Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Bartram.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve spent the past three or so years photographing weddings, it was great and I got to travel to some amazing places- but it didn’t fulfill me. I felt like something was missing, it wasn’t fulfilling my desire to contribute something to the world. During this time I was also healing myself and working toward finding peace and acceptance around my body. I’ve dealt with some body image issues off and on throughout my life and I’ve never really felt entirely comfortable in my body and it’s something I wanted to face. Because of that, I feel very passionate about women and our right to feel beautiful no matter our body size, skin color, background, or lifestyle.
So as I began to find acceptance within myself, the more it made me want to help women do the same. So I decided to quit shooting weddings and commit to photographing women. I began listening to their stories, helping them appreciate their bodies, and showing them how beautiful they actually are and that we aren’t defined by our body size! I immediately knew it was exactly what I was meant to do. So here I am, photographing boudoir full time and loving every fucking second of it. (Is cursing allowed? hehe)
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, because I just officially launched my boudoir business in May, this is still somewhat of a new road for me. So I’m just getting started! I don’t think switching career paths is ever going to be easy, but I do think anything you’re passionate about is worth fighting for. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the easiest path to take. Leaving behind the security of high paying weddings to pursue boudoir photography was a scary decision to make, but because I know its what I’m meant to do I have no doubt it will work out. I definitely have struggled with the idea of feeling like I’m capable of making this work, or that I even have what it takes the be the powerful leader and businesswoman I want to be. And unfortunately, a lot of social media platforms are starting to censor the female body, limiting what can be shared.
Based entirely on what they deem appropriate or inappropriate, making it difficult for boudoir photographers to share and advertise their work. Even though boudoir is usually tasteful and beautiful, and in my case focused on empowerment and self-love- these platforms are doing whatever it takes to make sure our work isn’t being seen! Women’s’ bodies are not offensive, they are not inappropriate or vulgar, and wanting to share it as a means of expression and empowerment should be more embraced rather than shunned. And that’s exactly why I’m doing this work! As frustrating and scary as that is, it’s worth it to me if it means I can help women around the world love and feel beautiful in their bodies.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
What I’m really proud of is that I’ve created a brand that shows I’m more than just a boudoir photographer. Almost everyone who hires me tells me they chose me because of who I am, how passionate I am, and how much I genuinely want to help women. I’m very open on my Instagram and share a lot about my struggles with my body image and help women feel understood and show them that they’re not alone. I also have a private facebook group where I share more and connect with women more intimately than we can on IG. We share and support each other and it’s like a little online community.
I think what really sets me apart is that I see boudoir as so much more than sexy photos. I see it as a tool to help you tap into your Goddess Within- the part of you that knows you’re radiant and worthy just the way you are and feels that way. It’s an opportunity for you to take time to appreciate yourself, celebrate your body. and accept yourself exactly as you are. A lot of the time, boudoir is just seen and used as a sexy gift for Holidays. While that’s fine and I’m ok with it, a lot of women think you need to have a partner to do a boudoir session, and that’s something I’m trying to shed light on. You don’t need an excuse, boudoir can be and is for YOU. Not only when you lose weight, when you feel like you’re sexy enough, or when you feel like you “deserve” it.
My goal is to help shift the idea in our society that you have to look a certain way to be or feel beautiful. We live in a world that profits and thrives off of our insecurities by promoting a standard of beauty that is not only unrealistic but also incredibly problematic. Our beauty ISN’T and shouldn’t be defined by our weight or the size of our breasts or waists. It’s so much more than that, beauty goes so much deeper than our physical bodies. And that’s what I strive to do with my business.
Outside of boudoir, I also host women’s gatherings as a space to connect deeper with yourself and other women. There is so much comparison and competition between women in our culture so creating a space for women to support and learn from each other has been an amazing way to help women feel empowered and understood. I share more about this on my Instagram and my private Facebook group!
How do you, personally, define success? What’s your criteria, the markers you’re looking out for, etc?
I really think that success is subjective, but to me it has nothing to do with money, recognition, or amount of followers. Personally, success is a feeling, one I began to feel when I started to fulfill my purpose of helping women. Although this is a new journey for me and from an outside perspective it may not appear that I’m wildly “successful”, I have a job that inspires me, helps me grow and learn, pays my bills, connects me with amazing women, makes me feel happy and fulfilled, and contributes to something powerful to the world. I love what I do, I’m happy, and I help women feel beautiful in their bodies, despite what we’ve been told our entire lives. And that to me is a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goddesswithinboudoir.com
- Email: taylor@goddesswithinboudoir.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/taylorbartram
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/goddesswithin
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