Creating Safe Space Throughout our Community with Luna Cooperative
by Teresa Conner
At Boudoir Studios New York, every person that has a discovery call with us or walks through our doors is entering a place that has been intentionally built to receive them exactly as they are. We believe that all people have the right to own their beauty and pleasure. Our clients are welcomed and celebrated as they share their histories, stories, triumphs, struggles, identities, relationships, and milestones. We are honored to be part of their journey by providing images where our clients can see themselves through a loving lens at the end of their boudoir experience. So often clients walk away from their last appointment as dear friends.
When we heard about Luna Cooperative (https://www.lunacooperative.com) and their mission to provide a safe, judgement free community space for the LGBTQ+ community to gather, be their authentic selves, create, and walk away as dear friends, we knew we had found an organization with the same intentions as ours. Luna’s mission statement, “You have a place here. An inclusive studio + community space created from our hope for accessibility, connection, and feeling safe and at home in creative spaces” aligns with our values and what we desire for our community and our clients once they leave the studio.
So we headed to Luna (https://instagram.com/lunacooperative?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== )to check it out, right at High Fall in the heart of Rochester, New York:
Our first stop was a Thursday night queer social. We were welcomed by Jess Bird, Luna’s founder and the artist behind Bless the Messy(https://instagram.com/blessthemessy?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== ). She showed us the space which was beautifully decorated and held several individual art studios which are occupied by LGBTQ+ artists who can rent them at cost. Their space also includes: Fluid (a gender affirming thrift closet), a community library thoughtfully curated with queer and BIPOC representation, and a community room that was buzzing with arts and crafts, a kitchen area and so much laughter. They host summer camps and a pay-what-you-can, queer-safe braider and barber. We stayed and talked for hours. The free art collective happened to be there that night (and is every last Thursday of the month) giving away art, so of course we snagged some, and I made a friendship bracelet. I was both surprised and not surprised at all when I came back at the end of the month for the creator’s market and was warmly greeted by the friend I made at the friendship bracelet table, who remembered me and welcomed my daughter who had tagged along this time. The relationships built here are genuine.
Having a place where you are safe and free of judgement does so much more than just allow someone to wear a rainbow shirt. It gives them resources, information, strength, and hope. Places like Luna, and the people we met there, can be the stepping stone on someone’s journey from fear to joy.
All of that is amazing, but it can’t be done in the dark or without heat/air conditioning. You can’t do crafts without supplies. Someone is going to have to be there to open/close the facility and clean the bathrooms at the end of the night. Which all takes money, and has to come from the community. The team at Boudoir Studios New York knew we wanted to use our place in this community to help, so we decided to donate 10 free boudoir sessions to the first 10 people to donate $100 to Luna Cooperative in June for Pride Month.
If you choose to donate $100 to Luna to get your free session, here’s what you’ll get:
A Discovery Call with a member of our team to discuss the entire process
An In Studio Shoot Planning Appointment to discuss your style and vision for your session
Lingerie and Shoot Planning Guide
Zoom call with your photographer before your session
Professional hair and makeup
Step by step pose coaching during your shoot
Image Reveal Appointment where you will see 60-80 edited final photos.
At your image reveal appointment, you’ll get to pick one favorite image to keep (delivered digitally) and you’ll be able to purchase more if you’d like!
You still have time to choose to be part of this amazing opportunity. Make your donation today to help keep Luna’s doors open, get a boudoir session for yourself, and engage in creating safe spaces for everyone in our community.