For many years before this boudoir session, Racheli has been on a journey of exploration and self-love.
During our initial call, she told me a little bit about her religious upbringing, and how it impacted the way she saw herself. Through her travels, both externally and internally, she came to a place of more acceptance and love for who she is, not who others expected her to be.
On the initial zoom call, I was immediately drawn to her vibrant energy. Her openness. Her gorgeous curls and freaking awesome piercings. I knew her session would be uniquely hers. While she was used to being sexy and out there and outwardly expressive, we both agreed that it would be cool to bring some of the softer, feminine energies in as well.
That’s the cool thing about human beings. We are not only one way. We don’t fit neatly into boxes, and when we try to, we push away important parts of ourselves that need to be seen and heard.
I truly had such an unbelievable time connecting with and photographing Racheli. From the very first call until the actual session, there was an undeniable sense of trust.
I’ll let Racheli’s words and these stunning photographs do the rest of the talking…
“I grew up in a very strict Yeshivish household in the US, and therefore, was very closed off to the rest of the world.
I was taught that my body and pretty much all of my existence as a woman is shameful. This led to a lack of care for what I put into my body and how I took care of it. As a result, I gained a lot of weight and didn't like the way I looked or felt anymore.
After making Aliyah I joined the army and my life started to change. I was introduced to girls of every background, ethnicity, and religious level just living their truest life. I was encouraged (forced) to work out to hit my physical goals in the army, and I started to see a change both mentally and physically. Over the last 10 years, I have explored every single type of fitness imaginable, even doing a sports degree at Wingate and becoming a certified fitness trainer and health coach. But the work didn’t end there. In the last year, I have made it a priority to work through limiting beliefs that I had, doing a lot of mental health healing, and really coming to a place of unconditional self-love.
Through the course of my self-love journey, I had incredible opportunities to connect with my body through photoshoots while I traveled around the world. I took part in a few photoshoots that were supposed to be super empowering, but left me feeling exposed and uncomfortable by the male photographer. I realized these interactions had triggered the ‘I’m not sexy/fit/hot/skinny enough’ voice in my head. This led to me canceling a once-in-a-lifetime shoot with an incredible photographer.
So, when I saw that Rebecca had a few open spots before the new year, I knew one of them would be mine.
A way to celebrate myself frozen in time as I cross into a new decade of age, and also as a healing experience.”
“Once I reached out to Rebecca, we had an introduction call where I put all my fears on the table and she was super responsive in answering all my questions and made sure to follow up.
Over the few months between our initial call and the session, Rebecca was always available on WhatsApp to answer additional questions and calm down any fears that came up along the way. She either calmed the fear directly or shared a personal experience about how she conquered the issue herself, which made her way more relatable.
The day of the session made my heart beat in numerous ways, both with excitement and nervousness.
When I arrived in Efrat, both Rebecca and the makeup artist were already in the studio. We pumped the music, started chatting, and began hair and makeup. It definitely helped ease me into the session. The session itself flew by! We had about 8 outfit changes, and we just had fun!”
“Only after I sat down on the bus, did the rush hit me. It was pure serotonin in my brain and the celebration of this magnificent vessel that I get to live in every single day. I remember sending Rebecca a message that I felt ‘euphoric’ because I really did.”
“When I first saw the photos, I was shocked, I really couldn’t believe it was me! I realized my body dysmorphia was REAL.
Pre-photo shoot I had some health issues that made me really bloated, and I almost backed out because I wasn’t feeling myself in my skin. Yet seeing the photos made me realize my eyes were playing tricks on me!
What I think I see in the mirror is NOT how I look in real life. The biggest issue I had was that THEY WERE ALL SO GOOD, and it was too hard to choose.”
“The boudoir session left me with a feeling I will forever remember, and photos to help me just in case I forget.
For so long, I was the funny, fat girl, the one that the boys didn’t like, the friend of the pretty girls - just so they would have someone uglier than them around. I can’t believe it’s taken me 3 decades to really fall in love with myself.
This temple can provide life, it can move, she is strong, and also resilient. And she is hot as hell. Looking at those photos makes me want to make love to myself, and that is something I want to feel every day. To keep that feeling, I go to the gym and work out to get strong. I dance and pole dance to feel sexy. And I hike and fill my body with nourishing food to stay healthy. I also meditate and have built a routine around taking care of myself.
Lastly, the street is my runway. I make an effort every morning to wake up and feel into myself and dress how I am feeling. No two days are the same. Sometimes I dress in my masculine, sometimes I put lingerie under an oversized t-shirt, sometimes a dress, sometimes glam, and sometimes goth. Whatever I choose that day, I know it matches my mood and allows me to strut my stuff. Every. Single. Day.``
“Of course, I would recommend this experience to other women. It’s not just photos, it’s an experience. It’s working with Rebecca to make sure that YOU feel good with whatever happens.
I think the people that would benefit the most from this session are all the people that told me I’m ‘brave’ for doing the session, or that they ‘wish they had my confidence.’ I am you, and your fear is your desire.
Do yourself a favor, because when you’re 70 and the opportunity has passed by, you will want to kick yourself for not celebrating your amazing body along the way.”
Makeup and Hair by Rhonda Lev