Life Conversations with a Twist
Join me once a week for a new interview with a local, badass woman who has an amazing story to tell. Join me in conversation so you too can gain inspiration and empowerment from these stories! If you love hearing about leadership, relationships, families, motherhood and navigating hard times, then tune into my podcast and share with others. If you love what you hear, share and tag me on Instagram at @heathernelson.life. You can also visit my website at heathernelson.life.
Life Conversations with a Twist
Breaking the Rules: Beauty, Boldness, and Boudoir with Liz Hansen
"When you can love yourself and appreciate yourself, that's when you can go out into the world and love others. Peace on earth starts within. If you hate yourself and you hate your body, it is hard to love and serve others." —Liz Hansen
Tired of feeling like you have to hide or fix your body before you can feel good about it? Maybe the real power move is showing up as you are and letting go of the old rules about beauty. Imagine what could change if you gave yourself permission to be bold.
Liz Hansen turned her passion for art and photography into a mission: helping women see themselves in a new light. After her own life-changing boudoir shoot, she opened a studio dedicated to empowering women to feel bold, beautiful, and unapologetically themselves.
Tune in for honest stories about body image, overcoming shame, and the power of boudoir to transform how you see yourself. You’ll get practical tips, inspiration, and a reminder that confidence is for everyone—no permission needed.
Connect with Heather:
Episode Highlights:
01:29 Meet Liz: Boudoir Photography Explained
05:18 Why Women Choose Boudoir
09:09 Body COnfidence and the Boudoir Experience
14:31 Getting Comfortable with Nudity
20:43 Self-Love Fuels Empowerment
24:27 Taboos, Women’s Bodies, and Social Change
27:11 Celebrating All Journeys
32:49 Faith and Boudoir: Not At Odds
Resources:
🎙️TEDx Talk
Nudity Doesn’t Have to be Naughty | Liz Hansen
📖Free Ebook:
Discover Your Unique Boudoir Style by Liz Hansen
Connect with Liz:
Liz Hansen is the owner and photographer at Chicago Boudoir Photography, a boutique studio that empowers women to feel confident in their bodies, relationships, and lives. Liz opened her commercial studio in 2018 and has since photographed more than 2,000 women. She has been featured on the TEDx stage, on National Public Radio, and with the Association of International Boudoir Photographers. Liz holds a BA in Art and an MA in Education. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Heather Nelson: Hello everyone. Welcome to this week's Life Conversations With A Twist. I have the honor of having Liz Haneon on the podcast today. This is going to be like the best conversation, especially on a Friday afternoon. Where do you live?
Liz Hansen: I'm in Chicago. How about you?
Heather Nelson: I'm in Northern California. So it's 1:00 o'clock, my time. What time is it? You're?
Liz Hansen: 3:00 o'clock,
Heather Nelson: Okay, so you're about to start your weekend. So tell us a little bit about who you are? What do you do? And then we're just going to dive right in. I have so many questions for you, and this topic and conversation is going to speak volumes to me, and I didn't know my listener, so I can't wait to dive in.
Liz Hansen: Well, thanks for having me. I'm Liz, and I live in Chicago. I run the Chicago Boudoir Photography studio, And if you haven't heard of boudoir before, boudoir is just a fancy French word that means a woman's bedroom. But what I do is I've created a safe space for women to come and take sensual, sexy photos, and feel confident and empowered in their own skin. I love what I do. I've been doing this full time since 2018, and I've photographed nearly 2000 women.
Heather Nelson: Oh, my gosh. I have so many things to talk about. Do you do other photography? I would love to hear your journey of how you got here too. But are you just a boudoir photographer at this point?
Liz Hansen: Yes. I used to do lots of other different kinds of photography. But now, I've specialized in boudoir, and that's all I do now.
Heather Nelson: Tell us about your journey, how did you even get into photography? How did you get to where you are today?
Liz Hansen: So I studied art in college. But then I became a teacher for a few years, and then a stay at home mom. I always loved art and photography. And when I had my babies at home, I started taking pictures of them constantly, because I just love taking pictures of them. And then I took some photography classes at the local community college. And then pretty soon, people were asking me to take their family photos, and I opened up a business where I became a wedding and family photographer. And that was fun. I love the art and the photography aspect of it. But about a decade ago, I signed up for a boudoir photo shoot for myself. I'd never really seen a lot of it. I hadn't done any boudoir photography myself. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was just a transformative experience for myself. I walked into that photo shoot feeling really nervous, really almost thinking maybe it was something I shouldn't be doing, that it was a little bit naughty, a little bit taboo. But I walked out of that photo shoot just ready to show up in my life in bigger and better ways. And I wanted other women to have that experience too. So I opened up my boudoir boutique in 2018. It was a big leap for me to open up a commercial brick and mortar studio, become an entrepreneur, but I've enjoyed the journey, learned a lot, and am still going strong eight years later.
Heather Nelson: I'm actually interested to hear your side when you send someone their album, or you send them their photos. How do you feel, because I know how I felt getting them and going through the experience, so I would love to dive in. And I mentioned to you, I've done it. I've done it when I was pregnant, and not in my normal, sexy body. My normal state, I guess you would say. This will be an interesting conversation. I have three children that I've given birth to myself, and then I've also been a surrogate, and I'm about to be a surrogate again, so this will be my fifth pregnancy. And everybody always asks me, how is it that you continue to get pregnant, and then you want to take this surrogacy journey? And like, I literally love being pregnant. There's something about the pregnant body and the belly. I feel most sexy when I'm pregnant, which is bizarre to even say this out loud. But that's truly how I feel every time I'm pregnant. I feel beautiful. Everyone's like, you're glowing. There's this special thing. So I was like, I'm gonna try this. And I did, and I loved it. I look back at my photos, and I adore it. So someday when I'm confident in my own body again. But how is that like for you? You've done 2000 people. What is it like when people reach out to you? What do you think their biggest hang up is of why they've done it? What has taken them so long to want to do it?
Liz Hansen: Well, first off, I just want to say, I'm so happy that you've done a boudoir photo shoot. And I don't get strange at all that you feel sexy when you're pregnant. Being pregnant is like, there's a lot of feeling very feminine, and feeling maybe connected to the earth, to the generations before, and the generations to come. And I think there's something very powerful and very sexy and sensual about the pregnant body. I'm so glad that you took the opportunity to document that. Women call me all the time for a variety of reasons. Some women want to do a boudoir photo shoot for happy reasons. They're having a baby. They're marrying the love of their life. They are celebrating their 40th birthday, and they're excited to do that. Other women call me in more difficult circumstances. Maybe they have left a domestic violence relationship and they want to celebrate their freedom. Maybe they have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Maybe they have had a loss in their life, and they want to celebrate being alive. And there is just a wide variety of reasons why people want to do a boudoir photo shoot. I think they're all valid, and every point of your journey is worth celebrating and documenting.
Heather Nelson: So true. And you're right when you said that there's something transformative that happens when you're like, I wasn't fully naked, but I had sexy underwear, and I like cute lingerie and cute shirts on. There was something about it. It's definitely like the environment. But it sounds like you will talk a little bit about what that environment looks like. But obviously, you have to feel safe in front of whoever's taking this photo. I remember leaving there and just feeling overwhelmed with like, I love my body. I love my body no matter what it is. Whether I'm pregnant, whether I'm chunky. You guys are so talented in so many ways that you guys can capture these images that really make women look so beautiful, whether they feel it or not. And so when you receive these albums, and you're looking at these photos, you're like, wow, I really am beautiful. I really am sexy. There's something very special about it. And to do that, I can't imagine what it would be like on your end. And I can see why you do it.
Liz Hansen: It definitely feels like an honor to be there with women at this moment. It's an intimate, vulnerable place to be. I really love watching that. I've had women burst into tears when I see their photos because they say to me, I have never seen myself like this. I think as women, often, we are so hard on ourselves, and we are socialized to believe that there's a really narrow set of looks that are beautiful. And it's usually young and thin, right? Any variation from that, that we feel like there's something wrong with us, or something wrong with our bodies. We need to change ourselves. And to be in a place, in a moment where you just say, I love and accept myself exactly as I am. There's some real power there.
Heather Nelson: It was interesting when the reasons why you said women do it. I did it because I actually gave it to my husband. I made a cute little photo album. I was so nervous about sending it to Shutterfly to print the book that I gave him for my anniversary. Are they going to print this? But I always felt like people always did it for certain reasons. Because whether it was a gift or an anniversary, or you're getting married, or these happier moments, I never thought that women would do it because of cancer. They're gonna lose their breasts, I never thought of that. As a photographer, how do you embrace that? How do you encourage women to feel safe, and to make that experience so special for them?
Liz Hansen: At a boudoir studio, everything is based on trust. So from the moment someone calls, and we have a phone consultation to when they receive their final products, people place a lot of trust in me, and I try really hard at each step along the way to make the experience fun, private and empowering. So it starts with that phone call. And then when you come to the studio, first off, I have a beauty team that's going to do hair and makeup for you. So get your camera ready with airbrush, makeup, lashes, all the glam that you want to do. Or if you want to keep it more natural, we'll do that too. And then we do a wardrobe consultation where I will pick out accessories, outfits, shoes, rubs and things that will help me capture your personality and where you are, and what kind of photos we want to create together.
Heather Nelson: You have all that? The women are not expected to bring that.
Liz Hansen: You're going to bring your own panties, bra. Things like that. We don't have that to share, but we have a lot of other things to add on. Robes, angel wings, shoes, jewelry, body chains, flowers, rose petals, handcuffs, all kinds of accessories that we can use to add on to anything that you want to bring as well.
Heather Nelson: That would have been cool. And I do have to say, when I did mine, I did get my hair and makeup done there. There's something about this full prep time. You're gonna get your hair done, and you're gonna get your makeup done, and then wardrobe change. The other thing is you're put in these positions that might feel a little awkward to you. But you're right, there's so much trust in the photographer who's taking that. To be like, okay, I'm gonna just let it all out.
Liz Hansen: And during the photo shoot, I'll take you into the studio, and I'll tell you exactly what to do, and how to pose. I'll tell you what to do with your face, with your hands, with your feet so you don't have to know what you're doing. You don't have to practice in front of a mirror. I'm going to help you get into the character, and capture you just as you are. And then something really cool that we do is, right after the photo shoot, before you even leave the studio, I will show you a slideshow of your pictures right then and there. The reason why I do that, of course, is that instant gratification is fun. But also, I want you to see how fabulous and gorgeous you are without any photoshopping, without any retouching, without a filter. I want you to see and appreciate yourself, and make this whole day of it, from hair, makeup, the photo shoot, to the photo reveal. It's just a day to feel pampered, to really stop reflecting and celebrate you.
Heather Nelson: So true. I wish that you were not in Chicago. That industry for photography, is that a popular thing? I guess there's a two part question. One, is it a saturated market where you're in Chicago? How is it nationwide? I feel like it is more of a popular thing. Is it starting to become more popular? I mean, what does the market look like in your industry?
Liz Hansen: So boudoir is definitely becoming more popular. When I started, when I did my photo shoot 10 years ago, I didn't know anyone else who'd ever done a boudoir photo shoot. I'd never really hurt my husband and never heard of it. But now, I do think it is starting to become a little bit more mainstream. On the Golden Bachelorette, which is a reality show, some of the gals did a boudoir photo shoot, and they did some behind the scenes from that. So there's more people who've heard of it. There are some taboos around it. Doing a boudoir photo shoot can still seem like a little naughty, a little risque, right? But a lot more people have done and heard about it. Here in Chicago, there are a lot of talented boudoir photographers. Chicago is a big city. But even if you're not in Chicago, Google it and see if there's someone near you. It'd be fun. Anywhere in the United States, there's probably a boudoir photographer near you.
Heather Nelson: The only reason I did it is because of one of my friends, she's a photographer. She's like, I'm doing these little mini boudoir shoots. And you should. And I was like, oh, this sounds fun. And why not? And it was such a cool experience. All of my girlfriends who've never done it, I think I'm probably one of the only. Everyone's so scared. They're like, my body's not ready for that. Or they have so many excuses. What do you tell that woman who knows that they have this idea that they want to do it, but that they should and not wait for that perfect body moment to do it?
Liz Hansen: Everybody is a boudoir body. So the whole point of boudoir is to celebrate you exactly as you are. You don't have to lose weight to do this. You don't have to change to do this. And I will say, sure, you're on a fitness journey. Great. Let's do the photos now, and then we'll do some again next year too. Every day, every point on your journey is worthy and valuable, and worth celebrating. I have many women who say to me, I wish I'd done this five years ago. So don't wait. If you're feeling like you want to do it, give a photographer a call. Find a photographer that you feel comfortable chatting with on the phone. Find out about their privacy policy. Who's on their staff? Where will the pictures be taken? What will you need to bring? Because all those things will help to start answering your questions and calm your nerves if this is something you want to do.
Heather Nelson: That's such a great reminder. When I was asking you the last question, something that came to mind was, not everybody is super comfortable about being around other women who are naked. When you go to a gym or you go to a spa, and you have to change in front of your friends and you have to be naked, or you don't have to be, you're put in this environment, everyone is always like, this is very uncomfortable. As a photographer who is now shooting women who are practically naked, maybe naked or pretty close to it, how did you feel about your journey through getting comfortable and being in front of women who are naked?
Liz Hansen: It's so true. Nudity is really a taboo. We gave a TEDx talk called,
Nudity Doesn't Have to Be Naughty.
Heather Nelson: You have to send me that link. I want to include it.
Liz Hansen: For sure. My mission as a boudoir photographer is to try to break down some of those barriers we have about bodies and nudity. We live in a society that really stigmatizes bodies, especially women's bodies. There's this idea that there's something wrong with the body. Of course, there's a time and a place for nudity. I'm not suggesting that you just go run around your town naked. But I also think we have taken it too far to the point where many people are so inhibited about their bodies, and about nudity that they view their body with hatred and shame instead of love and acceptance. So I think one of the things you can do to help yourself move from body negativity to body neutrality, or even to body positivity, is to spend more time naked, and engage in some nude activities. And a boudoir photo shoot could be one of those. But maybe changing without shame in a women's locker room. Maybe it's going skinny dipping at a private pool. I think the more we can spend time, get in touch with our bodies, the more we can love and appreciate them.
Heather Nelson: So good. I have a few questions for you. You said you have kids. How old are your kids?
Liz Hansen: I have two teenage daughters, 15 and 17.
Heather Nelson: How do they feel having a mom being a boudoir photographer? Do they talk about it? Are they weird about it? Especially being a teenager, we know how they feel about everything. I'm curious how your girls view you as a career professional on what you do?
Liz Hansen: It's so interesting. I get this question a lot, and I also get the question, do your kids know what you do? I've been doing this full time for eight years, so it's been their whole life that I've been doing this. And I would, of course, not do boudoir photography if I thought it was wrong and couldn't share it with my kids, right? But I do. I actually think it is really beautiful and empowering. Of course, I don't share client photos with my kids. Of course, boudoir is not for minors, but I share with them why I think it's important for women to celebrate their bodies, and I hope I'm raising two very confident girls who can love and appreciate their bodies.
Heather Nelson: I love that so much. I think we need more of that. And I love that you're not just doing this career to take the photos, but it is more of encouraging women to love their bodies, and appreciate their bodies, so I love that. I think you should continue doing that. I want to hear your TED talk, because I think we all need some encouragement about loving our bodies. I asked you about your kids, but what about your husband?
Liz Hansen: I've been married for 20 years, and he is super supportive. Again, not showing him client pictures. Privacy is very important here. But he was the one who actually encouraged me to open up my studio. So I had done the boudoir photo shoot 10 years ago. I did this for myself, and also created a book for him. Like you do, I gave him the book, and he was just floored. He was like, this is so cool. This is the best gift anyone's ever given me. Because I was a photographer, I started talking to him about offering boudoir photos of myself as a photographer. And he was like, you should open up a studio. And I was like, I can't do that. I don't know how to run a business. I've never run a brick and mortar. And he was like, I feel like this is your calling. You really could be great at this. You have the desire to help women. You take beautiful photos, and you should do it. And so we took out a business loan. It was a big risk for us financially, and just kind of emotionally. I'd never taken on such a big project to start a business. But he was really behind me 100% of the way, and still supports me today. I'm grateful to him for it.
Heather Nelson: Have you done a boudoir shoot since your first one?
Liz Hansen: Oh, yeah. I have boudoir photographer friends now, and so we swap. I was in Las Vegas recently for a boudoir photography conference, and ended up in a hotel room with a bunch of boudoir photographers, and we're all naked and in underwear taking pictures of each other. I've done a lot. In fact, the last time I gave my husband some boudoir pictures, he's like, I already saw these. And I was like, no, these ones are different. He's like, oh, I see so many now. Like, okay, well, I appreciate these new ones. I've done self portraits of myself. I love hiring other photographers. I love getting together with other photographers. It's fun, and it's meaningful to me to document my journey as I go. Yes, I did the pictures 10 years ago, but I've done lots. I hope to continue doing boudoir photography all along.
Heather Nelson: I've only done it once, I definitely want to do it again. But there's something about the confidence that comes out in you so I can only imagine that the more you do it, the more confident you are about yourself. Even anybody who's watching us on YouTube, you have confidence. There's something about appreciating and loving your body for who it is, and what it is. It's so powerful.
Liz Hansen: I think that when you start with self love, when you can love yourself and appreciate yourself, that's when you can go out into the world and love others. I'm not exaggerating. Peace on earth starts within. If you hate yourself and you hate your body, it is hard to love and serve others. So starts here, and that will allow love to radiate throughout the world.
Heather Nelson: So good. So you probably go out to networking events. You're out in the world, you meet people and they're like, what do you do for a living? When you tell them what you do, what do you say? I always feel it's always funny when people, because I think about when I'm a surrogate, you tell people like, they're like, oh, you're having a baby. I'm like, yeah, I'm having a baby. I'm having a baby for someone else. Everyone has some weird thing that they say. What are some of the reactions that you've gotten? How do you present yourself when people are really weird about what you do?
Liz Hansen: That is a really insightful question. And I think you asked that because you know how it feels. I understand that what I do is in the realm of taboo, uncomfortable conversations for a lot of people. So I am sensitive to that, and I never would want to make someone else feel uncomfortable because of what I do. So depending on the situation I'm in, I might say, oh, I'm a photographer. I own a studio in a suburb of Chicago. And then if they say, what kind of photography? Then say, I specialize in creating empowering portraits of women. I include hair and makeup, and I take one client per day so they can have a special experience. If they keep asking, and I can tell they're interested, they say, well, what exactly do you do? And then I say, have you ever heard of boudoir? It's a fancy French word that means a woman's bedroom. And what that means for me as a boudoir photographer is that I create sexy, sensual photos of women to help them feel confident in their own skin. I try to lead people--
Heather Nelson: Where you want them to go.
Liz Hansen: If at any point someone is uncomfortable or doesn't want to talk about it, I am very sensitive to that. It's not my goal to make people feel uncomfortable. My goal is to help people feel confident, comfortable and empowered. I definitely have some people who have said to me, that seems immoral. Or you're trying to empower women. But actually, you're exploiting them. I think you're doing the opposite. It's not that I don't understand. I understand why people view what I do as naughty, taboo, dirty, immoral. If the situation seems right, I try to educate a little bit about what my goals are, what my missions are, and what I'm trying to do. And also acknowledge that, yes, because of the society we live in and how we've been socialized to view women's bodies, it does seem wrong. It does seem immoral to you. I understand that. And would you be willing and interested to hear the other side of the story? I grew up in a very conservative religious household. I have some family members who don't want to talk about what I do. I get it. But if you were there and you understood what I was trying to do, I think you'd see the vision.
Heather Nelson: And again, even surrogacy is very different from what you do, but you're talking about that taboo thing. People know it's there. It's kind of weird for them. They're not super confident in it. And my goal, especially with this next journey, is just educating people why you do it, and the real facts behind it. There are so many things that people talk about, but you're like, no, that's not really how it is. And so I love that you educate them like, no, this is what it looks like. This is what I'm doing.
Liz Hansen: You say it's different. But actually, I think surrogacy and boudoir hit on some of the same issues. Women's bodies, sexuality. These are areas that are very taboo, and our battlegrounds in some parts of our society about how women's bodies should be used. People view what they're allowed to do, what they're not allowed to do, what good girls are allowed to do, right? So actually, surrogacy and boudoir are actually touching on a lot of these same areas, and that's why people give you some of the same reactions they give me, because you're cutting across the grain. You're doing something that women, 100 years ago, couldn't do. And boudoir photography, also 100 years ago, women were not allowed to show their bodies in many circles, in the way that I capture them. It's the same issues, same deep societal traditions that you are fighting against, that I'm fighting against.
Heather Nelson: That's so true. You have shot 2000 women, right? I know you have a story in there that you've heard after you've done a shoot like this, and you've presented them with their photos. Or maybe it's an experience inside the studio. Is there one really memorable story that reminds you of what your why is? I'm sure every day, everyone you shoot is a WHY. But was there one moment or one story that was super memorable for you?
Liz Hansen: Yeah. Sarah came into my studio. I'll never forget her, and she listened. She was a young mom. And in the middle of the night on her bathroom floor, she experienced a sudden massive heart attack. She's healthy, had no previous problems, was able to crawl to her phone and call 911. And in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, she literally died and was brought back to life by the EMT. Over the course of the next few weeks, she had about a dozen surgeries to try to repair her heart. And she had scars up and down her chest from all these surgeries. And on the one year anniversary of her heart attack, she chose to be with me in my studio because she wanted to take photos. Nude photos that highlighted all of her scars, and she didn't want me to photoshop them out. She wanted photos that said, I'm here. I'm alive. I'm grateful to be alive. I'm grateful for my body and the opportunities I'm going to have going forward. And I just love that, because that's exactly what I'm trying to do with boudoir. And you don't have to have a heart attack to get to that place where you say, I want to celebrate and document my body, and I'm grateful to be alive.
Heather Nelson: So good. There's a local photographer in our world, he does photography for all types of things. Literally, I feel like he's everywhere. But we have a catwalk, we call it Catwalk for the Cure, which is all about breast cancer and all the survivors. He didn't do risque boudoir shoots, but he did some not your normal photo shoots. He still posts them. I remember when he featured them, there was something so special about seeing these women who've gone through breast cancer, who got in front of a camera, scars and all, one boob, less boobs, no boobs, and just showed up for themselves. And I get chills because it's those stories, and those women who are literally making a difference and empowering us to own and love our bodies. And there's so many people who body shame themselves. There's so many women who are going through so much. I love that, and I wish that more people would embrace and be okay with that.
Liz Hansen: Yeah. It's so interesting because, of course, these breast cancer survivor photos are viewed as a warrior, and they survive something, and so that we're documenting it. But guess what? So are you? Even if you haven't had breast cancer, maybe you can be documented in that way too. Breast cancer or not, right? That's what I'm trying to do with boudoir. Wherever you are in your journey, you've been through something, there's a reason to document you. It doesn't have to be breast cancer. Women come to my studio for all kinds of reasons. Some are for happy reasons. They're having their first baby, they're marrying the love of their life, they're celebrating their 40th birthday. That's worth celebrating. And then some women are there for more difficult reasons. They have a breast cancer diet. They've exited a domestic violence relationship, and they're celebrating their freedom. So all of these moments in our lives are worth documenting and celebrating.
Heather Nelson: So true. As an entrepreneur for this long, how is marketing and sales like for you? Are you at a point in your business where it's more referral based and they just come because they see your photos? You have beautiful photos. If anyone follows Liz on social media, you will see all these beautiful images. But because you've been in business so long and you share the work that you do, is it easy for you to find new clients? Or do you constantly need to do this because you're going to make yourself feel better?
Liz Hansen: Okay. I would say the short answer is, no, the business just doesn't run on autopilot just because it's been around for a few years. There are always new audiences to reach, and there's always education. There's always new people who come in who have no idea what I'm doing, and I'm trying to teach and educate them about what I do, and why I think I would love to have them in the studio. So I spend a lot of time posting on social media. We do meet ups in person. I have a Facebook group that I run for local women. I have about 10,000 local women in the group, and we do meetups in person in October. Our next one is, we're going to do a self defense class in honor of domestic violence month in October. And so I'm always looking for ways to reach out to the community, to find ways to interact with women who live near me. Of course, I do get some referral business, but there are a lot of women who come to my studio who don't tell anyone that they did it. They want to keep that private. So there's some women who don't share with their friends as well, and that's totally fine. Privacy, of course, is paramount here at the studio.
Heather Nelson: Oh, I love that. What's next for you? You've already photographed all these women, you're doing the work. And as an entrepreneur, we always have goals. We always have something, reaching further. What's next for you? And you've already done a TED talk, you're one ahead of everybody.
Liz Hansen: Giving the TEDx talk was a really cool, fun experience. That was local. There's a suburb of Chicago called Arlington Heights, and it was the first time that Arlington Heights had put on a TEDx conference. And so that was really cool to be part of their inaugural event. They're in year three now. So yeah, if you're thinking about doing something like that, I'd recommend it. But what's next for me? Of course, boudoir is my business, and I love taking boudoir photos and running the business, but I have this greater mission to spread this message. For example, I'm here doing this interview today because I want more women to feel like they can step into their power. I think that empowered women are going to change the world, and I want to be a part of spreading that message.
Heather Nelson: So good. Where can people find you? Where can they follow you? How do they get into your world? Every time I do these podcast interviews, there's always certain women in my life that pop up that I'm like, they need to listen to this podcast. They need to be in your world. How can people find you and be inspired?
Liz Hansen: The best place to go is my website, which is chicago-boudoir.com. Boudoir is a tricky word to spell, B-O-U-D-O-I-R. Of course, I'm in the Chicago area. But if you're listening and you're not in the Chicago area, I would still love for you to stop by. I've got a lot of free resources on my website that you might enjoy. I've got some free e books. I've got some printables with affirmations. You can take a quiz, so come to the website and stop by. I'd love to be in touch.
Heather Nelson: I love that. Is there anything that I missed? Obviously, you have a story. You have a journey. Is there anything that I missed that is worth diving into?
Liz Hansen: The one thing that I would just love to talk about for just a second is that a lot of people find that boudoir is at odds with faith. So if you are a woman of faith or a religious woman, you might think, I can't do boudoir because it's not compatible with my values or my beliefs. And I would just love to challenge that a little bit. I'm a woman of faith myself, and I don't find that this is incompatible. Most religions in the world believe that the human body was created in the image of God, and so I believe that your body is a form of godliness. Maybe that's uncomfortable to hear, to think about. But I would like you to sit with that for a little bit and think, why does it feel incompatible to celebrate your body or your journey with your faith? Where did those ideas come from? Are those ideas you want to keep entertaining? Or is something you might want to challenge? So if you want to chat more about that, I'd love to hear from you.
Heather Nelson: I love that. It's interesting that you brought that up. I forgot what I was watching the other day, and I'm like, I grew up Catholic, but I don't go to church, and I don't practice it. But I forget how many people do. I'm really glad that you touched on that, because I forget that that is a lot of people's worlds sometimes. And you're right, there's that struggle of like, is this okay? Is this not okay? And so thank you for bringing that up. Always forget about that. Thank you so much. I am so inspired by you. I love it. Because once I get through this next surrogacy journey, I would love to do another one where I am not pregnant, and maybe I might have to take a trip to Chicago with some friends.
Liz Hansen: That would be so fun.
Heather Nelson: Do groups of women go in together, or maybe a friend to have moral support.
Liz Hansen: For sure, and it would be such a fun girls weekend.
Heather Nelson: Okay, I'll have to plan out. I'll see you in a year, because that's how long it's going to take. But I appreciate you so much. Thank you for the work that you're doing. I think that more women need to do things. I literally encourage this to everybody. Everyone is like, I need to do something for our anniversary. And I'm like, you should do a boudoir shoot. And they're like, oh, I don't know. And I'm like, I promise you, it will be life changing. So yeah, best gift ever. It's an investment, not only for giving it, gifting it to your spouse or your partner, but to yourself. Thank you for doing that work, and continue to inspire all of us.
Liz Hansen: Thanks for the work you're doing, Heather.