I have wanted to do a boudoir shoot for a few years and had always come up with 1 reason or another on why I couldn't do it then - I wanted to lose some weight before I did a photo shoot, I can't justify spending that much money on some pictures of myself, I don't have that much money right now to do the shoot - but I came across this ad for Goddess Rising Boudoir and Marissa and I had a video chat to meet and get more info and see if we would be a good fit for each other. Right off the bat I knew I was going to do it! Marissa was so easy to talk to and made it sound like it was going to be an amazing time, I could not get it scheduled soon enough and was counting down the days until it was time for my shoot. I needed a little boost to my self esteem as I had been a little over a year out of an 11 year relationship and needed to feel sensual and sexy again. Marissa kept in contact while the days were moving slowly and she was sending emails with helpful info on getting prepared with how to practice some poses, some suggestions on places to order lingere online or in store and other encouraging emails. Finally the day came and I was so excited and nervous! I left with my bag that had been packed for 5 days prior with my 3 outfits I had chosen. I headed towards the studio and as I was getting off the freeway exit, I started to get more nervous, anxious and excited all at once! The studio was so comfortable I immediately relaxed once I got in and we started chatting. Getting my hair and makeup, along with eyelashes, done was so much fun. Once we were ready to get started in the studio, we started out with a little yoga and meditation to stretch out our muscles and clear our minds. Marissa made me feel so comfortable and helped me with the poses and the art of making the look look soft and sensual. We were dancing around the studio and just feeling free. It was an amazing experience! When it was time for the pictures reveal, I was so excited. We went through each one and some we went over a few times to decide which ones to keep. I am so happy I decided to do this for myself finally and am planning on doing another in springtime for an outdoor shoot. If you have ever had a desire to do this - JUST DO IT!!! read more

I won a raffle and got the sitting fee for my experience covered - but let me be clear: I would've paid for EVERY part of this experience even if I hadn't. A part of me has always been curious doing a boudoir photoshoot, but due my to own insecurities (maybe after I lose 15 pounds, maybe after my skin clears up, maybe etc. etc.), I never looked into it. Whatever brought me to Marissa -- kismet, fate, what have you -- I thank because I look at those reasons now and find them to be so silly. Marissa helped me see myself as I am, and I am beautiful! Both the hair/makeup lady (I can't remember her name, sorry!) and Marissa are both gifted with the ability to make you feel like you're safe. She really listened to my preferences and created a look that really made me feel amazing. I would've never thought I'd see myself the way she made me up. Even though I was nervous when I first walked in, Marissa's demeanor made me feel comfortable and she had exercises prior that helped me feel more at ease - and quite frankly got my muscles warmed up for a lot of arching! I'm not trained in posing, but Marissa was able to effectively coach me on a variety of poses. What could've been uncomfortable and awkward was TRULY one of the most fun experiences I've had. I was excited to try all of the poses, all of my outfits, and she helped hype me up! I can't express how life-changing this whole experience was. As someone who wouldn't immediately call myself "sexy," she helped me understand that I am. My fiancé said he was elated with the results, but even more so with the change he's seen in my attitude towards myself. I am SO much less critical, now having seen a different side of me that has always been there. I will come back in the future -- with lots of new styles and outfits in mind... until then, I will fondly look at the photographs as a celebration of me. Marissa's eye for beauty and good heart really shine through in her work, and I wholeheartedly recommend her! read more

Simply Amazing and life changing!!! Why?? Well I came across Goddess Rising Boudoir by chance. I wasn't intending to look further, though something told to look into. Upon reading the description of the contest that was there I took a chance. Every women is a Goddess inside!! I never truly understand what that means in all aspects. Marissa is the most inspirational person I've met to help me open up my eyes to find my inner beauty. I've learn to love myself and appreciate who I am. We all have our days of not liking what we see in the mirror. I have spent many years not seeing what others see within me from all aspects of who I am. I know I'm not perfect, nor am I the richest person. I have flaws just like every other person in life. What I've learned from this experience is that "I have Total control of my own emotions and positive aspects in life". I Needed to understand with help seeing my True Inner Beauty!! See who I am as woman and appreciate how we're magnificently Beautiful inside our ourselves!! Working with Marissa, I gained the knowledge, courage, knowing that it's okay to be flawed and love yourself. Believing in yourself is the Most Wonderfully Amazing feelings knowing that "I as a woman" am capable of so much in life. I can now say I standing right in from of the mirror and Smile. When confronting myself in the mirror, I now see the Beauty of the Goddess of who I truly am inside. I've finally understand what others see when others see when looking at/meeting me. This Goddess Rising Boudoir experience was an experience that I needed even when I was at my lowest points in life!! I'm Sooo blessed, greatful and thankful for this life changing event!!! I absolutely love the outcome of all my photos!!! I love the beautiful feelings of the True Goddess that I am from within myself!! Thank you Marissa for this Amazing Beautiful Life changing experience!! read more

Putting into words how AMAZING my boudoir experience was is gonna be a challenge, but I'm doing my best to find the words because I want to highlight how impactful the professionalism and talent of this photographer is. The complimentary hair and makeup helped me walk into the photo session with confidence. I was worried how my curly/coily hair would be handled but I was so in love with the style choice! The fact that Marissa takes the time to do a guided movement meditation before we got into the outfits and photos helped me to relax any lingering nerves. Marissa was an expert in the way she guided me through the process, while still keeping the energy light and fun! I am no model by any means, but the poses she guided me through had me feeling the fantasy fully. When I saw my photos for the first time, I couldn't help but to cry. She captured me so beautifully. Not just physically but she captured my essence. My joy, the light in my eyes, my inner diva coming through. It was indescribable how emotional it made me to see myself in this light. I'd gotten used to the narrative that my body wasn't my own. Like I existed for the gaze of others and not really for myself. This session completely rewrote that narrative. I felt truly empowered to enter the phase of my life where I take full ownership over myself. I am for me and the world is just lucky that I share that with them! It was truly an unforgettable experience and I can feel this new energy I'm carrying myself with now, embracing the goddess I am. Thank you, Marissa, for such a wonderful and honestly life changing experience. There's no going back after this! If you want to see the goddess within revealed to you, you've gotta book yourself a photoshoot with Goddess Rising Boudoir ASAP!!!! :) read more

Wow - where to start? What a priceless experience. I did a boudoir photo shoot because I wanted to see myself through a different lens. I have a very negative relationship with my body because of chronic illness and a lot of medical trauma. I thought the experience might help me find beauty and appreciation for all parts of me. I'm used to being told my body is defective, broken, shameful; when people look at it they are usually trying to find things that are wrong. Being with Marissa was nothing like that. Marissa created such a safe, comfortable, fun space to explore and honor who I am. Throughout the whole process - from preparation to the photo session to reviewing pictures - Marissa was thoughtful about getting to know me and customizing the experience. I felt genuinely valued and cared for by her. I never felt nervous, rushed, or pressured to be or look a certain way. Marissa was even considerate about asking if/how I wanted my scars to show up in pictures. I felt like myself (a new, different version of myself) during the shoot and in the photos. This was the first experience I've had where my body was so exposed and yet was being affirmed and accepted rather than scrutinized, and I had autonomy over how to express myself - very impactful for me! Marissa drew me out in such a kind, authentic way and was sensitive to what I needed and wanted. I could go on and on...words don't do it justice. I am incredibly grateful to have had this experience with Marissa. Her artistic and relational gifts made this an invaluable and redeeming experience for me. Thank you, Marissa! read more

Embarking on a boudoir session after having four children and going through a divorce felt like a monumental step towards reclaiming my sense of self. As a first-timer to the world of boudoir photography, I approached the session with a mix of excitement and nervousness, unsure of what to expect but eager to embark on this journey. From the moment I stepped into Marissa's studio, I was enveloped in an atmosphere of warmth and empowerment. Marissa, with her keen eye for detail and genuine passion for her craft, instantly put me at ease. She took the time to understand my vision and comfort level, ensuring that every shot captured reflected my unique personality and beauty. It was more than just posing in sexy lingerie, it was a celebration of my body, flaws and all. The entire process was a journey of self-discovery, a reminder that beauty comes in ALL shapes, sizes and ages. It was a testament to the power of embracing vulnerability and owning one's sensuality without apology. In the end, the images captured were more than just photographs, they were visual reminders of my strength, resilience, and innate beauty. A powerful reminder that my worth is not defined by my past or circumstances but by the strength and courage with which I faced them. To any woman who may be hesitant to embark on a boudoir session after motherhood or divorce, I urge you to take the leap with Marissa. It's not about conforming to societal standards of beauty, it's about embracing your unique journey and celebrating the incredible woman you are. Trust me, you deserve it! read more

Marrisa was wonderful to work with from start to finish. When I first came into my boudoir session I was tense and not comfortable my nervous were defiantly going. She had me stand in front of the mirror and ask me to name one thing I loved about myself, I just stood there and told her my hair because in that moment I just didn't like anything about myself. Once the session started I was still nervous, but we began to laugh and and have fun the cloud of anxiety went away. I began to feel powerful, sexy, and confident. When I walked pass the mirror after my outfit changed I was like, ''Damn I'm sexy''. I thank Marrisa for picking me to be her first place choice considering there were so many other wonderful ladies that deserved this photo session. I'm still healing and I have a lot of learning and growth that I'm working on in my recovery. I have been sober for 2 years, when she picked me I felt like I didn't deserve to be the winner. Marrisa told me I have a right to feel good about myself and to feel confident and sexy. She also express that I'm not less then anyone else and I should get to feel happy and proud of myself. I walk around now with a lot my confidence then before I'm loving myself stronger. Thank you Marrisa for seeing a sparkle in me that I thought was gone. I will never forget this moment that you gave me. Ladies do yourself a favor and book a session you wont regret it. I believe Marrisa is truly one of a kind and will make you see hoe powerful and feminine real you are during you photo session. read more

I'm so happy I decided to choose Marissa for my first boudior experience. I'm an introvert so I tend to experience a lot of awkwardness with new people but I did not experience that with her at all. From the first consultation call to the picture reveal day, she was professional and fun to work with. Ive never had a good relationship with my body growing up. But for the past couple of years it has been getting better but there are still a lot of days where I feel down and see my body in a negative and judgmental light. Marissa makes sure that she is always providing space for me to tell her my story and relationship with my body. She empowers you to be free, vulnerable and confident during this whole experience. My MUA was very talented as well. Ive had a terrible experience with other MUA doing my make up in the past so I was more nervous about letting someone else do my make up than the experience itself but she was magnificent! The turn around to see your photos is very quick! 2-3 days. She will then make her final small edits and will send you your photos within the week after the photo reveal (I am currently waiting for my digitals and I cannot wait!) Keep in mind that this is only for digitals. Will for sure do another boudoir with her in the future! read more

This was my first boudoir experience and I could not be more thankful to have it with Marissa. The studio was gorgeous, beautifully thought out and lovingly clean and taken care of. The whole studio helped to awaken that Goddess part of me. When I saw myself in the mirror, I found a reflection of myself that I didn't know was even there. I felt empowered, self loved, soft but fierce, all that it means to be a Goddess. Marissa was amazing, truly amazing! She knew how to bring out my confidence, how to keep me as the main event in all of the photos. Marissa's transition from comfy and relaxed to Goddess form is brilliant. Marissa was so flexible and creative, tossing out ideas and things to try. Marissa was always making sure that I was comfortable both physically and mentally. I can not recommend this enough, if anyone is even remotely interested, do it! And do it with Marissa. We laughed, listen to music, had a glorious time and afterwards, could not stop looking at myself in the photos. These are the only photos where I didn't self-critique any part of myself, I found out how gorgeous I truly am and could not stop looking at me. That is a feeling I will forever be greatful for. read more

I found Marissa and Goddess Rising Boudoir at a Bridal Expo, I am recently engaged and the heaviest I've ever been, and I've always felt awkward in front of a camera or dressing up and always felt like I was just trying to be sexy. I wanted to do a boudoir shoot but never felt like it was the right time, but when Marissa reached out I knew I had to sign up and challenge myself. I was so excited but also very nervous and overthinking everything, I was more concerned about what others would think and feel about what I was going to do rather than what I wanted to get out of the photos. These. Photos. Are. Amazing. I felt so welcomed so encouraged throughout the entire session, it was amazing. I felt like I knew Marissa for forever and was so comfortable through the entire experience. I almost started crying seeing the photos basically untouched for the first time. Unbelievable. Such an amazing experience I feel so sexy and so happy with challenging myself and pushing myself out of my comfort zone, if you're gonna do a boudoir shoot you absolutely need the goddess experience. read more

I have always been interested in getting boudoir done, but have always been held back by my insecurities about my body and my face. Marissa immediately put me at ease with our consult Zoom. She felt like a friend I knew for years, and that energy carried into our session. While I got hair and makeup done, Marissa, Emily, and I chatted and giggled like it was just any other day where I'm hanging out with my friends. Emily did an amazing job on my hair and makeup. Once session started, Marissa patiently eased me through the whole process. I'm awkward, and I'll trip on level ground, but Marissa artfully helped me pose and get into my body to create some of the most stunning images. At my photo reveal, I was in complete awe that these images were of me. I appreciate that Marissa keeps it real, but here's the thing, one of the images I loved the most was because how gorgeous my stretch marks looked. Marissa is pure magic at capturing all your beauty. It was one of the most empowering things I have done for myself. If you're on the fence, here's your sign to do it. read more

I learned about Marissa and Goddess Rising Boudoir through a close friend who had an exceptional experience with her. Marissa is welcoming from the first video call to every single interaction we had. She has created a gorgeous space that feels sexy and homey for her photoshoots, and I felt special and cared for the second I walked through her door. Marissa has the most spectacular make-up and hair artist. We laughed, found things in common, talked about life, and realized we had the same level of crunchiness as we were doing yoga (cracking jokes while our bodies were cracking). She helped me feel seen when I got emotional and insecure. She helped me see fierceness when I was inside my head looking for flaws. My post-photoshoot was just as special. She created the most stunning pictures, and to be honest, my two favorite ones are exactly how I see myself--creative, happy, bubbly. She captured that with ease, and I can't wait to have another session with her soon. If you are looking for an amazing boudoir photographer, look no further - Marissa is your person! read more

This was my first time ever doing a boudoir shoot so I was a bit nervous. As a woman who has presented with a tomboyish energy for much of my life, this experience was way outside of my wheel house. But when I arrived, Marissa helped me feel less anxious by just sitting together and offering a listening ear and words of encouragement. After I pushed through some nervousness in the beginning of the photoshoot I had an absolute blast! We collaborated together, playing with poses and angles and sharing ideas. After the shoot I felt amazing and empowered! I'd have to say that my favorite part of this whole experience was having a safe space to feel able to let loose that hard outer shell and feeling the remarkable power I hold in femininity. Well actually my favorite part was when Marissa yelled out "hamstrings!" when I bent over Marissa is an amazing photographer, artist, and hype woman! I 100% recommend this studio for anyone who is interested in getting a boudoir experience. You will have an amazing time with Marissa and you will not be disappointed! read more

This is the most beautiful and confident I've ever felt. This work is as much about interpersonal skills as photography skills, and Marissa's a master of both. I didn't really know what to expect but in the weeks before my session she provided helpful info about how to prep. On the day of she put me at ease immediately with some warm-up yoga/stretching to get in touch with my body. She talked with me about what to do with my feet, hands, face, and body; without that guidance I would have no idea how to pose. During the shoot she was so supportive and encouraging. She kept telling me I was doing great, which made me smile, which made me look happy and beautiful in my photos. The shoot was so fun and I have never felt so empowered and in touch with myself. I'm usually pretty self-conscious but I wasn't thinking about the things I sometimes don't love about my body. I was just having a great time and enjoying myself and that really comes through in the photos. Everyone should do this! read more

Marissa (owner), Lori (makeup) and Goddess Rising Boudoir are so wonderful! Marissa's motto is "Every woman is a Goddess" and with her outlook on body positivity, you really feel like one! Makeup: From the moment Lori arrived to do my makeup I felt like I was with a friend. A friend who is very skilled at her job and made me feel, and look, beautiful. All the while pumping me up for my shoot! The Shoot: I was so excited, but really nervous, on my drive out to the site. The minute I met Marissa, in person and not over Zoom, all my nervousness floated away and only excitement remained! She's so personable, joyful and full of love for what she does...making ALL types of women feel and look beautiful. She truly helps you find your inner goddess!! Cost: I won't lie, this is expensive. Honestly, I don't regret splurging on this at all and you won't either! If you've been thinking about having a boudoir experience, Marissa and Goddess Rising Boudoir is a fantastic option for anyone. read more

I was never interested in having boudoir photos taken. I judged women who took these types of photos because I held so much shame and judgment over my body. Getting to this point in my healing where I feel empowered to see myself the way I've always felt on the inside was an extremely raw and vulnerable experience and Marissa helped make this process so fun and safe. She was made to do this work. She is not just a photographer trying to snap a good picture, her passion is to help women find their inner goddess and confidence and she creates such a warm and safe space for you to explore all the sides that the feminine that yearns to be expressed. And it's not just her nurturing energy she is very talented in her work and goes above and beyond to make sure she gets the shot that makes you look and feel fierce and beautiful. I wouldn't go to any other photographer for these types of photos because she is the total package and I appreciate you so much! read more

Marissa is an amazing and inspiring photographer! I went into session expecting to provide a wedding gift for my fiance on our wedding day. Not only am I getting that, but she also provided me with an experience that completely boosted my personal confidence. I will cherish these photos forever. The album purchased is gorgeous and such high-quality. The photoshoot itself was very welcoming, empowering, and comfortable. Marissa provided direction of poses while also letting me choose my level of comfortableness and discretion. She truly made me feel like a goddess and happy in my skin and body. The second meeting included going over each photo together in-person so I could choose which shots I wanted in my physical album. SO special seeing myself and the moments she captured! Truly a special experience worth the price for the experience that myself and my future husband will cherish for a lifetime read more

I wish I could give a million stars to Marissa, as I shared a truly life-changing experience with her! Not only did we have the best time crawling on rocks and slipping in the river, but Marissa has an energy that makes any and everyone around her comfortable and divine. Months after the shoot, and I still think about that experience on a daily basis! And then there were the photos; OMG THE PHOTOS!!! Marissa was able to capture a side of me that I knew existed, but I had never been able to witness. Every time I look at my photos, I am flabbergasted at the raw vulnerability and embodiment of my soul. While I had expected some sexy pics, Marissa photographed me stripped bare and beautiful in my skin and my heart. She captured me, pure and true, and I will forever be grateful to her for allowing me permission and giving me the opportunity to witness myself. Thank you so much Marissa XOXO read more

Earlier this week I had my goddess session with Marissa and I have (nearly) no words. I was able to take the weeks leading up to it and the session itself as a lesson in self care and appreciation. It gave me an "excuse" to spend time on me- whether that meant carrying out a multiple step skin care routine or taking a day to be made up and dressed up and treated like a goddess. Marissa cultivated an atmosphere of fun, self-love, and power that carried me through the rest of my day- and I got to feel it again when looking at the photos! I've battled a lot with matching my inner image of myself with what I see in the mirror- and this session helped me see the energy and the sass that I feel. I was nervous before my session but it's hard to stay nervous with Marissa as your cheerleader! She's ready to boost you up and the results of that are evident! read more