Pink-Ribbon Boudoir
for breast-cancer survivors
A unique brand of boudoir photography for breast-cancer survivors to help heal emotional scars in their heart & soul.
Imagine survivors coming together Way Out West in a luxurious B&B, dressed and draped in silky lacy things, treated to hair/makeup/nails surrounded by encouragement and laughter. Where private boudoir photo sessions foster strength and confidence to reveal a woman's beauty, creating striking images for keepsake photobooks to give her memories and validation forever, all at no cost to them.
We did that, a 2012 daylong pilot project in Helena, Montana. Warmly received by the survivors, local media and contributing businesses alike, Montana's event proved that this unique approach to healing can work well as post-operative therapeutic care for breast cancer survivors. 2022 Survivors' Gallery Earlier Pink-Ribbon Boudoir Gallery
And now we did it again—Arizona's 1st Pink-Ribbon Boudoir photo retreat in Tucson August 2022, this time followed by a public photo exhibit December 2022.
Link to separate website for full coverage & photos from Tucson's 2022 project:
pinkribbonboudoir.com
The Tucson Plastic Surgery
PINK-RIBBON BOUDOIR PROJECT
Made possible by many generous sponsors and notably our top-tier $10,000 "Crystal" naming-sponsors Tucson Plastic Surgery—Dr. Raman Mahabir (above, far left) and Dr. Silvia Kurtovic (far right)—dedicated to aesthetic breast reconstruction for cancer survivors. (Pictured here at the exhibit with photographer/project-creator Jana M. Suchy surrounded by the survivors in the exhibit. This and most photos of exhibit below by Donna Lannon, Genuine Photography. All boudoir photos of survivors by Jana M. Suchy © 2022.)
Photo-retreat host Kimberly Maisto (right) with daughter and retreat-salon host Jillian Maisto-Ortiz, pictured here in the December exhibit at their table display.
PHOTO RETREAT—Kimberly Maisto of Keller Williams Southern Arizona
Kimberly (above right) donated use of her spectacular 4,000 sq. ft. desert home for the retreat as our $2,500+ in-kind "Gem" sponsor, here with her daughter Jillian Maisto-Ortiz who donated use of Meta Beauty Studio AZ out back where she styled hair along with the makeup/nails salon providers. Gathering survivors together for the day is important to the project's purpose & success as no one can know their journey unless walking in those moccasins. Kimberly Maisto
Photo ExhibitJana flanked by venue hosts Chelsea Lopex (left) and Chelle Peterson.
PHOTO EXHIBIT—The Post Workspaces
Chelle Peterson & Dan Wesson donated use of their spacious, beautiful venue for our photo exhibit featuring 50 large canvas photographs of the 7 survivors, stars of the show. Chelsea Lopex took the lead creating the silent auction.
We also hosted a special Sponsor Hour for donors + special guests, serving pink champagne & charcuterie.
A crowd came for the exhibition & stayed for the food trucks, free pink lemonade & silent auction!
The Post Workspaces
Celebrating a Survivor's Beauty at Any Age, Any Stage—
to come back to beauty, back to sexy, back to fun & feeling pretty.
What Survivors say about their Pink-Ribbon Boudoir Experience:
Melissa says it made her feel: "Amazing. Beautiful. Strong. Confident. Vulnerable. Courageous. Nervous. Like a Queen! One of the best days EVER!" Melissa
"Thank you for making me feel beautiful, special, one of a kind. You killed it." Melissa
"I loved my book. I see someone who is fierce & stunning—it's different than the way I see myself." Melissa
"When I went through breast cancer I benefited from meeting others who did too, seeing that 'This isn't gonna be the end, this isn't gonna be the end.'" Nicole
"How can I choose, you make me look so pretty!" Martha
"Thank you for photographing me! So amazed that you showed me MY beauty!" Martha
"I welcomed the opportunity to feel sexy, strong and beautiful while showing our community what survivorship looks like." Mary
"This is an incredible event. The camaraderie among the ladies was the best part, seeing their faces light up with laughter." Mel
Our Mission
To improve the emotional health of survivors by inspiring hope and encouragement in a group setting to bond in sisterhood, to enhance self-image and confidence seeing beautiful photos of themselves, and to raise public awareness and compassion for breast cancer by giving a face to survivors embracing their new normal.
Our Vision
Recognizing the emotional and physical stress and loss one goes through during treatment and therapy for breast cancer just to stay alive, it is our goal to help provide resources to rebuild positive body esteem, self-love and personal attractiveness all at no cost to them—survivors have been through and lost so much already.
There is no shortage of survivors—so we're doing it again to help mend lives.
For much more about Pink-Ribbon Boudoir + 2022's project photos, visit website dedicated to pinkribbonboudoir.com / or directly to 2022 Survivors' Gallery
[Images below of lovely survivors in individual photo shoots from Arizona's Tubac, Sahuarita and Tucson.]
