We caught up with the brilliant and insightful AJ Baerga a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, AJ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Growing up and through pregnancy, I never felt comfortable in my own skin. Postpartum depression hit hard, and without a strong support system, I had to dig myself out — not by focusing on myself, but by helping other women feel seen, beautiful, and empowered through my lens.

That’s when everything shifted. Each client’s transformation became part of my own. For every woman I help embrace her body and spirit, I heal a little more too. Wild Moon Boudoir was born from that journey — a space where women can show up unapologetically themselves, in all their wild, radiant beauty.

This mission isn’t just about photography. It’s about reclaiming confidence, rewriting the narrative, and rising — together.

AJ, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m AJ — the woman behind Wild Moon Boudoir Studios, Arkansas’s premier all-female boudoir experience. I’m a photographer, military spouse, mama, and deeply passionate creative who believes confidence isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you reclaim.

My journey into boudoir photography was rooted in my own healing. I grew up surviving childhood abuse, and later faced postpartum depression without a strong support system. For a long time, I didn’t feel at home in my body — I felt disconnected, unseen, and unworthy. But when I picked up a camera and started helping other women see their beauty through my lens, something powerful happened: I started seeing myself differently, too.

Wild Moon Boudoir was born from that transformation. Today, I offer luxury boudoir sessions that go beyond surface-level beauty. Each experience includes professional hair and makeup, a size-inclusive client closet (XS–6X), guided posing, and an atmosphere that’s full of hype, heart, and safety. Whether you’re reclaiming your body after trauma, celebrating a milestone, or just saying “yes” to yourself — this space is for you.

What sets me apart is that I lead with emotion and intention. I don’t just photograph women — I hold space for their stories. I create an experience that’s affirming, liberating, and unapologetically you. Every time I help someone reconnect with their worth, I heal a little more, too. This work is personal, powerful, and deeply reciprocal — and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining moments in my journey happened on August 9, 2024 — a day that completely shattered the life I knew.

At exactly 1300 hours, I received a text that changed everything. My parents had been in a fatal car accident in Tampa, Florida. My dad didn’t survive. My mom was airlifted to Lakeland Hospital for emergency surgery. In an instant, I went from running a thriving business to full crisis mode.

Within days, I brought my mom to Arkansas to recover. She’s disabled, so I became her full-time caregiver while grieving the loss of my father — all while being a mom, a wife, and a woman trying to keep it together. For the first time since starting my business, I had to shut down operations. I went from serving clients multiple times a week to barely managing one session a month.

I didn’t know if Wild Moon Boudoir would survive. Honestly, there were moments I wasn’t sure I would survive. But I kept going — inch by inch. I stayed tethered to the heart of my work, leaned into the love I’ve cultivated in my client community, and gave myself permission to show up imperfectly.

That season forced me to rebuild everything from the ground up — not just my schedule or systems, but my mindset and priorities. It showed me that resilience isn’t loud or pretty. Sometimes it looks like crying between caretaking tasks, rescheduling shoots, and believing in your purpose even when your world is falling apart.

I’m still here. My business is still here. And I’m more grounded, more intentional, and more me than I’ve ever been.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist — especially in the boudoir space — is watching women see themselves differently. That moment when a client looks at her photos and says, “Wait… that’s me?” with tears in her eyes or a huge smile on her face — that’s everything.

As someone who spent years not feeling at home in my own body, I know how powerful it is to finally feel seen, celebrated, and beautiful without needing to change a thing. Through my lens, I get to hold space for transformation — not just in how someone looks, but how they feel about themselves.

Being a creative gives me the ability to help women reconnect with their confidence, their sensuality, and their truth — unapologetically. That ripple effect is priceless, and it’s the reason I keep showing up even on the hard days. It’s healing, empowering, and incredibly sacred work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashleejophotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildmoonboudoirstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildmoonboudoirstudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WildMoonBoudoirfa
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleejophotography