We recently connected with Destiny Sanders and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Destiny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?

One of my absolute favorite parts of this job is my team. Right now, there are four of us—but like most things, it all started with just me and a dream (plus a camera, caffeine, and a stubborn streak).

My first hire was my hair and makeup artist, Jules. She actually began as an ambassador, regularly stepping in for my wild shoot concepts just for fun. One day, it came up that she had a background in makeup artistry—and that little revelation changed everything.

When she first joined, I’ll be the first to admit—I was not great at letting go. I hovered, micromanaged, and basically radiated anxiety. This business was my baby, and after some bad experiences with past makeup artists, I had a hard time trusting anyone else with my vision.

But eventually, I stepped back and gave her the space to shine. And it turns out, she knew exactly what she was doing. We became a powerhouse duo, and by the end of that first year, we had grown Boudoir by Chaos into a six-figure business.

In November of 2023, it was time to expand. We received over 30 applications and narrowed it down to just seven interviews. My husband, Jules, and I sat around the office with printed applications, scribbling notes, drafting interview questions, and debating who felt like the best fit. We’ve always believed hiring should be a team decision—because for us, team chemistry is everything.

That round brought us Sidney—who, fun fact, I was outvoted on by Jules and my husband. (Spoiler: they were absolutely right.) And then in October 2024, we welcomed Heather to the chaos. She filled a role we didn’t even realize was missing. As our studio assistant, she’s the queen of organization, grabbing lights, stretching before sessions, and showing poses.

Our hiring process is intentionally thorough. We don’t just look at résumés—we review social media, gather in-depth questionnaires about values and personality, and most importantly, we sit down and connect. The right energy and alignment with our mission matter more to us than any specific title or past job.

That care is how we’ve built a team that feels like magic. Every person here isn’t just here to work—they’re here to change lives, create art, and help people feel seen, valued, and powerful. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade this crew for anything.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Chaos—the creative tornado behind Boudoir by Chaos, a luxury boudoir studio based out of Cleveland, Oklahoma. Around here, we don’t just take pretty pictures. We create empowering, cinematic experiences that remind you who the hell you are. I pride myself on inclusivity- in this studio EVERYONE is welcome.

I got into boudoir photography the same way a lot of us stumble into our passions—by accident and with a whole lot of heart. I started with a camera, and a desire to help people feel seen in a world that constantly tries to make them feel invisible. Over time, that little spark turned into a full-blown fire, and now I run a studio where we specialize in showing people just how worthy, powerful, and downright stunning they are—exactly as they are.

Our sessions include professional hair and makeup, full pose coaching (because, yes, I will hype you up like a deranged stage mom the entire time), access to our size-inclusive client closet (6X–XS, always), and a same-day reveal of your edited images. It’s not just about the photos—it’s about healing, reclaiming your narrative, and giving yourself the damn flowers already.

What sets us apart? Easy. We give a damn. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter beauty standards. We don’t believe you have to lose 10 pounds, get a tan, or be “photogenic.” We believe in art, soul, and radical self-love. We are fiercely inclusive—welcoming all genders, all bodies, all walks of life. This is a studio built on celebrating you, in your full, unfiltered chaos.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve built. The tears, the laughter, the transformations—it’s not just about taking sexy pictures. It’s about reminding folks that they are enough. That they’re allowed to take up space. That they’re allowed to feel damn good in their own skin. We laugh, we cry, and we remind people to be unapologetically YOU.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Boudoir by Chaos didn’t start in a fancy studio with perfect lighting and a full team. It started in hotel rooms and Airbnbs, dragging suitcases full of lingerie, props, and dreams through lobbies while hoping the front desk wouldn’t ask too many questions. And if they did, we made sure to share a few laughs and leave them a bottle of wine.

In those early days, space was tight, time was short, and privacy was… well, let’s just say limited. But even then, magic happened. Clients showed up nervous and left glowing. I knew I was onto something bigger than a camera and myself—I was building a space for people to feel powerful.

Eventually, I upgraded to my first dedicated space: a 10×10 room in my house. Ten feet by ten feet. It had a tiny closet filled to the brim, 2 windows, and an air mattress we flipped up for space. Jules and I called her the “build a bitch” studio. And honestly? That room saw a lot of growth. It taught me how to make something beautiful out of nothing and to stretch every inch of space for all it was worth.

Now, we’re in a 4,000 square foot studio built from the ground up with intention, luxury, and accessibility in mind. We’ve got themed sets, a client closet that runs 6X to XS, glam station, and room to breathe. You can often catch me in awe and doing cartwheels while saying “there is so much room for activities” even a year later.

Watching this business evolve has been surreal. From makeshift sets in cramped hotel corners to creating a literal dream space where people come to reclaim their power… it’s been wild. And we’re just getting started.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The major turning point—the moment everything leveled up—was when I stumbled across Jenn Bruno Smith and The High Rollers Club. It’s a mastermind program that helps with so many aspects of running a photography business… honestly, what they advertised didn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

I scheduled a discovery call and cried through it. I was nauseous just thinking about the investment. $5,000 felt impossible—my bank account had never held that kind of money at once. I couldn’t imagine spending it on myself.

But my husband believed in me. He pushed me. He told me he wasn’t just investing in the course—he was investing in our future. And then he paid for it.

That moment changed everything.

It gave me the courage to restructure my pricing, the strategy to start marketing intentionally, and the tools to start selling with confidence. Within weeks, I was making $2–3k sales. Not long after, I had my first $5k sale—the program had already paid for itself.

Even more than that, it sparked something in me: a hunger to keep learning. Since then, I’ve poured myself into education—books, podcasts, courses, anything I can get my hands on. I made a promise to myself that I would never stop evolving. And I haven’t.
honorable mentions for reads: Profit first, be obsessed or be average, find your why, the geode theory, and atomic habits.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boudoirbychaos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boudoirbychaos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boudoirbychaos

Image Credits

Megan Perryman