Misty was the winner of our last year’s Cancer awareness giveaway. Her boudoir photography experience is below and you can also read her full story at http://www.taitboudoir.com/blog/cancer-awareness-giveaway-winner

Why did you decide to do a boudoir photo session?
I’ve always been interested to do this for my husband, but after having breast cancer and undergoing a mastectomy, I became very shy about exposing my body or thinking of it in a sexy light. When I saw the contest opportunity, I thought this might be a great way to see myself in a new light and embrace what I am now.

Why did you choose TAIT Photography for your boudoir photos?
There were great reviews and images online. Erica sounded warm and once I met her I knew I had made the right choice.

How did you prepare for your boudoir photo session?
I bought new lingerie online and had a manicure and pedicure.

Who are your boudoir photos for?
I got these for myself, my husband, and breast cancer survivors everywhere! My husband loves them SOOOOO much and so do I!

How was your boudoir photography experience?
It was so much fun! Erica is so good at making you feel very comfortable and positioning you so that you look your best…with no funny bulges anywhere.

How do you feel about your boudoir photos?
I never thought I could look that pretty. I really like the one in the red outfit where I’m on my stomach looking at the camera.

Do you have an interesting story or anything else you would like to share?
I am so glad I had the hair and make-up done. I could never get my eyes to look that big and sultry. I loved that Erica was interested in not only getting shots that she knew would look great, but was also interested in what I wanted to have done, like shots of putting on my stockings with the black corset!

Why should other women sign up for a boudoir photo shoot?
It is FUN! If you’ve ever played supermodel with your mirror, it is even better to do it for real with a professional

We have a winner for our Cancer Awareness Giveaway. Here is her story:

I am Misty, a wife, mother, nurse, friend, and oh yeah, a 2 ½ year breast cancer survivor.

At 30 I had beautiful baby girl, toddler son, loving husband, great job… and a lump. It couldn’t possibly be cancer; I was too young and too healthy. But cancer does not discriminate against anyone and suddenly my body became my enemy and a battlefield. I underwent a mastectomy. Recovery was hard; I couldn’t lift my children and I couldn’t get used to the hard expander in my chest, holding the tissue in place so that I could have reconstructive surgery. My right arm was stiff and swollen. Then I had six months of chemotherapy. I was tired, nauseous and bald. Bald EVERYWHERE! No one tells you that you will lose your hair first in your pubic area…no more bikini razor burn! Also, no eyelashes or eyebrows. My face was swollen from steroids and covered in acne. The chemo left my finger and toes numb and I dropped things and tripped and fell. Then, to add insult to injury, it was time for radiation. I was given tattoos (black dots) on my chest to make sure I was lined up in the exact same position every day. My scarred, exposed chest was draped in a wet towel and a beam of radiation was directed at my chest daily for a month. My skin became hard and blackened.

But here is the magic. My husband. Through all of this, he loved me. He loved my body. He told me how beautiful I was. He was never turned off or afraid to touch me. I hated my body, but he never did. He even shaved his head while I was bald! I had been very comfortable in my skin before, and was getting my va-va-voom back after 4 years of pregnancy and breast feeding and then cancer took not only my breast, but also that sense of security that my body was my friend.

My skin has healed and the scars are fading, but I still struggle to embrace my new body and a changed sense of beauty. Chemo changed my hair, and while I like my new curly hair, it is still a reminder of all that has changed. I would like to see myself the way my husband sees me: beautiful and sexy. I want to see my body not as a reminder of a battle against cancer. Most importantly, I want to give my husband the gift of knowing that I am again comfortable in my skin and to show everyone show that survivors are powerful!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as part of our quest to support women’s issues and health, TAIT Photography is announcing their first annual Breast Cancer Survivors’ Boudoir Photo Shoot Contest. Having any form of cancer is a terrible thing, but through research and by providing women with accurate information it is possible to minimize this disease’s impact. We have photographed many cancer survivors in the past, who naturally wish to see themselves in their best light and want to feel confident about their bodies once again. Getting excellent boudoir photographs taken is a huge self-confidence booster for any women, especially those who have been through such a difficult experience. This tragic disease is affects the lives of so many women and their loved ones. The bad news is that breast cancer kills nearly 65,000 women each year in the United States and Canada, and it is diagnosed in over 200,000 new cases every year. The good news is that breast cancer can be detected early with use of self-examinations and mammograms. It is especially important to get regular check-ups if one has a family history of breast cancer. Regardless of family history, self-exams should be preformed by women every month! Doctors and nurses can provide information on how to properly conduct such exams.

TAIT Photography will be holding a contest during the month of October for cancer survivors. If you or someone you know has been affected by any kind cancer that affects women, please consider entering our contest to win a FREE Boudoir Photo Shoot Package. Entering the contest is easy, simply send us your survival story along with one or two photos of you and we will post the entries on our blog. Then you, the readers, will choose the contest winner based on the person receiving the most number of votes. The winner will receive a deluxe boudoir package with a day of pampering including full makeup & hair, a photo shoot with Erica, plus an album of beautiful images that will help you further realize your true beauty! Anyone who has a cancer survival story is a true winner, and so the finalists will also receive a discount toward a future boudoir marathon session, even if you do not receive the most votes. And because all cancers are tragic, not only breast cancer, this contest will be open to all women who are survivors of any type of cancer. In addition to providing our contest, TAIT Photography will also be contributing a portion of each photoshoot in October toward breast cancer research. Please join us in our support of breast cancer research by donating to this important cause.

To enter the contest:

This contest is for any woman who has survived cancer in any form.

Please email your story to info@taitboudoir.com with the subject line SURVIVOR CONTEST. Please send a pic of yourself and any other photos you would like to share.

If you are a finalist, your story, along with first name and submitted images will be posted on our blog.

Feel free to nominate a deserving friend – just please ask their permission first and send us their contact info so that we can confirm.

We will post the top 3 entries on this blog – And YOU, the readers, will choose the winner!

We will be accepting entries until October 20th

The top finalists will be announced and voting will begin on about October 25th. The winner will be announced on November 1st.

GOOD LUCK!

P.S. If you sign up for an upcoming boudoir marathon and you win the contest, your payment will be refunded.