Instagram story viewer> @helenakeppel> Tagged

helenakeppel

@helenakeppel

undefined

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

September selfies

I’ve been enjoying the view

#nyc #nycmakeupartist #longislandgym

52

6

When in doubt, take the pole class! 🤍

I can’t even explain how amazing it felt taking @helenakeppel pole class!

I haven’t taken a pole class since well before I produced offspring. 😂

I don’t always feel super excited to take a dance class because, honestly, I often feel like the world’s slowest learner. But Helena makes sure that room is filled with nothing but good vibes, freedom, and a feeling that you’re completely welcome to be exactly where you are.

I loved every minute of it! So grateful for this class, this experience, and to be able to call Helena one of my best friends. 🤍

@hausofherstudio

53

4

Some extras from the best day with @helenakeppel

409

35

BARE: Beach Boudoir - Part 2
📷 @helenakeppel @hausofherboudoir

Okay here’s my final post about this. I truly had the best time doing this. I never thought I was “model material” even when people have said it or called me photogenic. To be honest I’m far more comfortable on the other side of the camera. Always the artist never the subject.

I love shooting with Helena because I have these moments where I lock in and have the baddie energy, then she’s scream or the other girls are cheering from the behind the scenes and I instantly break into giggles because I’m so unserious. The natural reactions from everyone, made the energy so electric and comfortable. I would burst out laughing, because “who me?!” those reactions are for me? I forgot that anyone else besides our group was on the beach. The female lifeguard was even cheering us on from her post because that’s how contagious the energy was. She asked if we were models and I said “today we are, but really we’re just regular people”

For a girl who doesn’t usually love the beach, I loved being a mermaid for a day, and feeling beautiful as I am.

#beachphotoshoot #summerbody

67

14

I took my first Sexy Chair 🪑 Dance experience class with HAUS of Her!

How could you not be sexy dancing to @kehlani Oooh
But I’m still working on my confidence and being comfortable in my body as I going through menopause. I think I would not be able to bend and squat. All the women in the class were amazing! Helena is FANTASTIC!
#chairdance
#sexydance
#womenover50
#selfcarefirst

22

17

BARE: Beach Boudoir - Part 1 📷 @helenakeppel @hausofherboudoir
I’ll only be making two parts. Keeping the rest private.

For the last two years, especially the last 8-9 months I’ve been learning to love myself again. At some point I had started to exist as a quieter, duller version of myself. I wouldn’t laugh as loud, dance or sing along in public. I let the outside world make me question if it was okay to be who I am. So I made myself smaller.

I learned how short life can be, and that snapped me out of it. If we only have a finite amount of time before we’re called home, and tomorrow is never promised, why not live life as joyously as you can?

For almost my whole life I’ve had a scar on my nose, I forget it’s there until someone points it out. My hair has naturally changed from light brown, to platinum, to strawberry, to golden copper as I’ve gotten older. I used to look in the mirror and see family I didn’t want to see staring back at me, but after forgiving the hurt I experienced I learned to love my face. Then after facing a second loss and realizing I see their face in mine too, I loved the reminders even more. Most days I was proud of my curves, others I cried in dressing rooms because nothing fit right. I’ve heard other women call themselves cows or whales, all while standing next to me, who has always been bigger than them. My body has stretch marks, cellulite, scars, freckles, imperfections, but it’s mine. I’ve always loved being short, but I was teased relentlessly for it. I absolutely love my tattoos and I’ve met incredible artists who love collaborating with me to create beautiful pieces I get to showcase forever. I see how people look at me differently for them. Some people give me side eyes, others compliment me.

I love myself beyond the physical because of the person I am. How I treat people, how much I love and care about others. How I’ve been in survival mode my whole life, but I’ve made it through every battle, still smiling and positive. My true beauty is inside, but I’ve found a way to love the outside. I only hope to find someone who loves every perfectly imperfect part of me.

If you read all of this thank you 💖

93

21

I LOVE teaching but I also LOVE being a student. Basically I just LOVE dancing. Thank you @helenakeppel and @hausofherstudio for the great class and even better vibes. Nothing boosts your mood like a roomful of women cheering for you.

Choreography: @helenakeppel

#dancerforlife #danceislife #chairdance #floorwork #womensupportingwomen

20

6

Dara, why are you so confident in your body?

That’s so simple, I was an art major with a minor in art history (actually triple minor - photography and marketing too.)
I spent years studying masterpieces. I’ve even had the opportunity to see many of these pieces in person. The female body has always been celebrated and immortalized in art, with paint, sculpture, and photography. Seeing bodies like mine used as muses or to represent beauty made me start to love and appreciate my body more.

I am a WOMAN.
I am a GODDESS.
I am a MASTERPIECE.
I am ART.
I am ME.

Helena, I can never thank you enough for capturing these. Being to see myself through another woman’s lens, is truly validating. Since I met you last year, you’ve helped me find my confidence again. You’ve shown me that I’m allowed to celebrate my own beauty. You are incredibly talented and I love you so much 🥰❤️

📷 @helenakeppel @hausofherboudoir

#beachbody #arthistory #photoshoot

26

11

Playing mermaids 🧜🏼‍♀️

📸 @helenakeppel you’re unbelievable ⭐️

522

77

A little side by side of my transformation. It’s painful sharing some of these photos. But I’ve lost over 50lbs and got my real smile back, and the sparkle is back in my eyes.

Every day I am working towards my goals. Every day I wonder if I’m being too open by sharing my journey. Every day I ask myself “Should I stop sharing? I’m sure I’m annoying people with all of the posts, who even cares right?” I’ve been pretty open about the hate, the unfollows, the “is she okay?”, the “She’s brave for posting that.” Every time I almost close that access, someone messages me that I inspire them, or they love watching the transformation, or that I am glowing and they can see how much happier I am. Honestly, I can’t even watch my highlights back because I cringe, I keep them up for a digital diary of my progress. I look at the side by side photos and I can see that I wasn’t as happy as I was pretending to be. In the moment those were photos I liked, and now I see how long I had lost myself. It’s amazing recognizing myself again.

The truth is, I’ve always been a happy person, I’ve always been confident and comfortable in my skin. I haven’t always been happy with how I felt or looked. I couldn’t let that keep me unhappy because it wasn’t something I could change in a day. I only needed one day to decide to change. I always knew I had it in me, I just needed to find a community I was comfortable in. Anyone that knows me knows I don’t give up, don’t challenge me because I’ll do it. I’m dedicated and loyal.

I’ve been through too much in my life, if I had let things sit and fester I’m afraid of the person I could have been. From the youngest age I’ve been grateful for every day I’m given. I know that if I wasn’t supposed to be able to grow through the things I go through, then they wouldn’t have happened. That there has to be something completely amazing and magical waiting for me after all of the tears and pain.

I’ve been feeling things shift lately, I’m pretty sure that the great things are just around the corner, this next decade has so much in store for me and I can’t wait.

#weightloss #fitnessjourney #transformation

112

56

8 months ago something clicked and I just started pouring into myself. I started taking my physical and mental health seriously. I found a wonderful community of women who uplift me and motivate me. I learned to stop worrying about what other people think of me.

Those who mind, don’t matter. Those who matter, don’t mind.
I appreciate anyone who has been supportive of me through this, but also those who haven’t been, because it’s only made me work harder. My transformation has been mind blowing to even me. I’m glad to be back to a place where I recognize myself again.

I’m incredibly grateful for the people who come into my life these last eight months. I love you all so much and I hope you know that. I’m especially thankful for days like today where I get to feel beautiful and showcase the changes.

Thank you Helena for making me feel so comfortable that I forgot there were other people on the beach. I’m sure half of my shots are of me laughing. ❤️

#glowup #beachbody #photoshoot

98

36

Haus of HER Boudoir was created from one belief:

Every woman deserves to see herself as powerful, beautiful, sensual, and fully alive.

Not after she loses weight.
Not after she “gets her body back.”
Not when she feels more confident.
Not when she finally thinks she’s worthy of being photographed.

NOW. As she is.

My mission with boudoir is so much bigger than taking beautiful photos.

It’s about creating a space where women can reconnect with themselves.

Where you can take up space without apologizing.
Explore your sensuality without shame.
Celebrate your body without picking it apart.
See yourself outside of the roles you carry every day.

Mother. Wife. Caregiver. Professional. Everything to everyone.

And for a moment, simply be HER.

The woman underneath all of it.

Haus of HER Boudoir is about witnessing yourself differently.

Not through the lens of what your body “should” look like…

but through the lens of everything it already holds:

Your story.
Your softness.
Your strength.
Your femininity.
Your fire.

Because boudoir isn’t about becoming someone else.

It’s about remembering the woman who has been there all along.

This is your body. Your story. Your season... UNLEASH HER🔥

Welcome to Haus of HER Boudoir. 🥀❤️‍🔥

#hausofherboudoir #hausofher #femininepower #nyboudoirphotographer #nyboudoir

3

0