AmandaJean’s Bold, Meaningful Outdoor Boudoir Portraits at Superior Point

When AmandaJean emailed me about her idea for an outdoor boudoir session, I was immediately touched by her story.  Ten years ago, she experienced a stroke and pulmonary embolism that almost killed her. She was really drawn to taking her session outside to honor the deep connection she feels to nature as a refuge in her recovery. She and I talked a lot about the different perspective she has of her body after going through this medical crisis and recovery. She has shifted to thinking about her body in an appreciative, functional way that celebrates what it can do and how it takes care of her - what a powerful energy to bring into a boudoir session.

She loved the idea of doing a session to document and celebrate this 10 year mark post-stroke. From her words shared in a personal blog post about her boudoir experience: “Ten borrowed years have passed since I heard the words ‘massive pulmonary embolism with infarction and stroke.’ My body may be scarred, but she is beautiful. She had to break, before I could shine.”

AmandaJean wanted to incorporate a mix of different styles in her portraits, with some that would feel relaxed and soft and some that would feel more dramatic and confident - all with a strong theme of connection to nature. She has a profound connection to Superior Point, the specific place she chose for her photoshoot on Lake Superior. When she was recovering from her stroke and having a particularly hard day, she would drive up to this point on the lake with her dog and sit by the water.

“Healing, this big lake of ours has healed me in more ways than I could ever explain. I have cried tears, filled the air with laughter, and just sat quietly on her shores. So this place was the perfect place to live boldly through boudoir.”

With a love for the element of water, AmandaJean wanted to be in and near the water in many of her portraits. This one of her sitting on the rock jetty that leads to the lighthouse is one of my favorites. I love the pop of color in her robe and how she looks like she is really experiencing the magnitude of where she is. There were a number of incredible moments during her session when she was sitting on the beach looking out at the water, revelling in the power of being in this healing place.

Another one of my favorites is from near the end of AmandaJean’s session where she is laying on her stomach, right at the edge of the water with sand on her arms. She looks so happy, peaceful, and connected with the earth. This sense of connection with the earth made outdoor boudoir seem so clearly fitting for AmandaJean, and was always one of my main motivations behind incorporating outdoor boudoir sessions into my work. There are people who are able to feel so much themselves when they are out in nature and outdoor boudoir feels like a beautiful way to honor that.

“Alyssa took the time to show me how to pose and would direct me on where/how to look. My favorite line she said was ‘ok, now a little smile for yourself.’ Smile for yourself sums up this entire experience. The boudoir shoot was for me and me alone. I drove away from Wisconsin Point feeling incredible and so full of light. That day is a day I will always treasure. The feelings I felt and the confidence I gained will carry me for the rest of my days.”

If AmandaJean’s story is inspiring you to consider taking your boudoir session outside, you might have some questions about what that would look like, and how outdoor boudoir works.  I’ve put together some planning info for you - start by reading this blog post first.

AmandaJean, you are powerful and radiant and I’m so grateful to have met you. I loved working with you in this special place to create portraits that emanate your inner strength, resilience, and life. Thank you for sharing your story with me!