S’s joyful and strong boudoir portraits

I’m extra excited today, because this is the first blog post of portraits that I’m sharing from my brand new studio! It’s been such a joy to begin photographing clients in this space, and I was thrilled when S gave me permission to share her portraits here, as they provide a lovely glimpse into the photoshoot experience of my new space. 

When is the right time to do boudoir?

S found me through a friend of hers who was a past client, and though she had been interested in doing a boudoir session for some time, she kept asking herself, “when will be the right time?” When S reached out to me, she was in a season of life where she was celebrating some big professional and personal accomplishments. She had found some spaciousness in her life to pause, look around, and say “I’m really proud of myself.” She decided this was the right moment to do a boudoir session to help her celebrate the joy and strength she felt in this life chapter. 

S brought both intention and openness into her session. She knew she wanted the portraits to feel natural and organic, but she also wanted to explore a variety of moods and styles during the session: romantic, classic, candid, strong. Some of my clients arrive at their sessions with a clear vision for their portraits. They may have taken my style quiz ahead of time or have a specific vibe they know they want to embody. Other clients, like S, want to live in more than one style for their session. There’s no wrong approach to a boudoir session, and I love getting to help clients inhabit all of the styles that feel right for them on their photoshoot day. 

S’ Boudoir portraits

S began the session with a classic boudoir look: a black bra and bottom set paired with a flowy white shirt from my studio layering wardrobe. I love how the soft light flowing in from the window and the warm tones of the windowseat brick help S’s outfit stand out.

Next S chose to wear a favorite body suit of hers. Sitting in front of the rich green accent wall, S looks so joyful and at ease. 

While S and I connected over our shared love of neutral color tones, she decided to bring a pop of color into her session with a bold red bra and underwear set, which she really loved! For clients who want to add an energetic element to their session, bringing in a bold color you love can bring a bright touch of warmth and personality to portraits. Rich colors also contrast so nicely with the warm and neutral tones of the creamy walls, white bed sheets, and opaque frosted windows in my new studio. 

Some of my favorite portraits of the day feature S standing confident, poised, and effortless in front of the tall front windows of the studio. The light is so dreamy and special in these portraits, and S radiates joy and strength here.