Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Connolly.
Hi Virginia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a girl growing up in South Carolina throughout the 90s and early 2000s, women’s bodies were always a topic of conversation. From magazines and movies to dinner tables and lunch rooms, it seemed like no woman or girl was safe from body scrutiny. That environment shaped my self worth as a woman, and caused me to accept less in almost every aspect of my life. When I discovered boudoir photography, I had given up on improving my self image. I had outsourced my worth to everyone around me instead of building it from within. But that all began to change the moment I discovered this art form. After witnessing my clients’ own transformations after their photo shoots, not just looking beautiful for one day, but really changing the way they felt about themselves, I was ready to begin my own body image revolution. This journey built the foundation of Bare Elegance Boudoir, and my ongoing mission is to bring transformative experiences to women of the Carolinas. I realized that loving yourself is its own kind of revolution — and I’ve spent the last eight years building a business around giving women a place to begin theirs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has not always been smooth. The pandemic presented a major obstacle as an in person service based business. I realized along the way that challenges in business are unavoidable, and the businesses that thrive have one thing in common- adaptability. I try to think of these instances as challenges more so than struggles. Those challenges helped me create a stronger business and evolve my processes to work better for my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a women’s boudoir photographer focusing on transformation- inside and out. I specialize in giving women an experience that helps them reset their self-image and discover new things they love about themselves. I’m most proud of the stories my clients share after their session with me- the life changes, the new outlooks, the feelings of self-acceptance. My business allows me to use my art as a tool in changing how women see and feel about themselves. And unlike most boudoir photography, my work goes beyond the traditional studio environment. I photograph clients in forests, fields, lakes, creeks, and more.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t build your business by watching what everyone else is doing. Pay attention, learn from people, and then figure out what you actually have to say. Some of my best ideas have come from ignoring what I was “supposed” to do, and some of my worst have come from assuming someone else knew better than I did.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Bareeleganceboudoir.com
- Instagram: @bare_elegance_boudoir
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1F5sUQLUfQ/
