Boudoir Isn’t Vanity

Boudoir Isn’t Vanity—It’s Healing

Boudoir often gets misunderstood as something rooted in vanity—a “sexy photoshoot” meant to show off. For many women, that assumption alone has held them back from stepping into the experience. But the truth is, boudoir has far less to do with how you look and far more to do with how you feel about yourself. It is not for show. It is not about proving anything to someone else. Boudoir, when experienced deeply, becomes healing, restorative, and profoundly clarifying.

boudoir photo shoot pittsburgh with sex swing, woman in sheer top and heels posing with a swing at Maura Chick's Boudoir Studio

When a woman books a boudoir session, it’s rarely because she thinks she is perfect. More often, it is because she hasn’t seen herself in a way that feels powerful, beautiful, or worthy in a long time. Many women arrive carrying a lifetime of messages—criticisms about their bodies, comparisons to others, expectations they never asked for, and memories of when they once felt more confident or more at ease in their skin. The session becomes a moment to rewrite that internal story.

boudoir photos pittsburgh with sex swing, best boudoir photographer near me, mesh shirt and black thong posing with honey birdette leather swingBoudoir is healing because it gives you a mirrored reflection of yourself that is not rooted in judgment, shame, or self-monitoring. In daily life, we stare at ourselves through bathroom mirrors, candid phone photos, dressing rooms with harsh lighting, and angles that amplify what we dislike. Those are not fair representations, yet we let them dictate how we feel about our bodies. The camera, when used intentionally and respectfully, reveals angles, strength, shape, softness, and presence you have forgotten you carry.

You don’t heal because your body suddenly transforms. You heal because you begin to see what has been there all along.

boudoir photos pittsburgh with sex swing, best boudoir photographer near me, mesh shirt and black thong posing with honey birdette leather swing

Healing happens when a woman sees herself in her fullness instead of fragmented pieces. So many women reduce themselves down to a single body part—a stomach they wish were flatter, arms they wish were thinner, hips they think are too wide—and they let that area define their worth. During a session, you see your whole self again. You see expression, energy, warmth, strength, elegance, curves, delicacy, and presence. You see yourself as someone complete—not someone lacking.

Boudoir is also healing because it allows you to occupy space without apology. For many women, that alone is emotional. To stand fully seen—without shrinking, explaining, justifying, or minimizing yourself—is powerful. During those sessions, you don’t need to earn the right to be photographed. You don’t need to change anything. You simply get to exist, and that is enough.

boudoir photo shoot pittsburgh with sex swing, woman in sheer top and heels posing with a swing at Maura Chick's Boudoir Studio

The experience becomes healing long before you see the photographs. Something shifts when you are witnessed with support instead of scrutiny. When you are guided with affirmation instead of critique. When every pose, every expression, yes even every moment of nervousness, is met with encouragement rather than correction.

And then—then you see the images.

The healing becomes tangible.

pittsburgh boudoir studio, the best pittsburgh boudoir studio woman in pink rhinestone lingerie posing in studio

Women often cry—not because the photos are shocking or dramatic, but because they reveal a softness they haven’t allowed themselves to see. They reveal sensuality that was buried under comparison. They reveal joy that was heavier lately. They reveal a woman who has survived, endured, pivoted, grown, aged, changed, and still stands beautifully.

This isn’t vanity. Vanity is external. Vanity seeks admiration. Healing happens internally. Healing says:

“I am worth seeing.”
“I am worth honoring.”
“I am worth celebrating.”

Boudoir gives women something they can return to later, especially on days when doubt becomes loud again. The album becomes evidence—proof of beauty during a time when you may not have felt beautiful. Proof of confidence during a season when confidence was harder to access. Proof of worthiness not tied to achievement, weight loss, perfection, or approval.

Women often walk out of their session lighter—not because they changed, but because something inside unclenched.

boudoir photography pittsburgh at Maura Chick studios, pink rhinestone lingerie posing against black wall with gold accents at pittsburgh's premier boudoir photographer's studio

Boudoir doesn’t erase insecurity.
It softens it.
It puts distance between you and the voice that tells you you’re not enough.

When a woman sees herself with compassion, grace, confidence, and softness all at once, she begins to heal patterns that have been running in her life for years—often decades.

That is why boudoir is not vanity.

It is reclamation.
It is restoration.
It is remembering.

And for many women, it is the first time they stop seeing themselves through limitation—and finally see the woman everyone else has seen all along.

sexy photo shoot pittsburgh using sex swing from honey birdette wearing black sheer top and nude heels, best boudoir in pittsburgh

honey birdette sex swing used during pittsburgh boudoir photo shoot, boudoir photography with Maura Chick Studios, best boudoir in the burghhoney birdette sex swing used during pittsburgh boudoir photo shoot, boudoir photography with Maura Chick Studios, best boudoir in the burghsexy photo shoot pittsburgh using sex swing from honey birdette wearing black sheer top and nude heels, best boudoir in pittsburghpittsburgh boudoir studio, the best pittsburgh boudoir studio woman in pink rhinestone lingerie posing in studioboudoir photography pittsburgh at Maura Chick studios, detail shot of pink rhinestone lingerieboudoir photography pittsburgh at Maura Chick studios, pink rhinestone lingerie posing against black wall with gold accents at pittsburgh's premier boudoir photographer's studio

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Curvy Women – What You Need to Know

Boudoir for Curvy Women: What You Need to Know

You might call this Pittsburgh PLUS SIZE BOUDOIR, but I simply call it BOUDOIR!

Let’s get something straight right from the beginning:
Boudoir is not reserved for certain body types.

You do not need to lose weight, tone up, slim down, shrink, or change yourself before you get in front of my camera. You don’t have to look like the women you see in magazines. You don’t have to fit a standard someone else created.

You deserve this experience exactly as you are.

Now—let’s talk specifically to my curvy women, because I know the thoughts you have:

“Will she know how to pose me?”
“Will my stomach be obvious?”
“Will I look good in lingerie?”
“Is boudoir even meant for bodies like mine?”

The answer is YES.

And not just yes—it’s absolutely made for you.

plus size boudoir photos near me, size inclusive boudoir studio in pittsburgh, blue lace lingerie posing in a diamond light designed by Maura Chick

I Don’t Photograph Curvy Women Any Differently

This surprises people.

Women often expect a list of rules, specific posing tricks, or angles that are reserved for curvier bodies—but that’s not how I operate.

I don’t treat your body like something that needs hidden, minimized, or altered.

I photograph you as a whole woman—not a collection of parts you’ve been conditioned to critique.

Everyone’s body is different.
Everyone has areas they wish were different.
Everyone has insecurities.

You are not unique in feeling that way—
but you are unique in your beauty, presence, and energy.

And THAT is what I highlight.

plus size boudoir photos near me, size inclusive boudoir studio in pittsburgh, blue lace lingerie posing in a diamond light designed by Maura Chick

My Job Is Not to Hide You—It’s to Reveal You

I focus on shape.
I focus on lines.
I focus on posture, presence, and expression.

There is something incredibly powerful about a woman leaning into who she is rather than shrinking from it.

You will never be asked to tuck, hide, suck in, or make yourself smaller.

I pose women to celebrate their body—
not disguise it.

plus size boudoir photos near me, size inclusive boudoir studio in pittsburgh, blue lace lingerie posing in a diamond light designed by Maura Chick

pittsburgh plus size boudoir at pittsburgh's best boudoir studio, woman in red bra and panties posing on gold bed with satin sheets and sheepskin fur

Everything About My Studio Is Size Inclusive

This matters.

Not just a tagline—not something trendy—not something size-specific depending on who books.

Inclusive. Always.

✔ Wardrobe selection from XS–4X
✔ Robes, pieces, sets that fit REAL bodies
✔ Furniture and posing setups that support all shapes
✔ Styling options that honor your preferences
✔ No “one-size-fits-most” mentality

There is nothing worse than walking into a space and feeling like you don’t fit.

I will never allow that to happen here.

As a curvy woman myself, I know how deeply it matters to walk into a space and not have to apologize, shrink, or navigate exclusion.

This studio is designed with you in mind.

plus size boudoir photographer pittsburgh, blue lace lingerie posing in front of diamond lights, beaver county boudoir studio

You Don’t Have to Know What Looks Good on You—That’s My Job

Many women come in feeling overwhelmed by:

lingerie sizing
outfit selection
choosing styles
knowing what flatters their shape

Let me release that burden:

✔ I will help you pick the best outfits from your pieces or mine
✔ I will suggest what photographs beautifully
✔ I will guide you into poses that bring confidence forward
✔ I will show you angles you’ve never seen of yourself

You don’t have to walk in knowing how to love your body.

You just have to walk in willing.

A Boudoir Session Isn’t About Looking Smaller—It’s About Feeling Powerful

If you’ve spent years thinking:

“I’ll do this once I lose weight,”
or
“I need to get into shape first,”

here’s the truth:

Weight loss doesn’t create confidence.
Self-celebration does.

Waiting only delays the moment you finally see yourself differently.

Boudoir is not a reward for reaching a goal.

It is a celebration of who you already are.

Curvy women often tell me they want to hide—but leave saying,

“I’ve never felt this beautiful.”
or
“I can’t believe that’s me.”

Because boudoir has never been about changing your body.

It’s about changing your relationship with it.

boudoir photographer pittsburgh plus size, sexy pics for larger ladies, red bra and panty set laying on gold bed with green satin sheets for her boudoir photo shoot

You Deserve a Session That Feels Empowering and Liberating

Curves are not something to “work around.”
They are part of your story.

They soften you.
They hold your life experiences.
They represent resilience, growth, living, motherhood, aging, womanhood.

So when you step into the studio…

You are not bringing limitations.

You are bringing fullness.

You are bringing presence.

You are bringing power.

Boudoir for curvy women is not different because curvy women require special treatment—
it’s different because so many curvy women have been told they should wait.

Wait until you look smaller.
Wait until your arms tighten up.
Wait until you lose weight.

That waiting ends here.

plus size boudoir photographer pittsburgh, blue lace lingerie posing in front of diamond lights, beaver county boudoir studio

This is your moment

You deserve to see the woman who has survived, grown, loved, given, and carried so much.
You deserve to see the softness that holds your life.
You deserve to see your curves as beautiful, not conditional.

You deserve to walk away feeling lighter, freer, and more at home in your body.

A boudoir session doesn’t make you confident because you look different.

It makes you confident because you finally SEE yourself differently.

And when that happens—everything changes.

Your posture changes.
Your voice changes.
What you tolerate changes.
What you believe about yourself changes.

Curvy woman or not—
you deserve that transformation.

Right now.
Exactly as you are.

pittsburgh plus size boudoir at pittsburgh's best boudoir studio, woman in red bra and panties posing on gold bed with satin sheets and sheepskin furboudoir photographer pittsburgh plus size, sexy pics for larger ladies, red bra and panty set laying on gold bed with green satin sheets for her boudoir photo shootboudoir photographer pittsburgh plus size, sexy pics for larger ladies, red bra and panty set laying on gold bed with green satin sheets for her boudoir photo shoot

As always, join my Facebook group (it’s private) for more self love and photo shoot content!

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

A Kinder Lens

How Boudoir Helps You See Your Body Through a Kinder Lens

Women are taught from an early age that their bodies are something to evaluate, improve, compare, and critique. We stand in the mirror and instantly go to what we wish was smaller, tighter, flatter, smoother. We remember the body we once had, or chase the body we believe we should have. And somewhere along the way, our bodies become problems instead of homes.

Boudoir is where that story begins to shift.

Boudoir doesn’t force you to love your body immediately.
It doesn’t erase years of conditioning.
It doesn’t ask you to pretend that insecurities don’t exist.

What it does is help you see your body differently—through a kinder, fuller, more truthful lens.

strong and confidence photo shoot for women, pittsburgh boudoir studio with Maura Chick, x light design with woman in pink chainmail lingerie

You See Yourself From a Perspective You Never See in the Mirror

Women spend years staring at themselves only from one angle: head-on, harsh lighting, maybe half-dressed, holding their breath while analyzing.

But what you see in your session is entirely different.

Suddenly, you see:

⭐ shape rather than size
⭐ softness rather than “wrongness”
⭐ curves that frame movement
⭐ strong posture and presence

You see yourself the way other people see you.

You see yourself how those who love you experience you—not how you experience yourself under fluorescent lighting with a critical internal voice.

And that moment changes something inside.

Boudoir Removes the Tunnel Vision You’ve Been Living In

When a woman fixates on one part of her body—arms, stomach, thighs—she shrinks everything about herself down to that one area.

But boudoir forces you out of that narrow focus.

Because the images don’t focus on one part.
They show wholeness.
They reveal the dimensional version of you.

You stop seeing “problem areas”
and you start seeing the woman in the image.

Your laugh.
Your confidence.
Your angles.
Your energy.

Instead of zooming into what you dislike, you finally zoom into what is stunning, powerful, and unedited about you.

strong and confidence photo shoot for women, pittsburgh boudoir studio with Maura Chick, x light design with woman in pink chainmail lingerie

You Start to See Evidence of Worth Instead of Evidence of Lack

A woman can look in the mirror and only see what she thinks is missing.

A boudoir session gives you evidence of everything that is already there.

Confidence.
Femininity.
Strength.
Maturity.
Softness.
Power.

You finally have visual proof that we do not see ourselves accurately when we are measuring ourselves through shame, comparison, or old beliefs.

In a single image, you see what you’ve been unable to acknowledge in yourself because of years of conditioning:

There is beauty in what you already are.

boudoir photo shoot with Maura Chick, Pittsburgh's Premier Boudoir Photographer, woman in pink slip dress posing in front of large ornate mirror

You Realize Your Body Isn’t Something You Need to Earn Worth With

One of the most powerful shifts I see in women is this:

They stop believing their body must change before it can be celebrated.

They stop waiting until:

— weight drops
— clothing sizes change
— stretch marks fade
— life slows down
— confidence magically returns

and they begin celebrating the body they are currently living inside.

And that moment is emotional.

Women cry.

Not because the photos are “perfect,”
but because the images finally reflect the truth:

You have always been enough.

Boudoir shows you that worthiness does not need to be earned—it already exists.

pittsburgh's best boudoir photographer creating new sets regularly with lights, x light with neon side lights woman posing in pink chainmail lingerie on cowhide rug

Boudoir Isn’t Just Photographs—It’s Perspective Shift

The experience changes how you approach your body in everyday life:

✨ You walk differently
✨ You speak differently
✨ You dress differently
✨ You carry yourself differently

because you now have visual evidence that you are not the harsh internal critic you’ve been listening to.

A session doesn’t make your body different—it makes your lens different.

Boudoir replaces:

“Ugh, look at my stomach”
with
“I never realized how beautiful my shape is.”

It replaces:

“I hide my arms”
with
“Look how elegant my posture is.”

It replaces:

“I’m not sexy”
with
“There I am.”

Not pretending.
Not posing for approval.
Not performing.

Just existing—and being beautiful as you are.

x light set at pittsburgh boudoir studio with woman in pink chainmail lingerie posing on a vigilante chair

classic boudoir photos, timeless images celebrating you ornate mirror with woman in pink satin slip dress with sheepskin rug

Because Here’s What’s True: Your Body Has Been Right All Along

You just needed evidence.

You needed someone to reflect you back to yourself—without judgment, without a tape measure, without comparison, without shame.

Boudoir doesn’t create confidence.
It reminds you of it.
It reveals what you forgot.
It brings forward what has always been true:

You deserve to see your body with gentleness.
You deserve to be witnessed—not evaluated.
You deserve to be proud of the version of yourself that exists right now.

That is the kind of lens boudoir gives you.

Not a critical one.
Not a conditional one.
A kinder one.

One that says:

This is me, and she is worth celebrating.

And that changes everything.

x light set at pittsburgh boudoir studio with woman in pink chainmail lingerie posing on a vigilante chairbest boudoir photographer pittsburgh, pittsburgh's premier boudoir photographer creating unique sets and lighting techniques that celebrates all womenbest boudoir photographer pittsburgh, pittsburgh's premier boudoir photographer creating unique sets and lighting techniques that celebrates all womenpittsburgh boudoir photography at boudoir studio woman in pink lingerie slip dress in front of ornate mirrorpittsburgh boudoir photography at boudoir studio woman in pink lingerie slip dress in front of ornate mirror

If you want MORE self love content – join my private Facebook group – it’s open to all women!

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

What Are You Waiting For

The Most Common Reasons Women Put Off Boudoir—and Why You Shouldn’t Wait

I want to talk to you about one of the biggest things I hear from women when they think about booking a boudoir session:

“Someday… just not yet.”

And I get it.
Life is busy, confidence ebbs and flows, and sometimes we feel like we need to become someone different before we give ourselves permission to do something extraordinary.

But here’s the truth—“someday” is quietly stealing life from you.

Every woman I’ve ever photographed had reasons to wait… and every single one told me afterward:

“I wish I would have done this sooner.”

Today, I want to talk to you about the reasons women delay boudoir, and why waiting only postpones something that could literally change how you see yourself.

1. “I’m waiting until I lose weight.”

This is the number one reason women put it off.

We tell ourselves:

“I’ll lose weight first.”
“I’ll tone up.”
“I’ll look better then.”

But here’s the truth:

Your confidence doesn’t magically appear when your body changes.

Confidence comes from how you feel about who you are—not from shrinking your body.

I pose you to flatter YOU.
I style you for YOUR shape.
I show you angles that you never see in the mirror.

Your body is not the problem.
Your mindset about your body is.

And waiting doesn’t make you love yourself more—it often delays the exact experience that would help you heal that relationship.

pittsburgh boudoir photos in studio on gold bed with green satin sheets, gold lingerie disc dress

2. “I’m too nervous.”

Of course you’re nervous.
Everyone is.

You are walking into something vulnerable and intimate.
You’re letting yourself be seen.

But here’s what’s wild:

Your nerves usually disappear within minutes.

Even repeat clients still walk in nervous.
Even women who have done it THREE times start out nervous.

You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need experience.
You just need to show up.

I guide everything—where to place your hands, how to angle your chin, how to breathe.

You just follow along.

And somewhere between Outfit One and Outfit Two, something changes…

Your voice becomes louder.
Your posture becomes stronger.
You become more YOU than you have been in a long time.

3. “I should probably spend money on something more practical.”

Listen. I love practicality.

But let me ask you something honestly—

When was the last time you did something big just for you?

Not for your kids.
Not for your partner.
Not for your job.
Not because you “should.”

When was the last time you prioritized something that made YOU feel alive?

Boudoir is not clothing or décor or a bill that disappears into thin air.

Boudoir is an investment in your identity.

It is something that reminds you—
on days when you don’t feel like the strongest version of yourself,
that you ARE.

Women hold their albums years later and cry.

They look at themselves and say:

“That was me.
That IS me.”

There is nothing more practical than investing in the version of you that lives beyond the daily grind.

pittsburgh boudoir photos in studio on gold bed with green satin sheets, gold lingerie disc dress

4. “I don’t think I’m sexy enough.”

Let’s get something straight:

Sexy is not lingerie.
Sexy is not a body type.
Sexy is not age, height, or weight.

Sexy is presence.
Sexy is owning the space you stand in.
Sexy is that shift inside when you finally decide:

“I’m done shrinking.”

And that moment?
I witness it every time.

You don’t walk in sexy.
You walk in open.

And you walk out lit from within.

pittsburgh boudoir photos in studio on gold bed with green satin sheets, gold lingerie disc dress

5. “I don’t know if I’ll like my photos.”

Every woman thinks this.

And then when I show the images—
eyes get big,
hands go over mouths,
shoulders pull back,
and there is this moment of disbelief:

“Is that really me?”

Yes.

The YOU that has always existed,
but the you that life made you forget.

Boudoir gives that version back.

So why shouldn’t you wait?

The truth is, there will never be a perfect time. Life will always give you reasons to postpone something meaningful. There will always be bills, busy seasons, weight fluctuations, emotional seasons, and responsibilities that make you think, “Not yet.”

But most women don’t regret doing a boudoir session.
They regret waiting so long to see themselves differently.

Boudoir allows you to honor the season you are in right now—not the future version of you that feels more polished or prepared, but the woman standing here today, doing her best, carrying her life, and still deserving to feel beautiful.

Waiting doesn’t make insecurity disappear.
Waiting doesn’t build confidence.
Waiting doesn’t get you closer to feeling worthy.

The experience itself is what creates those things.

Boudoir becomes a milestone—
not because you changed anything externally,
but because you finally said,
“I am worth investing in right now.”

It’s a decision that marks time.
A decision you look back on and realize,
“This was a moment when I chose myself.”

When you stop postponing experiences until you hit the perfect version of yourself, life opens up.

You start saying yes more often.
You start showing up differently.
You start valuing the woman you’ve been all along.

You don’t need to wait until you feel confident to have a boudoir experience.
You do the session—and confidence begins to grow from there.

That is why now matters.
Not because urgency is required…
but because you deserve not to delay something that can expand how you see yourself.

And when you finally allow yourself to step into that experience, you realize:

You were ready all along.

boudoir photography pittsburgh in studio with Maura Chick Studios, clawfoot but with gold legs and woman posing in green dress lingerieboudoir photography pittsburgh in studio with Maura Chick Studios, clawfoot but with gold legs and woman posing in green dress lingeriepittsburgh boudoir photo shoot, pittsburgh boudoir studio with clawfoot tub with woman in green lingerie dresspittsburgh boudoir photo shoot, pittsburgh boudoir studio with clawfoot tub with woman in green lingerie dress

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

After Your Session

After Your Boudoir Session

The boudoir experience doesn’t end when the camera stops clicking. It’s a journey that continues long after your photoshoot, and it’s one that leaves you feeling empowered, confident, and celebrated. Here’s what you can expect after your boudoir session and how I ensure you get the most out of this unforgettable experience.

boudoir photography pittsburgh what you need to know after your boudoir photo shoot

What happens after the session?

Once the session is over, it’s time for you to relax while I get to work. I’ll carefully edit your photos, adding my artistic touch to every single one. I don’t do batch editing—each image is hand retouched to bring out your best features and highlight all the sides of you that you may not see on an everyday basis.

You can look forward to your photo reveal, where you’ll come back to the studio to view your images and choose your collection. That’s when the real magic happens.

How are the photos edited and presented?

My editing approach is all about enhancing your natural beauty. I don’t alter your body or make you look like someone you’re not. Instead, I focus on showing you different angles, highlighting parts of your body that are often overlooked or forgotten.

You can expect realistic touch-ups, like skin softening, but I’ll never morph or manipulate your appearance. During your photo reveal, we’ll go through 30-40 images for you to choose from, and I’ll guide you through how to best view and appreciate them. This is your moment to see yourself in a whole new light!

How do you ensure my privacy?

Your privacy is my priority. These are your photos, not mine, and I treat them with the utmost respect. I won’t share any of your images publicly unless I have your permission to do so. You can trust that your photos remain private until you decide otherwise.

I also work with a print provider who follows strict privacy guidelines and has a large liability policy in place to protect your images once they’re printed.

Can I order prints, albums, or wall art?

Absolutely! I offer a variety of packages to fit your needs. After choosing your collection—whether it’s a magazine or an album—you’ll receive a credit toward additional purchases, which can include magnets, accordion books, wall art, and digital images.

These items are a beautiful way to cherish your boudoir experience and keep those empowering memories close.

How do most clients feel after seeing their boudoir photos?

Most clients walk out of their photo reveal with a newfound confidence that’s impossible to ignore. They leave with their shoulders back, a pep in their step, and the kind of unstoppable energy that only comes from being celebrated for who you truly are.

The euphoria that comes from seeing yourself in your full, radiant beauty is like nothing else—especially after being praised and cheered on for hours during the session. It’s an exhilarating feeling that stays with you long after the session ends, making you feel on top of the world.


Your boudoir experience is a celebration, and it doesn’t stop once the shoot is over. From the photo reveal to the moment you walk out with a renewed sense of confidence, every part of the process is designed to make you feel seen, loved, and empowered.

When you look at your images, you’ll see the beauty that’s always been there—and you’ll carry that confidence with you for a long time to come.

no comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

Menu