If ten years ago, you told me “you will be a portrait photographer” I would have laughed and said, “no way!” I loved (and still do) landscape, wildlife, and fine art photography. (In fact, I’ve been craving some of those shoots so I will have to plan some road trips this spring !) Since I started this journey of becoming a professional photographer it’s been interesting to me to see how I have evolved and continue grow. In the last few years I have been focusing on families, children, and high school Seniors and I didn’t really expect to start venturing into the world of fashion, glamour and Boudoir photography; yet, here I sit and that is exactly what I am doing!
This post is about my experience venturing into Boudoir photography! It’s something that I’ve been interested in for about a year, but due to my commitments for families, kids and seniors it just wasn’t something I was ready to pursue. However, in September I had the honor of photographing a friend and fellow photographer’s maternity portraits. A boudoir photographer herself, we spent some time at her house playing with lighting and doing some light boudoir maternity shots. I loved how they turned out and decided then that I would make the time to pursue this niche.
Venturing into something new is always exciting as well as nerve wracking. In preparation I did lots of research, studied countless boudoir images, and attended an online workshop. I knew what I wanted my Boudoir shoots to be like. I wanted the images to be classy, tasteful and timeless. Most importantly, I want my clients to feel comfortable and walk away having had a good experience. I expected my clients to be nervous, who wouldn’t be, letting themselves be completely vulnerable, often times in front of a complete stranger? I expected clients’ confidence in themselves and their trust in me to grow as each session went on. What I didn’t expect was how liberating the shoots would be for not only the client but for me as well.
To watch someone, who absolutely doesn’t want an area of their body to be photographed, by the end of the shoot posing for full body shots and wearing less clothing than they originally intended, is inspiring and rewarding. To watch someone begin to embrace their body, flaws and all, and to see them walk out as a more confident person is why I am doing this. It may not be why I started doing it, but it is why I will continue to do it. I want women to feel comfortable with themselves and to embrace their bodies the way they are and to feel beautiful! We all deserve that.
I’ve had several women say to me, “I’d love to do one of your boudoir sessions, but I need to lose 10lbs.” I can relate. After my first shoot, I texted Sam (my above photographer friend) and said “I want you to do my Boudoir portraits, but I want to lose 5lbs”. Now, after doing several shots, I say screw the 5lbs, screw the extra skin around the belly, screw the stretch marks. There’s so much my body can do, and has done, and let’s embrace that.
Part of my job as a professional photographer is to understand the human body and the angles and poses that most flatter a person; how the bend of the knee or a slight change in angle makes the legs look longer or the waist narrower. I believe on the power of posing and lighting instead of adjustments in Photoshop. I do, of course, edit my images, but I do not believe in altering a person completely
A few of my beautiful and courageous clients have approved images that I can share. Enjoy!
Contact me to schedule your own liberating experience of a Boudoir Shoot.
