When you think of having a girls day, what type of activities do you imagine? I’m sure some of you are imagining a relaxing day all about self-care that involves going to a spa or getting your nails done. Some of you are also probably imagining a fun movie night with plenty of wine and your best friends by your side.

I love these fun ideas as much as the next person, but I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes it’s time to shake things up. If you’re looking for a different activity and feel like you’re ready to try something new for a change, I have the PERFECT activity for you… Consider a boudoir session with all of your best friends!

Have you been thinking about booking a boudoir photography session for yourself? Want to have an experience where you embrace your body, build your self-confidence, and walk away from the session with STUNNING photos to either keep for yourself or show off? Maybe that all sounds great to you, but there’s one issue…

You’re just not quite sure what kind of session you’re imagining for yourself! You’ve seen a couple examples of boudoir shots, but you’re needing some inspiration to give you ideas and help you decide on the right type of photography session for you…

What’s your favorite thing to do on a warm, bright summer day? I’ll let you in on one of my favorite ways to enjoy a sunny day… Ever since jumping into photography, I’ve always LOVED that summer is such a popular season for weddings. As a photographer, I love to celebrate love, and a gorgeous sunny backdrop is PERFECT for capturing memories of two people in love.

This is one of the many reasons why I was so excited to photograph Tylar and Keven’s wedding! They reached out to me and asked if I could photograph their ceremony and reception held at Vintage Gardens Rustic Events. I learned that their event was set for July, and I immediately couldn’t wait for their big day…

When you think of the “typical” boudoir photography session, what comes to mind? Do you think about photos taken in bedroom sets? Or even see yourself posing in a living room set?

What if I told you that there’s a way to shake things up? When we work together, I love to talk about your vision and hopes for the session… If you’re imagining something a bit different and want to get creative, I’m all ears and here to help! I want to create a session for you that feels like it’s a perfect fit for your personality.

Stepping in front of the camera can require us to be a little vulnerable. Trust me, I know it’s not always easy to put yourself out there… Especially if it’s your first photography session! If you’re working with the right photographer, though, you’ll find that having trust between you two will make you feel so comfortable during your session.

For this session in particular, my client wanted to take some photos that would really push her out of her comfort zone. Before taking any of these shots, I made sure to share that she was in a private and safe space. When client comfort is made a priority, the studio then becomes a safe space where clients can feel free to embrace their bodies and themselves… and that’s how the magic happens!

When was the last time you played dress up? Or had some fun with a costume on Halloween? Really think back on it… Those of us with kids are used to helping them pick out a costume for Halloween every year, but when was the last time you really allowed yourself to play dress up and have some fun?

What if there was another good reason to put on a costume and embrace part of your childhood again? It can be so easy to lose sight of the magic we felt as children while dressing up, so I wanted to give my clients another good reason to grab a costume and play pretend for a bit…

When it comes to finding love, anything is possible. With all of the ways we can meet and connect with potential partners in today’s day and age, there are fewer rules than ever… making dating and romance so exciting! Would you be open to meeting your partner online? Here’s the story of a couple who did just that!

My clients first met each other online, and now they’re happily engaged! After connecting online and then doing long distance for some of their relationship, they eventually came together to live on the west coast. I loved hearing about their online success story, and I was INCREDIBLY honored to be able to celebrate their engagement with them by having a photography session.

Maternity photoshoots give us the power to capture a moment in time when we’re carrying a child, and it’s such an INCREDIBLE gift to have. When looking back at our bodies and ourselves during these sessions, we can appreciate our own beauty and strength. These photos truly help us gain a love and full appreciation of our bodies!

When my client reached out to book a session and started to share more with me, I learned that she wanted to book a maternity session to capture her third pregnancy. She hoped to capture her body in a special moment in time so she could look back at her photos and remember the way her body changed through her pregnancy experiences.

When you think of a boudoir photography session, what do you think of? I bet you imagined a classic bedroom backdrop or even a shower set with photos featuring just one person. Today, though, I’m here to talk about ways to change up these classic elements of boudoir photo shoots and really shake things up!

And some of these ideas are brought to you by my incredible client! She already had one boudoir photography session with me in the past, and she reached out again to schedule a second boudoir shoot with me. This time, though, she had new ideas in mind… My client wanted to include her husband’s motorcycle in the shots as an amazing gift for his birthday!

When it comes to photography shoots, there’s something special about having a session, living a little bit of life, and then coming back for another shoot with me. (I love seeing all of the changes that go on in my clients’ lives!)

Here’s the story of my client who did exactly that! My client for this session is my AMAZING makeup artist who helps me with the makeup looks for most of my boudoir clients. This is her second boudoir session with me. This time, we switched it up! We definitely used a different setting for the shots, and my client also agreed to let me test out some new lighting techniques on her. She was also pregnant for our second shoot!

Let’s talk surprises! Some are bigger fans of surprises than others, but let’s face it… Who doesn’t love receiving an amazing gift that you never would’ve expected?

If you ever find yourself wanting to give your partner a surprise present, why not choose something special that’s completely unique, too? Whether it’s for a birthday, Valentine’s Day, or an anniversary, gifting your partner a boudoir album is such a fun idea. It’s the perfect personal gift that will also spice things right up. Plus, it’s a present that they’ll never see coming!

When was the last time you stepped outside of your comfort zone? Take a second to think about it…

If you’re ever finding yourself looking for something new to try, consider a boudoir photography session! It’s definitely an experience that will shake things up… You’ll be able to step outside of your comfort zone in a safe, supportive environment, AND you’ll have amazing photos to show for it! I couldn’t recommend a boudoir session enough if you’re craving a new adventure. (Plus, your partner will be thanking you once you show off your stunning photos!)

When we finally got to see all our photos, I could see the boost of confidence in my husband, and I could feel the boost of confidence in myself. My husband hates his photos being taken and usually doesn’t have much opinion on which photos he likes. This time he actually had an opinion! Seeing myself in those photos with my husband was like seeing myself from an outsider’s perspective. I no longer saw all my flaws- stretchmarks and rolls here and there. For a brief moment, I saw what my husband sees when he looks at me. I felt strong, fierce and sexy. There was one particular photo that really caught my attention because when I look at it I instantly think, “that’s a powerhouse couple right there” and that’s exactly my husband and I. Brittney captured us and our relationship in a photo! That’s incredibly hard to do considering that our “powerhouse” relationship is something so close and intimate between he and I. I now have a photo to hang on the wall in my bedroom that represents he and I in every aspect.

I need to say, that this shoot did not erase all the years of self-image issues I have. I still deal with it almost daily. However, what this shoot and Brittney gave me, was hope. Hope that even at 40 years old I could be beautiful and sexy! Knowing that is so inspiring to me.

Now that it’s all over, I have a beautiful portrait of myself hanging on the wall in my bedroom. I see it first thing every morning and constantly remind myself that I am sexy. I am beautiful. I don’t need validation from a parent or a lover to know my worth and my beauty. This process has been so good for me in so many ways.

With “wedding season” starting up again, I have gotten a lot of inquiries regarding bridal boudoir sessions (sessions intended to create a gift of images for their to-be spouse on/before their wedding day).

I’ve worked with some brides who use these sessions as an opportunity to be photographed in a more intimate nature with specific accessories that they plan to wear on their wedding (like their veil, garter. jewelry, lingerie, etc.) and others who want to use items that remind them (and their significant other) of their relationship/love for each other (such as significant clothing items, engagement ring, or other props). This session with a bit of a combination of both!

Once again, I am SOO behind with my blogging! I have a ridiculous amount of boudoir session recaps to type up and show you. Including this one… with this fiery red-head!

This session was one of my first in my new Vancouver, WA studio space. It was so much fun to work with her and play around with some new sets and features!

The word “pivot” has most definitely been overused these last couple of years, but there really isn’t a better way to describe what this couple had to do to make their beautiful beach wedding day come true!

I had never felt so cared for and thought about from a complete stranger than how I felt leaving Brittney’s studio. From the second I walked in, it was like a safe zone and I left my worries at the door…. The only thing I would change about my entire experience would be if I could tell the insecure girl who chickened out the first time “Hey trust me, you’re gonna love it!”