A Time Capsule of Grief, Beauty & Becoming | Boudoir on Film: Najma

When Najma and I first met on Zoom, I smiled. Sitting across from me was this sweet, genuine, effortlessly cool woman, and the second we started talking, it just flowed. It felt like an instant connection.

I usually try not to envision a shoot before someone officially books, but with Najma, I couldn’t help it. Her eyes, her presence, her awesome piercings and tattoos... I was already picturing the beautiful art we’d create together. And yes, we definitely delivered. As you read, don’t forget to scroll to the bottom. The last image is my absolute favorite. It says so much about her journey without needing any words.

And then, just a few minutes into the call, the conversation shifted. She brought up the war and said quietly, “I actually lost my partner a few weeks ago. He was serving in Gaza.”

I felt the tears come up right away. It caught me off guard and reminded me how real and layered these conversations can be.

I asked about him.

The way she lit up when she talked about him... even through the heartbreak, you could feel the light and joy. He was always doing something wild, making people laugh, helping others.

“He was just absolutely the most amazing person. And I know everyone says that, but he genuinely had the most amazing heart. Every day I find out more and more things he did before I even met him. Things he just did quietly, without ever mentioning, because it was so natural to him.”

As we kept talking, she shared that a boudoir session was something she had always wanted to do, but there was always a reason not to. Now, she felt called to do all of those things. To say yes to life. She told me she could hear his voice in the quiet moments, whispering to her, “Go for it.”

In those weeks after his death, Najma felt like she was in a daze. She had started her degree right before he died, and afterward, it felt like she was just supposed to just keep going. Most days, she was moving through the motions, on autopilot, disconnected from her body and her vitality.

Najma wanted a way back home to herself. What she didn’t know was that this would be the beginning of something even deeper…

Najma said, “When you started explaining your process, and I was like, oh G-d, wait. That’s actually what I wanted. I thought I just wanted the photos, and yeah, they’re going to be amazing, but there was so much more underneath. All these fears started coming up. Being seen, what I’d wear, how I’d feel. And in that conversation, I realized… oh. That’s what this is really about.”

It was really beautiful to witness Najma as she dove into the experience. Through the calls, the journaling, and the light framework I created to help women deepen their relationships with their bodies, something powerful opened up for her. It became a portal. Into not just loving her body, but feeling safe to exist in it, maybe even for the first time in her life.

She told me, “I’ve never in my life finished a journal, and I’m almost at the end of the first one.” It wasn’t just about the journaling itself. It was about taking the time to pause, to breathe, and to listen. She said, “Now I can take time to just sit and be without feeling guilty about it. Last week I took myself to Tel Aviv and sat on the beach for hours just watching the sunset. I don’t think I’ve ever known how to just exist before. Everything is always so fast paced. This gave me permission to slow down and actually feel it.”

What started as small rituals and practices slowly turned into something deeper. At first, she was checking things off a list, trying to do it all “right.” But then, she said, “After a week or two, I realized what I was actually feeling. It gave me the ability to practice something and then all of a sudden, I felt the feeling I had been looking for. I could just be.”

From there, she started carrying that energy into every other part of her life.

Leading up to the shoot, Najma shared how much of her daily life involved presenting herself a certain way. “The process was like taking off the mask,” she said. “I’m so used to curating how I look, my jewelry, my earrings, the way I dress. Especially in Israel, where looking more alternative gets you a lot of stares. Every time I leave the house, there’s this awareness of how I’m being seen. But with this, it wasn’t about being seen by others. It wasn’t about performing or presenting…

…this was for me. I didn’t need to put anything on or try to be anything else. I just wanted to see myself, really see myself, without all the extra layers. And that felt like radical self-acceptance.”

And it was amazing… every call with you, I gained more clarity about myself.”

Right before the session, there was a lot going on for Najma. Work, school, life. Grief showing up in unexpected moments. Things felt full and a little chaotic.

And honestly, that makes so much sense. I always tell my clients that there’s nothing you can do to mess this up. You don’t have to show up as your “best self” or have everything figured out. This isn’t about proving anything. It’s about being exactly where you are. It’s about making space for all the parts of you, even the ones that feel messy or not quite how you imagined.

There’s just so much power in letting go of the old stories about who we were “supposed” to be and stepping into who we really are. This boudoir experience is truly a reclaiming of self.

When reflecting back on those first moments, Najma said, “I got to the studio and everything was quiet and calm, and I was like, okay, I’m here. I made it. And everything’s fine.”

Najma told me the hair and makeup was a meaningful part of the process for her. It wasn’t something she had done since high school prom, which made it feel even more special. We had so much fun chatting, listening to music, laughing, and having beautiful, honest conversations as she got ready.

As I began photographing her, I felt that familiar pressure rise in my body. But then I remembered why Najma was here. Not to check something off a list. Not to perform. But to really be.

I block off plenty of time for my boudoir sessions so we never have to rush. So why was I rushing? I took a breath and reminded myself… I could slow down. I could just be there with her, exactly as we intended.

And once I let out that exhale, something shifted.

It felt like we entered another dimension. I got to witness this goddess, fully in her body, in her power. It was awe-inspiring…

When Najma saw her photos for the first time, she said it was just insane, “I remember sitting and looking, and I was like, oh my G-d, wait... this is me. That’s what I look like? That’s how people see me?”

She told me that for so long, especially through the disconnection from her body, she hadn’t had a clear image of herself. “In my head, I’m just this amorphous blob. I’m a consciousness in an existence.” Seeing herself in stillness, without movement, without distractions, felt completely different than looking in a mirror. “It was just such a pure way of being able to look at yourself.”

She described the black-and-white portraits, many of them nude, as raw and grounding. There was no styling to hide behind, no performance. Just her. Present. Real.

Even in choosing her final photos, Najma stayed connected to the intention. It wasn’t something to rush through or check off. “I had to remind myself, everything’s still going to be here. Nothing’s running away. Slow down, take a breath. That’s what this whole process taught me.”

She said that while the shoot was powerful, it wasn’t the final destination. “Somehow the photo shoot is what brought me here. But it wasn’t really about the photos. It was part of something bigger. A way to put everything we’d been talking about into practice and start finding my way back to myself.”

At the end of one of our final calls, I asked Najma where she feels she is now, after everything.

She took a breath and said, “Bittersweet. That’s the word that keeps coming up.”

She spoke about the strange duality she lives with now. The pain of losing her partner and the clarity it gave her. “In this really messed up way, losing him showed me who I am. What I actually want. What I really value. Not what I’m supposed to value, not what feels like a priority because of guilt or pressure, but what actually matters to me.”

She shared how she’s still struggles at times, but how she’s letting herself feel it all. Not pushing the grief away. Not pretending it’s fine. Just allowing it to exist. “I’m learning how to live again,” she said. “To hold both. The joy and the pain. The part of me that’s trying to move forward, and the part that still aches.”

Najma described the experience as a time capsule. A moment that holds the fullness of everything she was moving through. “It all feels tied together. The shoot, the grief, everything else that was going on. And I can look back and remember, yes, I held all of that. Together, all of the bad, all of the good, they can exist in the same space, and they can feed off of one another. I don’t need to fight it.”

It’s hard to put into words what it meant to walk beside her through this process. The way she carries it all with honesty and compassion. Not by pushing the grief away, but by allowing it to live alongside the beauty and her incredible journey of self-love.

This journey is one Najma has chosen to continue in my signature coaching program, The New Sexy Mastermind, and supporting her through this beautiful evolution is an honor.

The boudoir experience alone left a deep imprint on my heart… and I can only imagine the magic that’s still to come.

Hair and Makeup by Rhonda Lev

Kodak Film // Processed and Scanned by Panda Labs

At Home in Her Body | Lifestyle Bohemian Boudoir: Danielle

After a long break from blogging, I’m finally back—and it feels so good! There are so many breathtaking sessions and deeply inspiring stories I’ve been holding onto, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

To be honest, at first, I hesitated. Would posting these sessions months or years later be too late? But as I clicked through each folder, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I was reminded, yet again, of how stunning my clients are, how meaningful these moments were, and how truly timeless these images will always be. I can picture my clients looking back at them decades from now, cherishing the way they felt and celebrating the evolution of who they are. So why in the world would I think it’s too late now? Silly me.

This session I’m about to share with you took place just before the war began, in September 2023.

My client, Danielle, is such a special, kind, and creative soul…

When she first reached out to me a few years ago, we had a stunning session in my studio. I still remember our first call—she was so nervous, afraid she wouldn’t like any of the pictures. But deep down, she knew she wanted to push past that fear, step outside her comfort zone, and celebrate exactly where she was in life at that moment.

Her first session was pure magic. She let herself be seen, and the results spoke for themselves. When she finally saw the images, she couldn’t believe how much she loved them. It was such a beautiful moment—watching her shift from doubt to pure joy.

When Danielle reached out about having another boudoir experience, it felt like a full-circle moment. She shared how much the photos from our first session had meant to her—how, as her body changed over time, those images helped her embrace and love herself in ways she never had before. Now, in a completely different chapter of her life, she wanted to continue that journey. This time, it wasn’t just about taking beautiful photos—it was about stepping into deeper self-acceptance, letting go of old expectations, and celebrating herself with openness and joy.

As we talked, I immediately started picturing the session—her in her beautiful home, with a more lifestyle vibe. As an interior designer, her space is a direct reflection of who she is, a sanctuary that tells her story. And with its modern bohemian vibes—textured fabrics, earthy tones, and an effortless, curated feel—I connected with it so much. It was totally my style too, which made capturing her in that space even more fun.

So, on a quiet morning, I headed to her charming neighborhood with my incredible hair and makeup artist, Rhonda Lev. Over coffee, soft music, and easy conversation, we created gorgeous art together—an experience that felt effortless, joyful, and deeply true to her…

Kodak Film // Processed and Scanned by Panda Labs

Hair and Makeup by Rhonda Lev

For Danielle’s gorgeous work: www.daniellebielski.com // www.instagram.com/daniellebielski.design

No More Hiding | Tel Aviv Boudoir : Gabi

I grew up in New York in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, when women's weight and bodies were constantly demonized. From gossip tabloids to the news to overhearing other girls and women speaking about their bodies, no one seemed pleased with their appearance.

The idea that my body should be something different than what it was became so internalized and was a part of what led to a painful eating disorder in my adolescence. I “recovered.” I regained weight, my period returned, and my skin brightened, but the true suffering continued in my own mind for years.

Through being in therapy and fully exploring myself through meditation, I am now able to observe my thoughts and feel compassion for myself, something I so desperately needed when I was younger.

When I moved to Israel and found Rebecca’s Instagram, I was blown away by the photos she was posting. There were different types of women with all different types of bodies, all being celebrated as they were. It was revolutionary!

Every single human she photographed looked so beautiful and so perfect. Each body looked exactly how it should…

When I first came across Rebecca’s work, I was in a long-term relationship and wanted to gift my boyfriend photos. However, my fear of not being sexy, fit, or tan enough kept me from following through.

Since then, that relationship ended, I completed a bachelor’s degree, became a registered nurse, adopted a dog on my own, came out to family and friends as bisexual, and began dating my current girlfriend.

At some point last year, Rebecca reached out to me and asked if I wanted to have a call to discuss what was holding me back.

On that call, I realized that I would probably never feel ready enough to actually make the final call and decided to do it anyway! We booked the session for 2 months later.

I felt so nervous to totally expose myself. I spent so many years hiding who I truly am, hiding my sexuality, and trying to make myself seem perfect from the outside. The idea of literally and metaphorically stripping down all of that was incredibly daunting.

Rebecca was there every step of the way. She sent me journal prompts and mindful ways of fueling my body and mental health leading up to the shoot, nothing about a diet or rigorous exercise. She suggested I sleep properly, drink enough water, and set boundaries so I wouldn’t feel drained as The Big Day approached.

This felt so refreshing and obvious, and helped me feel acceptance and compassion towards myself and my body.

Something else that Rebecca helped me through was an idea for the shoot.

Since admitting to the world that I am bisexual and love women too, I felt my own internalized dread that I don’t “look the part.” I feared I presented as too feminine and people always seemed surprised when I mentioned my sexuality. I received a wide array of reactions when sharing my bisexuality. This included shock (“how can someone so girly be attracted to women?), disgust (“how do you two girls… do it?” nose wrinkle), and disbelief (“someday your husband is going to love that you had a bi-phase”). I felt I wanted to appear more masculine, just to relieve myself of some of these reactions.

I expressed this idea of bringing both feminine and masculine aspects to the shoot, and Rebecca asked me how I imagined what masculine energy would look like in the shoot.

The adjectives I thought of surprised me: confident, bold, daring, and self-assured. So why didn’t I believe feminine energy should also embody these traits?

This helped me see how I was judging myself both as a woman raised in our society AND as a queer woman.

When the morning of the shoot arrived, I felt so nervous and excited. Getting ready and dolled up with Rhonda made me feel so confident and ready.

Rebecca helped guide me into different poses (I was never one to feel comfortable in front of a camera or posing) until it felt totally natural!

I thought I would be excited to see the pictures and not necessarily enjoy the actual photoshoot. I was pleasantly surprised to realize the photo shoot was so enjoyable and fun!

I received the photos from Rebecca and probably stared at them, dumbfounded, for about two hours before I excitedly ran to share them with my girlfriend. I couldn’t imagine all the things I saw as applying to myself.

I saw a confident, comfortable, sensual, beautiful, and strong woman in the photos. It reminded me of how I felt when Rebecca sent me the prompts and suggestions before the shoot. These conclusions I drew upon myself were so refreshing and obvious.

It has been almost a year since my boudoir session, and I still feel the effects of the whole experience. I didn’t realize it would stick with me as much as it has! What started as self-acceptance and compassion bloomed into a strong belief that my body looks exactly as it should, and I love the way she looks! On my “down” days I love to look at my album and remember what a fun day I had and how strong I am.

I feel every woman should be able to experience this at least once in their life. Aside from just a fun day and beautiful photos, it has really improved how I view myself and has seriously helped my confidence!

Gabi, thank you for allowing me to go on this journey with you. From the very beginning, you were so open and willing to go outside of your comfort zone and use this experience for personal growth.

It was such an honor to witness you as you stepped fully into your power. No more hiding. No more staying small to please others. Just being completely real and content with where you are at and who you are.

It was incredible to see that unfold through this process.

These photographs are more than I even dreamed of creating with you, and I’m really happy that these tangible results feel aligned with your internal experience. You’re amazing! And SO beautiful.

xoxo Rebecca

When Women Rise Together | Dressed by Danielle : Tel Aviv Boudoir

I first came across Danielle Williams, founder of Dressed by Danielle, while I was scrolling through Instagram one day. A woman, in Israel, running her own business, empowering women, and promoting body positivity?!

It gave me so much joy to see her posts about embracing her own body and how she was helping other women do the same through her gorgeous pre-loved clothing. I immediately reached out and made an appointment for my 10-year-old daughter and I to have a personal shopping session with her. Hitting her pre-teen years, my daughter has surpassed my own height and shoe size, and I wanted to give her an empowering experience where she could find clothing that she loved. The fact that Danielle offered a body-positive environment made all the difference, and over a year later, my daughter still talks about how incredible that day was.

As Danielle and I got chatting, we realized how aligned our values were. We realized that although I am a boudoir photographer and she is a personal stylist, what we do for women is actually very similar. We are both blessed to be able to witness women when they are their most vulnerable and authentic selves and help them actualize the power that is already inside of them. Her with clothing. Me with photography.

And part of that vulnerability is women coming face to face with their bodies exactly the way they are.

We spoke about how we are on our personal body love journeys alongside our clients and that our businesses really helped us grow into the women we are today. That our clients constantly inspire us, and that self-love is an ever-evolving journey. You don’t just wake up one day and love everything about yourself, it’s something that you have to compassionately work on.

And so the idea for a creative collaboration was born in hopes of creating another safe space for personal and collective healing.

Danielle posted after the session, “As we were shooting, I asked Rebecca to get some close-ups of my tummy rolls and stretch marks. If you had told 2020 Danielle that 2021 Danielle did such a thing, she would be shocked. I’ve spent many years of my life hating my body and even editing my photos to hide all the things I considered to be imperfections. But I’ve come to realize this year that you can’t hate yourself into a version of yourself that you love.

This image inspired us to collaborate further with artist and calligrapher, Malka Klein, who brought these words to life…

Danielle wrote this beautiful letter to her body to go along with the image above,

”Dear Body,

I love you. ⁣


I love your stretch marks because they remind me of the time when we shed a massive amount of physical and emotional weight. ⁣


I love your cellulite because it reminds me how voluptuous and sexy we are.


I love your hairy skin because it reminds me how we’ve begun to embrace all that we are, as we are.


I love your flabby stomach because it reminds me that someday we will literally create humans inside of us, and that’s freaking magical.


I love everything about you, because you are me. You are the one and only vessel through which I will get to exist and experience life, and for that, I will always be grateful to you.

I am sorry for all the negative things I have said about you.⁣

I love you. ⁣”

Being part of this collaboration and witnessing Danielle in her power, just like we do for our own clients, was an incredible honor.

Special thanks to Rhonda Lev for the beautiful hair and makeup, and my husband and business partner, Yehoshua, for making sure all the working parts of this project came together as they did.

In collaboration with Dressed by Danielle

Hair and Makeup by Beauty by Rhonda

Calligraphy by Malka Klein

Kodak Film // Processed and scanned by Panda Labs