destination boudoir in bali | why photographers need to do this, too

I had the honour and pure JOY of photographing another boudoir photographer while I was travelling in Bali, Indonesia.

I love, love, love working with other photographers. When you spend so much time and energy behind the camera, it’s even more important to step in front of the camera, too.

Getting in front of the camera for your own boudoir session is a gift not just to you (because YOU deserve to feel the way you help others feel), but also a gift to your clients.

You know how much of a ripple effect this type of work can have on those in front of the camera. You shoot your clients and they leave their sessions feeling on top of the world, more in touch with their inner knowing, and with a kinder heart to themselves and their bods. They go back out into the world and it touches all those around them.

Imagine the power this would illicit in you - to feel your strength, your inner power, to embody your favourite self, to fall in love with yourself… Now imagine bringing that back to your studio. To your clients. It’s so important for us to walk the damn walk and feel all these feelings alongside our clients. BE THE CLIENT at least once (but preferably many many many times).

You DESERVE to feel this way. But you also NEED to feel the feels to better serve your clients.

Molly AshlieComment
the intimacy of couples boudoir | victoria bc

We love a solo session in our studio.

But.

We equally love the power and intimacy of a couples session.

The two experiences are so wildly different from one another!

If you’re feeling any sort of way before your session (nervous, a lil terrified) a couples session is a great way to help ease those nerves. Because you have your person there with you, and you’re in it together. Lovin’ up on one another, smoochin’ the day away, and gigglin’ your butts off. All while having your love (and steaaaaam) captured for years to come.

A couples session can be a great precursor to a solo session, or a beautiful follow up. Nothing is more beautiful for us to watch than someone who came in and rocked their own solo session, and is now ready to help guide their lover through a session together. Showing them the ropes, and encouraging the the whole damn way.

These incredible humans were just so excited during their whole session – they came ready to to surrender to the process and love up on each other. They opted for our Muse Collection & Acrylic cover upgrade for their album. Because your story and art work deserves to transcend just digital files – it deserves to be seen and held for decades to come.

We are big advocates for exploring and documenting your love in front of the camera! Your love deserves to be shouted from the roof tops.

Molly AshlieComment
the problem has never been your body | victoria bc boudoir photography

the “problem” has never been your body.

when your friends, peers, parents, families are telling you proudly about their latest fad diet…

how can the “problem” be something “wrong” with your natural body,

when no one is immune to the virus of toxic body image?

how can we believe that we must change ourselves,

and not dismantle the systems that made us doubt our worthiness to begin with?

our bodies are art.

our bodies are natural.

our bodies are extensions of the universe –

our physical vessels to laugh, play, sing, dance, jump, breathe, hug with.

the next time you stand in front of the mirror and doubt yourself –

ask yourself where those thoughts came from.

and who they are serving by making you feel small.

the next time you stand in front of the mirror and doubt yourself –

remember where you came from.

from the endless creation of the universe itself.

you are, quite literally, a cosmic work of art.

Molly AshlieComment
The Three People To Do A Boudoir Shoot For | victoria bc boudoir

There are only three people in the whole, wide, entire world who are deserving of being the reason you do your boudoir photoshoot.

And no, it’s not your partner, your lover, your husband, or your wife.

Although giving the photos to your partner is an incredible gift – if you choose to do so. It’s the gift that gives to both the gifter and the receiver, and whoever is lucky enough to receive your photos should be over the damn moon.

But, no, your partner is not one of the people who should be the reason for your photoshoot.

The three people who you should do your session for are your past self, your current self, and your future self.

To honour how far you’ve come, the journey you’ve been on, and all the courage it took your past self to finally say “yes, I am ready to be seen” – do the session for them.

To celebrate exactly where you are at in your journey. With all your squishes, all your nerves, all your worries, all your excitement. To allow yourself to be fully in the present moment, revelling in how f*cking good it feels to choose yourself, and rewrite your story. Do the session for your current self.

And finally, the third person you need to do your session for is your future self. The one who will be curled up on a couch in 20 years from now. Hands a little more worn by time, face a little softer from all the laughing and living you’ve done. For the person who waits for you, to see how far you’ve come, to be so f*cking proud of the life you have lived. Do it for them.

A boudoir shoot is more than just beautiful photos – it’s a choosing of yourself. It’s a documenting of your story. It’s allowing yourself to be seen, held, and loved by the person who will be with you the longest – yourself.

Molly AshlieComment
client experience – from a gender affirming boudoir session

Throughout my life masquerading as a woman, my sensuality and sexuality have always been tied with the feminine.  As I have navigated my personal journey discovering my gender, I didn't know how the different parts of me could be connected to how I express myself.  Having done a shoot with Molly before, I knew I wanted to do another one as I was finding myself, even though I didn't (and still don't) have a full understanding who that is yet.


 My biggest focus was that I wanted to bring in the different parts of my gender, without completely erasing my femininity.  I am not androgynous, I am not masc, I am non-binary.  


I didn't have the words or context to fully communicate how I was feeling but I knew I needed to get it out there.

Molly was more than understanding of the essence I wanted to capture and worked with me through what this would look like.  


Regardless of anyone else's interpretation, I see my truest self in all the photos captured.


I saw my sexuality and sensuality expressed based on my energy and not on gender stereotypes.   This is why I am confident that no matter how you identify or where you are in your journey - having a shoot with Molly will be extremely comfortable and validating.  At every phase: consulting before, outfit choices, having a hair/makeup team that can also guide you through how you want to express yourself (shout out to Alison!), taking the photos, photo selection- I felt comfortable and heard.  If I had a concern, it was heard.  There were proactive steps to make sure my essence was captured without me prompting. 


victoria bc outdoor boudoir photography

Molly AshlieComment