Bae by Cari

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08/26/2026

I keep thinking about Dolly Parton and all the ways she made space for women simply by refusing to make herself smaller.

She walked into rooms run by powerful men in rhinestones, big hair and high heels and expected to be taken seriously exactly as she was.

And she was.

When Elvis wanted to record *I Will Always Love You*, it would have been the kind of opportunity most young songwriters couldn’t imagine turning down. But his manager wanted half the publishing rights.

Dolly said no.

Not because she didn’t want Elvis to sing her song. She did. It broke her heart to walk away.

But she knew what she had made was valuable, and she wasn’t willing to give part of it away just for the privilege of having a powerful man choose her.

There is something about that I have always loved.

She never seemed interested in proving that femininity and intelligence could coexist. She simply showed up covered in rhinestones and pearls and made everyone else catch up.

She was funny without letting anyone make her the joke. Sexy without letting that diminish her authority. Generous without being naïve. Ambitious without apologizing for it.

She owned the songs.

She owned the business.

And she owned the image.

There are a million ways to be a woman. Dolly made a little more room for all of them.

08/03/2026

Kinda chic to book the bo***ir session you never thought was for you.

Somewhere along the way, bo***ir became synonymous with lace, heavy glam and trying to be someone you’re not.

That’s never been what I’m interested in. I have always wanted to photograph women how they feel good and I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with a lot of glam or lace. I’m just saying your session doesn’t have to include that if it doesn’t feel right for you.

Bring your favorite jeans. Your tan lines. Your curls. Your oversized blazer. Or nothing but the sheets.

I don’t want you to look like someone else.

I want you to look like the version of yourself that makes you walk around with a little more confidence because you know what a hot bae you are.

If you’ve spent years saying, “Boudoir isn’t really my thing,”...

Maybe you just haven’t found your kind of chic.

07/28/2026

I rarely buy props new.

Most of what’s in my studio came from Facebook Marketplace, an estate sale, a thrift store or someone’s garage. I like things that have already been somewhere.

This backdrop was finished. One side was covered in footprints and stains from past sessions. Right before I recycled it, I crumpled it into a giant sheet and taped it to the wall.

It ended up becoming one of my favorite sets.

I think that’s true of most things I’m drawn to. Old buildings. Vintage cameras. Film. Wrinkled paper. Objects that carry a little evidence of the life they’ve already lived and being able to find the lasting beauty in them.

06/11/2026

You’ve spent years being sold a version of femininity that was never made for you.

Too loud.
Too quiet.
Too much.
Not enough.

Too masculine.
Too feminine.

No wonder so many women think they’re doing it wrong.

Maybe the problem isn’t you.

Maybe it’s the rules.

Maybe you’ve just spent your whole life trying to fit inside someone else’s idea of womanhood.

Maybe it’s time to step in to your own.

03/02/2026

If you had asked a younger version of me, there is not an amount of money you could have paid her to believe that in my 40s I would be single and content.

And not spiraling about it.
Not desperate to change it.
Not waiting for someone to rescue the storyline.
Just… content.

There’s a lot more conversation now about choosing to be single. Choosing to be child free. Choosing yourself.
But that doesn’t mean Valentine’s Day can come with mixed emotions.
It doesn’t mean you don’t watch other people move through the rituals and feel a small twinge of emptiness.
You can be wildly content and still feel that.

For Valentine’s Day, I opened my studio to single women and honestly this might become an annual thing.

No couple narrative.
No milestone.
No “one day when.”

Just being seen in this era of their life.

And you know what the common thread between all of these women was? Being wildly content and happy in ways they didn't expect.

I'm here for every era of your life.

02/14/2026

Love is not a competition.

It does not matter who you love.
It does not matter if you love one person, many people, or just yourself right now.

There is no prize for being partnered.
There is no prize for being single.

If you are building a life that feels honest, that counts.

Today can be flowers and candlelight.
Or sweatpants and takeout.
Or a long walk with your dog.
Or working toward something no one else sees yet.
Or being wildly content in your own space.

Love is bigger than relationship status.
Define it for yourself.

01/28/2026

Bae by Cari is an editorial approach to bo***ir and portraits.

Thoughtful styling, clear direction, and space to show up as yourself.

Based in Oakland.

Sessions include planning support, film and digital images, and artwork options.

If you’re curious, this is a good place to begin.

01/17/2026

Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday. And I think that calls for a party.

You are officially invited to the Stupid Cupid Social Club.

Don’t get me wrong. I love being single. And I also love celebrating love in all its forms.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be about searching for someone.

It can be about celebrating the love you want more of in your life. With yourself. With friends. With community. With a future partner.

A festive studio gathering from 11 to 2 centered on making something and connecting.

Vision boards, collage, music, and new friends to laugh with.

Festive dressing encouraged. Red, pink, hearts, or anything that feels celebratory to you.

Interested in celebrating love? Comment HEART ♥️

01/16/2026

She booked a brand session because this is her job.

She wanted photos that match the level she’s operating at.

Clear.

Professional.

Confident without trying to sell it.

Yes, it’s posed.

That’s the point.

These images are doing work for her when she’s not in the room.

On her website.

In proposals.

In emails where first impressions matter.

A brand session isn’t about pretending.

It’s about being intentional.

If your business is solid but your photos still feel like an afterthought, this is what “updating your presence” actually looks like.

📍 Oakland studio

Brand sessions for people who take their work seriously and want photos that cheer them on.

Save this if your face represents your business.

Send it to someone who’s overdue.

01/15/2026

Did someone say Valentine's Day minis? Yes please. This year we're going red hot minimalist. Come in for a bo***ir, portrait or new headshot. Permission to show up how you want.

Sunday, February 8th (because not all of us are watching football 😉)

Photos ready for you by the 14th

$275 for 3 images

Link in bio ♥️♥️♥️

Address

Oakland, CA

Website

http://www.baebycari.com/

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