March is Womens History Month… join us for our new series “Through her Lens,” a blog series focused on the women behind the images we produce at Mirrored Images Boudoir.  First up, April Richards.

My name is April and can’t believe I am almost 42 years old! Where has the time gone? Among the many hats I wear, I am a wife, mother of 3, business owner of Salon AF & Beauty Co, friend, and teacher (we homeschool our son). We live a very busy life but with the abundant love and support I get from an amazing husband; we can tackle it all!

I had been following Mirrored Images page for some time and swooned over all the amazing images. I would always tell myself, “I’ll do a session when I lose a few pounds, or tone up, etc.”. A few years ago, Jenn, became a hair client of mine and we instantly hit it off. Since our meeting, she’s become one of my closest friends and an invaluable business mentor. So naturally, it was a no-brainer that I trusted my friend to make me look like a sex kitten in my photos. I knew I would be in the best hands between her eye and Jamie’s makeup skills.

Ps. I never did lose those pounds before my session, but I went anyway. The day of the shot, I was in my head a bit. Thoughts were running through my head presenting every possible negative outtake.

“I’m out of shape.”

“I’m going to be sore tomorrow.”

“I hope these open-mouth pics don’t look as stupid as I feel”. 

“Please don’t get my double chin.”

“How come she (Jenn) looks sexy demonstrating these poses and I feel like a troll?” 

“I trust her vision, but good God I hope she helps me up from this ridiculous pose.” 

But I CHOSE to push those thoughts away and I put my trust in my friends, the women who supported me through every pose and click of the       shoot. No, I didn’t lose the weight, but as it turns out, I didn’t need to. I still looked SEXY AF.

That’s what this image is for me. A reminder.

Because sometimes you need to be reminded who you are, through the eyes of others, since your inner monologue, can get the best of you. We must rewrite these scripts of our childhood.

Younger April didn’t know how to trust her gut and that natural ability to read through people’s dishonesty. I would love to tell her “If someone doesn’t make you feel good or special, and your gut is calling you out on it, you better listen up! I don’t care whether it’s a boyfriend, girlfriend, friend, coworker, etc. You deserve the utmost respect, honesty, and absolute best from all relationships that you encounter”. Present-day April now knows that if your gut keeps getting in the way, it’s for a good reason.

Many of us get so caught up in our dysmorphia that we forget to love ourselves. We shy from our husband’s kind loving words when they tell us how beautiful we are, or how sexy we are to them. We shy from their sensual touch because we feel undesirable. We are disbelieving. We think they are blind. These pictures made me see myself the way my husband has seen me for the past 13 years. Sexy, fierce, and unapologetic for my flaws.