find a calm, free evening, light some candles (and for the love of god turn OFF the big overhead light), drink some wine if that’s your vice, do your makeup, put on a sexy outfit and your favorite songs, and just go for it. Don’t focus on striking specific poses, just feel it out with the music and move your body in a way that feels good for you. Tap into the part of your brain that looks at your loved ones and sees their best selves shining through, then try to see yourself through that lens.
It’s easier to figure out what feeling and looking sexy/beautiful means for you in a low-pressure/low-stakes environment, be that by yourself or with a trusted loved one to hype you up.
When it comes time for the shoot, you’ll already have a sense for what to do, some comfort in front of a camera, and Sara will be there all along the way to perfect the poses.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Life gets better when you start to treat yourself the same as you would a beloved friend/romantic partner. I’m not just talking about self-pampering solo dates (though those are also great), I mean being intentionally curious about yourself and exploring things that bring you joy! They don’t have to make sense or have a purpose, they’re just part of this ineffable experience of being a self-aware bag of meat and bones, here on this planet for just a brief moment in time, trying to make the most of it.
This client’s story really shows how magical a boudoir photoshoot can be in celebrating who we are – in this moment. Her session with JVZ wasn’t just about taking beautiful photos; Her session became far more than playing dress-up in spellbinding rooms—it became a reclaiming. She walked away embracing the version of her we captured in each frame: powerful, sensual, playful, and utterly her.
What lingered long after the final click wasn’t just the photos, but the reminder that treating yourself with the tenderness you offer others is transformative magic.
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 for the holidays? A boudoir session may be the answer! Check out our availability here and give yourself a little treat – you deserve it ♥