I have learned in recent years how powerful it can be to get out of my head and into my body. I’ve observed from personal experience and from years of photographing women that we like to stay in our heads, am I right? We live in our emotions and thoughts and so rarely do we live freely within our bodies. I love that boudoir is an incredible way to get into your body.
On its surface and most popularly, boudoir is known for being photographs of women – usually in lingerie or some other sexy ensemble – to be given to someone they love as a gift. To this definition I like to say “yes, this, AND. . .” Boudoir is this. But boudoir can also be so much more, and what boudoir can ALSO be is why I am so passionate about it!
Let me explain what boudoir also is to me, and why you should do a session with me before the end of the year:
- Boudoir makes an awesome gift.
Yes, a boudoir shoot DOES make a hot gift for your person. As a wedding present, what an intimate way to say (all of the obvious jokes aside) “as we unify our lives together today, I want to share my entire self with you. . .body included.” Your person loves you, loves your body and would be beyond thrilled for this gift. My favorite is when the person receiving this gift comes up to me during the reception and whispers to me “Thank you so much for helping my new spouse celebrate their body this way. . .and DANG they are HOT!”
Boudoir also makes a great anniversary gift, birthday gift, Valentines Day. . .or any other holiday gift! - Boudoir is powerful (and fun) self-care.
One thing I hear back from clients all the time is how nice it is to take this time for themselves. We are the worst at taking time for ourselves like that, am I right?! A boudoir shoot gives you this moment to look for outfits that you love on your body. You get to relax in the hair and makeup chair for an hour or so, letting someone else get you ready for once. And then you essentially play dress up while I photograph you.
- Boudoir is vulnerable, bringing you closer to your person.
Not to be too direct or obvious about it, but I have to share this steamy little story with you. The last boudoir shoot I delivered to a client was followed with a text from her telling me that she just couldn’t keep her anniversary shoot a surprise. She went home in her hair and makeup and told her husband that they needed to go on a date since she was feeling so good about herself post-boudoir shoot (it’s a thing!). Well her husband could sense this spirit of feeling refreshed, empowered and dang proud of herself that his wife was experiencing and that was super attractive to him (I am sure the hair and makeup glam helped set the mood, too). My client texted that they couldn’t wait until after their impromptu date night – they had sex then and there. These two have been married awhile, have kids together, just left a season where they struggled with their marriage and are now in a really great place. Let the experience of boudoir bring you closer together, not just because you are SMOKIN’ HOT, but also because you chose to share of yourself in such an intimate and vulnerable way. - Boudoir is vulnerable, bringing you closer to yourself.
The one part of the boudoir experience that I wish I could bottle up is the energy women have as they leave the shoot. They’ve gotten all fancy, they’ve overcome that very first moment right before I take that first picture of them where they are like I AM SO NERVOUS HELP! They found that I walk them through the shoot from beginning to end, making sure they feel comfortable, safe and seen. I show the back of the camera along the way so they don’t leave scared that they will hate their pictures (many women have cried when they see themselves on the back of the camera – what a moment to share with them!). At the end of the shoot, there is the euphoria of having done the hard thing! You conquered your fear like a badass and looked super sexy doing it. Instead of vacating your body (like women so often do when we don’t like our bodies) for your brain or emotions, you dropped into your body and celebrated it. THIS is giving your self-care, this is having a full embodied experience, this is being brave enough to have the pictures to prove that you did a hard thing. There is power in all of this that you will carry with you.
There will always be reasons to say, “I will wait and do a boudoir shoot when ______ happens” or “when I lose more weight” or or or. I challenge you to stop and think about it – you’re more ready than you realize.
I’ve got opportunities for you to do a boudoir shoot in a Southern home, a mid-century modern hotel, and outdoors on a secluded farm. I’ve got opportunities for you to do your shoot on a weekday so you can keep it a surprise and on the weekend so you can do it when you are off of work. I’ve got incredible hair and makeup artists to give you the gift of getting all fancy pants.
Are you ready? Let’s do it!
P.S. Boudoir is for ALL. All shapes, all sizes, all skin tones, all styles, all ages, all life stages. Reach out to me, even if you aren’t sure, but are interested.
