Common Misconceptions About Glamour Portraits & Boudoir Photography

If you were to poll 100 people and ask them what boudoir photography was to them you would more than likely get comments such as “trashy lingerie”, “half naked women” and “borderline pornography”.  Just like with any other genre of photography there are different styles for shooting the same thing. While some photographers will choose to shoot racier shots, there are other photographers (like myself) that choose to shoot classier, more romantic shots. You don’t have to show a lot of skin to be sexy! 

You don’t have to be nude, or even be in lingerie. Your boudoir session is customized to showcase you at your most beautiful, whatever that means to you. If your favourite old band tee and pyjama bottoms make you feel like your most sensational self, there’s nothing wrong with that! I will always tailor your shoot to your comfort level, outfit preferences and desires. See my boudoir gallery for examples.

Having a boudoir session done as a gift to a groom, fiancé, boyfriend or someone special in your life is a wonderful idea. However, scheduling a boudoir session just for yourself is just as delightful! Stepping out of your day-to-day life and into a space where you can channel your inner vixen is a unique experience. Boudoir photos are never merely a gift to someone else. Instead, they’re a gift to yourself, and whomever you choose to share them with.

You are enough. Regardless of what society tells you about yourself, you are enough. Boudoir is for any shape, shade, or style of woman. You are gorgeous just as you are, so you never need to worry about your beauty not coming across on camera. Leave your negativity at the door and allow our glam squad and skilled lens to amplify what makes you amazing and leave you with a lasting memory of the experience. 

There is no such thing as a “perfect figure”. Every woman has flaws and insecurities about their body. Before each session I ask my clients what their favorite and least favorite body parts are and I have never had a client that didn’t have something about themselves that they didn’t like. Boudoir photography is about embracing everything beautiful about YOU! It’s about creating beautiful pieces of art that showcase the curves and lines that make you a woman. So, embrace the beautiful body that you have NOW and stop waiting for the unattainable “perfect figure”.

While boudoir translates literally to “a woman’s bedroom,” some of the most enticing boudoir photos aren’t taken in a bedroom at all! Your boudoir shoot can take place in a variety of settings that complement who you are, the pieces you’ve chosen to wear, and the vibe you’re trying to get across. 

My images are normally shot with a studio background with minimal props and instead of a bed I use an elegant chaise lounge. I prefer the lounge as it allows using a number of poses for both glamour portrait and boudoir. It’s just more chic!

This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. In our photo contract, we promise you that we will never share any of your photos without your written permission. I always respect the privacy of all my clients and never break that trust. The images that you see in my marketing materials and online are from clients who modeled for a specific shoot, or who granted me permission to share their shots with the world.

While you may not want to hang your boudoir photos over the fireplace in your family room there are definitely ways to display your images tastefully. The most popular method is through albums or the latest craze – folio boxes, that can be discreetly placed on a shelf or on a bed side table. You could also go for a folio box with window displaying your favourite image and you could place it anywhere in you house should you wish to. Like a wall art without walls. 

If you want to get a little more bold you can even hang some of your photos in your bedroom. I had a client print a few of her images on metal prints and create an art wall in her master bedroom. 

But my favourite idea to date has been when a client told me that she was redecorating her master bath and wanted to use images from her boudoir session as part of her “me” space. She wanted a daily reminder of just how beautiful she really is. Love it!!

This is an intimate portrait session. By definition it’s about intimacy, privacy and solitude. My job is to make you comfortable so you feel great in your own skin, and to draw you out to the person you know you are within. It’s YOUR version of sexy,  not anyone else’s. And, when I do my job right, you will absolutely see yourself as sexy.

Are you too old to feel special? Appreciated?Beautiful? YOU get to choose to embrace who you are throughout life’s many beautiful stages. YOU get to choose how you’re styled in a way that makes sense to you. Sure, you may not be that same girl as you were in your early 20s. Now you’re even better…you’re a woman. Today’s woman is better than yesterday’s woman. Let’s go now.

A woman’s private moments should never feel like “bargains”. The blatant truth here is, you’ll get what you pay for. A boudoir session is a life-changing experience, which typically includes a moderate investment. A professional photographer’s trade is very expensive to run. Therefore a highly skilled, reputable boudoir photographer is almost never “cheap” and does not “deep discount”. A boudoir photographer who knows their own worth also know what a great client is worth to us. We’ll go to the furthest lengths to earn every penny, with gratitude and a pursuit of excellence.

That’s perfectly fine. While I prefer to keep sessions confined to me, my client and my hair/makeup artist only, I do allow friends to book sessions together. They often find that it’s a blast (and want to come back alone again!). I’ll warn you though, we do laugh a little too much.

If your significant other does not appreciate the opportunity for you to feel special, confident and beautiful, that is their unfortunate choice. But you do not have to choose the same fate for yourself. You are your own person, with your own emotional needs. I respect the nature of your relationship but YOU as my client are my only priority and my person of concern.

Think of it as an investment in your self-confidence. I especially hear a lot of moms feeling guilty for spending time and money on themselves instead of their kids. I’m a big believer that you can’t pour from an empty cup, and that it’s important for kids to have a mom that is comfortable in her own skin and loves and accepts her body. Wouldn’t you want your kids to be able to love and accept their bodies without self-criticism and doubt? An investment in yourself IS an investment in your family. Not only that, but these portraits will likely be one of the only things you purchase this year that actually appreciate in value over time.

Well, not wearing anything is certainly an option 🙂 But seriously – a boudoir shoot is not about shopping or reinventing yourself into who you think you “should” be. While it can be a fun excuse to buy some new bras or panties, my favorite way to photograph a woman is in her favorite outfit. Even if we deconstruct it a bit (think: your favourite leather jacket with just a bra underneath), your photos should reflect exactly who you are, and part of who you are is what you like to wear and feel comfortable in.

And if you are really struggling, a classic white sheet is also a great option. It suits all women regardless of their age, size and shape.

It is important to know that digital files are not archives and they can get corrupt. We do everything on our phones, tablets or computers these days and a lot of important files or all family photos are stored on these devices. Remember that these, as any other electronics, will not last forever and you need to ensure that your beautiful pictures are safe for many years and even decades to come. 

You need to keep your files in a number of medias if you wish to ensure they are safe (i.e. USB flash drive, external backup drive, your computer and cloud storage like Dropbox). If most of your photo library is stored on your social media profile, just image what would happen if that portal shut down for some reason one day, where would you be with your visual legacy.

To ensure your images last a lifetime, I encourage you to invest in high quality tangible print products such as fine art prints, wall art, albums or folio boxes. These not only look beautiful and really allow you full appreciation of your art, but are designed to stand many years. You’re visual legacy is much safer if you invest into good print products as well as digital files. 

Every single print or wall portrait you buy from me comes with a matching digital file in the resolution purchased. This will give you an archival grade physical prints to last for many generations and a digital version to share on your devices. The best of both worlds.