A few before and afters

Everyone asks for some before and afters...

So here are two recent ones.







Please remember to respect these ladies' privacy and do not pass these photos on or comment on them to others if you know them. These are for your information on what lighting, posing, makeup and hair can do to make you look your best!

Thanks so much!

Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Photography:


Maybe you want some beautiful photos of yourself, just for you, to celebrate a new beginning. Or perhaps you want to record and celebrate a certain time in your life. Or you may want professional boudoir portraits for a gift for that special someone.

How do you know if doing this will work for you? And how do you find the right photographer for the job? One who's going to make you feel comfortable, and still create sensual but classy images without making you look bad?

Finding the Right Photographer

Finding the right boudoir photographer is important. There are a few things you need to look for to help you find the right person for the job.

The first thing is comfort. You need to find a photographer you can be comfortable with. In boudoir photography, gender does play a role. Although many male photographers do a great job of sexy and erotic photos, many don’t understand how most women still want these photos to make them feel cherished, classy, empowered and special as well as sensual and sexy. Finding a female photographer may help you feel more able to take a risk and feel comfortable and safe during the session. Having a woman do your photo shoot will also help in the lighting and posing, as being female, we know what we women want to hide and how to highlight our best assets!

Another thing to look for is the portfolio of work. You need to see a wide range of looks from the photographer that you choose, rather than just one style being shot over and over. That way you know your photos will express your playful and sensual side rather than just reproducing someone else’s idea of what sexy is. You also need to see real women in the photos. Someone who can shoot a supermodel may not be able to photograph a real woman in the best light.

Do You Need The Perfect Body?

You don't need the "perfect body" to look stunning in your boudoir images. The idea is to look incredibly beautiful, as well as sensual and alluring. Karen will make sure to light and pose you to emphasize your best assets.

"I think I had the same worries before the shoot as anyone might," admitted Marlene, one of our clients. "I worried about what I should wear and if my thighs were going to look huge. I wondered if I would look good in the final pictures? This was the first boudoir shoot I had ever done, so I was very nervous, and tried to mentally prepare myself. Once I met Karen though, all my nervousness disappeared. She was easy to talk to and really made me feel at ease right away."

Your portraits will be gorgeous. The way everyone else sees you instead of the way you see you. Not only will we do some final artwork and retouching, but we will ensure the portraits are taken right so that you look and feel your best.

Some sample prints and ideas

Many women I photograph say they simply have nothing to wear, especially if they are Moms on the run! So here are some ideas for when you have no real lingerie, but still want a sexy look...

For a simple look, a bit of jewelery and a nice pair of shoes looks great on it's own.
You can also try a simple man's shirt, tank top with jeans or cut offs, jeans with or without a bra set, a simple black dress, garden overalls, a large scarf or even just stockings and shoes!



And if you are totally lost for ideas:
here are some sample prints of items you can borrow at the studio.
The "Marilyn Monroe" Sexy White dress, for those of you with nothing to wear. (Fits Small to Medium Sizes.)


Here are some with our Chinese Umbrella... and our white wrap - they both fit everyone!

You can also plan on totally having fun with costumes or favorite story lines! Here's a recent shoot with a Costume Ball in mind!


Here are some sample prints of a recent 1940's and 50's pin up print set!

Tons of fun, and just one playful idea for boudoir and glamour style prints!

And it just goes to show what little you really need to look sexy or to have fun with your boudoir shoot.... who doesn't have a simple tank top or pair of jeans?


You can also do something from a fairy tale or futuristic movie or cartoon - dependent upon what is you or your partner's ultimate fantasy!



We can also really take your portraits to an artistic level by painting into the work...

Thanks so much to our lovely models for letting me use your photos!



***Please respect our models privacy, and do not copy or show these photos to others! They are for viewing and idea generating purposes only! ***

What to bring to your session

After several years specializing in glamour and boudoir photography, I think I've shot just about everything!

Everyone always wants to know what they could do for ideas...

I suggest first of all - try to think of ways to make it personal to your partner if it is for a gift. Let the portraits tell a story.

I've done everything from the very popular 1940's pin-up to old style Hollywood glamour... so bring tons of stuff when you come for the shoot! ;) I've had people bring trunks of props and clothing - literally. Everything from favorite lingerie, to stockings and heels, glamorous dresses, furs, and anything fanciful, romantic or related to your partner's hobbies or work will be welcome. Try to make it a play day and either be someone you've always wanted to be but were too afraid to, or try to make it an extension of who you are everyday if you were rested and full of passion!

Clothing & Props In the Studio:

We have a few different outfits available in our studio. We have a few lingerie and camisole pieces for all sizes, some scarves, boas, props and many types of fabric for wrapping or draping. We have a cute little tutu that works well with corsets. Pillows galore! We also have flowers, vines, chairs, beach items and even a few shoes for a size 6 to 8 foot. More items are added monthly. Ask us - you'd be surprised what we have available!

Clothing to Bring :

Any color lingerie, bra and pantie set or dresses work well. Stick to solid colors if possible, rather than large prints that will date your portrait. We suggest that you bring any pieces which have special romantic or sentimental meaning to you (or your significant other). These could include items like sports or military uniforms or a favorite shirt and tie.

Bring the tallest heels that you have in a variety of colors (black, white, and red for example). Black thigh high stockings are also a must! :)

Props:

Be sure to bring matching jewelery, shoes, and accessories for any outfits.

Like the clothing, bring any props which have special meaning. Examples might include special jewelery received as gifts, sports equipment, or unusual accessories.


Here are some ideas:

A lady with a husband in the air force brought his helmet, shirt and some gear for that personal touch.

One lady brought a pin up calendar from the 40's that her husband always admired so we could do similar poses for her shoot.

Another lady with a partner that was an architect brought one of his shirts, his tie and a few of his architectural drawings, which made for a provocative set.

Another lady whose husband was into sports brought some of his sports gear, like golf club set and a baseball set.

Another lady brought a 'school girl type outfit' and a gold 'Princess Leia's bikini as her husband always had those kinds of fantasies.

One lady brought a wine glass, a bottle of wine and her husbands' favorite red dress, and we shot the whole set to 'Lady in Red' which had special meaning for her and her husband.

And, as a final example, a lady who taught pole dancing got photos done of her with the pole and some classic boas, etc.

We're pretty open to anything, so don't feel embarrassed about anything!

Simple Idea List:

Bra Sets
Lingerie
Corsets
Stockings
T-shirts
Short Shorts
Jeans
Dresses
Gowns
Overalls
Leather or Faux Fur Coat
Special Custom Outfits - Kimonos, Dance Outfits, Sari's, etc.
Sports Wear
Hats
Scarves
Sunglasses
Hair Clips and Hair Bands

Tips for your boudoir session...

The first thing I always suggest to my boudoir and glamour clients is :

Bring tons of stuff! ;)

I've had people bring trunks of props and clothing - literally. Everything from favorite lingerie, to stockings and heels, glamorous dresses, furs, and anything fanciful, romantic or related to your partners' hobbies or work.

Additionally, here are a few common tips I send out for the shoot... ;)

Your makeup and hair:

Plan on doing your makeup before you arrive, unless you are getting hair and make-up done here professionally. (Which is a GREAT way to pamper yourself!) If for some reason you need to put it on here (you are coming from work for example), you can make special arrangements to arrive early and put it on in our makeup area at the studio. Since studio time can be booked tightly at times, this is something you need to set-up in advance.

If you are doing the makeup yourself, be sure to put on makeup as if you are going out for a fancy evening. It is generally much heavier than your usual "look," and will usually appear light and natural under the studio lighting. Make sure mascara and eyeliner are darker than normal in particular, even if nothing else is. Foundation and Powder are highly recommended, even if, like me, you never usually wear it. Photographic lights will show every pore and detail. If you want the 'flawless skin' look, foundation or at minimum, powder, will help give you that.

We will help you make some final touch ups or small corrections before we start the photography if you'd like. Just make sure to bring all your makeup and hair products with you!

Hot rollers are great - and it's good to bring extra hair spray and hair pins as we do move around a lot in the studio during the shoot! Clips are a quick and easy way to get different looks from the same hair style so bring those as well, even if you aren't familiar with using them. We can help you out when you get here.

Travel Clothing:
Wear loose fitting clothing. Tight elastic like panties, bras, panty hose, and socks will leave clothing marks that will show in the photograph. We recommend arriving in clothing like a loose sundress, or old sweats (without elastic waist bands) and thongs, flip flops or loose shoes without socks.

Music:
We generally play music during our sessions when we work indoors. If you have some favorite CD's or cassettes, please feel free to bring them along to include. We find that soft, mellow music works best in most cases, unless you are doing a party session with friends. In that case, good dance music works well.

Other Preparations:
Be sure to shave your legs and under your arms and around your bikini line if necessary about 12 hours before the photography session. If you wait until just before, you may have red marks on your body or fresh nicks and scratches which will show in the photographs.

Try to get a pampering pedicure the week before, or do your nails yourself. The small details can sometimes make a big difference.