Why I Became a Boudoir Photographer: A Journey Back to Myself

This is the story of why I became a boudoir photographer. I didn’t become one on a whim. It is something that has lived quietly in the back of my creative brain for years, waiting for the right moment, the right space, and the right version of me to bring it to life.

Back in 2017, I took a lighting and posing course at the California Digital Arts Academy in Downtown Santa Ana. I was hooked. But when I tried to bring that inspiration to life in a few test studios, something felt off. The vibe wasn’t right. The lighting was too harsh. The sets felt too heavy or dark. The images were beautiful, but they didn’t align with my heart or my signature style, which is soft, romantic, natural light, and quietly sensual. So I tucked the idea away, and kept waiting.

Then in 2022, everything shifted.

I booked a boudoir session for myself, part personal challenge and part Valentine’s Day surprise for my husband, and began searching for someone whose work matched the vision in my head. I wanted something dreamy but still sexy, light and airy but not overly posed or cheesy. And let me tell you, that was shockingly hard to find.

Eventually, I stumbled across a photographer I had worked with before, someone whose eye and style I already loved. She was offering mini-sessions while visiting California, and I booked immediately. That session changed me. For the first time in years, I saw myself through a new lens. I felt sexy, powerful, and completely me. It was a confidence reset and a creative firestarter all in one.

When I saw the images, my first reaction was, “Who is this?” But then I looked again and thought, “Okay girl, I see you.” I felt a rush of pride, excitement, and the kind of joy that bubbles up when you feel truly seen. That feeling, I wanted to give it to other women.

Not long after, Sparks Studios opened up in Huntington Beach. Natural light, clean aesthetics, modern yet warm, it was the perfect space. So I got to work building a boudoir brand that reflected me and the women I wanted to serve, women who craved something sensual, soft, and elevated. I wanted to create something that didn’t exist, so I did. In 2022, I launched OC Boudoir under my already successful brand Amy Captures Love.

In 2025, I stepped back in front of the camera again, but this time, at my new home, Spark Studios. Shot by a fellow photographer and friend, that experience was a whole new turning point and why I became a boudoir photographer shifted once again.

It had been a couple of years since my first shoot, and a lot had shifted personally and professionally. I wasn’t doing this to surprise anyone else, I did it for me. And what I discovered was this, I had become the very photographer I once searched so hard to find.

That shoot realigned everything. It reminded me why I do this work and exactly what I want to create for the women who come into my studio. Women who are grown, grounded, and still hungry for that spark. Women who want to feel connected to their bodies again. Women who want to feel hot without apology.

And that brings me to The OC Boudoir Reclamation Room, my private Facebook group and the heart of this whole movement.

It’s a space created for women 35 and up to reconnect with their sensuality, feel empowered by community, and prepare for a boudoir shoot with support, prep tips, and honest conversation. No shame. No weird vibes. Just real talk about hormones (perimenopause anyone?), confidence, intimacy, and rediscovering what it means to feel seen.

We have exclusive sneak peeks, exclusive memberships, giveaways, quarterly mini-sessions, and behind-the-scenes content you won’t find anywhere else. I even share pieces of my own boudoir journey there because I believe in doing this work with you, not just for you.

Boudoir isn’t about vanity, it’s about visibility. It’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself that might have gotten lost under laundry piles, corporate meetings, or carpool chaos. And if any part of you is thinking, “Maybe someday…” I’ll gently remind you, we’re not getting any younger, friend.

Ready to feel that fire again with me as your Boudoir Photographer?

So why not now?

💋 Join The OC Boudoir Reclamation Room, it’s completely free and full of women just like you.
💌 Check out the portfolio or book a discovery call and let’s talk about your dream session.

Let’s make magic, mamas.