Poppins’ adventurous and serene outdoor boudoir session at sunset

To say that Poppins has a deep connection with nature is a huge understatement. As an experienced outdoor adventurer who has worked outside for most of her career, Poppins is someone who feels most at home beneath a wide sky, near the water, and under birch trees. Poppins had been dreaming about doing an outdoor boudoir session for a long time, saving up and waiting for the right moment. This year, Poppins reached a point where she felt really proud of her body-positivity journey, and she began exploring an intentional practice of doing special things just for herself. She decided an outdoor boudoir session at sunset would be the perfect way to celebrate herself and mark her progress on the lifelong journey of cultivating self-love.

Poppins’ outdoor boudoir vision 

This past August, I spent a week at an amazing cabin on a giant private property, and clients met me here for a bunch of outdoor boudoir sessions. Poppins loved this location, and chose to do her outdoor boudoir session during my time here. 

The property had a wide range of spots to use for pictures, including a lush forest, a tranquil lake, and a flourishing field of wildflowers and prairie grasses. Poppins felt thrilled to create portraits that documented her loving connection with herself and the natural world. 

She envisioned portraits that felt at once adventurous, playful, dramatic, and serene. As someone who loves to canoe, backpack, hike, and garden, Poppins was thrilled to bring her canoe and create art that captured her interacting with and enjoying the surrounding wilderness in a familiar, candid way. In her professional work, Poppins spends a lot of time needing to be responsible and tend to the needs of others, so she felt extra excited to take a day just for herself to relax and even luxuriate in nature, all at an unhurried pace. 

Poppins is also an avid forager, so before the session even began she started fulfilling her intention for an unhurried day by taking several stops on the way to the photoshoot to forage! Throughout the session, Poppins sustained this relaxed pace, pausing to point out interesting plants she spotted including a wild plum tree and wild herbs. It was so delightful to witness her deep knowledge of all the plant life surrounding us and her intentionality in noticing and celebrating that life. 

Chapter one: the forest 

Before the photoshoot began, I scoped out the property and decided on a few backdrops that aligned well with Poppins’ vision. Once Poppin arrived, we confirmed the plan and began, setting off on a lovely trail through the forest surrounded by ferns and birch trees. Poppins wore a white, lacy bra and underwear set that felt very soft and feminine. The clean white lines of the lingerie set at once contrasted with the lush green foliage and complemented the birch trees sprinkled through the forest. During our planning session, Poppins told me how much she loved birch trees, and it was so meaningful to witness her genuine joy to be surrounded by birch. By capturing Poppins hiking the trails, sitting on the forest floor, and playing with the ferns, these portraits hold such a lovely array of moods: lighthearted, adventurous, spirited, and at ease. 

Chapter two: the lake

For the next look, Poppins grabbed her canoe and we headed to a small lake on the property. Poppins wore the same white underwear from her first look and paired it with an unbuttoned, white camping shirt. A white shirt is such a classic boudoir outfit, and I love how she reimagined this iconic look in a way that was authentic to her outdoorsy style. We took some portraits of Poppins stretching out in the canoe, and then I hopped into the canoe with Poppins to photograph her rowing and exploring the waters. These portraits hold a feeling of deep rest, capturing Poppins relishing in a quiet moment of solitude surrounded by such tranquil waters.

Chapter three: the prairie at sunset 

To wrap up the session, we explored the vast prairie grasses on the property– arriving at this location right in time to catch a truly magical golden hour before the sun set. Poppins wore a simple black bodysuit with clean lines and a low back. When planning the session, I like to ask clients what they love about their bodies, and Poppins shared that her legs are one of her favorite features. She loves how strong they are and how far they have carried her through life, allowing her to walk and move and do the activities she loves most. While strolling through the field, using her legs in the way she loves, Poppins looked so confident and at home with herself. She also took some moments to huddle close to the earth– kneeling and sitting on the ground, the wind blowing gently through her hair. These portraits feel so storytelling, capturing Poppins’ authentic happiness to be outside, basking in the brilliant setting sun, and celebrating her radiant self.