In Honor of Lyme Awareness Month: A Dallas/ Fort Worth Boudoir Photographer's Thoughts on Chronic Illness

For those of you who may not know, May is Lyme Disease awareness month and I would be remiss if I didn’t pay tribute to my gal Friday, Kelsey Berry. Kelsey and I have been best friends since her bridal consultation with me in the summer of 2017. She and her (now) husband, Braxton, hired me as their photographer back when I was shooting weddings. Have you ever had that feeling when you meet someone and you just know they will be in your life forever? If not, I pray someday you do. Kels and I knew we’d be friends instantly and to this day we have remained closer than close and that makes me so, so happy.

This past year, Kelsey began experiencing obscure health related symptoms such as vertigo, daily headaches, alcohol intolerance, skin rashes, joint pain, numbness and tingling sensations, and extreme fatigue amongst other things. After taking matters into her own hands, she sought out to find a wholistic specialist who recommended she be tested for Lyme disease. Her test came back positive for several tick born illnesses that she likely contracted years prior. This diagnoses was altogether relieving as it was disheartening for Kelsey to receive and those who had been battling alongside her felt the same way, myself included. It’s always better to have answers but there is no “quick fix” for this kind of thing and we all knew the road ahead, although optimistic, would look overwhelming at times. She has since been put on a strict anti-inflammatory diet, has had to eliminate all potential toxins and exchange them for more natural alternatives, and has been prescribed supplements/ treatments out the wazoo. It’s also beneficial for her to make serious decisions about small things such as going out to dinner with friends or staying in to preserve energy as to not risk overstimulating her sensitive nervous system…yet another symptom of the illness.

Apart from the physical turmoil Kelsey has endured, her mental and emotional health have taken a hit as well. For anyone who has dealt with extended/ chronic illness, I want you to know that I see you. I see you through my best friend. I see the long days. I see the restless nights. I see the pain you feel. I see you battle with self-worth because of how you have had to dramatically alter your life. I see the struggle of not feeling beautiful because of how exhausted you are from constantly fighting for a “good day”, which leads me to why I chose to write this blog in the first place.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Boudoir is more than sexy photos. It’s more than a fun day and pretty outfits. It’s a testament to your inner strength and grit. It’s an expression of all you have overcome. It’s a reminder of how beautiful you truly are. It acts as a journal entry to your life: the good, the bad, the sad, and the triumphant. Boudoir is more than you ever thought possible.

Last year, Kelsey booked a session with me to commemorate a time in her life where she truly felt grounded in her own womanhood for the first time. She wanted her images to portray a feeling of accomplishment in who she was as a strong and compassionate, bold and beautiful woman. When shooting, I wanted to keep in mind these two words: power and poise. That’s how I have always seen and will always see Kelsey…altogether soft and gracious as she is influential and resilient. These images meant so much then but I am hoping they mean even more now to my dear friend. I hope they act as a pillar of strength for her. No matter what she’s going through or how she’s feeling in the moment, she can look back at these portraits and remember how far she’s come and how much further she’s left to go.

I love you, Kels, and I am proud of you.

xx

Kal