Lost after motherhood

Her life, for more than a decade, had revolved around being a mother. After having four children in eleven years, Brittany and her husband decided their family was complete. With their youngest turning one, a new and unsettling feeling began to creep in: Who am I now, beyond mom?

“My passion and purpose have always been our children,” she explains. “I poured one hundred percent of myself into being a mom, a wife, a military spouse, a daughter, a sister, a friend. But somewhere in the process, I lost touch with me. I needed to rediscover who I was outside of everyone else’s expectations.”

That rediscovery, however, wasn’t easy. Brittany struggled with her reflection. “This body carried, grew, and nourished four beautiful children, but when I looked in the mirror, all I saw was someone unattractive and uncomfortable in her own skin. I even hid parts of myself from my husband, no matter how supportive and loving he was.”

Blindsided by a gift

It was her mother who shifted everything. After hearing about Brittany’s struggles with self-image, she surprised her daughter with a gift—a boudoir session at One Soul Fine Art & Boudoir. “I was blindsided,” Brittany says. “I never told anyone I’d thought about boudoir, but my mom knew I was struggling. She gifted me the session, and I decided to move forward despite all my fear and anxiety.”

Still, the decision didn’t erase her doubts. “I was terrified I’d regret it. That the photos would make me feel worse. I kept thinking, there’s only so much a photographer can do—and I don’t have anything good for them to work with.”

But the moment she arrived, the tone began to change. Jill welcomed her with warmth and positivity, and soon Brittany found herself laughing, sipping coffee, and nervously settling in for hair and makeup.

“I’m usually a ponytail-and-no-makeup kind of woman,” she says with a smile. “So sitting in the chair, having my makeup done—it was fun. Natural, classy, and still so elevated. I actually thought, Wow, I want to learn how to do this for myself!”

From fear to Cloud 9

When it came time to step in front of the camera, Brittany’s nerves spiked. “I was 100% scared. I’d been hiding in front of my husband for years, and now here I was about to bare myself in front of strangers! But Jill and David created such a safe, respectful, and fun environment. There was laughter, banter, encouragement—I felt like I could push past my limits. With every set and pose, I began to see myself differently.”

By the time she left, Brittany was on cloud nine. “I was riding a high. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed—I just knew I’d had fun. I felt empowered, strong, and even… sexy. That was such a foreign feeling, but it was there.”

And then came the reveal.

Blown away by the results

“I was so nervous to see my pictures. Even though I’d been shown little previews during the session, I panicked. I thought, what if they all look terrible? But when I saw them—oh my goodness. Jill and David didn’t just give me good pictures. They gave me art. They gave me her—a version of me I didn’t know existed. I literally said, ‘I didn’t know I could look like that!’ I was blown away.”

Instead of walking away embarrassed or regretful, Brittany left with something far more valuable: a new relationship with herself. “For the first time in years, I saw beauty when I looked at me. I walked out with an increased appreciation for my body and a desire to keep loving myself the way my husband always wished I could.”

Ignore the doubts. Do it.

To women who are still on the fence, Brittany’s advice is heartfelt and certain: “Do it. Despite any fears, insecurities, or doubts—do it. And do it for yourself. You may choose to gift the photos to someone special, but let that be the bonus. The real gift is for you. The way you will see yourself at the end is worth everything.”