These shots are all about you. This section is about me.
The Story
Photography has been part of my life since I can remember. My father was a photographer, so I grew up around film and darkrooms. I picked up a camera early and never really put it down.
I started shooting to document mountaineering and diving expeditions. That eventually led to commercial work, magazine publications, and assignments across the US.
Then I started working full time as a firefighter. When an on-the-job injury changed my path, I came back to photography — not as a consolation, but to the part of me that was always there. That's when I built Be The Art Studio.
The more I shot, the more I realized I didn't fit the mold of boudoir. The images I made were different — like me. That's when it clicked: the difference was the point. And it wasn't just my images — it was the people in them. The work is a collaboration, built on trust — a moment that can't be made with anyone else.
Past clients include Visa, McKinsey & Company, Citibank, Lily Pharmaceuticals, and Cal Fire — along with editorial, wellness, and outdoor brands across the US.
The Work
When you walk into a session with me, you are in control. We move at your pace. We shoot only what feels right to you. Nothing is pushed, nothing is assumed. This is your experience — I am here to hold the space, guide when you want guidance, and step back when you don't. I do not take your trust lightly.
My job is to make sure you feel safe before anything else. Because the best images don't come from perfect poses — they come from moments when someone finally lets themselves arrive.
I don't direct people into someone else's idea of beauty. I create a space where something honest can emerge — where you can slow down, feel supported, and be seen as you actually are.
My role is not to make you look like someone else. It is to help you see yourself more clearly, and to make images that feel true to who you are right now.
That's what this is about.
Cat's been in front of my camera for years. She's also a therapist who works in exactly this territory — so when she describes what happens in a session, she isn't guessing.
In Her Own Words
"I join my favorite boudoir photographer Kabir Cardenas as we dive into the transformative experience that this type of photography can ignite. […] his experience being a male in the industry and the importance of making women feel safe to let go and be themselves."
Dr. Cat Meyer — psychotherapist, podcast host, client of eight years
we'll figure out the rest together.
