I hear it all the time at reveals: “I can’t beleive that’s ME!”
My personal boudoir philosophy involves rocking your beauty right NOW. Yes, we do hair and makeup and even lightly retouch photos a tiny bit, but I pride myself on bringing out the inner bombshell without completely changing someone's authentic appearance. After all, if you LOVED the photos but they weren't truly of yourself...rather a model caked with makeup and photoshopped to death — where would be the pride in that? I myself have had that very experience, when I had my first boudoir shoot many years ago. I didn’t do my research and went with someone I found on Groupon because it seemed like a good price. MISTAKE! I was made up like a Kardashian, which is not my style AT ALL, complete with the worst Muppet-like false eyelashed I’ve ever seen. I didn’t feel like myself and so I never look at the photos, because I don’t recognize the woman in them.
When I started Brooklyn Boudoir, it was of the utmost importance that at MY studio, you'll always look like you, on your best, happiest, most well-rested day ;) It doesn’t matter what you look really, or if you consider yourself the “kind of woman” who would have a boudoir shoot - I mean, what is that, anyway? We all have our version of what it means to be a woman, what it means to be the best versions of ourselves, what it means to feel free to be who you are, and THAT is what I am after when I capture someone.
In my years as a boudoir photographer, I’ve seen first hand that we are ALL have that beautiful, confident woman within us. For some it may be hidden a little deeper, but even the shyest or most skeptical of women find that given the chance to express it freely, without embarrassment or judgement, they can find that person within them. It isn’t about looks at all, actually. It’s about giving yourself permission to feel good about yourself, to feel confidant in your own skin, to let yourself be all the things you want to be, without external forces getting in the way, causing you to overthink it away. You can be a mom and be desirable. You can be a teacher and still be sensual. You can be a lawyer and still have fun. You can be X pounds heavier than what you think you should be and still be completely beautiful and free in your body.
Enter Ms. C — SUPER intellegent, and completely unique. She’s not the kind of person to gush or express herself overly enthusiastically - in fact in our pre-shoot correspondnce she commented that she doesn’t use exclimation points lightly as is the trend these days. A boudoir shoot was defintiely outside her comfort zone, but here she was, rocking her shoot, having a blast, showing her confident self, trusting me, and getting some absolutely FABULOUS images to be forever proud of.
In her own words:
This experience was amazing. It was fun, completely comfortable, and I love the pictures. Even though I planned it as a gift for my husband, I fully intend to do it again just for me. It actually makes me a bit emotional, as this is the first time in my adult life that I've felt happy about my body and my appearance. I tend to hide from cameras and from mirrors, but I can't stop looking at these. It is really very meaningful, and Stephanie is brilliant at what she does.
Well of course, this made ME emotional!! She’s obviously beautiful, but none of that means anything unless you yourself believe it to be true. And ladies, let me tell you, you ARE beautiful. The details aren’t important. A few pounds here, a few wrinkles there… none of it matters. We are all beautiful. My wish for women, and my passion in this career, is to help women realize this and see it … or rather, KNOW it and BELIEVE it for themselves.
Ms. C’s advise for those considering doing a boudoir session?:
1. Do it!
2. Book one of the recommended packages because you are going to want all of your pictures.
3. You don't need a 'reason'.
4. Bring fun clothes that make you feel pretty.
I couldn’t love this any more, particularly numbers 1 - 3 because they are SO TRUE.
So if you are considering a shoot but think it isn’t “you,” trust me. We will find a way to make it you and I will only ever bring out the best in who you really are.