Jude Creates Safe and Empowering Imagery that is Unapologetically Inclusive

Interview and Article by Danielle Bastos

In the mecca of New York City, a revolution in boudoir photography is taking place, led by Jude, a passionate photographer and retoucher who’s redefining the genre with her inclusive approach and spiritual touch. As the founder of Divine Brujería, Jude has made it her mission to create a safe, empowering space for individuals of all body types and genders, with a particular focus on the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I see my work as a form of curation – curation of self-expansion,” Jude explains, her eyes lighting up as she speaks. “It’s about more than just self-acceptance. It’s about helping people recognize the divinity within themselves.”

Born and raised in New York City, Jude’s earned a minor in photography and pursued a career in influencing and content creation. A pivotal moment in early 2022 led her to reassess her path.

“I had this tower moment,” Jude recalls. “The work I was doing wasn’t fulfilling, and I was becoming someone I just didn’t like. I realized I needed to make a change.”

After deciding to pivot back to photography, she spent intensive time honing her skills. This experience not only allowed her to offer editing services to other photographers but also significantly improved her own work.

“I’m someone who really enjoys the meticulousness of editing,” Jude admits. “It’s very similar to the attention to detail I loved in video editing during my content creation days.”

Drawing on her photography experience and her spiritual background as a Puerto Rican with brujería in her family lineage, Jude created Divine Brujería. The name came to her in a flash of inspiration, embodying her desire to merge her spirituality with her art.

“Divine Brujería is about recognizing the divinity in my clients – that’s the ‘Divine’ part,” she explains. “The ‘Brujería’ is me, working my magic to create an environment where people feel safe to explore and expand.”

Jude’s approach to boudoir photography is deeply intentional, starting with a somatic practice at the beginning of each session. “I lead my clients through a breathing sequence and a little stretch sequence,” she shares. “It’s about helping them get centered and embodied before we start shooting. It’s very difficult to do this work in a way that is substantial if the client isn’t feeling centered and embodied,” Jude explains.

This attention to her clients’ comfort and emotional state is a hallmark of Jude’s work. “I always ask my clients if I can touch them before I do, especially in boudoir sessions,” she says. “It’s about fostering a space of permission and consent.”

I think everyone should be able to experience what it is to have a boudoir session. To discover what gifts lie underneath, what we can uncover about ourselves in that vulnerable space.

Jude

Jude offers two main photography experiences through Divine Brujería. The “Alchemist Sessions” are one-hour experiences designed for “toe-dippers” – those who might be new to boudoir or feeling a bit hesitant. The “Divine Brujería Experience” is a more intensive, 3-4 hour session that includes professional makeup and multiple outfit changes.

“I think of it like a pool,” Jude says with a laugh. “Some people are toe-dippers, and some, like me, just cannonball right in. I want to create spaces for both approaches.”

Throughout her sessions, Jude is a constant source of encouragement and support. “I’m screaming like a pterodactyl the entire time,” she jokes. “It’s all about reminding them to breathe, to feel grounded, to just be themselves.”

This supportive approach extends to how Jude handles the photos themselves. “I always tell my clients, especially those who’ve never modeled before, not to worry if they think the photos are bad,” she says. “The only people who have seen them are you, me, and God – and that means if they’re bad, I can delete them.”

This creates a sense of safety and freedom that allows her clients to truly express themselves without fear of judgment or permanent record.

Jude’s work is deeply influenced by her identity as a queer, non-binary, body-positive, Puerto Rican photographer. She sees her role as creating spaces for people who might not feel comfortable in more traditional boudoir settings.

“I think everyone should be able to experience what it is to have a boudoir session,” she says passionately. “To discover what gifts lie underneath, what we can uncover about ourselves in that vulnerable space.”

Jude’s journey into boudoir photography was sparked by a request from model friends who were tired of working with “creepy men” in the industry. “They asked if I did boudoir, and I thought, ‘You know what? I’ll try,'” she recalls. “After that first session, I was hooked. I realized this was what I wanted to do.”

For Jude, boudoir photography is about more than just taking beautiful pictures. It’s about creating a transformative experience. “There’s something so beautiful about betting on yourself and showing up for yourself in that way,” she explains. “Saying, ‘I’m going to be vulnerable in front of a stranger, and I’m going to try my best to feel empowered.’ That’s incredibly powerful.”

Looking to the future, Jude dreams of returning to Puerto Rico for an extended period to create art that reflects her heritage. “As I get older, and as I fear climate change, I know that at some point, the island might not be the same,” she reflects. “I want to go back, spend time there, and see what Divine Brujería looks like in that context.”

For now, though, Jude continues to create magic in her New York City studio, one empowering photo session at a time. Her work stands as a testament to the power of self-love, the beauty of diversity, and the transformative potential of seeing oneself through a compassionate lens.

“At its core, this work is about co-creation,” Jude says, summing up her philosophy. “We’re coming together to create a container, a space where transformation can happen. And that’s where the real magic lies.”

In a world that often tells people to make themselves smaller, Jude’s work stands as a powerful invitation to take up space, embrace one’s full self, and recognize the inherent divinity in every body.couples will cherish for a lifetime.