Ta-ta

This beautiful babe is an absolute inspiration in every single way.  I got a text from her a few days before Mother’s Day, asking if I did boudoir parties.

OF COURSE!  I love parties!  Women hanging out, empowering each other, cheering each other on, it’s always a blast.  It’s why I started Galentine’s Day.

It turns out that E was about to undergo a double mastectomy and had to do so in pretty short order.  

She wanted to celebrate her pre-surgery body, and she wanted her friends by her side. She called it a “tata to my tatas party.”  

My heart.

She said she specifically needed to document her breasts because they were amazing, and wanted to pour a bottle of champagne over them.  

WHY have I not thought of this before?

On the day of the shoot, the time came to get the champagne out. We cleared the bed away from the wall, did some “practice” shots before popping the bottle, and had the emergency standby bottles ready.  I had to be sure we got these shots right-it was the only thing she specifically requested.  And man.  They. Are. SPECTACULAR.  

THIS is what I mean when I say I want to capture happy, giggly, laughing shots-where you let go completely.  You are alive and free, loving everything in the precise moment the picture is taken.  

For those that have worked with me, pouring a bottle of champagne over your body works WAY better than exclaiming “PENIS!” to get genuine giggles.  

Her hubby was present for her photo reveal and he just beamed. He said it made him so happy to see she had a great time during the shoot.

She might have the most grace of any woman I have ever met.  She went through this whole process with a brave smile on her face, brazenly donning her Dita Von Teese lingerie (whom she is a clone for btw if you didn’t notice), and exhibiting absolute joy during her entire shoot.  

She patiently waited while I worked on her album design through a super busy month, and is already talking about a follow up shoot after reconstructive surgery.  

Hope you are feeling well, E.  I can’t wait to photograph you again.  

New Work from Walker’s Point

I am so excited to start sharing sessions from the new studio!!! I had an absolute blast with this babe yesterday!! I’m really starting to find my groove in the new studio, and am loving how it is photographing!!! Stay tuned for a video tour of the studio and some behind the scenes peeks at our THIRD secret project – we start shooting TOMORROW! EEEEEEEEE In the meantime, enjoy these incredibly beautiful images.

4 Tips to Prepare for Your Boudoir Shoot, plus a free guide to understanding lingerie!

For a great boudoir shoot, a little bit of preparation is so important.  You want to spend your shoot feeling amazing, beautiful, confident and sexy.  Here are my top tips to get the  most out of your boudoir experience.  

Tip one:  Shop for your boudoir wardrobe at least a month before your shoot:  

The most important part of preparing for your boudoir shoot is wardrobe.  Find a few different outfits that fit you perfectly and that you love.   

The last thing you want to be worrying about is whether those straps are digging into your skin or if the push up is creating an unnatural shape or creating unwanted gaps.  

Because lingerie can be super intimidating, especially if you haven’t worn it much, all of our sessions include wardrobe styling at Althea’s Fine Lingerie!  Althea has a true gift for fitting women in amazing lingerie that flatters their figures!  She will help you shop for items that are perfect for you.  You’ll feel so much better knowing you are rocking those outfits. 

We have created a guide to lingerie for you to review before your wardrobe fitting!!  Click here to check it out.   

Tip two:  Schedule your waxing, facial, mani pedi and any hair color appointments 48 hours before your shoot.  

Take the heat factor up a notch with a Brazilian wax!!!  I absolutely love Susan at Clean Slate Spa.  Her Brazilians are quick and virtually painless and will leave you feeling amazingly sexy. Everyone’s skin is different, so you want to allow at least 48 hours between your wax and your shoot, and you want at least 4 weeks of growth before any wax.   

Schedule any hair color touch ups at least 48 hour ahead of time also.  Do not make huge color changes within a few days of your shoot-you want to be sure you are happy with the results.  

And same goes for your mani pedi-you want to schedule this 24/48 hours before your shoot to be sure you are happy with everything!  I am often asked what the best color is for a mani pedi-you can’t go wrong with the classics – red, nude, or black, but any fun color that coordinates with your outfits and compliments your skin tone will work.  If you are in doubt, ask your nail tech!

Tip three:  Stay well hydrated, exfoliate, and moisturize.  24 hours before your shoot, drink LOTS of water, exfoliate your skin and use lots of moisturizer.  This will keep your skin super soft and smooth and exfoliating will help you get a closer shave on your legs.  I LOVE the Raw Sugar line sold at target-I use their exfoliating scrub, body wash and lotion in the lemon scent.  Yummy and invigorating.  

Tip Four: The day of your shoot!!  Eat breakfast, pack a snack, and open yourself up to the process! You are going to want your strength for the poses that I will be putting you in-I promise it will not show in your photos if you have breakfast that day! Most importantly, boudoir is very much a mental game and arriving open and ready for the experience and really tuning into why you are there and your goals for the shoot will help immensely. I have tips for this too and we go over that before your shoot!!

I hope these tips have been helpful!!!

I am so grateful to be able to do what I love, and am always honored when someone chooses me for their boudoir experience. Have a great day, babes!!!