This Isn’t Frivolous + Inspiration + Censored, But Not Silenced | 3.27.25
SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE :-)
Hello Beautiful,
A week or two ago, I came across a reel from a woman I follow on Instagram—her name is Bettina. She is a Liposarcoma survivor and is also a personal trainer, nutrition coach, biomechanics coach, FRC provider, and the owner of www.bodybybettina.com (@bodybybettina).
In the reel, she talked about how she used to dance as a child—but then that was taken from her. And now, she’s carved out time to dance again, just for herself.
She mentioned how it might seem frivolous, especially when there’s always something else that feels more urgent, more productive. But really, it’s not frivolous at all. Doing something that connects you back to yourself, something that makes you feel you again, is necessary.
That idea has been sitting with me ever since.
It came up again yesterday evening when I was talking with a woman I just met at my yoga class. We started chatting about what I do and how being a small business owner, especially in a creative field, comes with its own challenges.
I told her that what I do is, technically, a luxury. Having professional photos taken isn’t something you need to survive… it’s not water, food, or a roof over your head. But at the same time, it kind of is. Because the way it makes you feel… the way it brings you back to yourself, that matters more than people think.
Because when a woman steps into my studio, when she sees herself through my lens and feels beautiful, powerful, and confident—that changes something.
It shifts how she carries herself. It boosts her self-esteem. It reminds her that it’s okay to put herself first. That it’s okay to want to feel beautiful. That choosing something just for you is not indulgent, it’s a deeply empowering act of self-respect.
So while yes, it may be considered a luxury, it’s also transformative. It’s something I believe every woman should experience for herself.
It’s not frivolous to want something that’s just yours. It’s not frivolous to want to feel good in your own skin. That kind of joy, that kind of reclamation, is powerful.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Inspiration
“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake.
Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
― George Bernard Shaw
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WHAT’S GOING ON
Censored, But Not Silenced
It’s honestly wild how often I create something beautiful, meaningful, and artistic, only to have it taken down or flagged by social media. Not because it’s graphic or explicit, but because it features a woman’s body.
As a boudoir photographer, I work with light, movement, and emotion. Every image is created with intention. It’s not about shock or performance, it’s about truth, vulnerability, and strength. And yet, social platforms don’t always get that.
Some of my favorite images, ones that clients are proud of, that feel like powerful self-expression, get blurred out or blocked. It’s frustrating, especially when I know how much these photos matter to the people in them.
The double standard is real. Women’s bodies are constantly policed, even when they’re being shown through the lens of art and empowerment. But this work isn’t about fitting into a set of rules someone else wrote, it’s about reclaiming space, feeling seen, and honoring who we are.
So no, I’m not stopping anytime soon. If anything, it just reminds me how important this work really is.
And if you’re here, reading this, thank you. Thank you for valuing this kind of art. For being curious, open, and supportive. And hey, if you choose to be my client too—that is also totally awesome :)
XX, AMY
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