Recently we welcomed Kristin for a session at our South Jersey boudoir studio. Kristin is a busy nonprofit executive and a self-described goofball who wanted to discover a new side of herself, and take some time for some well-deserved pampering. She came to us because she loved the studio’s vibe and could immediately picture herself in this lush Victorian setting. She had also heard about how we walk our clients through every step of the process, and as a details-oriented person, she was looking for someone she could trust with something so intimate.
We spent a lot of our pre-planning discussions talking about Kristin’s ideas for her session and what vibe she wanted to achieve, and she felt a lot of uncertainty, which is totally normal for your first time doing a boudoir session! “I’m an over-analyzer at my core, so I had trouble making decisions when it came to something so unfamiliar to me. Having Adrian’s guidance became invaluable. Through our conversations and through the resources she sent me to read, I started to find my direction, but also started realizing there was some joy in not knowing where things would go exactly.”
Kristin brought several different outfits to choose from and we talked through how each made her feel. She started with a Curvy Kate black bra and high-waisted panty set with gorgeous lace detailing on the all-important tushie! With the first outfit chosen, Kristin started on hair and makeup with Kat.
“I was surprised at how quickly I let go of my stressful morning of work and was able to just soak in the experience of having my makeup professionally done. It came out flawless and I felt fantastic.”
The hair and makeup time, included in every session, is such a key part of the process. When women are carrying so much responsibility and stress whether from work or home life, they can’t just walk in and be ready to pose. This pampering session is vital to unlocking her inner peace and welcome her into a space that is totally focused on her.
When it was time to start shooting, any pre-session apprehension melted away and you could see Kristin embrace the process. For many clients, it’s the feeling of letting go and being in the moment that makes it seem so effortless. It was important that Kristin felt sexy but still comfortable, so we checked in frequently during the session. Our emphasis is ALWAYS on the client, and the client has complete control throughout. But on the flipside, the client doesn’t have to worry about anything, so there is no pressure to remember how to hold a pose, Adrian is right there to shepherd the entire process.
After some gorgeous shots with an ornate Victorian headboard as the backdrop, and some luscious window seat photos bathed in sunlight, Kristin switched into the “vintage twist” outfit, a mint green 1970s nightgown purchased from a vintage reseller on Etsy. Paired with a lacy collar and gold body chain combo, she could have walked off the set of a delightfully campy Cleopatra film set. Thrifting and dressing up are two of Kristin’s favorite things, so it’s no surprise she instantly loved draping herself across the tufted divan.
One of our favorite parts of boudoir photography is finding what sparks our clients and drawing that spark out into a full-on flame. It’s never about applying a template to each women who walks into our boudoir studio, it’s about knowing all the best poses, angles, looks and lighting and then making the client shine in their own beautiful brightness. Kristin agrees:
