Meeting Toni: A Boudoir Story of Strength, Scars, and Body Confidence

Client storiesboudoir photographybody cofidence

Aug 25

This week we had the pleasure of photographing Toni Burgess, and her story has genuinely stayed with us since.

We're lucky enough to welcome boudoir clients from across East Sussex and Kent, and Toni travelled all the way from Dover, Kent, to be here, a two hour drive, and she didn't come alone. She brought two friends along for moral support, which I loved, because it takes real courage to walk into a place you've never been before and hand yourself over to a camera. Even when we do everything we can to help someone feel prepared, there's always that flicker of nervousness beforehand. That's completely human, and Toni was no exception.

*Her journey so far*

Toni has been through more than most people could imagine. In 2020, she lost her beloved sister to kidney failure, a loss that reshaped her world. Toni has lived with diabetes herself since she was just two years old, and she wears two devices on her arm every day to help manage it. She also has scars on her leg from her journey with the condition, and she made a point of telling us she didn't want them covered up. They're part of her story, and she wanted them seen, not hidden.

On top of everything else, Toni's marriage let her down when she needed support most, and it knocked her confidence badly. Rebuilding that confidence has been a journey in itself, and this shoot was another step along the way.

Toni is also disabled, and that was something we talked through carefully before the shoot even began. We discussed what her body could comfortably do, and planned her outfits around that conversation, so nothing on the day would come as a surprise. When it came to the poses themselves, we adapted them together, finding positions that let Toni feel supported and at ease rather than pushed into something that didn't work for her.

*The shoot*

Toni brought exactly the right mix of outfits for what we'd planned, and with her friends cheering her on, she settled into the shoot beautifully. Our makeup artist styled her hair into soft curls for the session, so many of our lovely ladies tell us the curls make them feel wonderfully feminine, and Toni was no different. She caught sight of herself in the mirror with a smile before we'd even picked up the camera. Afterwards, she relaxed over a light lunch while I got to work on a quick edit of her images.
Then came the moment we work towards with every single client. Toni saw her photos for the first time, and saw herself the way everyone around her already sees her. She looked beautiful, confident and amazing.

Toni, thank you for trusting us with your story, your scars and your smile. You showed real confidence, and that's something to be proud of.

If Toni's story has struck a chord and you're ready to build your own body confidence with a boudoir experience of your own, get in touch with us at Boudoir by Sarah Tate through our contact form. We welcome ladies from across East Sussex, Kent and beyond, and we'd love to hear from you.