40 and Fabulous Boudoir

Raleigh Boudoir Photographer

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I have to let this beautiful woman share with you about her experience doing a boudoir shoot:

“I decided to have a boudoir shoot done for my 40th birthday. I had NEVER felt great about my body and was very modest and even ashamed of it. I read articles that claimed this kind of photography could do wonders for your self-esteem, and I knew Ashley would be able to ease my insecurities. I wasn’t at my “ideal weight,” and I had more flaws than ever (in my head) but I decided that since time wasn’t going backwards, I needed to just DO IT!

My husband of nearly 20 years was BLOWN AWAY by the beautiful, artistic, and classic yet <giggle> suggestive images. He couldn’t stop looking at them. It felt like he was falling in love with me all over again! And even my critical eye had to concede that I looked pretty darn good! The whole experience was so liberating and so good for my soul.

I think it’s REALLY worth the money for professional make up.  I NEVER would have known how to apply specifically for photography.  In real life I felt like I looked like a street walker but it ended up that the makeup was perfect on camera.

I encourage women of ALL ages and stages to consider a shoot like this. Ashley knows exactly how to capture all your best attributes. I’m even considering making this something I do for myself every 5 years! Don’t wait to lose 5 more pounds—just do it!

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Welcome to a Piece of My Heart

Raleigh Boudoir Photographer

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In 2008 I was approached by one of my brides – she asked me if I would be comfortable doing a boudoir shoot for her.  April had already done some boudoir shoots at the time so I was familiar with the concept, I just had not thought much about doing a boudoir shoot myself.  This particular bride was amazing at showing me how much she believed in me and trusted me, so I said why not!  Let’s do this!  I couldn’t help myself after that – I fell in love with boudoir shoots.  From there I was telling everyone about them, how empowering they were, how fun they were to allow women to dress up and feel confident and sexy in their own skin.  After that I did several boudoir shoots every year, I just never had permission to share them except for a few here and there.  (From this post back are the few shoots I have been allowed to share in the past since beginning to shoot boudoir)

Fast forward to last year.  I had been shooting boudoir for awhile and felt like I needed new tools, a fresh perspective.  I needed to hear how other people approached boudoir.  So I took a chance and flew to Canada to be a part of an amazing boudoir workshop.  I came home newly inspired to shoot boudoir and knew that it needed it’s own space.  At the same time I was soul searching, including some inspiration from Lara Casey, to figure out what really fired me up. Why is it that I do what I do.  What, at my core, makes me feel most fulfilled.  The answer?  Serving women.  It has always been that for me.  Knowing what women go through in this world, knowing that the vast majority of women describe their bodies as “disgusting” and “gross”.  Knowing that I too have battled and still do battle that voice in my head.  In the words of Eve Ensler, knowing that we go through this life acting like our heads are detached from our bodies like balloons because we just want to ignore what is on the other side of our necks.  And while boudoir shoots have the reputation of just being a gift for your partner, I watched as they were ALWAYS a gift to the woman doing the shoot.  To hear women talk about how they have never seen themselves that way, that they felt so good about themselves and actually enjoyed being in front of the camera for once.

Boudoir can be so powerful for women, and in turn for their partners.  I’ve seen it breathe life into marriages.  Maybe that power scared me a little bit at first.  Maybe that’s why I hesitated before putting this new space out into the world.  It is my heart and not everyone understands it, especially in the south.  But I just felt like it was time.  So here it is, a piece of my heart out into the world.

 

(That is me, Ashley, pictured above, as photographed by my husband David)

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Boudoir Workshop

Raleigh Boudoir Photographer

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I am always shooting boudoir but it is very rare that I get to share it with the world.  Last year I felt like I was in the season of my boudoir shooting that I was ready to take things to the next level.  I was anticipating this new website and some other exciting boudoir projects and I wanted to be refreshed.  I wanted to learn from another photographer who had successfully moved in the direction business-wise that I wanted to head in.  I had been following the stunning, edgy work of Last Forty Percent Boudoir Photography for awhile and when I saw they were offering a workshop, I knew I had to go.  There was one full day of “classroom” learning where Brianna and Ewan shared everything about their business model, from top to bottom.  The second day was filled with shooting three different sessions.  We got to hear and see Ewan in action in their very own studio space.  Ewan and Brianna graciously shared of themselves and their business and I am so thankful to have learned so much from this workshop.  These two are so very passionate and unique and I left SO inspired.  I was thrilled to come home with new tools to integrate into my style of boudoir photography.

Boudoir is so important to me.  I have a huge heart for empowering women and helping them know that they are each uniquely beautiful.  I have had my own struggles in this journey of self acceptance so I know how it feels to be vulnerable and unsure of how you look and are perceived by the world.  I want every woman to know that she is gorgeous and worth celebrating just the way she is.

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Words About the Boudoir Experience

Raleigh Boudoir Photographer

“When I first contemplated doing a boudoir shoot for my future husband, I was feeling a wide range of emotions. Women are influenced by so many sources that cause insecurities, and everyone has them. Looking past those insecurities was one of the best decisions I’ve made! I imagined the look on his face when he opened up his wedding present and I just knew I had to do it. The day of the shoot, Ashley made me feel so comfortable and she was complimentary the whole time.  I had my makeup and hair done there (which I would recommend – I felt SO sexy!) and we had so much fun!  The entire experience felt so beautiful, confident, pure, and empowering! The images she captured are incredible and the book she put together for my hubby was amazing!  I decided to give it to him a few days before the wedding and his reaction was priceless. It took him a solid 10 minutes to really realize that I had done all of it without him knowing!  He was so excited that he would be able to travel with it, and me!  Even now, he keeps my book in the drawer of his nightstand and I catch him looking at it every once and a while.  I have told all my friends about how liberating and incredible boudoir can be and encourage every woman to do it at some point in their lives. You just have to have the perfect photographer, and luckily I did.”

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Gorgeous Outdoors

Raleigh Boudoir Photographer

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“My boudoir experience with Ashley was awesome! I felt empowered the beautiful the entire time. Ashley helped me feel comfortable and sexy despite my shyness and insecurities.  If you’re unsure about a boudoir shoot with Ashley… do it! You will leave a different woman. You won’t regret it.”

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