AJ’s bright and blissful tulip boudoir session
AJ had been thinking about doing a boudoir session for years, waiting for the right moment. As someone who deeply values authenticity, she was waiting to find a photographer whose style of boudoir she could see herself in. When she saw my floral boudoir portraits on instagram from a session earlier this spring, she felt like the portraits captured how she wanted to look and feel during a boudoir session. As AJ put it, “Over the course of several years, I looked into photographers doing boudoir sessions, but the minute I found Illuminate and Alyssa, I knew I had found ‘the one.’”
AJ is someone who loves tulips. During our planning session, she asked for brightly colored tulips to complement the happy vision she had in mind for her floral boudoir session. She wanted the portraits to capture her genuine joy and groundedness in this season of life. AJ told me about the journey she has made to create a life she’s proud of– including letting go of external definitions of success placed on her by society, and claiming an internally-sourced definition of success as living each day true to herself. She wanted her sense of success to shine through in the portraits, each one feeling happy and light while capturing her softness and strength.
In AJ's words: reflecting on her empowering boudoir experience
“I feel so beautiful and confident in myself. When we went through the reveal, I was shocked at how often I was drawn to the parts of me in the photos that previously I have been embarrassed by.
I have cellulite and it is beautiful! My moles were so striking and my favorite part of the detail pictures!
That was amazing, to erase the critical voice in my head when looking at myself. And to be able to see myself how so many other people see me! To experience that joy, enthusiasm, kindness, silliness, beauty, calm. And I get to re-experience that every time I look at the pictures I have now.”
Choosing outfits for her boudoir session
AJ brought a wide range of wardrobe choices to her session. She started with an everyday outfit, wearing a favorite pair of jeans and a cozy sweater. A common misconception about boudoir is that it has to involve wearing lingerie, when in reality, a lot of my clients like AJ wear favorite articles of clothing during their photoshoot. I believe it is equally boudoir to be in jeans and a cardigan, as it is to be totally naked, as it is to be wearing cotton underwear.
AJ also loves all things vintage, so she brought along two really special vintage garments. She wore a black silk slip, which beautifully complimented her soft yellow tulips to create a classic, bright, and joyful energy. She also paired a sheer chiffon babydoll top with a matching pale-blue underwear set. This outfit felt so airy and delicate. When AJ put on this outfit she said, “I wish I could wear this everyday!” These portraits feel so warm and happy, capturing AJ’s authentic joy with and for herself.
A few favorite portraits
I love so many parts of this detail portrait – how AJ’s arm rests delicately on her knee, how a beam of morning sunlight casts a warm glow on the couch, how the simplicity of three yellow tulips contrasts beautifully with the intricate lace lines on her slip.
This portrait is all about lines and light, making it at once simple and sculptural. Sunlight brightens the sheer fabric on AJ’s top and accentuates the sleek lines of her long torso and crossed legs.
There is so much warmth, gentleness, and joy bundled up in this portrait. AJ loved the idea of finishing her session by gathering up the whole bouquet of tulips and embracing them. This portrait feels cozy and carefree, like a burst of self-love and celebration.