October 21, 2025 • 34 mins
A single hour can change how you see yourself. That’s the promise behind Nightflower Boudoir, and in this conversation, Nelly shares how she guides clients from nerves to genuine confidence with a process built on care, creativity, and skill. We get into the intimate origin of her studio’s name—a night-blooming cactus that opens fully for a brief, luminous moment—and how that image fuels her mission to help people open to their own light without waiting for “perfect.”
We walk through the entire client journey: a real phone call to understand the why, an in-home styling consult that solves the “what do I wear” spiral, a tailored mood board to align on look and vibe, and coordinated hair and makeup so the day feels effortless. Nelly explains the difference that professional lighting, posing, and direction make, especially for those who feel camera-shy. She shares moving client stories—tears of recognition, newfound power, even life changes that followed seeing themselves as strong, beautiful, and present. Whether in her DFW studio, a client’s home, a ranch, or a Vegas suite, the constant is safety, privacy, and a hype-bestie energy that turns fear into fun.
We also dig into the business side: relocating to a new market, building through networking and referrals, and choosing authenticity over AI-generated images. Mentors and ongoing education shape her craft and mindset, while her advice to her younger self—don’t be afraid, invest sooner—speaks to any creative founder. If you’ve ever said “when I lose five pounds” or “maybe next year,” consider this your sign. You don’t need a perfect body to love your photos; you need a process that sees you as you are and brings your best forward.
Ready to celebrate yourself or gift that confidence to someone you love? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs the boost, and leave a review telling us what you’d want your session to express. Your story deserves the spotlight.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:16):
Welcome back to Market It Without Mo, where we
share the tips, tools, andstrategies to help your business
be successful.
I'm excited to introduce todaybusiness owner Nellie
Sermonello.
She owns Nightflower Boudoirhere in DFW.
Welcome, Nellie.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
Thank you so much, Terry.
I'm so excited to be here withyou.
SPEAKER_02 (00:34):
I'm excited to have you here.
Now, you've had this businessfor around seven years, is that
right?
Yes, that's correct.
Congratulations on being thefive-year hump.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
So tell me a little bit moreabout your your business you
started and the story behind it.
What encouraged you to start it?
And is there a story behind thename?
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
Yes, absolutely.
I'd love to tell you all ofthat.
Um, so Nightflower Boudoir wasborn um as I was changing
careers.
I used to be a teacher.
And so I, you know, I waslooking for something that, you
know, where I could be a littlebit more creative and also uh a
(01:13):
different job that would get meto interact with more adults.
SPEAKER_02 (01:16):
Um yeah, kids after a while can be they can wear on
you, especially if they're notyours, right?
SPEAKER_00 (01:22):
Right, right.
I mean, I do love kids and I Ienjoy that teaching moment and
them getting that aha, like Igot it.
Yeah.
Um, but I just wanted, I neededmore adults in my life.
So I was just like, you know,trying to trying to change
lanes.
Um I decided to go intophotography because I have a
background in the arts as well.
(01:43):
Okay.
Um so I was just like, okay,well, probably not painting,
probably not drawing,photography.
Yes, that sounds fantastic.
So it was it was kind of an easymove in that regard.
And then the name NightflowerWoodard, it's actually very
meaningful to me because um it'sa bit of a long story, actually.
(02:04):
Um, it's okay, we can shorten itjust a little.
Yeah, I definitely will.
I definitely will.
Um, when I was in college and Iwas doing one of my um drawing
classes, one of the exerciseswas drawing the night.
And, you know, our professor waskind enough to make it cryptic
and like, you know, ambiguous,you know, for us.
(02:25):
Like draw the night.
So I ended up drawing what thenight was for me.
Okay.
And I ended up drawing thisbeautiful night flower, which I
ended up, you know, Googling andjust trying to, you know, doing
that research for myself.
Yeah.
And he told me, okay, this isgreat.
It ended up being like, youknow, the best um piece of work
from like that semester.
I felt like so honored andeverything.
(02:47):
And then he told me, you knowwhat?
I actually have this plant.
Would you like a cutting?
And I was like, can I please?
Oh, cool.
Um, a night flower is a cactusflower.
Interesting.
It's very interesting, and it'svery, very beautiful.
The thorns are about like, yay,big too.
I mean, it it packs a bunch.
Wow.
And it's a night blooming uhplant.
(03:09):
Wow, that's beautiful.
It sounds beautiful.
It is so beautiful.
So it's born out of a bulb, likeyou know, you have your cactus,
and then one day boom, you know,you have like a bulb and it's
closed like this.
And then one night it opens inabout a space of an hour, and
it's like about the size of yourhand, and it's a white flower,
just gorgeous.
(03:30):
That sounds beautiful.
And then in the morning itcloses up again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:36):
Oh, so it's it's it's like a a shooting star
almost.
Yes, it's like a shooting star.
SPEAKER_00 (03:41):
You have to be there, and so um, the reason why
I named my business Night FarBoudoir is because I used to be
a very, very shy person.
I would have never done thislike in a previous life, you
understand?
Yeah, absolutely.
And so for me, it was arepresentation of like opening
up to your own life.
You know, we live like this, youknow, like so tight, so shy, so
(04:04):
kind of scared of being seen.
Absolutely.
You know, so scared of kind oflike being everything you can be
or everything you want to be.
I agree.
Um, but if you're courage,you're you're courageous enough
for a short moment, yeah, youknow, it can open exactly boom,
like open to the possibilities.
(04:26):
Wow, you know, step into thatlight and be the main character
of your life.
SPEAKER_02 (04:30):
So you only get one, you really do, and it's hard to
realize that.
So what you're doing, I feel isso it truly from the heart.
Uh allowing males, females, youyou to photograph both, correct?
Yes, that's correct.
So I think everybody goesthrough that moment in their
life where it's like, you knowwhat, I don't want to do this
(04:51):
anymore.
Let's shift and do what I love.
But some women don't or and mendon't know how to do that.
Different seasons requiredifferent things.
And so, what encouraged you touse this specifically?
Were you wanting to help otherpeople come out of their show
like you had?
SPEAKER_00 (05:08):
Mm-hmm.
Oh wow.
So the end the way that I endedup coming into boudoir directly
from from teaching was I foundonline this program uh regarding
boudoir business, and I comefrom the deep south of Texas,
okay, Brownsville, like all theway down there, and I was like,
this doesn't exist here.
What is this?
SPEAKER_02 (05:27):
Let me So it's a little risque in that area.
SPEAKER_00 (05:30):
Yeah, it's very risque in that area.
I actually was a person whooriginally brought it into the
area.
This did not exist there.
SPEAKER_02 (05:35):
Wow, congratulations.
SPEAKER_00 (05:37):
Thank you.
I feel really good about that.
SPEAKER_02 (05:38):
Spiced it up.
SPEAKER_00 (05:39):
I know I did.
I was like, here you go, guys.
Um, but I I followed thatprogram for maybe about a year
and a half because I wanted toknow a little bit more about
what what is this?
Yeah, what is it?
SPEAKER_02 (05:50):
So tell us, what is it that you do and how do you
differ from other boudoirphotographers?
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Yeah.
So boudoir is, I mean, it can bedifferent things to different
people.
Okay.
What boudoir is to me is a wayof encouraging people to, you
know, grow in self-confidence,grow in that self-love.
You know, own who you are today.
No, you're not perfect.
(06:17):
Your body is not perfect, butthere is nothing wrong with it.
Like, perfection is not part ofthe human experience.
You're not supposed to be aBarbie doll.
You're supposed to be yourselfand to like enjoy your life.
Who you are now.
SPEAKER_02 (06:31):
I mean, who's to say what perfect is, right?
I feel like it's different toeveryone.
SPEAKER_00 (06:35):
Yeah, and so you know, you you know, love the
life that you have.
You only have one.
Like, are you really gonna spendthe rest of your life looking in
the mirror, like, I'm like this?
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (06:46):
Like you have to enjoy yourself first, right?
Exactly.
I tell my kids all the time, Ihave to take care of me before I
take care of you.
SPEAKER_00 (06:53):
Yeah, yeah.
And then in all of that, youknow, you grow in
self-confidence, you grow in,you know, more as a person, the
person you want to be, you feelmore powerful, you also feel
more sexy, you feel all kinds ofgood things.
And it changes, it has theability to change your life.
SPEAKER_02 (07:08):
Does it so can you tell me one of your uh maybe
success stories, or somebody youreally remember that it really
helped them by experiencing thatwith you?
Yes, definitely.
Please.
SPEAKER_00 (07:17):
Uh, one of my earlier clients, um, she became
a good friend of mine actuallyafter this session.
She came in and, you know, whenI first spoke to her, she told
me, Nellie, I really want to dothis.
Uh, my husband is encouraging meto do this mostly for myself.
You know, I have a wonderfulhusband, and he tells me that he
(07:41):
loves me so much and I believehim, but he tells me that I'm
beautiful and I don't believehim.
You know, I feel like he's justtelling me because he's my
husband and because, oh, you'resuch a nice person, you know.
Oh, thank you for telling me.
Like, thank you for thecompliment, even though I'm not
sure.
SPEAKER_02 (07:56):
I think a lot of us have that thought, right?
Maybe not admit it, but a lot ofus do have those thoughts.
SPEAKER_00 (08:01):
Yeah, it was like, oh, you're so beautiful, oh
you're so nice.
Like to make that up or to youknow, just kind of like be
polite about it.
Yeah, like some politeness.
That's the way that she wasfeeling about herself.
She was like, I don't really seemyself as beautiful.
And I was like, girl, help, letme help me show you, let me show
(08:22):
you.
Um, she was very shy.
Uh, she came from a veryconservative background, and
that's never an issue, by theway.
And you know, I work with peoplewith all kinds of backgrounds.
Wonderful.
Um, and so I was just like,Yeah, girl, you know, let's do
something that makes you feelgood about yourself, that shows
you, you know, the way that youwant to see yourself.
(08:42):
And so we we did her session.
It was wonderful.
We had so much fun.
She was just laughing the entiretime.
It was just like great.
It was beautiful.
When I showed her the pictures,I mean, you know, she was just
like, oh my god, like I can'tbelieve that this is me.
And that's something that it'sactually very normal for people
to tell me they're like, This isnot me.
And I'm like, girl, it's not me.
(09:03):
It's you.
SPEAKER_02 (09:04):
That's the reaction you are, right?
You saw the beauty in them whenthey couldn't.
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
Um, one of the pictures, and it was the her
favorite picture, she's, youknow, wearing this, you know,
beautiful piece of lingerie, andshe's mostly, you know, covered
up.
Like it's nothing like super,super risque.
It's just like a little, alittle mysterious.
And she's, you know, lying downand she's kind of like looking
straight at the camera, andshe's got this confident look,
(09:33):
and her hair is beautiful, andshe looks beautiful.
And when she saw that picture,she just like had to take a
moment.
SPEAKER_02 (09:41):
Oh, you captured that spark in her.
SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
I did, and it it was actually something so emotionful
emotional for her that it madeher cry.
She was like, Thank you.
Like, I had never I didn't knowthat I could be this, you know.
Like I wanted to see myself asbeautiful, and I didn't believe
that I could be, and I not evenjust looking at myself here as
(10:07):
beautiful, I am, but I also lookpowerful and strong and
confident and just like full ofyou know and we kept up in
touch, uh, and this was a coupleof years back, and we're still
we're still in touch.
But when um you know, she gother pictures and she got her
album and all the things, shewas so excited to show her
(10:29):
husband, of course, right?
And she had to text me, she waslike, Oh my god, my husband told
me this is and I don't want tosay her name.
Right, but it was like this isher, you know, the the
invincible her.
SPEAKER_02 (10:44):
And you know, I bet your your significant other sees
it every day, but for you to beable to see it, I'm sure is just
a whole different type offeeling.
So you're really changingpeople's lives.
Yeah.
And one of the things thatbecause we talked before the
podcast that I really reallyresonated with me when you told
me kind of your customer journeyand how you approach the
(11:05):
customer and take them throughthe process, which I'd love for
you to walk us through, is thatyou mentioned you you've had
pregnancy photos, so that theystill feel sexy.
And um a lot of people I don'tthink understand how important
that is.
Yeah.
Because sometimes people reallyfeel I mean, you're completely
out of your norm, right?
And the pictures you'reproviding and the accommodations
(11:28):
you're providing, because you'remobile, right?
You have a studio and you go onsite.
SPEAKER_00 (11:33):
Yeah, so I I have a studio in Irving, but then
depending on the type of theshoot we're doing, you know, I'm
able to come into their home ortravel.
Um, I mean, you know that I do,you know, mainly boudoir, but I
also do portraits and maternity,like you mentioned.
And so I recently had a couplereach out and they told me that
(11:55):
they wanted me to do theirboudoir session for them in
their ranch.
And I was like, Yeah, I'll go toyour ranch.
How sweet.
I had another client from theRio Grande Valley tell me that
you know her favorite place wasVegas.
So we actually a couple yearsago went to Vegas and did her
session up there, and we had itin the Paris Hotel.
It was so much fun.
It was so much fun.
SPEAKER_02 (12:16):
That's wonderful that you're so variable and
accommodating.
So can you tell us?
You've been in business forquite a long time.
Yeah, what is your customerjourney look like and how do you
keep um staying in front ofthem?
What is your process and what doyou think is your best marketing
tool?
SPEAKER_00 (12:32):
Okay, so the let me start with the process.
Absolutely.
Um, so the way that it lookslike when somebody wants to work
with me, I mean, usually they'llshoot me a message or we'll meet
and they'll express some sort ofinterest.
We'll have a phone call.
And so that is like, you know,our our place to start is a
phone call.
And a lot of people prefer totext, and I'm like, look, you're
(12:55):
gonna have so many questions.
It's just better to be able totalk about it this way.
Um I'll ask them about, youknow, how do you want to see
yourself?
Like, number one, like, why doyou want to do this now?
Like, I'm curious.
I want to know about you, youknow.
I'm not just asking youquestions.
I'm like, you know, how longhave you been wanting to do
this?
Just to get an idea.
It's very personal.
Yeah, it is.
(13:15):
It's like, let me understandwhere you're coming from first.
You know, why why do you want todo this?
So that I know where you need togo because everybody's, you
know, boudoir journey is gonnabe different.
So I want to like make sure tobe there by yours.
Um everybody wants somethingdifferent in general.
Some people want to be, youknow, more spicy and more like,
(13:37):
you know what?
I just want to look super sexyand just you know have a gift
for my significant other.
Some people are, you know what,I want it, I've always wanted to
do this, but I'm very shy.
SPEAKER_02 (13:48):
Or, you know, wants an elegance, maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (13:51):
Yeah, some elegance.
And sometimes it's also like,you know what?
I'm doing this for me and I'vebeen working out hard, and you
know, this is something I wantto do, etc.
Or or this is my body and I I'mowning it.
Um, so depending on what theywant to do, it's like, okay, you
know, great.
We'll we'll select a date forthem if they decide to to book
(14:11):
it, and we'll also book asecondary date where I'm gonna
go to their home and do astyling consultation with them.
SPEAKER_02 (14:20):
Okay, and what is what what does that consist of?
Oh, it's so much fun.
SPEAKER_00 (14:23):
It is so much fun.
I absolutely love it.
So we'll spend about an hourtogether, and I'm gonna help
them select the outfits thatthey're you know going to wear.
Because one of the biggestanxieties when coming into the
studio is, oh my god, am I gonnalook okay?
Like, is this gonna photographwell?
You know, sometimes they havelike 20 pieces, you know, and
(14:44):
I'm like, oh, this is so muchfun.
This can go with this, and thiscan go with this.
And they usually tell me, oh mygod, this is so good.
I wouldn't have never put thistogether and like I'm here for
you.
Like, we're gonna do thisstyling together.
I also have a wardrobe for themin the studio, and I'll bring
pieces in their size.
And I'm like, you know what?
I think that based on the thingsyou told me that you're
interested in for your session,this and this and this might be
(15:08):
a good idea, you know, toincorporate.
Um, and sometimes they'll say,Oh, yes, you know, I love this,
or you know, that, or no, I wantjust the pieces that I have
here.
So I'm like, okay, great.
So the styling is mostly so thatthey will have peace of mind the
day of their shoot.
You know, they don't have tocome in like a ball of nerves.
SPEAKER_02 (15:30):
It's also so that they can see me and get familiar
with you, which I think is agreat, it's it's a great tactic,
especially in what you do.
Therapists, I feel like youshould have like some
pre-qualification meetingsbefore.
And it's almost the same thing.
You're you're dealing with verypersonal sensitive issues,
right?
SPEAKER_00 (15:47):
Yes, I am.
And so, you know, I want them toknow who I am.
You know, there's there's a vibecheck, you know, like we're you
know, we're good.
Like I can work with thisperson, I feel comfortable with
this person.
Uh, they're not gonna judge me,they're gonna, you know, take
care of me, and I will.
I'm like, come here.
You feel it.
SPEAKER_02 (16:07):
That's when we first met, I was like, she's uh just
amazing aura.
So it's it's very, very umalmost um soothing, right?
To the whole you make theboudoir scene not feel so risque
and more confident, right?
SPEAKER_00 (16:24):
And the thing is, the way that I see myself in
like I'm not just like yourphotographer, I'm here to be
your bestie who's gonna hype theheck out of you, and I'm here
for you for everything.
SPEAKER_02 (16:39):
That's wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
So, you know, we're able to do all the things that
you want to do.
We can make it sexy or we canmake it more demure and we can
make it more classy, we can makeit all of these different
things, but I'm always here foryou.
SPEAKER_02 (16:52):
And that and another way you do that you mentioned
earlier is you actually havesomebody doing hair and makeup.
That is right.
For me, that would be wonderfulbecause I have no idea how to do
it.
It just this is who I am, guys.
SPEAKER_01 (17:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:04):
Um, but that is that's amazing.
That's very comforting in itselfbecause I'll I'll completely
cancel a whole appointment ifthe hair isn't working right.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (17:14):
So you really take away all the stress.
SPEAKER_00 (17:16):
Right, exactly.
And so the the day of theselling appointment, I'll also
ask them, okay, like how do youusually want to do your hair
makeup?
We'll make a plan of everythingthere.
Uh we'll go over and create amood board of sorts as well so
that I know, like, what do youlike?
You know, because I wentexactly, exactly.
Um, but some people are like,you know, I like more darker
(17:36):
images or like brighter images,or you know, I like these poses,
and then I know, ah, okay, thisis how they want to see
themselves, and I'm able to takesome inspiration from that for
them.
Wow.
Because there's a lot of thingsthat I know how to do, and I can
take it in any direction becausethey're just photography skills,
and I have them.
So I'm just like, okay, but whatis attractive to you?
(18:00):
I want to know that because Iwant to give you what you want.
Absolutely like I want you tocome and be like, boom, this is
exactly what I wanted.
SPEAKER_02 (18:08):
And maybe they didn't know that's what they
wanted.
Exactly.
Right, right.
That's amazing.
So would you say you've stayedin this field in this industry
for so long due to the peopleyou have around you?
Do you think mentors areimportant in what you do or any
industry?
SPEAKER_00 (18:24):
Yes, mentors are definitely very important.
Um, I feel that I have stayedfor my ladies primarily, but
mentors are definitely somebodythat uh you need to have yours.
SPEAKER_02 (18:35):
Yeah, because uh uh being in business at least seven
years, I mean, uh I would assumeyou would need some guidance on
those things, especiallyshifting from teaching to such a
a different industry and career.
It's admirable.
But um, how have your mentorshelped you grow, if if at all?
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah, of course.
Um, so I have actually gonethrough a couple of different
mentorships throughout my life,um, mostly regarding to, you
know, boudoir or boudoirbusiness and you know, all of
that.
Uh, one of the, you know, I Iguess I'll call them like public
persons, not necessarily like amentor that I follow a lot, also
(19:15):
is Grant Cardone, just for likemindset and like, you know,
absolutely, just stay on youryour right mindset and coursey
right.
Right, right, right.
Because I I think that he's gota really professional approach.
So I'm just like, okay, youknow, I like this guy.
Uh, somebody else who has been amentor in my life has been
Richard Manello, my husband.
Um, I've learned everything fromphotography to mindset to
(19:37):
business from him.
So he's definitely somebody whohas been like a strong person
there for me, you know.
Do you like hey, you know, gothis way type of thing.
Absolutely.
That has helped.
Um, and many other photographersand photography educators as
well.
Yeah, which he is also one thatI should say.
SPEAKER_02 (19:54):
Oh, that's nice that you guys were able to learn from
each other maybe s more thanothers would in the jumping into
that scene just cold, right?
SPEAKER_00 (20:03):
Yeah, well, I mean, he was the the educator in Ah,
okay.
SPEAKER_02 (20:07):
I'm sure he learned a few things from you though.
SPEAKER_00 (20:09):
Oh, okay, thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (20:10):
As we go on top of that.
So, what would you say is thebiggest challenge for you in
this uh being a business ownerin this field of work?
What's your biggest challenge?
SPEAKER_00 (20:18):
I think that the biggest challenge is a lot of
times helping my my potentialclients to be able to say yes to
themselves.
Because it is something, it is,you know, something that they're
investing in themselves.
A lot of people feel like I wantit, but I'm not ready.
(20:40):
Like my body is not perfect.
SPEAKER_02 (20:42):
Right.
You're not ready to see whateveryone else sees.
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
Right, right.
Well, maybe like I don't thinkthat they're thinking in those
terms.
They're just thinking in theterms of I have the eternal five
pounds to lose.
SPEAKER_02 (20:55):
Oh, that you never lose or you gain, or yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:59):
Or they want to do it, but they have a a fear of
sorts of actually getting itdone, even though they've been
wanting to do this for the lastfive to ten to fifteen years,
you know?
SPEAKER_02 (21:10):
How would you say you overcome that?
SPEAKER_00 (21:13):
Well, I mean, it's a lot of you know talking to them
and helping them understand thatyou know what, you don't have to
be perfect to do this.
You don't have to, you know, bea size zero to be good for
boudoir.
If you're a size zero, you cando it.
If you're a size 22, you can doit.
(21:34):
Like, you know, it's it's it'sfor you if you want it.
Your body does not haverequirements of how it needs to
look, you know, so it's helpingthem understand that.
Um because you know, a lot ofpeople have that feeling of
like, oh no.
(21:54):
And a lot of people haveactually like when we're on the
phone, they kind of tell meapologetically, is that I'm a
big girl.
And I'm like, girl, I loveworking with big girls.
I work with so many big girls.
Like, that is not a problem.
Like, oh, is that I have stretchmarks, girl?
We all have stretch marks likeacross the board.
SPEAKER_02 (22:12):
It's part of the beauty, right?
SPEAKER_00 (22:14):
It's part of being a woman, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (22:17):
Like and even men, I know that my husband's gone from
big to small, and he has stretchmarks that he doesn't like or
appreciate or didn't.
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:25):
And and when you internalize and and have those
negative thoughts, what you dokind of brings out the positive
in it all.
Yeah.
Which is amazing to me.
So at what stage of business doyou feel like you're in right
now?
SPEAKER_00 (22:38):
I feel that my business is in a growth stage.
Um even though my business is asold as it is, I'm only going on
my third year here in DFW.
So it's still a differentdemographic, right?
Yes, it is a differentdemographic.
Um, also, you know, my my peopleare still like barely kind of
(22:59):
like, oh, she's here, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
So really move.
I mean, when you move somewherein Texas from south to north or
vice versa, east to west, yeah,it's like moving different
states if for anyone listening,especially within Texas, girl,
because we can put a few statesin here.
Yeah, as my my my mother said, Icould drive from Mississippi to
Alabama in in like less than acouple hours.
And it's like you can't even getto Midland in that amount of
(23:22):
time.
Sorry, guys.
So do you find that um yourtechniques and your skills
really set you apart from otherboudoir photographers and and
how?
SPEAKER_00 (23:34):
I think so.
Um in my industry, I mean inphotography in general, um I'm
gonna say something that is notpopular to say.
There are no requirements to bea photographer.
There are no, I want you tointernalize this, I want you to
know this because this is thetruth.
There are no requirements to bea photographer.
(23:56):
There are there is education outthere.
Right.
But not everybody does it.
And so for me, something thatwas very important was number
one, I want to be proficient inmy skills because I am a
creative person.
I want to create somethingbeautiful, I want to create
something that looks amazing andthat my people are going to love
(24:18):
because they deserve to beserved that way.
Absolutely.
So I am definitely in you know,pursuit of not just being an
okay photographer or girl withcamera.
You know.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
If you're gonna do it, do it 100%, right?
SPEAKER_00 (24:31):
Dang it, we're gonna do it away.
Yes, it's gonna be fantastic.
Absolutely.
Um, so that is something thatsets me apart, my skills, my you
know, continuous growth in thephotography space and you know,
wanting to become more creativeand more like develop that
skill.
SPEAKER_02 (24:50):
Absolutely.
And you can only do that bybeing around people that have
different ideas and thoughts.
We actually met at a networkingevent.
SPEAKER_00 (24:55):
Exactly, exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (24:56):
And um, I looked back and it looked like you had
attended a couple others.
I'm like, how did this nothappen?
But I see you out there reallytrying to uh feel people and be
a part of the community.
Would you say that that's thebiggest marketing tool that's
helped you in business isreferrals and and networking?
SPEAKER_00 (25:12):
Um yes, a lot of referrals, a lot of networking,
because word of mouth, girl, Imean, that is the way to go.
SPEAKER_02 (25:19):
Especially in your field.
SPEAKER_00 (25:20):
It's in my field, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (25:21):
I mean, I'm gonna trust the referral.
Yes.
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (25:24):
You met me and you're like, oh yeah, girl.
You know, like we connected.
I feel that once people know me,they're like, oh, okay.
She's not some weirdo person onthe internet.
SPEAKER_02 (25:32):
Right, because you always wonder and think, right?
Yeah.
Which is why I love that youhave a studio and the ability to
go into someone's home.
Because it's hard to walk outthe front door that day to come
to see you sometimes.
SPEAKER_00 (25:44):
Some people have actually told me, girl, I was
about to do your turn, but Ialready met you and I knew that
was gonna be okay.
And I was like, Yes, I got you.
Like, you don't have to worry.
SPEAKER_02 (25:52):
You've really perfected that customer journey,
which is hard to do.
SPEAKER_00 (25:56):
Imagine this.
You know that you're gonna do asession, and you know that
you're not gonna be wearing yourregular clothes, you know,
you're gonna be wearing lessthan that, and a lot of people
have a fear of being in front ofthe camera, you know.
Uh you're coming into a spacethat is new to you.
I wanna make sure that you knowthat number one, you are safe,
(26:19):
that your privacy is protected,that you're gonna be taken care
of, that it's a clean, beautifulspace for you, that you know,
everything is ready and takencare of for you, you know, that
that hair and makeup is gonnalook so beautiful and that
you're going to love it the waythat you see yourself.
Like, have that pamperingexperience because the worst
thing in the world would be foryou to come in and be terrified
(26:42):
the entire time.
Like, I don't want that type ofexperience for my clients.
I want them to be like, oh myGod, like this was a day for me.
That was and now I can walk outlike I'm beyonce, you know, like
and feel yourself truly.
SPEAKER_02 (26:56):
That is amazing.
It's wonderful to hear thatsomebody, you're out there
really trying to help people.
And I think that that's whatmakes a lot of business owners
successful.
And I think that's what makes alot of business owners fail is
the fact that if you're notpassionate about what you do, if
you don't believe in you, yourclients can feel that, right?
You're you're the people thatare buying from you can feel
(27:18):
whether or not you care.
Yeah.
And within AI care in an AIworld, having that personal
touch is so important, I feelright now.
SPEAKER_00 (27:26):
It really is.
Um, I have nothing against AI,but I personally don't use it in
my business because I am afterauthenticity.
You know, I I hear a lot aboutAI headshots and to each their
own, but I feel like you knowwhat?
You need to show up for yourselfbecause that is not a
photograph.
You did not show up foryourself.
(27:47):
And people can that way.
SPEAKER_02 (27:49):
You can see, I can tell when I see an AI image and
like just so y'all know outthere, business owners, parents,
kids can tell off this twoseconds of looking at it.
So y'all aren't fake foolinganybody out there.
SPEAKER_00 (28:03):
I I don't know that they're trying to fool it.
Um, I know that it's a it's atrend.
SPEAKER_02 (28:08):
Um, but to your point, take some pride in
yourself.
Re really show who you are,right?
Not who somebody else is.
So um I always ask each guestthis what is one thing you would
tell your younger self when youfirst started this business that
you'd wish you'd known?
SPEAKER_00 (28:26):
What is one thing that I would have told my
younger self?
SPEAKER_02 (28:31):
As a business owner, when you decided to start this
business and go into thisindustry, what's something you
wish you knew that you know now?
What's that one thing you wishyou knew back then?
SPEAKER_00 (28:42):
Don't be afraid.
Being in business was excitingfor me, but also there were many
things that I didn't, you know,invest into right away because I
was afraid of technology.
Like I didn't have a website forforever.
Um I have a website now, but nowI'm reworking it.
So now I'm like, you know,having those those things like
(29:06):
taken care of.
But when I started, I was justlike, I'm so scared, I gotta
know what I'm doing.
It's almost like a fear ofsuccess.
There is fear of success.
Real, it really is.
SPEAKER_02 (29:17):
And so when you wish that you would have just kind of
stepped out a little bit more, alittle bit faster.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
I trusted yourself.
Yes, I do wish that I would havestepped more, like you say, like
step into it like a little bitfaster.
And I think that I also wish Iwould have known there are
women, because this is mostlyfor women, I'm not like saying
they're in a mind, but therethis is like mainly something
that I work with women and Iwould have said to myself, there
(29:45):
are women who need this.
Like it's not just like becausesometimes as a business owner,
I'm like, yes, you know, this isgood for you.
And then I don't work withpeople for like a a certain
amount of time or I have likeDifferent things in my life, and
then I'm like, I wonder ifpeople want this.
And like, no, there are womenwho are looking for this and who
(30:07):
need it, and that this issomething that isn't just like a
oh well that was nice.
No, this is something that isalmost like changing them,
right?
Yes.
I have seen people like have atotal glow up after this, like
have their lives changed, andit's it's great.
There was this particular ladythat I work with twice, um, also
(30:28):
in the south of Texas, and afterdoing this, she told me, you
know what?
After the second shoot, Irealized that I was really not
taking care of my body.
Girl, she joined like a WarriorQueen workout program or
something, and like now she'sdoing uh like all of these
(30:50):
workouts, and she posts them onher stories on Instagram, and
she became a brand ambassadorfor I don't even know what the
brand is.
SPEAKER_02 (30:58):
All because of the confidence she gave for these
photos.
SPEAKER_00 (31:02):
Yes, it is like she always like cheerleaders me,
like to her people because she'slike, No, y'all don't know.
Like this really kind of helpedher like turn her things around,
like her her mindset aboutherself.
She, you know, she's a wonderfulperson, she's a mom of two
beautiful kids, she's a wife,and she was just like, I mean,
(31:22):
uh now I know that I'mbeautiful, and now that I feel,
you know, confident, I'm readyto do something more.
SPEAKER_02 (31:27):
I'm ready to, you know, you can look at your
improvements in a safe spacewhen you present them with the
photos, it seems like they theydon't feel judged.
SPEAKER_00 (31:36):
No, they don't feel judged.
I mean, whenever I mean, if Itake a picture of someone, I
also want to make sure that theylook their absolute best.
So, you know, I'm lighting themin a beautiful way, I'm posing
them in a beautiful way, andmaking sure that it's a
beautiful experience and abeautiful environment.
And then they see the pictureand they're like, oh my god.
SPEAKER_02 (31:52):
Like, you know.
All that awkwardness I just feltwas a beautiful, beautiful
masterpiece.
SPEAKER_00 (31:57):
Yeah, and you know what?
I'll tell you this theawkwardness is just like walking
into the door.
That is the hardest thing to do,is show up.
Just show up because that is thehardest thing.
Everything else, I take care offor you.
It's almost relieving to hear.
It is relieving.
You should feel relieved becauseyou're not gonna need to like
(32:17):
figure out what to do or what tolook.
I'm literally gonna haveeverything lined up from like
what outfit you're going to nextto where are we going into the
studio next, to like the poses.
Like, I'm not expecting you toknow how to pose yourself.
I'm literally gonna like tellyou, okay, you're gonna do it
like this.
If I'm not communicating it wellenough, I will show you and demo
the post for you, and then I'lllike tweak like the little
(32:40):
things, I'll move the lights.
SPEAKER_02 (32:41):
So there's never any room for guessing what's going
to happen next.
And that's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (32:46):
Now, some people they they take more of a lead,
they're like, Okay, now I wantto pose myself.
Fantastic girl, go for it, havefun.
But you know, I'm I'm alwaysgoing to be like, okay, you
know, now move it this way orthat way.
Like, I want to make sure thatthey're feeling good and that
they're looking good because Iwant to show them like from the
back of the camera, I'll showyou without it and be like,
Look, look at this.
(33:07):
Oh, yeah, look at this.
SPEAKER_02 (33:09):
We're on a good route, right?
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
Yeah, and I'll tell them, I'll be like, You look so
good.
They're like, Oh, thank you.
Like, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02 (33:15):
You need to hear that.
No, no, no.
Like, yeah.
So for our business owner, forour ladies and gentlemen um that
are listening, if they wanted tosay, um, give this an option for
a session with you to a friendfor Christmas or a family member
to really help them level up aswell.
How can they reach out to youabout that?
SPEAKER_00 (33:34):
Um, the best way to reach me is always by phone, or
they can reach me through socialmedia.
I am findable on Instagram andFacebook.
Um, and my phone number, ofcourse, like that is literally
all over the social media.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (33:47):
I'll put it at the uh the bottom of this as well.
But what's your name on yourInstagram right now?
SPEAKER_00 (33:52):
On Instagram, uh, my personal page is Nellie
Sermonello, but my professionalpage is Nightflower Boudoir.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (33:59):
And I'll I'll tag it down in here.
But thank you so much for forallowing us to really get some
depth into what really is goingon in the boudoir scene.
It's not all risque, it's reallyabout confidence.
SPEAKER_00 (34:12):
Yes, and self-love and feeling good.
SPEAKER_02 (34:15):
Absolutely.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us, and I can't wait to
talk to you in a year aftermaybe we get ours done around
here, right?
To all of our listeners outthere, if you want to really
help yourself or help friend orfamily member get a confidence
boost, feel better aboutthemselves, please contact
Nellie and or you can contact medirectly here at Market It With
Mama.
We'll see you next time.
Welcome back to Market It Without Mo, where we
share the tips, tools, andstrategies to help your business
be successful.
I'm excited to introduce todaybusiness owner Nellie
Sermonello.
She owns Nightflower Boudoirhere in DFW.
Welcome, Nellie.
SPEAKER_00 (00:32):
Thank you so much, Terry.
I'm so excited to be here withyou.
SPEAKER_02 (00:34):
I'm excited to have you here.
Now, you've had this businessfor around seven years, is that
right?
Yes, that's correct.
Congratulations on being thefive-year hump.
Thank you.
You're very welcome.
So tell me a little bit moreabout your your business you
started and the story behind it.
What encouraged you to start it?
And is there a story behind thename?
SPEAKER_00 (00:53):
Yes, absolutely.
I'd love to tell you all ofthat.
Um, so Nightflower Boudoir wasborn um as I was changing
careers.
I used to be a teacher.
And so I, you know, I waslooking for something that, you
know, where I could be a littlebit more creative and also uh a
(01:13):
different job that would get meto interact with more adults.
SPEAKER_02 (01:16):
Um yeah, kids after a while can be they can wear on
you, especially if they're notyours, right?
SPEAKER_00 (01:22):
Right, right.
I mean, I do love kids and I Ienjoy that teaching moment and
them getting that aha, like Igot it.
Yeah.
Um, but I just wanted, I neededmore adults in my life.
So I was just like, you know,trying to trying to change
lanes.
Um I decided to go intophotography because I have a
background in the arts as well.
(01:43):
Okay.
Um so I was just like, okay,well, probably not painting,
probably not drawing,photography.
Yes, that sounds fantastic.
So it was it was kind of an easymove in that regard.
And then the name NightflowerWoodard, it's actually very
meaningful to me because um it'sa bit of a long story, actually.
(02:04):
Um, it's okay, we can shorten itjust a little.
Yeah, I definitely will.
I definitely will.
Um, when I was in college and Iwas doing one of my um drawing
classes, one of the exerciseswas drawing the night.
And, you know, our professor waskind enough to make it cryptic
and like, you know, ambiguous,you know, for us.
(02:25):
Like draw the night.
So I ended up drawing what thenight was for me.
Okay.
And I ended up drawing thisbeautiful night flower, which I
ended up, you know, Googling andjust trying to, you know, doing
that research for myself.
Yeah.
And he told me, okay, this isgreat.
It ended up being like, youknow, the best um piece of work
from like that semester.
I felt like so honored andeverything.
(02:47):
And then he told me, you knowwhat?
I actually have this plant.
Would you like a cutting?
And I was like, can I please?
Oh, cool.
Um, a night flower is a cactusflower.
Interesting.
It's very interesting, and it'svery, very beautiful.
The thorns are about like, yay,big too.
I mean, it it packs a bunch.
Wow.
And it's a night blooming uhplant.
(03:09):
Wow, that's beautiful.
It sounds beautiful.
It is so beautiful.
So it's born out of a bulb, likeyou know, you have your cactus,
and then one day boom, you know,you have like a bulb and it's
closed like this.
And then one night it opens inabout a space of an hour, and
it's like about the size of yourhand, and it's a white flower,
just gorgeous.
(03:30):
That sounds beautiful.
And then in the morning itcloses up again.
SPEAKER_02 (03:36):
Oh, so it's it's it's like a a shooting star
almost.
Yes, it's like a shooting star.
SPEAKER_00 (03:41):
You have to be there, and so um, the reason why
I named my business Night FarBoudoir is because I used to be
a very, very shy person.
I would have never done thislike in a previous life, you
understand?
Yeah, absolutely.
And so for me, it was arepresentation of like opening
up to your own life.
You know, we live like this, youknow, like so tight, so shy, so
(04:04):
kind of scared of being seen.
Absolutely.
You know, so scared of kind oflike being everything you can be
or everything you want to be.
I agree.
Um, but if you're courage,you're you're courageous enough
for a short moment, yeah, youknow, it can open exactly boom,
like open to the possibilities.
(04:26):
Wow, you know, step into thatlight and be the main character
of your life.
SPEAKER_02 (04:30):
So you only get one, you really do, and it's hard to
realize that.
So what you're doing, I feel isso it truly from the heart.
Uh allowing males, females, youyou to photograph both, correct?
Yes, that's correct.
So I think everybody goesthrough that moment in their
life where it's like, you knowwhat, I don't want to do this
(04:51):
anymore.
Let's shift and do what I love.
But some women don't or and mendon't know how to do that.
Different seasons requiredifferent things.
And so, what encouraged you touse this specifically?
Were you wanting to help otherpeople come out of their show
like you had?
SPEAKER_00 (05:08):
Mm-hmm.
Oh wow.
So the end the way that I endedup coming into boudoir directly
from from teaching was I foundonline this program uh regarding
boudoir business, and I comefrom the deep south of Texas,
okay, Brownsville, like all theway down there, and I was like,
this doesn't exist here.
What is this?
SPEAKER_02 (05:27):
Let me So it's a little risque in that area.
SPEAKER_00 (05:30):
Yeah, it's very risque in that area.
I actually was a person whooriginally brought it into the
area.
This did not exist there.
SPEAKER_02 (05:35):
Wow, congratulations.
SPEAKER_00 (05:37):
Thank you.
I feel really good about that.
SPEAKER_02 (05:38):
Spiced it up.
SPEAKER_00 (05:39):
I know I did.
I was like, here you go, guys.
Um, but I I followed thatprogram for maybe about a year
and a half because I wanted toknow a little bit more about
what what is this?
Yeah, what is it?
SPEAKER_02 (05:50):
So tell us, what is it that you do and how do you
differ from other boudoirphotographers?
SPEAKER_00 (05:56):
Yeah.
So boudoir is, I mean, it can bedifferent things to different
people.
Okay.
What boudoir is to me is a wayof encouraging people to, you
know, grow in self-confidence,grow in that self-love.
You know, own who you are today.
No, you're not perfect.
(06:17):
Your body is not perfect, butthere is nothing wrong with it.
Like, perfection is not part ofthe human experience.
You're not supposed to be aBarbie doll.
You're supposed to be yourselfand to like enjoy your life.
Who you are now.
SPEAKER_02 (06:31):
I mean, who's to say what perfect is, right?
I feel like it's different toeveryone.
SPEAKER_00 (06:35):
Yeah, and so you know, you you know, love the
life that you have.
You only have one.
Like, are you really gonna spendthe rest of your life looking in
the mirror, like, I'm like this?
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (06:46):
Like you have to enjoy yourself first, right?
Exactly.
I tell my kids all the time, Ihave to take care of me before I
take care of you.
SPEAKER_00 (06:53):
Yeah, yeah.
And then in all of that, youknow, you grow in
self-confidence, you grow in,you know, more as a person, the
person you want to be, you feelmore powerful, you also feel
more sexy, you feel all kinds ofgood things.
And it changes, it has theability to change your life.
SPEAKER_02 (07:08):
Does it so can you tell me one of your uh maybe
success stories, or somebody youreally remember that it really
helped them by experiencing thatwith you?
Yes, definitely.
Please.
SPEAKER_00 (07:17):
Uh, one of my earlier clients, um, she became
a good friend of mine actuallyafter this session.
She came in and, you know, whenI first spoke to her, she told
me, Nellie, I really want to dothis.
Uh, my husband is encouraging meto do this mostly for myself.
You know, I have a wonderfulhusband, and he tells me that he
(07:41):
loves me so much and I believehim, but he tells me that I'm
beautiful and I don't believehim.
You know, I feel like he's justtelling me because he's my
husband and because, oh, you'resuch a nice person, you know.
Oh, thank you for telling me.
Like, thank you for thecompliment, even though I'm not
sure.
SPEAKER_02 (07:56):
I think a lot of us have that thought, right?
Maybe not admit it, but a lot ofus do have those thoughts.
SPEAKER_00 (08:01):
Yeah, it was like, oh, you're so beautiful, oh
you're so nice.
Like to make that up or to youknow, just kind of like be
polite about it.
Yeah, like some politeness.
That's the way that she wasfeeling about herself.
She was like, I don't really seemyself as beautiful.
And I was like, girl, help, letme help me show you, let me show
(08:22):
you.
Um, she was very shy.
Uh, she came from a veryconservative background, and
that's never an issue, by theway.
And you know, I work with peoplewith all kinds of backgrounds.
Wonderful.
Um, and so I was just like,Yeah, girl, you know, let's do
something that makes you feelgood about yourself, that shows
you, you know, the way that youwant to see yourself.
(08:42):
And so we we did her session.
It was wonderful.
We had so much fun.
She was just laughing the entiretime.
It was just like great.
It was beautiful.
When I showed her the pictures,I mean, you know, she was just
like, oh my god, like I can'tbelieve that this is me.
And that's something that it'sactually very normal for people
to tell me they're like, This isnot me.
And I'm like, girl, it's not me.
(09:03):
It's you.
SPEAKER_02 (09:04):
That's the reaction you are, right?
You saw the beauty in them whenthey couldn't.
SPEAKER_00 (09:09):
Um, one of the pictures, and it was the her
favorite picture, she's, youknow, wearing this, you know,
beautiful piece of lingerie, andshe's mostly, you know, covered
up.
Like it's nothing like super,super risque.
It's just like a little, alittle mysterious.
And she's, you know, lying downand she's kind of like looking
straight at the camera, andshe's got this confident look,
(09:33):
and her hair is beautiful, andshe looks beautiful.
And when she saw that picture,she just like had to take a
moment.
SPEAKER_02 (09:41):
Oh, you captured that spark in her.
SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
I did, and it it was actually something so emotionful
emotional for her that it madeher cry.
She was like, Thank you.
Like, I had never I didn't knowthat I could be this, you know.
Like I wanted to see myself asbeautiful, and I didn't believe
that I could be, and I not evenjust looking at myself here as
(10:07):
beautiful, I am, but I also lookpowerful and strong and
confident and just like full ofyou know and we kept up in
touch, uh, and this was a coupleof years back, and we're still
we're still in touch.
But when um you know, she gother pictures and she got her
album and all the things, shewas so excited to show her
(10:29):
husband, of course, right?
And she had to text me, she waslike, Oh my god, my husband told
me this is and I don't want tosay her name.
Right, but it was like this isher, you know, the the
invincible her.
SPEAKER_02 (10:44):
And you know, I bet your your significant other sees
it every day, but for you to beable to see it, I'm sure is just
a whole different type offeeling.
So you're really changingpeople's lives.
Yeah.
And one of the things thatbecause we talked before the
podcast that I really reallyresonated with me when you told
me kind of your customer journeyand how you approach the
(11:05):
customer and take them throughthe process, which I'd love for
you to walk us through, is thatyou mentioned you you've had
pregnancy photos, so that theystill feel sexy.
And um a lot of people I don'tthink understand how important
that is.
Yeah.
Because sometimes people reallyfeel I mean, you're completely
out of your norm, right?
And the pictures you'reproviding and the accommodations
(11:28):
you're providing, because you'remobile, right?
You have a studio and you go onsite.
SPEAKER_00 (11:33):
Yeah, so I I have a studio in Irving, but then
depending on the type of theshoot we're doing, you know, I'm
able to come into their home ortravel.
Um, I mean, you know that I do,you know, mainly boudoir, but I
also do portraits and maternity,like you mentioned.
And so I recently had a couplereach out and they told me that
(11:55):
they wanted me to do theirboudoir session for them in
their ranch.
And I was like, Yeah, I'll go toyour ranch.
How sweet.
I had another client from theRio Grande Valley tell me that
you know her favorite place wasVegas.
So we actually a couple yearsago went to Vegas and did her
session up there, and we had itin the Paris Hotel.
It was so much fun.
It was so much fun.
SPEAKER_02 (12:16):
That's wonderful that you're so variable and
accommodating.
So can you tell us?
You've been in business forquite a long time.
Yeah, what is your customerjourney look like and how do you
keep um staying in front ofthem?
What is your process and what doyou think is your best marketing
tool?
SPEAKER_00 (12:32):
Okay, so the let me start with the process.
Absolutely.
Um, so the way that it lookslike when somebody wants to work
with me, I mean, usually they'llshoot me a message or we'll meet
and they'll express some sort ofinterest.
We'll have a phone call.
And so that is like, you know,our our place to start is a
phone call.
And a lot of people prefer totext, and I'm like, look, you're
(12:55):
gonna have so many questions.
It's just better to be able totalk about it this way.
Um I'll ask them about, youknow, how do you want to see
yourself?
Like, number one, like, why doyou want to do this now?
Like, I'm curious.
I want to know about you, youknow.
I'm not just asking youquestions.
I'm like, you know, how longhave you been wanting to do
this?
Just to get an idea.
It's very personal.
Yeah, it is.
(13:15):
It's like, let me understandwhere you're coming from first.
You know, why why do you want todo this?
So that I know where you need togo because everybody's, you
know, boudoir journey is gonnabe different.
So I want to like make sure tobe there by yours.
Um everybody wants somethingdifferent in general.
Some people want to be, youknow, more spicy and more like,
(13:37):
you know what?
I just want to look super sexyand just you know have a gift
for my significant other.
Some people are, you know what,I want it, I've always wanted to
do this, but I'm very shy.
SPEAKER_02 (13:48):
Or, you know, wants an elegance, maybe.
SPEAKER_00 (13:51):
Yeah, some elegance.
And sometimes it's also like,you know what?
I'm doing this for me and I'vebeen working out hard, and you
know, this is something I wantto do, etc.
Or or this is my body and I I'mowning it.
Um, so depending on what theywant to do, it's like, okay, you
know, great.
We'll we'll select a date forthem if they decide to to book
(14:11):
it, and we'll also book asecondary date where I'm gonna
go to their home and do astyling consultation with them.
SPEAKER_02 (14:20):
Okay, and what is what what does that consist of?
Oh, it's so much fun.
SPEAKER_00 (14:23):
It is so much fun.
I absolutely love it.
So we'll spend about an hourtogether, and I'm gonna help
them select the outfits thatthey're you know going to wear.
Because one of the biggestanxieties when coming into the
studio is, oh my god, am I gonnalook okay?
Like, is this gonna photographwell?
You know, sometimes they havelike 20 pieces, you know, and
(14:44):
I'm like, oh, this is so muchfun.
This can go with this, and thiscan go with this.
And they usually tell me, oh mygod, this is so good.
I wouldn't have never put thistogether and like I'm here for
you.
Like, we're gonna do thisstyling together.
I also have a wardrobe for themin the studio, and I'll bring
pieces in their size.
And I'm like, you know what?
I think that based on the thingsyou told me that you're
interested in for your session,this and this and this might be
(15:08):
a good idea, you know, toincorporate.
Um, and sometimes they'll say,Oh, yes, you know, I love this,
or you know, that, or no, I wantjust the pieces that I have
here.
So I'm like, okay, great.
So the styling is mostly so thatthey will have peace of mind the
day of their shoot.
You know, they don't have tocome in like a ball of nerves.
SPEAKER_02 (15:30):
It's also so that they can see me and get familiar
with you, which I think is agreat, it's it's a great tactic,
especially in what you do.
Therapists, I feel like youshould have like some
pre-qualification meetingsbefore.
And it's almost the same thing.
You're you're dealing with verypersonal sensitive issues,
right?
SPEAKER_00 (15:47):
Yes, I am.
And so, you know, I want them toknow who I am.
You know, there's there's a vibecheck, you know, like we're you
know, we're good.
Like I can work with thisperson, I feel comfortable with
this person.
Uh, they're not gonna judge me,they're gonna, you know, take
care of me, and I will.
I'm like, come here.
You feel it.
SPEAKER_02 (16:07):
That's when we first met, I was like, she's uh just
amazing aura.
So it's it's very, very umalmost um soothing, right?
To the whole you make theboudoir scene not feel so risque
and more confident, right?
SPEAKER_00 (16:24):
And the thing is, the way that I see myself in
like I'm not just like yourphotographer, I'm here to be
your bestie who's gonna hype theheck out of you, and I'm here
for you for everything.
SPEAKER_02 (16:39):
That's wonderful.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
So, you know, we're able to do all the things that
you want to do.
We can make it sexy or we canmake it more demure and we can
make it more classy, we can makeit all of these different
things, but I'm always here foryou.
SPEAKER_02 (16:52):
And that and another way you do that you mentioned
earlier is you actually havesomebody doing hair and makeup.
That is right.
For me, that would be wonderfulbecause I have no idea how to do
it.
It just this is who I am, guys.
SPEAKER_01 (17:03):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:04):
Um, but that is that's amazing.
That's very comforting in itselfbecause I'll I'll completely
cancel a whole appointment ifthe hair isn't working right.
SPEAKER_00 (17:13):
Right.
SPEAKER_02 (17:14):
So you really take away all the stress.
SPEAKER_00 (17:16):
Right, exactly.
And so the the day of theselling appointment, I'll also
ask them, okay, like how do youusually want to do your hair
makeup?
We'll make a plan of everythingthere.
Uh we'll go over and create amood board of sorts as well so
that I know, like, what do youlike?
You know, because I wentexactly, exactly.
Um, but some people are like,you know, I like more darker
(17:36):
images or like brighter images,or you know, I like these poses,
and then I know, ah, okay, thisis how they want to see
themselves, and I'm able to takesome inspiration from that for
them.
Wow.
Because there's a lot of thingsthat I know how to do, and I can
take it in any direction becausethey're just photography skills,
and I have them.
So I'm just like, okay, but whatis attractive to you?
(18:00):
I want to know that because Iwant to give you what you want.
Absolutely like I want you tocome and be like, boom, this is
exactly what I wanted.
SPEAKER_02 (18:08):
And maybe they didn't know that's what they
wanted.
Exactly.
Right, right.
That's amazing.
So would you say you've stayedin this field in this industry
for so long due to the peopleyou have around you?
Do you think mentors areimportant in what you do or any
industry?
SPEAKER_00 (18:24):
Yes, mentors are definitely very important.
Um, I feel that I have stayedfor my ladies primarily, but
mentors are definitely somebodythat uh you need to have yours.
SPEAKER_02 (18:35):
Yeah, because uh uh being in business at least seven
years, I mean, uh I would assumeyou would need some guidance on
those things, especiallyshifting from teaching to such a
a different industry and career.
It's admirable.
But um, how have your mentorshelped you grow, if if at all?
SPEAKER_00 (18:55):
Yeah, of course.
Um, so I have actually gonethrough a couple of different
mentorships throughout my life,um, mostly regarding to, you
know, boudoir or boudoirbusiness and you know, all of
that.
Uh, one of the, you know, I Iguess I'll call them like public
persons, not necessarily like amentor that I follow a lot, also
(19:15):
is Grant Cardone, just for likemindset and like, you know,
absolutely, just stay on youryour right mindset and coursey
right.
Right, right, right.
Because I I think that he's gota really professional approach.
So I'm just like, okay, youknow, I like this guy.
Uh, somebody else who has been amentor in my life has been
Richard Manello, my husband.
Um, I've learned everything fromphotography to mindset to
(19:37):
business from him.
So he's definitely somebody whohas been like a strong person
there for me, you know.
Do you like hey, you know, gothis way type of thing.
Absolutely.
That has helped.
Um, and many other photographersand photography educators as
well.
Yeah, which he is also one thatI should say.
SPEAKER_02 (19:54):
Oh, that's nice that you guys were able to learn from
each other maybe s more thanothers would in the jumping into
that scene just cold, right?
SPEAKER_00 (20:03):
Yeah, well, I mean, he was the the educator in Ah,
okay.
SPEAKER_02 (20:07):
I'm sure he learned a few things from you though.
SPEAKER_00 (20:09):
Oh, okay, thank you.
SPEAKER_02 (20:10):
As we go on top of that.
So, what would you say is thebiggest challenge for you in
this uh being a business ownerin this field of work?
What's your biggest challenge?
SPEAKER_00 (20:18):
I think that the biggest challenge is a lot of
times helping my my potentialclients to be able to say yes to
themselves.
Because it is something, it is,you know, something that they're
investing in themselves.
A lot of people feel like I wantit, but I'm not ready.
(20:40):
Like my body is not perfect.
SPEAKER_02 (20:42):
Right.
You're not ready to see whateveryone else sees.
SPEAKER_00 (20:45):
Right, right.
Well, maybe like I don't thinkthat they're thinking in those
terms.
They're just thinking in theterms of I have the eternal five
pounds to lose.
SPEAKER_02 (20:55):
Oh, that you never lose or you gain, or yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:59):
Or they want to do it, but they have a a fear of
sorts of actually getting itdone, even though they've been
wanting to do this for the lastfive to ten to fifteen years,
you know?
SPEAKER_02 (21:10):
How would you say you overcome that?
SPEAKER_00 (21:13):
Well, I mean, it's a lot of you know talking to them
and helping them understand thatyou know what, you don't have to
be perfect to do this.
You don't have to, you know, bea size zero to be good for
boudoir.
If you're a size zero, you cando it.
If you're a size 22, you can doit.
(21:34):
Like, you know, it's it's it'sfor you if you want it.
Your body does not haverequirements of how it needs to
look, you know, so it's helpingthem understand that.
Um because you know, a lot ofpeople have that feeling of
like, oh no.
(21:54):
And a lot of people haveactually like when we're on the
phone, they kind of tell meapologetically, is that I'm a
big girl.
And I'm like, girl, I loveworking with big girls.
I work with so many big girls.
Like, that is not a problem.
Like, oh, is that I have stretchmarks, girl?
We all have stretch marks likeacross the board.
SPEAKER_02 (22:12):
It's part of the beauty, right?
SPEAKER_00 (22:14):
It's part of being a woman, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (22:17):
Like and even men, I know that my husband's gone from
big to small, and he has stretchmarks that he doesn't like or
appreciate or didn't.
SPEAKER_00 (22:25):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (22:25):
And and when you internalize and and have those
negative thoughts, what you dokind of brings out the positive
in it all.
Yeah.
Which is amazing to me.
So at what stage of business doyou feel like you're in right
now?
SPEAKER_00 (22:38):
I feel that my business is in a growth stage.
Um even though my business is asold as it is, I'm only going on
my third year here in DFW.
So it's still a differentdemographic, right?
Yes, it is a differentdemographic.
Um, also, you know, my my peopleare still like barely kind of
(22:59):
like, oh, she's here, you know.
SPEAKER_02 (23:01):
So really move.
I mean, when you move somewherein Texas from south to north or
vice versa, east to west, yeah,it's like moving different
states if for anyone listening,especially within Texas, girl,
because we can put a few statesin here.
Yeah, as my my my mother said, Icould drive from Mississippi to
Alabama in in like less than acouple hours.
And it's like you can't even getto Midland in that amount of
(23:22):
time.
Sorry, guys.
So do you find that um yourtechniques and your skills
really set you apart from otherboudoir photographers and and
how?
SPEAKER_00 (23:34):
I think so.
Um in my industry, I mean inphotography in general, um I'm
gonna say something that is notpopular to say.
There are no requirements to bea photographer.
There are no, I want you tointernalize this, I want you to
know this because this is thetruth.
There are no requirements to bea photographer.
(23:56):
There are there is education outthere.
Right.
But not everybody does it.
And so for me, something thatwas very important was number
one, I want to be proficient inmy skills because I am a
creative person.
I want to create somethingbeautiful, I want to create
something that looks amazing andthat my people are going to love
(24:18):
because they deserve to beserved that way.
Absolutely.
So I am definitely in you know,pursuit of not just being an
okay photographer or girl withcamera.
You know.
SPEAKER_02 (24:28):
If you're gonna do it, do it 100%, right?
SPEAKER_00 (24:31):
Dang it, we're gonna do it away.
Yes, it's gonna be fantastic.
Absolutely.
Um, so that is something thatsets me apart, my skills, my you
know, continuous growth in thephotography space and you know,
wanting to become more creativeand more like develop that
skill.
SPEAKER_02 (24:50):
Absolutely.
And you can only do that bybeing around people that have
different ideas and thoughts.
We actually met at a networkingevent.
SPEAKER_00 (24:55):
Exactly, exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (24:56):
And um, I looked back and it looked like you had
attended a couple others.
I'm like, how did this nothappen?
But I see you out there reallytrying to uh feel people and be
a part of the community.
Would you say that that's thebiggest marketing tool that's
helped you in business isreferrals and and networking?
SPEAKER_00 (25:12):
Um yes, a lot of referrals, a lot of networking,
because word of mouth, girl, Imean, that is the way to go.
SPEAKER_02 (25:19):
Especially in your field.
SPEAKER_00 (25:20):
It's in my field, yes.
SPEAKER_02 (25:21):
I mean, I'm gonna trust the referral.
Yes.
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (25:24):
You met me and you're like, oh yeah, girl.
You know, like we connected.
I feel that once people know me,they're like, oh, okay.
She's not some weirdo person onthe internet.
SPEAKER_02 (25:32):
Right, because you always wonder and think, right?
Yeah.
Which is why I love that youhave a studio and the ability to
go into someone's home.
Because it's hard to walk outthe front door that day to come
to see you sometimes.
SPEAKER_00 (25:44):
Some people have actually told me, girl, I was
about to do your turn, but Ialready met you and I knew that
was gonna be okay.
And I was like, Yes, I got you.
Like, you don't have to worry.
SPEAKER_02 (25:52):
You've really perfected that customer journey,
which is hard to do.
SPEAKER_00 (25:56):
Imagine this.
You know that you're gonna do asession, and you know that
you're not gonna be wearing yourregular clothes, you know,
you're gonna be wearing lessthan that, and a lot of people
have a fear of being in front ofthe camera, you know.
Uh you're coming into a spacethat is new to you.
I wanna make sure that you knowthat number one, you are safe,
(26:19):
that your privacy is protected,that you're gonna be taken care
of, that it's a clean, beautifulspace for you, that you know,
everything is ready and takencare of for you, you know, that
that hair and makeup is gonnalook so beautiful and that
you're going to love it the waythat you see yourself.
Like, have that pamperingexperience because the worst
thing in the world would be foryou to come in and be terrified
(26:42):
the entire time.
Like, I don't want that type ofexperience for my clients.
I want them to be like, oh myGod, like this was a day for me.
That was and now I can walk outlike I'm beyonce, you know, like
and feel yourself truly.
SPEAKER_02 (26:56):
That is amazing.
It's wonderful to hear thatsomebody, you're out there
really trying to help people.
And I think that that's whatmakes a lot of business owners
successful.
And I think that's what makes alot of business owners fail is
the fact that if you're notpassionate about what you do, if
you don't believe in you, yourclients can feel that, right?
You're you're the people thatare buying from you can feel
(27:18):
whether or not you care.
Yeah.
And within AI care in an AIworld, having that personal
touch is so important, I feelright now.
SPEAKER_00 (27:26):
It really is.
Um, I have nothing against AI,but I personally don't use it in
my business because I am afterauthenticity.
You know, I I hear a lot aboutAI headshots and to each their
own, but I feel like you knowwhat?
You need to show up for yourselfbecause that is not a
photograph.
You did not show up foryourself.
(27:47):
And people can that way.
SPEAKER_02 (27:49):
You can see, I can tell when I see an AI image and
like just so y'all know outthere, business owners, parents,
kids can tell off this twoseconds of looking at it.
So y'all aren't fake foolinganybody out there.
SPEAKER_00 (28:03):
I I don't know that they're trying to fool it.
Um, I know that it's a it's atrend.
SPEAKER_02 (28:08):
Um, but to your point, take some pride in
yourself.
Re really show who you are,right?
Not who somebody else is.
So um I always ask each guestthis what is one thing you would
tell your younger self when youfirst started this business that
you'd wish you'd known?
SPEAKER_00 (28:26):
What is one thing that I would have told my
younger self?
SPEAKER_02 (28:31):
As a business owner, when you decided to start this
business and go into thisindustry, what's something you
wish you knew that you know now?
What's that one thing you wishyou knew back then?
SPEAKER_00 (28:42):
Don't be afraid.
Being in business was excitingfor me, but also there were many
things that I didn't, you know,invest into right away because I
was afraid of technology.
Like I didn't have a website forforever.
Um I have a website now, but nowI'm reworking it.
So now I'm like, you know,having those those things like
(29:06):
taken care of.
But when I started, I was justlike, I'm so scared, I gotta
know what I'm doing.
It's almost like a fear ofsuccess.
There is fear of success.
Real, it really is.
SPEAKER_02 (29:17):
And so when you wish that you would have just kind of
stepped out a little bit more, alittle bit faster.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
I trusted yourself.
Yes, I do wish that I would havestepped more, like you say, like
step into it like a little bitfaster.
And I think that I also wish Iwould have known there are
women, because this is mostlyfor women, I'm not like saying
they're in a mind, but therethis is like mainly something
that I work with women and Iwould have said to myself, there
(29:45):
are women who need this.
Like it's not just like becausesometimes as a business owner,
I'm like, yes, you know, this isgood for you.
And then I don't work withpeople for like a a certain
amount of time or I have likeDifferent things in my life, and
then I'm like, I wonder ifpeople want this.
And like, no, there are womenwho are looking for this and who
(30:07):
need it, and that this issomething that isn't just like a
oh well that was nice.
No, this is something that isalmost like changing them,
right?
Yes.
I have seen people like have atotal glow up after this, like
have their lives changed, andit's it's great.
There was this particular ladythat I work with twice, um, also
(30:28):
in the south of Texas, and afterdoing this, she told me, you
know what?
After the second shoot, Irealized that I was really not
taking care of my body.
Girl, she joined like a WarriorQueen workout program or
something, and like now she'sdoing uh like all of these
(30:50):
workouts, and she posts them onher stories on Instagram, and
she became a brand ambassadorfor I don't even know what the
brand is.
SPEAKER_02 (30:58):
All because of the confidence she gave for these
photos.
SPEAKER_00 (31:02):
Yes, it is like she always like cheerleaders me,
like to her people because she'slike, No, y'all don't know.
Like this really kind of helpedher like turn her things around,
like her her mindset aboutherself.
She, you know, she's a wonderfulperson, she's a mom of two
beautiful kids, she's a wife,and she was just like, I mean,
(31:22):
uh now I know that I'mbeautiful, and now that I feel,
you know, confident, I'm readyto do something more.
SPEAKER_02 (31:27):
I'm ready to, you know, you can look at your
improvements in a safe spacewhen you present them with the
photos, it seems like they theydon't feel judged.
SPEAKER_00 (31:36):
No, they don't feel judged.
I mean, whenever I mean, if Itake a picture of someone, I
also want to make sure that theylook their absolute best.
So, you know, I'm lighting themin a beautiful way, I'm posing
them in a beautiful way, andmaking sure that it's a
beautiful experience and abeautiful environment.
And then they see the pictureand they're like, oh my god.
SPEAKER_02 (31:52):
Like, you know.
All that awkwardness I just feltwas a beautiful, beautiful
masterpiece.
SPEAKER_00 (31:57):
Yeah, and you know what?
I'll tell you this theawkwardness is just like walking
into the door.
That is the hardest thing to do,is show up.
Just show up because that is thehardest thing.
Everything else, I take care offor you.
It's almost relieving to hear.
It is relieving.
You should feel relieved becauseyou're not gonna need to like
(32:17):
figure out what to do or what tolook.
I'm literally gonna haveeverything lined up from like
what outfit you're going to nextto where are we going into the
studio next, to like the poses.
Like, I'm not expecting you toknow how to pose yourself.
I'm literally gonna like tellyou, okay, you're gonna do it
like this.
If I'm not communicating it wellenough, I will show you and demo
the post for you, and then I'lllike tweak like the little
(32:40):
things, I'll move the lights.
SPEAKER_02 (32:41):
So there's never any room for guessing what's going
to happen next.
And that's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (32:46):
Now, some people they they take more of a lead,
they're like, Okay, now I wantto pose myself.
Fantastic girl, go for it, havefun.
But you know, I'm I'm alwaysgoing to be like, okay, you
know, now move it this way orthat way.
Like, I want to make sure thatthey're feeling good and that
they're looking good because Iwant to show them like from the
back of the camera, I'll showyou without it and be like,
Look, look at this.
(33:07):
Oh, yeah, look at this.
SPEAKER_02 (33:09):
We're on a good route, right?
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
Yeah, and I'll tell them, I'll be like, You look so
good.
They're like, Oh, thank you.
Like, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02 (33:15):
You need to hear that.
No, no, no.
Like, yeah.
So for our business owner, forour ladies and gentlemen um that
are listening, if they wanted tosay, um, give this an option for
a session with you to a friendfor Christmas or a family member
to really help them level up aswell.
How can they reach out to youabout that?
SPEAKER_00 (33:34):
Um, the best way to reach me is always by phone, or
they can reach me through socialmedia.
I am findable on Instagram andFacebook.
Um, and my phone number, ofcourse, like that is literally
all over the social media.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02 (33:47):
I'll put it at the uh the bottom of this as well.
But what's your name on yourInstagram right now?
SPEAKER_00 (33:52):
On Instagram, uh, my personal page is Nellie
Sermonello, but my professionalpage is Nightflower Boudoir.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_02 (33:59):
And I'll I'll tag it down in here.
But thank you so much for forallowing us to really get some
depth into what really is goingon in the boudoir scene.
It's not all risque, it's reallyabout confidence.
SPEAKER_00 (34:12):
Yes, and self-love and feeling good.
SPEAKER_02 (34:15):
Absolutely.
Well, thank you so much forjoining us, and I can't wait to
talk to you in a year aftermaybe we get ours done around
here, right?
To all of our listeners outthere, if you want to really
help yourself or help friend orfamily member get a confidence
boost, feel better aboutthemselves, please contact
Nellie and or you can contact medirectly here at Market It With
Mama.
We'll see you next time.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.