This is my story of how I got to know the incredible BYB team, who gave me the confidence I have always wanted.
For as long as I can remember, I have never liked the way I look. I struggled with bullying at school due to me having a bigger bust with a tiny frame! Due to this, I have always tried to cover up and hate any conversation regarding my bust. I want people to see me for who I am and not just for the size of my breasts. Being a dancer, I have always had battles with costumes lacking support and coverage. However, as I have gotten older, I have been finding ways to feel comfortable in the clothes I have to wear. There have been several shows where I have performed in my underwear - a HUGE step for me and way out of my comfort zone, but I did it an I am incredibly proud of myself for it!
I kept seeing a friend of mine post these amazing photos she had done at BYB Photography and I thought, "I want to do that!" Not for anyone else, just for myself. I wanted to find my self confidence and start loving myself for who I am. After months of seeing these photos and liking all their Facebook posts, I put on my big girl pants and applied for their 'Confidence Booster' competition to win a free boudoir experience - it was so easy and straight forward! I then got a phone call from Nicola and what a lovely chat we had! From the moment I first spoke to her on the phone, I felt like I had known her for years. When I arrived at the studio, I saw real people doing what they love and this made me even more excited to give it a go!
When I woke on the day of my experience, I felt so many mixed emotions. I was excited and extremely nervous as I didn't know what to expect! When I arrived, I was greeted as soon as I walked through the door. The atmosphere was instantly relating, which made me feel much better. Nicola poured me a glass of wine to calm my nerves as I filled in my forms and chose what style of photoshoot I wanted. I liked the fact that I could choose what I wanted for my hair, makeup, the style of the photos and even the editing too! Everything was catered to my preference which made me feel in control of the experience. I went for a 1950s style look - classy yet sexy. Maz worked her magic on my hair and makeup and I LOVED it! It was just what I wanted! Once I was ready, it was time to go into the studio and get started on photography. My photographer, David, was absolutely brilliant. He made me feel so comfortable and relaxed which made my shoot more enjoyable. The whole experience was amazing and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would!
The most mind-blowing and emotional part of the whole experience was when I got to view my photos. I ended up LOVING all of the images! After years and years of having dance photos taken and not liking any of them, it was unbelievable for me to like just 1 photo (let alone over 80)! For me to feel that way about myself was very rare, but thanks to the BYB team, I feel transformed and my self confidence is the highest it has ever been. I can't thank them enough for giving me (and all their clients) the chance to feel amazing, look amazing and find their inner confidence.
BYB is an amazing company, who truly love to empower everyone, help them find their self-love and self-confidence and make them see themselves completely differently. For that, I thank them so much! Here's to a future full of empowering others!
Mhairi x