Too often, folks living with disability or chronic illness are left out of visual culture. We don’t see mobility aids in dreamy portraits. We don’t see scars, fatigue, or adaptive ways of moving through the world represented in art. That ends here.

Let’s make this clear from the jump: You’re the boss of your own body.

At Ash & Thistle Artistry in Toledo Ohio, consent isn’t a checkbox

it’s a living, breathing conversation we have before, during, and after your session.

You get to choose what you wear. How much skin you show. What poses feel good and what doesn’t. You can change your mind at any time. You can say “let’s try something else” or “nope, not for me.” And I will cheer you on for it. Nudity is never expected.

Let’s talk paperwork but make it sexy.

Okay, maybe not sexy, but definitely empowering. Because I get it model releases can feel intimidating.

What exactly are you signing?

Time for a short story about my personal insecurities and how I became the ultimate intimate (boudoir) photographer aka the queen of pro selfies. A post came up in our community about flashing people. This is something I have never done in my life.

Let’s get one thing very clear, babe: unless you’re a dolphin or a wax figure at Madame Tussauds, you’ve got body hair. Yep, even that person on Instagram with skin so smooth it looks Photoshopped by angels has follicles doing their thing somewhere. And you know what? That’s perfectly normal. Actually, it’s divine.

At Ash & Thistle, we hold sacred space for trans clients, nonbinary clients, and gender-expansive humans to show up exactly as they are—messy, magical, powerful, soft. Boudoir is an experience of embodiment, and everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in art.

At Ash & Thistle, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen. To feel celebrated. To take up space in front of the lens, not as a performance, but as a presence.

So yes, men belong here too. Because confidence doesn’t belong to one gender—and neither does art.

Not all boudoir experiences are built the same—and when your body image is on the line, hiring the wrong photographer can do more harm than good.
This isn’t just about pricing. It’s about protection. In this post, I’m breaking down why investing in a true empowerment experience isn’t just worth it—it’s essential. We’re talking body image, confidence, and the life-changing difference between being seen... and just being photographed.

Discover Your Confidence with Nudescapes at Ash & Thistle Studio in Napoleon Ohio