We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christy Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Christy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Definitely. I think when your work leans into vulnerability, especially when it’s centered around celebrating women in such an intimate and powerful way, it’s easy for people to misjudge it.
Early on, there were people who looked at boudoir and assumed it was just about sexy pictures or something superficial or they lumped it into the genre of those magazine publications that are geared for men’s pleasure. They didn’t take the time to see the depth of what really happens in that studio. I remember someone close to me once said, “I can’t believe that you are going to do that for a living, you should be ashamed,” and it honestly took the wind out of me for a second. Because they didn’t understand what boudoir was, and they did not see the women walking in feeling invisible and walking out transformed. They didn’t hear the cracked voices or see the tears when a woman saw herself—really saw herself—for the first time in years.
That moment taught me something important: not everyone is going to get it. And that’s okay. I’m not creating for the people who don’t understand—I’m creating for the woman who’s forgotten how strong and beautiful she is. For the one who’s poured herself into everyone else and has nothing left in her own cup. For the one who needs to be reminded that she matters. For the survivors who want to reclaim their bodies and their stories. That is who I am blessed to be creating for.
The misunderstanding actually gave me clarity. It pushed me to speak more boldly about why I do this work, and to make sure that the heart behind the images is just as visible as the art itself. Because what happens in that studio is about so much more than photos. It’s about healing, reclaiming, and stepping back into your power.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, I’m Christy Jones, and I’m the owner and photographer behind Ellen Christy Intimate Portraits. I’ve been a photographer for over 18 years, but I found my true calling about five years ago when I shifted my focus entirely to boudoir and intimate portraiture. What started as a creative outlet has grown into something so much deeper—something that has changed my life and the lives of so many women who walk through my studio doors.
My studio is based in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and it’s a boudoir-only space, designed specifically to be a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment for women. We have over 20 unique sets, a full client closet with hundreds of pieces to choose from, and an all-female team that’s here to support you from start to finish. We offer full sessions that include professional hair and makeup, access to our wardrobe, and the option to add on luxury handmade albums, wall art, and digital collections. I also offer specialty sets—like our wet set, neon set, bodyscapes, and more—for women who want to create something really bold or artistic.
But what I really offer isn’t just photos—it’s transformation. I work with so many women who come in feeling like they’ve lost themselves. Moms, survivors, caretakers, professionals—women who have spent years putting everyone else first. When they come in, it’s often the first time in a long time they’ve done something just for them. My sessions help them reconnect with the woman they were before the world told them who they had to be. I watch women walk in nervous, even scared… and leave lighter, glowing, and sometimes even in tears—good tears. That’s the part I’m most proud of.
What sets my studio apart is that it’s not about fitting a certain mold. I don’t believe in “boudoir bodies.” I believe in real women, real stories, and creating a space where every woman feels worthy of being celebrated exactly as she is. This work is deeply personal to me. It’s rooted in self-love, confidence, and reminding women that they are allowed to feel beautiful, sexy, and powerful at every age, every size, and every chapter of life.
If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about me and what I do, it’s that your story matters. Your body is not something to be hidden—it’s something to be honored. And no, you don’t have to “lose ten pounds” to book a session. You just have to show up. I’ll take care of the rest.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Absolutely. One thing I think non-creatives often struggle to understand is just how hard the business side of being an artist really is. There’s this idea that if you’re good at what you do, success will just follow—but that couldn’t be further from the truth for most of us.
Creating? That’s where we thrive. That’s the soul of what we do. But the moment we have to switch gears and become our own marketer, accountant, social media manager, salesperson—it gets hard. Most of us didn’t step into this world with a “business mind.” We followed a calling, a passion. But the truth is, being a full-time creative means having to wear a lot of hats, and a lot of those hats don’t come naturally to us.
It’s not that we don’t want to grow or be successful. It’s that promoting ourselves can feel uncomfortable or even impossible when our work feels so deeply personal. It’s vulnerable. We’re not just selling a product—we’re sharing a piece of ourselves. And that’s something that’s hard to package into an ad or a sales funnel.
What I’ve learned is that running a creative business requires just as much courage as the art itself. Because while we may not start out with the tools or language of business, we do have the heart—and when we lead with that, and learn how to support it with strategy, that’s when things start to click. So if you’re not a creative, just know—what may look like “just taking pretty pictures” or “living the dream” behind the scenes is often hours of trial, error, doubt, and learning how to build a business from the ground up while still trying to protect the passion that started it all.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the connection—the exchange that happens between me and my clients. Every session, I share a piece of my heart and soul. This work is deeply personal to me, and when a woman steps in front of my lens, it’s not just about capturing her image—it’s about honoring her story.
What’s really beautiful is that she shares a piece of her heart with me, too. There’s this unspoken trust that happens, this vulnerability that goes both ways. I don’t take that lightly. We laugh, we cry, we talk about life and the things we’ve all been through. There’s healing in those moments—for her, and honestly, for me too.
That exchange—that shared energy—is what makes this work feel sacred. It’s more than photography. It’s connection, it’s transformation, and it’s this reminder that we’re all carrying something, and we’re all worthy of being seen and celebrated exactly as we are. That’s the part that stays with me long after the session is over and the artwork is hung on the wall.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellenchristy.com
- Instagram: @ellenchristyintimateportraits
- Facebook: @ellenchristyintimateportraits
