We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Molly Blair Richardson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Molly 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?

Boudoir photography is gaining popularity and recognition. We constantly are fed buzzwords encompassing that of empowerment. I hear that term used so much, it feels redundant when I am trying to convey what boudoir truly means to me.

If we look at what boudoir photography is on the surface, we most likely see a woman in lingerie posing in a manner that is suggestive and alluring. That manner could be demure and coy all the way to overly sexual and erotic. I know there are many people who would wonder and ask how is this a display of women’s empowerment? They will say we are sexualizing our bodies and that is not providing strength. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. We are digging our heels in ground and establishing our boundaries. We are shouting and saying our sexual desires are our own and just as important as our counterparts. Boudoir is part of women’s sexual revolution. Boudoir allows women to have agency over their own bodies.

Boudoir builds confidence. Let’s take down to a very basic need. Humans want to feel love and desire. We want to desire and be desired equally. Being seen by our present or future lovers and most importantly ourselves as beautiful creatures is an integral part of building a confident core. When you are desired and loved you are wanted and needed. Before you can be loved by someone else, you need to be loved by yourself. Loving the skin you are in today is the beginning of that journey. When you love yourself and appreciate the majority of your body you are on your way to loving others.

I had to learn this concept the hard way. I was in a very damaging relationship for a very long time. Neither of us loved ourselves, therefore could not completely and honestly love one another. Along side of not truly feeling valued and loved by the other person, I truly didn’t love myself. I was living in a toxic cycle that just kept repeating itself. I knew if I stopped the cycle, the relationship would crumble, but if I continued doing what I was doing I would slowly fall into a deeper crevasse of self loathing. I felt paralyzed, unable to stand on my own two feet and walk away. I made a very conscious decision to change my damaged self. I began to establish a space to love and appreciation of self, but the other person was left behind. He did not want to change. We did not grow together. That chapter ended and it was time to navigate a new road map. I have climbed a mountain to be where I am, and still climbing it. Now I have the strength to share with others how all things are possible.

Women are fed contradicting messages daily. One day we should forget diets yet don’t over indulge, make sure you exercise, get rest, and don’t forget to chase after your goals. Age gracefully but here is some botox. Be self sufficient, get married, no wait have kids, be there for them, don’t take too much time off to raise them or else you wont have a job to go back to. Earn a living and have dinner ready, don’t forget there should be a protein, starch and vegetable. You forgot to make your parter the most important person in your life, or is it your kids, get some “me” time in, but don’t be selfish about it. Now with all of that, you need to look hot AF. When we have all those messages being thrown in our face it is easy to see how we are left to feel like low achievers. When we don’t check all the boxes, where are we standing?

We have not only men telling us we are doing it wrong, but also other women. At times I feel the feminist movement wants us to ignore all physical aspects. The feminist movement should allow women to make decisions what ever they are. I love to get sugared and wear a bra while I drop off my ballot. I will never burn my bra, I LOVE my lingerie. On one hand we are told to forget our physical selves and concentrate on our intellect. Our knowledge will propel us forward to success. Knowledge is vital for success, but if you are lacking confidence then all the knowledge in the world will not bring you to where you are meant be. Knowledge isn’t the only ingredient in the path to success, you also need confidence. Confidence comes from believing in yourself and feeling like your voice will be heard. Confidence is feeling like that voice means something and is worthy. Confidence lifts you up to the next level. When we present ourselves to the world we are showcasing our physical selves. People choose a professional headshot to be the first impression of themselves than many will see.

Are we posting our boudoir photos on linked in? No we do not do that (well I have had a couple of clients do that), but we do have that vision posted in our memory, we have that beautiful vision of ourselves displayed on our dresser at home to carry with us through out the day. we are able to retrieve that vision of ourselves as we stand up and ask for a raise, as we state our worth.

I have had that happen with clients. They have carried so much self doubt, but a boudoir session has provided the confidence needed to demand respect, pay and position. When that confidence in themselves radiated then their personal relationships began to heal. While I am not a therapist, I have had clients come to me because their therapist recommend it.

My mission to help my clients discover a place of appreciation of self their journey to self love.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Most of my life I have been a photographer. I was raised by creatives. Creativity and art were encouraged heavily. Photography was a medium that I discovered on my own fairly early in life. I remember every camera given to me, and cherished each of them. I remember art camp and my first darkroom class. Part of me misses that process so much, but technology has actually forced me to excel in other ways. Technology really allows us to think outside the box, and I do not mean though editing. For me an image has to be able to stand alone without the editing. I want the lighting and the expression of my subject to be the focus. I embrace the advancements of technology while holding the core principles of the craft. Editing is the finishing touch.

Technology propels me to fine tune the imagery that is actually is born right in the camera. Being able to say THIS IS YOU, just as you are is a huge sense of accomplishment for me to say to clients. That ability is not easy. Understanding light and how it can drastically change the outcome of an image. Light is a fickle beast. Light can make or break an image in an instant. My understanding of light is compromised of many years of studying not only photography but all art. My understanding is comprised of many years of education, and a desire and commitment of continuing education.

Portrait photography is working with people, and boudoir photography is working with people in vulnerable and intimate situations. I have all bodies, all sexualities, all states of self love and acceptance walk through the studio doors. In my work I am handling emotion. It is my job to provide a safe space for you to move at the pace you are comfortable with. Boudoir doesn’t have to be lingerie, it can be more modest and still convey the same message, because it is about intimate connection. Establishing a space of trust allows your subject to open up with their emotions. It is in the emotion that a connection to the image is born.

It is my job to be able to understand your space, and translate your emotion, wants and boundaries in a fraction of a day. I really stress communication to my clients from day one. Part of what makes a successful session is communication. If I do not know your feeling then I cannot convey them back to you in art. The subject needs to let me into their world so I can empathize with their everyday. Most importantly my client needs to be at ease and comfortable around me. I am most proud of that space and feeling I can provide to an individual.

A portrait artist must take a totally different perspective of another person, but find a way to relate to that from their own experiences. No matter what my client is experiencing I have to be empathetic to them in order to represent them in an image. I will never know what it is to be them, but I do know what it is like to be seen as something that I do not feel is me. I do know what it feels like to be misunderstood and misrepresented. I have been through trauma, tragedy and come put the other way feeling triumph. I have been in a spaces where I felt I couldn’t speak and I was microscopic. I try to be empathetic to every individual. Everyone carries their own story and no grief is greater than another.

Art is a language that is unique to the creator.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My life has been a journey of extreme losses and painful experiences. I have had some of the most amazing people ripped from my life to early. Also I have had some terrifying events that no person should ever endure. As a young adult teenager, my best friend at the time and myself experienced a violent sexual crime carried out by a gang. We could have died that night. If that event didn’t kill me the mental aftermath and turmoil could have. Surprisingly I did not end up completely damaged. If you allow the scab to heal, scar tissue is very thick. I had to remove myself from the situation in a healthy way in order for me to continue. Tragedy has made me realize the strongest person in my story has to be me. If I do not show up for myself no one will. If I am not my own pillar of strength, I cannot teach that to my children or other people. The longest relationship you have in this life, is the relationship you have with yourself. Learning to create a loving relationship with yourself is hard, and when you have experienced trauma it can be especially difficult. PTSD shows up in the most bizarre places.
You have to accentuate the positive and the wonderful to remind yourself how incredible life is. Despite all the yuckiness life is truly remarkable. My journey continues, and the amazing aspects of it are celebrated.

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

Since I have chosen working with people and creating art pieces from the individuals who commission me, the most rewarding thing is seeing how these people fall in love with themselves. I am able to show someone that they are a masterpiece. When they can see themselves in awe, when I see that smise or gasp, I know I have created something they love of themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seattleboudoircompany.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/seattleboudoirandcompany
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seattleboudoirandcompany
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevateyourvision/

Image Credits
Molly’s Headshot taken by Catherine Cooper Smith Hair and Make up by Kelsey Noll and Tracy Saunders