Common Myths about Boudoir Photography | New York Boudoir Studio

woman sitting in chair - Boudoir photography myths

Recently, several of my clients have expressed that before finding my website, that they didn’t think a boudoir shoot was for them. The reasons why varied from thinking it was a cheesy thing to do, to feeling like they needed a special occasion to use their boudoir as album as a gift. These are 2 of the most common misconceptions about boudoir, but there are so many others! So today’s blog post explores some other misconceptions surrounding boudoir photography.

1. Boudoir Photography is inherently cheesy.

   I’ll be honest - there IS a lot of cheesy boudoir photography out there.  A lot of boudoir photography of the past bordered on “glamour shots” done in a mall, and some of it remains that way… but it need not be that way! At Brooklyn Boudoir, there are no trendy instagram-like filters or dated treatments added to your images. I shoot a lot of black and white, use shallow depth of field and keep the overall look classic and classy. I want you to look and feel like yourself on your best day, not like someone else or as if you are in costume. Years from now, when you look back on these photos, I want them to stand the test of time, as opposed to you wondering “what was I thinking?? (like I do when I remember my overly plucked eyebrows of the late ‘90s) If playing dress-up is what you are after, by all means, get it, girl! That’s just not what I do. There are a wide range of styles out there so it’s important you do your research and find a photographer who’s style is line with yours. To me, timeless, elegance is what it’s all about.

2. I need to lose weight before my boudoir session.

   Just NO. No, you don't. Let me give you permission to celebrate who you are RIGHT NOW.  You can do a session today, and then again (and again!). It’s actually great fun to see your progress through the years. There is beauty in milestones… and no one can define what a “milestone” is for you. You can and should celebrate your life every time you decide to. About to try for a baby? Pregnant? Recently had a baby? Turing 43? Survived homeschooling and COVID quarantine? It’s ALL reason to celebrate. Still think you’re too overweight? Well, I challenge you ask yourself, compared to what standard? Personal story: I thought I was “too curvy” at 110 pounds in high school - how crazy is that?! I look back at myself at that time and WISH I had appreciated my body. And appreciated my body at 26, AND appreciated m body at 35. Now at 41, I’m nowhere near 110 pounds, barely in shape given the way 2020 has gone and yet I’m thankful to my body for all it’s done for me. Also remember, a professional boudoir photographer will know how to light, pose and dress you to compliment your current physique and all the curves that go with it. That’s why so many of my clients explain, “I can’t believe that’s ME” at their reveal. I can help you see yourself in a different, more forgiving, and more accurate (!) light than you can see yourself. Let me help you shatter your negative self-talk and help you create new, positive feelings about your body and yourself. The time for that, is NOW.

3. I’m too old to do a boudoir session.  

   Right after thinking you’re not fit enough for a boudoir shoot is thinking you are not young enough for one. Excuse while I cough and say: Bullsh*t. Are you too old to feel special? Appreciated? Beautiful? I would love for all women to embrace who they are throughout life’s many beautiful stages. Sure, you may not be that same girl as you were in your early 20s. Now you're even better...you're a woman. At Brooklyn Boudoir, you get to choose how you’re styled in a way that makes sense to you. Today's woman is better than yesterday's woman, and you are BOTH beautiful. Onwards and upwards friends. Age is not our enemy.

4. I need to be getting married/having an anniversary coming up to gift my images

   Sometimes, women need an excuse to do something nice for ourselves, or for choosing to spend money on ourselves. I get that. Your partner liking the byproduct of our session is surely a fun bonus to having a boudoir photo session. HOWEVER, this experience is for you and you alone. A boudoir shoot is a celebration to reacquaint with your feminine self, in whatever style you choose for it to be. You are more than a book, a framed picture or an album. As a woman, you are a work of art, and you deserve to feel that way. While your partner will surely apprecate the images, I suspect that it’s the WOMEN who will be opening up their albums time after time, feeling like a badass, and remembering the amazing day you had.

5. This isn’t “me” because I don’t see myself as sexy. 

   A boudoir shoot is an intimate portrait session. And so, it’s about intimacy, privacy and solitude. My job is to make you comfortable so you feel great in your own skin, and to draw you out to the person you know you are within. It’s YOUR version of sexy, not anyone else’s. So don’t worry about what you think you “need” to be, and just be you, and I promise you, that you will look and FEEL sexy as hell.

6. I’ll have to wear sexy lingerie for the session.

   Not even a little. There are no rules that say a boudoir session is about lingerie (see misconception #1). Fun lingerie is great if it’s your thing. But if it isn’t, you’ll look like you’re playing dressup, feel uncomortable and frankly, look uncomfortable. Brooklyn Boudoir is about creating YOUR intimate definition of beauty in any way you like. That can be in a sweater, in a negligee, in a white sheet, or in a ball gown! It’s about intimacy with your sense of self… not your wardrobe. Don’t bring a thing to your session, and we can still accomplish a fantastic shoot. I challenge you! ;)
    

7. My pictures will end up on the Internet.

   Absolutely not unless I have your express written consent. Client privacy is the number one priority for any reputable boudoir photographer. To us, your intimacy is a highly protected entity that we go to great lengths to secure, and share ONLY with your written permission. I love and respect all my clients, whether you choose to publish their images or not. It’s not required and has no affect on your experience or the outcome of your shoot.
    

8. I can shop around to get great deal for boudoir photography.  

   Ooh this is a hot topic. It’s true that a Brooklyn Boudoit shoot is an investment… an investment in YOURSELF. The blatant truth here is, you’ll get what you pay for.  A woman’s private moments should never feel a “bargain.” A boudoir session can be a life-changing experience, and you’re worth it! A professional photographer's trade is very expensive to run; therefore a highly skilled, reputable boudoir photographer is almost never “cheap” and does not "deep discount". I value my clients and value the service I provide to them. It’s worth saving up for the photographer you want, rather than the cheapest one out there. Because while the right photographer for you may not be cheap, you’ll want a photographer who will go the furthest lengths to earn every penny, with gratitude and a pursuit of excellence. I would venture to say that $500 spent on something you feel “meh” about and never look back at again is actually way more expensive than a $5000 life changing experience that you LOVED, feel transformed by, feel proud of, and can’t wait to do again.

9. It’s arrogant to hang pictures of myself around the house.

   Why? Is it arrogant to look in the mirror? To keep a journal? To meditate? Your portraits are no different. Years ago I read that every adult should have a casually placed photo of themselves looking their very best in their apartment. I’ve followed that advise since I got my first apartment, and let me tell you it feel great to see yourself looking fantastic every day. Your images won’t be lewd, they will be Art, and there is no shame being proud of yourself. My job is to help you love the woman you see on the wall as much as any other work of art that hangs in your home. There is NOTHING selfish about that.
    

10. My friends and family would not approve of me doing this.

    Well, that’s too bad on one hand, but also it’s FINE, because you’re not doing it for them. You’re doing it for YOU. You don’t need anyone else’s approval but your own. If your significant other does not appreciate the opportunity for you to feel special, confident and beautiful, that is their unfortunate choice. But you do not have to choose the same fate for yourself. You are your own person, with your own emotional needs. I respect the nature of your relationship but YOU as my client are my only priority and my person of concern. I grew up in a relateively conservative house and I was TERRIFIED of my family’s judgement when I decided to turn my business over to boudoir photography. I thought they would judge me, but instead they surprised me and have been completely supportive and interested in helping me build my business (ask my 70 year old uncle who kindly reminded me that I hadn’t blogged in a month, or my mom who recently joined instagram just so she could like my photos). So you never know. But, more importantly than that, you owe it to yourself to be true to yourself, in ALL things. Do it for you. Like so many other things in life, you’ll never regret doing it, but you likely will regret NOT doing it for the wrong reasons.

11. I’ll be a nervous wreck the whole time.

    EVERYONE is nervous at first. Of course! This is natural - after all, most people have never been photographed professionally, much less in a state of undress. But trust me, after photographing hundreds of women, I can honetly tell you that the nerves fall away after about 10 minutes. You’ll get in the makeup chair, we’ll get to know each other, you’ll feel primped and pampered, and the shoot will be happening before you ever know it. I’m a professional, and I’m really good at making women feel comfortable. Your tension will seamlessly melt away and I’ll help you get into your groove. And if by chance, the tension lingers, I have lots of tricks to help you fake it til you make it.
    

12. My photographer is going to think my idea is crazy, but…

    Ladies, I have seen and heard it all before. I want to hear what makes you tick, what your fanatasy shoot might be and will do my best to bring it to fruition. If I cannot accommodate your idea, I can certainly refer you to another photographer who may be able to. Your ideas about beauty and intimacy are yours and not up for my judgment.
    

13. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

    Well, yes and no. You can do this once for your bucket list; Or, you can do it year after year, as many times as you’d like. Several of my clients come back every few years, and I promise you, each time we shoot together the images get more and more beautiful. I host several past client only events every year so that my past clients can get a little Brooklyn Boudoir fix from time to time as well to treat my VIPs to a little something special. Every time we shoot we capture something different andit just gets better and better. Even if you’ve shot with me 10 time before, each time you come to set it will feel like a once in a lifetime experience, that I promise you!

What other misconceptions do you think people have about boudoir photography? I’d love to hear and prove them wrong! ;)

xoxo, Stephanie

Curious about a boudoir shoot with me? Contact me and I can tell you more!



The Bombshell Inside You | Brooklyn Boudoir Photography | Client Experience

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.

xoxo, Stephanie

Ready to book your session? Contact me and let’s chat.

Celebrate Yourself | Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot | Client Experience

Once in awhile, you meet a someone who is so charasmatic, so real, so present in each day, it inspires you to get out of whatever rut you are in and DO something.

This woman right here….THIS ONE had me goosebumping and rejoicing in this path of work I’ve chosen for myself. Ms. B contacted me to celebrate herself on her birthday. It wasn’t a milestone birthday per se, just a good excuse for a badass woman to take some “Me” time and have herself a fantastic day that began with our boudoir shoot. To be honest, I was just coming off of my maternity leave and wasn’t entirely sure I was ready, but she was so kind and sweet and trusting, as soon as we started emailing, I knew it was the right time for me to go back to work. And I am just so happy that I did!! That day I not only met a beautiful client, I also made a friend.

Ms. B is so full of life, it’s impossible not to feel energized in her presence. I mean - look at this smile! We connected right away. She’s a nurse, a mother, and a dancer, so you know we had a lot to talk about. She performs Bomba, a traditional Puerto Rican dance — look it up if you aren’t familiar with it! It’s a truly exhuberent & joyful art form, and Ms. B here embodies the spirit of the dance.

I found the perfect location for what she was looking for - a hotel suite on the Brooklyn/Queens border that was the size of my entire house. Exposed brick, huge windows on 2 sides and some beautiful leather furniture gave a sexy masculine/feminine vibe. We captured 3 very different looks, including this gorgeous Thistle & Spire bodysuit that is one of my favorite pieces to photograph right now. Each look celebrated a part of her personality, from sensitive, to playful, to saucy, to powerful QUEEN. She BROUGHT IT, let her personality shine, and we captured some truly beautiful images together.

And what about that incredible tattoo? After suffering a knee injury & subsequent surgury, she transformed her scar into a beautiful tree branch alive with butterflies. Breathtaking.

In her own words:

My experience was beyond my imaginations and will be for me one of the best experiences I’ve done for myself. That moment my finger hit send, I was taken on an amazing journey, I felt supported, guided and genuinely cared for, all my questions answered and all the recommendations absolutely perfect. But more so Stephanie made sure she got to know me, just me, And that was everything.

Leave all the baggage that holds you back at the door. Be open to this amazing experience, there is only one you! Stephanie will absolutely bring out the best in you! So do your homework it’s all worth it! On My 53 Birthday, stepping into a new Decade (2020) Stephanie and her makeup artist made me feel like the most beautiful woman on earth. You will too! I should have done this sooner!

And with that, I’m again covered with goosebumps. This is what it’s all about. It’s about taking a journey into self love, bringing out the best in oneself, and recognizing how incredible YOU are. Thank you SO much, Ms. B, for your inspiration, collaboration, kindness, your beautiful words, and most importantly for trusting me to give you this experience and these finished products. You are amazing, and I’m over-the-moon that you have the most exquisite collection of images to treasure forever.

Ready to celebrate yourself? Contact me and let’s chat!

Brooklyn Boudoir in the World of COVID-19 | Health and Safety as New York City Opens up

wear a mask and make it fashion

I cannot believe it’s been three months since my last shoot. Oh how things have changed in such a short amount of time!

When things shut down, I had pretty much just gotten back into the swing of things after my maternity leave. I was working towards opening a new studio, rolling out a year full of amazing sessions, and setting up some educational resources for fellow photographers. But alas, life is funny and had other plans for us all! I never imagined I’d be homeschooling my kid! After much patience and time we are ready to re-open and start capturing beautiful boudoir images for you again!

Here are some things you should know:

• Initially, session availability will be limited. I will be maxing out at 2 sessions per week as a start. The extra protocols take up a bit more time and will cause a reduction of session availability.

• Please be courteous of everyone’s health. If you or anyone in your household has a temperature of over 100.4 degrees or COVID-like symptoms please contact me to reschedule. Reschedule fees will be waived if they are COVID related.

• Know that I will be doing temperature checks for anyone on set - myself, hair and makeup artists, clients and friends - as an extra layer of protection.

• Please arrive wearing a mask. I will be wearing a mask as well, as will everyone on my staff. Friends who join the shoot will also be asked to wear a mask at all times.

• Hand sanitizer and/or soap will be available at your session for use.

• I will be maintaining as much social distancing as possible during our shoot and will utilize long lenses that allow me to photograph you from farther away.

• Your contract will now include an additional COVID Liability Waiver. Please don’t be alarmed. This is to protect both of us from liability if we have unknown germs.

• Please note this is a fluid situation and may change based upon governmental directives, CDC recommendations, and legal advisement.

  Whew… that was a lot! Are you still with me? If so, let’s talk about some exciting news!

  I am ITCHING to travel - how about you?? So, I will be planning a destination boudoir shoot for 2021! I’m still hashing out the details but it will be a tropical destination not too far from NYC. I will be offering both a boudoir workshop for fellow photographers AND individual beachy boudoir shoots for clients. I’m also HOPING to host a past client event at what I consider to be the best hotel suite in Brooklyn. More on that as the city continues to reopen. Exciting stuff!

  Ready to book/rebook your session?

  I’m so excited to see you! I know many of you had sessions scheduled when we had to shut down.Let’s get those rescheduled and new sessions booked! Shoot me an email and we’ll get you on the calendar. Please remember that session availability will be limited. The sooner you are on the books, the more likely you’ll be able to get your preferred date!

xoxo, Stephanie

Photography for Modern Women | Client Experience | New York Photographer

My own narrative has evolved quite a bit since starting this line of work over five years ago. The further I get into women’s empowerment photography, the more I recognize the importance of celebrating yourself, as a woman, through a proper photo shoot experience. It has changed the way I run my business, it has changed the way I talk about my work, it has changed the way I talk to my clients.  NOW, I can’t even fathom doing this for any other purpose than to celebrate yourself, to love yourself and to feel liberated, strong & powerful.

The Brooklyn Boudoir Experience is for the modern woman. The modern woman wants to see her authentic self. She wants exist in exquisite photographs that properly represent her legacy for the rest of time. She wants see her confidence, which doesn’t necessarily mean a full makeover transformation and elaborate wardrobe.

She wants to look cool.

The modern woman doesn’t compete with other women. She wants to be photographed by me for HERSELF. She may have a partner, but the experience isn’t for them. Though ultimately, it will certainly have a ripple effect.

Whether she’s seeking this experience because she wants to find herself herself or because she already knows exactly who she is and that she is someone worth celebrating….the modern woman is the exact type of woman who seeks me out and invests in herself through my work.

Enter Ms. S. This fabulous woman is the definition of the modern woman. She is a working mom, a homeschooling mom (BEFORE COVID19!! I BOW DOWN TO YOU FOR THAT!) and an all around badass. She’s married, but she traveled to NYC as a gift to herself — the dream!! Read her experience below. 

I have always loved following you on Instagram and often wondered, “gee I wonder what my OWN pics would be like.” I kept putting it off until this year and gave it to myself as an early 40th birthday present. I was nervous! But you had everything covered. Chatting with you and the makeup artist was great, and seeing you look through all my outfits and write down all the poses you wanted to capture gave me a good feeling that we’d get some good shots. But still, I didn’t know if I could “do” what’s needed for good pics. THANK YOU for getting so involved in showing me what you were looking for and really getting in there to place arms/legs/bangs just so. In the beginning I thought “oh this is nice she’s really encouraging,” and then as the time went on it made me more confident! I was like “OMG I’M ACTUALLY DOING WELL AT THIS!” I thought it was so considerate of you to consistently check in on my feelings and energy level. It was always high because I was excited. That’s all from you and your professionalism! I am so happy that we did a good number of poses because the pics have a great variety to them.

She continued with this advise for future clients:

Don’t let months turn into years where you wonder what this experience would be like. It is FUN, and energizing. Stephanie gave me priceless pics of parts of my body that I’ve been critical of and unkind to in the past. It’s great to see yourself through someone else’s eyes—or a camera lens—so you can give yourself credit for the beautiful human being that you are.

^^^ THIS! This is what makes my heart sing and makes what I am doing so fulfilling.

Even if you don’t think you have it in you… beleive me when I say, YOU DO. Even if you’ve never been photogarphed professionally before (practically no one has). Even if you are nervous (EVERYBODY is!) Even if you think you’re “unphotogentic” (being unphotogenic is a myth, and only means you’ve never been photographed by someone who undestands how to photograph you). Especially if you don’t think you’re the “type” of woman who would have a boudoir shoot (I get what women are saying when I hear this, but it’s actually a very small view of women and photography). I’ve said it before: boudoir is for every woman. Everybody and every body. You CAN do it. And once you do, I promise, you’ll be hooked.

xoxo, Stephanie

Ready to get hooked on yourself? Let’s chat and plan your Brooklyn Boudoie Experience!

A Photographer You can Trust | Brooklyn Bridal Boudoir | New York City Photographer

Trust. It’s such a thing to gauge these days, don’t you think? There are so many options and opinions on EVERYTHING - from food delivery to when and how we can stop social distancing - how do you know which one to trust?

Before your boudoir session, it is so important you feel you can trust your photographer. You need to trust that they will make you feel comfortable, that they will make you look your best, that their retouching philosophies are in line with yours, that they will will honor your privacy … the list goes on.

The best way to find a boudoir photographer is by word of mouth - if like minded friends had good experiences with a photographer, there’s a good chance you will feel comfortable with them as well.

If you don’t know anyone who had a boudoir session they loved, you should definitely do your research to find a photographer whose style you like but also who you will feel comfortable being around. This is why I always offer up one on one consults if a client is interseted in speaking before our shoot. It’s not required of course - life is busy and sometimes you just don’t have the time. Sometimes, you can just get a sense of a photographer from their website and blog, which is why I try to interject personal posts here along with client testimonials and other boudoir-related advise.

Well, Ms. A was one of the women who found me by way of doing her research. She’s a former actress and dancer, as am I, and without speaking beforehand, we just clicked right away.

Cna we also just talk about her wardrobe for a moment?? That white corset was something very special - it was LEGIT and let me tell you, it took a very long time lacing up and getting on (and off for that matter!) The fabric and boning were just so beautiful - it was a truly special piece. And then of cours,e one of my long standing favorites, Thistle and Spire, always comes through with standout lingerie.

In her own words:

The shoot was so easy and fun. The angles you were able to capture are stunning, and the whole process was a joy. Stephanie is your personal instagram filter, your friend who goes out of their way to get your best angle -- she's going to bring out the most flattering version(s) of you. Trust her.

This is what it’s all about. It’s about opening eyes, gaining self-love, shifting perspectives, and recognizing how incredible YOU are. Thank you SO much, Ms. A, for your kindness, your beautiful words, and most importantly for trusting me to give you this experience and these finished products. I’m over-the-moon that you have the most exquisite collection of images to treasure forever.

XOXO, Stephanie

Ready to put your trust in a photographer? Contact me and let’s chat.

Phenomenal Woman | Birthday Boudoir | Brooklyn New York

My semi-failed attempt at a birthday self-portrait.

Well, I've officially taken another trip around the sun.

After turning 40 last year, and celebrating in Paris, I thought this year’s birthday would be more or less forgettable. I also thought I’d be celebrating at Le CouCou but neither of those things is happening given the current state of the world (shrugs).

Aging has never been scary to me - I’ve always strongly felt that age is mental. But this is an existential time to be having a birthday - four weeks into our pandemic self-quarantine, schools clothed, homeschooling our little ones, trying to keep businesses afloat, the idea that New York City will be irreversibly changed after this all passes … it’s a lot.

And yet, always a Pollyanna, I can’t help but try to think of the bright side. It’s probably the only time in my life I’ll be able to spend this kind of (semi) uninterrupted time with my kids. Without my usual shoots each week, I’m thinking of new ways to help my clients and keep the business going. I’m not wearing makeup or nail polish to give my skin a break. Many days I feel cooped up and anxious but other days this mandatory break feels full of potential.

This past year went insanely fast - I feel like I was just in Paris. I blame the baby - at 40, I had my second daughter. Now, I don’t have to pump before and after shoots. In fact, a lot of ways this time of COVID-19 feel like maternity leave - before it happens you can’t imagine having the luxury of so much time, you imagine how you are going to learn another language in “all” the time you will have… and then three months goes by and you can count how many times you’ve washed your hair on your fingers.

All I wanted for my birthday was to get a good photo of my new 4 person family together. I don’t know that I succeeded in a “good” photo… but sometimes it’s the outtakes that are the best part. I ate mac and cheese, brownies, burrata, birthday cake and wine. My parents did a surprise drive-by to sign happy birthday. And my incredible girlfriends made me a video of them reciting Maya Angelou’s Phenmonical Woman. I burst into tears several times over the course of the day. It all helped me remember that we don’t need to go out to have connections, we don’t need to make a show to celebrate and be celebrated. The things that are most meaningful are the people you love, and being able to look in the mirror and say, there are ups and there are downs, but hey, I’m doing ok.

But I digress. I still believe that, while I may have aged ten years in the past one year, age really is just a number. I'm really happy with what I've accomplished in my 41 years on earth, while simultaneously wondering how on earth I've gotten this far into adulthood. I love my family, love my friends and am pretty proud of the world I’ve created for myself.

Thank you as always for all of the support and for allowing me to share a bit of my personal life with those who allow me into theirs. Those clients and followers who have sent gifts and greetings::: I genuinely appreciate it more than I can put into words. Making women feel amazing is what makes my job so amazing, and I’m touched when you all return the favor. It makes me feel so special and fulfilled!  

And now, the poem Phenomenal Woman, by Maya Angelou, followed by my brilliant friends’ interpretation.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size   

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,   

The stride of my step,   

The curl of my lips.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,   

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,   

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.   

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.   

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,   

And the flash of my teeth,   

The swing in my waist,   

And the joy in my feet.   

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,   

They say they still can’t see.   

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,   

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.   

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,   

The bend of my hair,   

the palm of my hand,   

The need for my care.   

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

XOXO, Stephanie

Staying Sane during COVID-19 Self-Quarantine | Brooklyn New York Photographer

Friends! How are you holding up during this insanely crazy time? What are you eating? What are you watching? I’m so curious about how everyone is coping.

If you are like me, you are a working mom who is suddenly thrust into the role of teacher, and stay at home mom, and trying to find ways to help right now, and try to keep her business afloat and try to keep up with the news and not lose her mind. It is, in a word, reallyreallyhard.

Perhaps this has been particularly difficult for New Yorkers, not only because we are at the epicenter of the pandemic but that New Yorkers are notoriously out and about. We don’t live here for the sprawling real estate after all. We go out to eat and order take out WAY more than we cook. (Remember when Carrie Bradshaw admitted she used her oven for storage?) Our apartments are small and we often have roommates… so sheltering at home is not easy!

Always a Pollyanna, I am trying to see the bright side to all of this: how rare is it that I can have this kind of uninterrupted (read: forced) time at home with our families? I don’t have to pump at work! I can nap on those days that the baby keeps me up at night. At the same time, I can’t help but fantasize about being unattached and on my own during this time - surely I would have learned Mandarin by now and my business would be booked up though 2121. The grass is always greener, I guess.

I think the hardest part about all of this is that it’s not something we signed up for — our expectations for the next few months we one thing and this f*ing virus changed it all, without much warning and without our consent. But just because things have changed, doesn’t mean they have to be bad. Here are some ways I’ve been coping with this new normal:

Get dressed in the morning … eventually

The hardest part of “the old days” for me was getting my 4 year old out of the house to get to school in time. The amount of times I ask, “ did you brush your teeth?” nearly puts me over the edge before it’s even 8am. For the past few weeks, instead of waking up early to get my own sh*t together, I’ve allowed my 4 year old to wake me up, climb into bed and snuggle for a few minutes before we get our day going. I feed the baby in bed, and I drink coffee in my robe. Yes, I do get dressed eventually - I’m a firm believer that the way we look & present ourselves affects the way we feel and vice versa, so I don’t want to get TOO lethargic BUT, as a woman who loves a good robe, I am reveling in taking my mornings a little bit slower.

Draw some bouderies for yourself.

This is sooo hard for me to do. However, this week I have realzied that it’s better for me to “go to work” in another room for a few hours rather than try to work half-heartedly around my four year old, who then feels she needs to vie for my attention. Then I end up frustrated, she ends up feeling alone, even though we are together and everyone feels grumpy and over it come the end of the day. Instead, I try to get my work done a few hours at a time and then spend some time in a concentrated effort with my daughters. Live alone? Give yourself blocks of time to work and be sure to schedule in breaks for fresh air, change of pace, movement, whatever you need to do. And be sure you “go home” after work for the day. I always have a hard time letting my work day spill into the evening hours when I work from home. Give yourself a time that you are leaving the office and then do just that (even if it’s just by stepping away from the laptop).

Connect with those you love.

Photo courtesy of Keturah Bishop

A zoom happy hour? Not my style. I’ve always been more of a one on one kind of girl. Real conversations - sure, on Zoom or facetime or whatever - with those friends I don’t get to speak with on a regular basis have given me life these past few weeks. I miss my friends, and now that we all have a more open social calendar, it’s been really rewarding catching up with them in a meaningful way. Quarentined with your honey? That doesn’t mean you can’t still have a date night - get dressed up, eat dinner at a normal hour after the kids have gone to bed, make an adult beverage and watch a movie.

Interesting also is that whatever stage of life you are in at the moment, and wherever you are in the world, EVERYONE is dealing with this pandemic in one way or another. It’s something everyone has in common - how often does that happen?? So even though it’s for a difficult reason, it feels good to reconnect with those who we’ve maybe lost touch with during the usual daily grind of life.

Help someone who needs it.

It can be in a big or small way. Call a friend who is feeling isolated. Reach out to someone elderly to see if they need something. Use whatever skills you have to make someone’s day brighter. Professionally, I’ll be gifting a medical professional a shoot just to say thank you and give them some much deserved pampering once this is all over. Personally, I kondo’d my kids’ clothes and made hand me down care packages for 2 friends who just had babies. Even something small can be meaningful for all involved.

Schedule something to look forward to when this passes

I had a birthday boudoir session planned for myself with my mentor Kara Marie Trombetta this March, which of course, got postponed. I was super sad about missing it but then remembered, I’m not going to miss it! It’s still going to happen when the self-quarentine regulations ease up and for that I am really excited. And have you seen how cheap airfares are?? The family trip I was planning for Greece may not happen this July but it WILL happen and hopefully will be a little easier on the pocketbook. Whatever it is — big or small — having something to lookforward to and spend energy working towards will help keep your eye on that light at the end of the tunnel, instead of getting lost in the dark. Interested in a Brooklyn Boudoir Shoot? Let’s chat - my schedule is wide open for the fall!

Learn something new or revisit something old

After we’ve all cleaned and Kondo’d what are you going to do? I have had such a long list of projects that maybe I’ll actually get to — creating family albums in print with all the old digitals I have stored, re-editing old shoots of mine now that I’ve got better retouching skills and a more defined style, keeping my website fresh with new images, learning various new retouching techniques, restarting a photo a day self portrait project… there’s so much to do and learn! Now if only I could find the time…

Give yourself a break.

This is a tough time no matter what your circumstances. Give yourself permission to indulge in your favorite guilty pleasures (Tiger King, anyone?) Take advantage of the time at home - nest, Kondo, do all the projects you never have time to do Or don’t! If you didn’t spring clean your house, or write that novel, or organzie your photos or start that online class… that’s just fine! Hang in there and remember that this won’t last forever. You are tougher than you think you are. You can handle this.

Sending love and looking fowrard to the day we can hug again!

xoxo, Stephanie

Instagram Takeover! | Focus on Women + Brooklyn Boudoir

Friends! Check out the Instagram feed on Focus on Women this week - I’ll be doing an Instagram takeover talking all things boudoir & photography, featuring some of my favorite shots.

Focus on Women (https://www.focusonwomen.org) is an organization whose mission is to support women in the photography industry. From PA’s to Producers, Photographers, Directors, Art Directors and Photo Agents, everyone is given a seat at the table. They help to expand the photographic community by providing women with resources to connect with other like-minded organizations, attend networking and workshop events, find a mentor or volunteer to be a mentor and eventually, being able to create a directory that will let women hire all-female crews.

As a business owned and run by women, for women I am so excited to be a part of this community. Check out their insta and throw some love their way!

Interested in hosting an instagram takeover? Contact me and I will hook you up!

What Motherhood has Taught Me | Lessons from a New Mom | New York City Motherhood Stories

This blog post is a little different than the usual, but trust me that it is on theme.

Like many other New York Women, having children was never at the forefront of my mind. I always imagined being an old lady and having had children in my lifetime, I just never felt the urge to do it, pretty much ever. When I turned 36 and my husband turned 40, we made the rational decision to try, not because we were ready but more as a “it’s now or never” kind of thing.

To my surprise, I got pregnant pretty much right away and was completely freaked out. I had just gotten Brooklyn Boudoir off the ground, wasn’t ready to stop traveling/going out to eat/living that New York life that I loved. Moreover, I had a sneaky feeling that I wasn’t really cut out to be a mom.

The day Stella was born I woke up not feeling well, but not having ANY idea that I was in labor. It was 3 weeks before my due date and I didn't feel any contractions so I sent my husband to work literally telling him, "𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺." 🤦‍♀️ Stella was born 6 hours later. I called my mom to bring me soup at 8am (this should have been a tip-off that something wasn’t right but I guess I was in serious denial about the whole thing). By the time my mom arrived, my water had broken and it was clear I was in labor. In the car on the way to the hospital my contractions were already 3 minutes apart! Meanwhile, my husband, who had just arrived at his film gig in Westchester had to borrow someone’s car and turn back around to meet us at the hospital. He made it for the birth with about an hour to spare.

I am proud to say that I didn’t have an epidural or any kind of drugs with either of my pregnancies. People look at me with confused horror when I say that. Especially after having done it once, the most common question, “Why would you do that again???” My honest answer: I’ve never been into elective meds, and the idea of a needle in my spine freaks me out. But beyond that, I consider myself tough, and am proud of that (My family is Spartan, what can I say?) ;) After doing it once I knew it was something that while no “fun,” that my body was completely capable of doing it, and I am really proud of that. Not everyone has the opportunity to give birth naturally, so why wouldn’t I at least try to?

Soon after Stella was born a rare complication occurred, the kind of thing that women died from in the old days. In retrospect, it was a good thing I didn’t have an epidural because I could feel that something was very very wrong. The energy of the room changed completely and I literally thought to myself that I was about to be a woman who dies in childbirth. Scary stuff. But between me being in touch with body and my INCREDIBLE OB Dr. Jennifer Butt (her real name, the comedy is not lost on me), all was resolved, and according to my husband, I became the people's hero of Lenox Hill Hospital. 🤣

So this is all a long story to say: I'm not as thin as I used to be, nor as strong in the core or glutes or biceps. But what I learned that day was that my body is AMAZING. I have never felt so proud of myself or so grateful for my body, and have been able to hold on to those feelings since. Sure, some days I wish I were as fit as I was at 21, or 28, or 35. Instead of mourning the loss of my pre-kids body or obsessively trying to get back there, I instead regret any time I spent not loving and flaunting my body a little bit more back then. But I AM glad I have photos of myself from those days, and I certainly wish I hadn't wasted my energy stressing over the way I looked.

Now, when my daughter tells me she loves laying on my tummy because it's so soft, I don't take it as an insult. All she sees in me is comfort and love, and who am I to tell her otherwise.

Kate Winslet has said she never heard the women if her life talk about loving their bodies, so she consciously talks about that with her daughters now. It stuck with me, and I try to do the same. How we look is really the least interesting thing about us, but when we do talk about it, I’m sure to tell Stella her how her legs are STRONG, how food in her belly helps her grow, how I love my soft belly because she grew in there, how each part of our bodies are important for the job that they do. It's not easy - I stress over how to impress upon my girls that they don't need to be "perfect"- that they are enough just as they are. But if I can do it for myself, and I can help other women do it via their photoshoots, I have to believe I can help them be confident in their skin, which is the best gift I can give them. ❤

Celebrating Yourself | Brooklyn Boudoir Photographer

You’ll always hear me say: do it for YOU. And I mean it. It’s so difficult to do something for yourself, isn’t it?

Ms. Y here is one of those women who “has it all.” She’s stunningly beautiful, a doctor, and came in from Coppenhagen for a solo trip to NYC. But of course, every woman has more to her story than that. If Sex and the City has taught us anything it’s that “having it all” is a myth. Really you just have to redefine what having it all means. Thank you, Sarah Jessica Parker! ;)

Ms. Y had recently broken up from a long term relationship, which can rightfully throw some salt into anyone’s self-confidence. Someone who clearly gives so much of herself to others, even in her work, it was uber important that she do something just for her. It began with her solo trip to NYC - I for one LOVE solo travel and am so behind this as a way of self-care. And our shoot, well, that was just the icing on the cake. The crazy thing to me is that Ms. Y did not consider herself sexy or capable of a boudoir shoot! You see her and you can’t believe this to be true. Which just goes to show how difficult it is for most women to see themselves clearly. I of course, could see what a stunning person she was - inside and out - and was so happy to deliver such beautiful photos to her and to show how stunning she really is. Her reveal (over skype was amazing. I wish I could share her delight and how incredulous she was at seeing her images. It was so sweet and was one of those moments that makes me so grateful to be doing what I do. It’s my mission to help women see the beauty and worth in themselves. To show them something they maybe coudn’’t see on their own. It makes my heart sing to see women smile, their eyes twinkle and to have the self-confidence to say, yeah, that’s me, and I look GOOD. It’s not bragging if it’s the truth ;)

In her own words:

It was an amazing experience, Stephanie! You are truly talented and made you this whole process so effortless and positive! You were so encouraging and comfortable to be around. I didn't feel any pressure at any time.  I can't thank you enough, and the photos are absolutely perfect! Exactly what I was hoping for and more. The photos turned out absolutely beautiful! It's one of the best gifts I have ever given to myself.

You deserve this experience, whether or not you are in a relationship. Whether or not you are the fittest you’ve ever been in your life, whether or not you are over 30. You deserve to celebrate yourself, JUST because you are you.

xoxo, Stephanie

Ready to celebrate yourself just because? Contact me and let’s chat!

Boudoir Over the Years | Celebrating a Repeat Client | Birthday Boudoir Photography

Happy Birthday to this beautiful client of mine. She was one of my first shoots, way back before kids, when I most often shot sessions at my client’s homes. I’ve photographed her at least 3 times since starting Brooklyn Boudoir, and we are collaborating to shoot together again soon.

There are so many great things about having multiple boudoir shoots over the years. If you shoot with the same photographer, you can do something different each time, and get pretty experiemental, which is always a lot of fun. Each time you shoot you’ll fine you you are more comfortable in front of the camera, which of course leads to better images. You also get to see yourself grow over the years, remembering each time in your life through the photos.

So today, on her birthday, a few of my favorite images of one of my favorite people:

A few years later, our 2nd photoshoot, this time in a daylight studio, with a much different feel:

Our 3rd shoot was in New Orleans:

I have so many ideas for our next shoot. Happy Birthday, my dear, and thank you for being the muse you are to me.

xoxo, Stephanie

Have a birthday coming up? Why not celebrate yourself with a boudoir shoot? Contact me and let’s chat!

The Big 4-0 | Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot | New York Beauty Photographer

There are some women who seemingly have it all: Smarts, looks, a job they love, a beautiful family … Ms. D here, is one of those women. Of course, no story is as simple as all that. Ms. D has had a HELL of a few years. She uprooted her life, her job, her children for a man whom it ultimately didn’t work out with. But true to form, she made a beautiful life for herself and her children, always with a smile on her face, always looking at the bright side of things and always with a zen perspective.

These photos were taken 2 years ago on a girls trip to New Orleans. I couldn’t help revisiting them today, on her 40th birthday. I’m so proud of these photos and of this strong, smart, beautiful woman who I am proud to call my friend.

And not to state the obvious, but can you believe this gorgeous woman is nearly 40 years old?! Me neither. ;)

In her own words:

“Oh yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. These are amazing!!! I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for this gift for ME, AND that I was so happy to share with J—-. You are so talented. It's beyond. I've always felt lucky to be in your orbit, but this is some serious icing on the cake. “

Happiest of birthdays to you, Ms. D. You are a treasure and I just love you!

Ready to celebrate a milestone birthday?? Contact me and let’s chat!

2019 Year in Review | Photography for the Modern New York Woman

Photo Credit by Marcia Coronado

2019 was a year for the books. It’s hard to believe how much I crammed into one year, and can’t believe it’s already new year’s eve! It truly was the Best Ever Year of Brooklyn Boudoir, and I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you who follows along regularly and trusts me with their boudoir experiences.

Here’s a short review of the year!

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

Some of my favorite images (that clients have given me permission to share) from this past year:

AND OF COURSE, MY OWN MATERNITY SHOOT WITH THE FABULOUS LOLA MELANI

INSTAGRAM TOP 9

It dawns on my that 3 of these images weren’t taken by me! Top 2 by Lola Melani from my own maternity shoot, and middle right by my bestie / LA wing woman / behind the scenes genius Ashley Glacel.

TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS

With a surprise(ish) pregnany this year, I wasn’t able to travel as much as I would have liked, but I did make it to LA twice for my west coast contingency, and to Paris with my mom and daughter for my 40th birthday (four months pregnant). So far for 2020 I’m working on dates for my next LA trip (sometimes mid-winter), a trip to Austin for a friend’s wedding and to be photogarphed by my mentor Kara Marie, and a big family trip to Greece to celebrate my mom’s next milestone birthday.

Photo by @Paris_pics_

WHAT'S NEXT?!

I’ve never been much of a New Year’s Resolution girl. I pretty much try to be my best self ALL of the time and don’t care to beat myself up over a lapsed resolution. HOWEVER, I do have lots of ideas and plans for myself both personally and professionally and my goal is to achieve at least some of them this year.

In 2020 I plan to...

*HOST MORE PAST CLIENT EVENTS

Last year I hosted 2 events for past clients only - shooting fine art nudes and also fresh faced portraits. I love re-connecting with women I’ve worked with before and giving past clients the opportunity to refresh their images in a more bite-sized and cost effective way. Each time we shoot together the results get better and better, so be on the lookout for these opportunities via Instagram and my newsletter (which you can sign up for on the sidebar to the right if you haven’t already —->) Sorry ladies, these events are for return clients only - first timers really need the whole experience before diving into mini sessions.

*GET PUBLISHED

i have a lot to say about Beauty and Boudoir photography and I’m ready to start spreading the work. Last year I was interviewed for a film about working mothers and I was recently interviewed for a newpapser piece on the subject. Now I’m working on my own pieces that I hope to have published onlne and/or in print.

*TRAVEL as much as I can. 

Traveling has always been such a big part of my life and something that always brings me great joy. I am so grateful to have traveled as much as I did before I had kids, but I still feel that itch to do more — there are still so many places I’d love to see! Luckily my little one is great on planes so I want to get more adventurous with our travels both for business and pleasure.

*HAVE MY OWN BOUDOIR SHOOT

Every year I try to be photographed by another photographer - I find this really important, particularly as a boudoir photographer. In 2019 it took the form of a maternity shoot but in 2020, before I turn 41, I plan to be photographed by my mentor, Kara Marie, who is arguably the best boudoir photographer in the business right now, and I.CAN’T.WAIT.

*PUT MYSELF OUT THERE MORE 

Guys, I’m all about straight up instagram but the other social media platforms are just not my thing (I’m still waiting for someone to explain snapchat to me, sorry if that makes me sound like a grandma). I love making connections with my clients and realize I can start that process even earlier by getting on Instastories and showing my face a little more. I’m going to need some help with this one so feel free to keep me accountable!

*OFFER MORE MENTORSHIPS 

I had some incredible mentees last year and just love sharing MY love of boudoir photography with others. My mentorships are a very thorough and customized experience that covers business coaching as well as photography techniques. If you are a fellow photographer looking to step up your game, give me a holla and let’s chat!

*CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE $%&@! OUT OF MYSELF. 

I have always loved being a student — and a good one at that. I really love to learn and have studied with some of the best boudoir photographers out there, and I plan to continue to study photography for as long as I'm shooting. I want to enhance my technical craft, and continue to push my creativity to keep my work fresh and improving it every year.  This year I’ll be focusing not only on photography but also on retouching.

*GIVE EVEN MORE TO MY CLIENTS. I'm always looking for new ways to make my clients feel extra special. From customizing a location just for them, to following up with them years down the road to congratulate them on new life events....client relationships are really important to me. That's not just something I say. So, in 2020 I'll be continuing to fine tune the client experience even more to give them alllll the warm and fuzzies.  

*HAVE MORE DATE NIGHTS WITH THE HUBS. Being a working mom is hard, and in an effort to take better care of myself, my clients, my kid and my business, my husband tends to get the boot. Something’s got to give of course, but I miss the days when we would go on weekly dates. However busy life got, we always used to go out on Fridays and often did something unusual around the city. Weekly dates aren’t really feasible right now (the cost of a babysitter doubles the cost of the night!) BUT I have to believe that a monthly date will be good for both our relationship and my psyche.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, TRULY, GENUINELY, THANK YOU. Thank you for reading through this long and winding blog post, thank you for reading all/ANY of my blog posts. Thank you for every sweet comment, every word of encouragement, every Instagram "like". Thank you for trusting me with your boudoir experience. Thank you for being friendly and my friends. Thank you for all of your continued support of making my passion a career. I love you all and cannot wait for ANOTHER Best Year Ever in 2020.  I am so grateful for the abundance of business, blessings, and beauties that surrounded me in 2019. 

xoxo, Stephanie

An Incredible Pregnancy Photoshoot | New York Maternity Boudoir

Women are incredible, gorgeous beings whose bodies do miraculous things. The most miraculous and gorgeously stunning of those is during your pregnancy.

Sure, not EVERYONE loves being pregnant. For my first pregnancy I felt beautful, womanly, like a superhero who could take over the world. The second time? Not so much… swollen feet, sciatica, exaustion… and just generally blah.

Nonetheless, being pregnant is a unique time of your life — every pregnancy is different and worth documenting. You will never be in that body again, for better or worse.

But why maternity boudoir?

The reason is two-fold: I have been finding that while many pregnant mamas do think that it's important for them to capture this special time in their lives, as their body is changing and growing and shifting while helping mold their tiny new baby into being -- BUT -- many also don't feel picture worthy in this time, and certainly not sexy in their new bodies.

Intent and passionate about changing their perspective towards a more fulfilling and empowered one, I wanted these reluctant mamas to see and believe what I (and many others) see and believe: that as their body changes, grows, curves, glows, it’s absolutely stunning. A maternity boudoir session will not only have these mamas thinking in a more positive way about themselves in this body, but also remember their maternity overall in a much more positive way.

And it turns out to be true… after photographing many maternity boudoir sessions with women who initially felt completely unsure in their new pregnant body, and unsure of their sexiness in this time, what they have found is that, hands down, there is no better way to become confident and feel incredibly sexy in their pregnant body than by taking maternity boudoir photos!

The other important thing to remember about your pregnancy is that there are no do overs. You can't recreate those photos. So, I urge you mammas....TAKE THE PHOTOS. Hire a photographer you love and document the crap out of your growing bump. Whether it be maternity boudoir, a beauty session, or a family portrait session.

Then there's Miss C. She and I had plans to photograph her first pregnancy, when alas, she went into labor early the day before our shoot! So when she was pregnant for the second time we knew we HAD to work together and schedule our shoot early!

She knew that she would cherish these photos forever, and I’m so proud to have documented them for her. The session couldn't have gone more effortless, she couldn't have been any more stunning, and the final product most definitely could not be beat. I ADORE THESE PHOTOS AND THE WOMAN IN THEM! 

In her own words: 

What an amazing, wonderfully empowering experience. I knew my session would be special but it was so much more... I felt so celebrated!!! Stephanie's spirit and effortless coaching made me comfortable every minute and I had an absolute blast! I am so happy that she captured this moment in my life but now feel like I don't want to wait for another "official" moment for my next boudoir session...

Her smile, her infectious energy, her grace… seriously S.T.U.N.N.I.N.G.

I urge you, mammas, get in front of the camera. If you find the right photographer (*clears throat*), you will not regret it. But if you hide from the camera like I did, you probably will. 

xoxo, Stephanie

Maternity shoots are best planned between 28 - 34 weeks. Ready to plan for yours? Contact me and let’s chat!

Perfectly Imperfect Birthday Boudoir | New York City Portrait Photographer

I’ve been waiting on writing this blog for so long because I want to honor this woman and her message as best I can. Miss "S" here is yet another reminder of why I chose Boudoir Photography as my career path. She came to me to celebrate her 35th birthday, which I LOVE. Her shoot was easy, breezy, and effortless (well, more effortless for me than for her...she had to do a lot of back arching and even some handstands!) But given her INSANE fitness level (thank you, Cross Fit) she KILLED it the entire time and was an absolute GODDESS in front of the lens. She even had this badass “Perfectly Imperfect” tank made for her shoot as a reminder for herself (how much do you love that??)

But you may not have known all this just from talking to her. You see. I have a very strict “no negative self-talk” rule when we are on set together. Our Brooklyn Boudoir shoot is meant to be a time to CELEBRATE yourself exactly as you are - for you, as much as for anyone else, not for picking yourself apart.

But this wasn’t so easy for Ms. S, in spite of her incredible fitness, gorgeous skin and winning smile.  Which frankly, breaks my heart. Life is short, ladies. So often I look back on photos of myself, remembering how I didn’t feel “camera-ready” or attractive that day and being shocked at how good I actually looked … followed by feeling so SAD that I wasted any time at all even worrying about how I looked at the time. We are so much more than how we look, and it is truly a waste of our time and energy feeling anything but positive living in our own skin. How many of us can’t simply say “Thank you” when given a compliment?? It’s a small but important step to giving yourself a break and being kind to yourself - something we women need to remember to do WAY more often. I find that no matter what our different backgrounds and stories might be, it’s something we all struggle with.

Of course, this is easier said than done. I don’t LOVE everything about my body ALL the time. I have days when I feel uncomfortable with myself. But this is where the courage sets in to take a breath and be kind to myself - to remember that our worth is based on much more than our looks, that our beauty is inside AND out, and that we are allies to our bodies, not enemies.

My mission is to help women follow through on appreciating themselves and their bodies. It’s a decision we need to make every day. We need to have faith in our body because our body shows up for us. So when Ms. S wrote to me after her session, her words about her experience really resonated with me and nearly brought me to tears.

I'm going to stop blabbering because this client's words say more than enough...oh...and then there's the photos! 

In her own, very touching words:

Most days I look in the mirror and criticize every feature of my face - my big nose, my tiny lips, my weird chin; obsess over my body - my butt is too small, my boobs are too small, I’m too muscular, I’m not muscular enough, I’m too skinny...I’m just not attractive...

It’s taken me a long time, 35 years to be exact, to learn to love myself, imperfections and all. While it may sound silly to some, this photo shoot experience has given me such a great sense of empowerment, confidence, and strength. Whenever I am feeling down I simply recall the amazingly fun photo shoot and look at the beautiful photographs and my spirits are instantly lifted. I’ve been having a rough few years in life - lacking self love, self acceptance, struggling to recognize my worth, my internal and external beauty, not valuing the person I am inside and out. Will a photo shoot and beautiful photos solve that, maybe not entirely, but it will always serve as a reminder that I am beautiful, I am fun, I am sexy, I am amazing, I am strong, I am a BADASS. And I thank you, THANK YOU for giving me one of the most amazing experiences of my life at a time I truly needed my spirit to be uplifted. I am forever grateful.

^^^^THIS. THIS is what it is all about. Let this be encouragement for other women who maybe don't ever like photos of themselves. For the women who deem themselves "not photogenic". For the women who need a daily reminder to honor themselves.

So thank you, beautiful, powerful, badass Ms. S, for letting me prove to you that you ARE, in fact, photogenic, sexy, perfectly imperfect and simply AMAZING. I'm overjoyed that I was able to provide her with the experience she needed, on top of an amazing collection of photographs, so she can treasure 35 forever.

Ready to celebrate YOUR Perfectly Imperfect Self? Contact me and let’s chat!

30 Weeks Pregnant | My Maternity Shoot with Lola Melani | NYC Photographer

I am a firm believer in existing in photos, printing your photos and having your photograph taken by a professional. Even though I AM a professional photographer - and one who loves to take self portraits at that - I STILL find it really valuable to be in front of someone else’s camera from time to time. You get to capture yourself in a different way than you normally do, see yourself through someone else’s eyes, become ART … the benefits are endless really. While I love the self portraits I take, there’s nothing like having your photo taken by someone else.

While I took many self portraits during my first pregnancy, nearly no one has seen them. Truth be told I haven’t even edited many of them, and I surely don’t look at them often. So when I had the opportunity to be photographed by the incredible photographer Lola Melani, I jumped at the chance! Lola’s style is classic, elegant, fashion-y and truly sublime. I absolutely loved the experience of being in front of her lens, following her lead, giving up control (soooo hard for a control freak like myself) and let myself be pampered and directed. Lola and her team made me feel beautiful, badass, and like a goddess. And THAT is what a professional photoshoot can do for you, beyond the incredible images you will receive in the end. It’s the experience above all.

I couldn’t be happier to have these images of myself during what is likely the last time I will be pregnant. I plan on printing and framing a few and hanging them on the wall, because THAT is the best way to showcase this beautiful artwork.

So THANK YOU Lola, Vlada and Eva for capturing my pregnancy so beautifully, for the most fun day, and the experience of being photographed by one of the greats.

xoxo, Stephanie

Maternity shoots are best done between 28 and 33 weeks so plan ahead and contact me to set yours up!

How to Make the Most of Your Boudoir Shoot | Boudoir Photography Tips | New York City

Trust me, I’ve got you.

I have been a boudoir photographer for nearly five years now, have had several boudoir shoots of my own, in addition to all the self-portraits I’ve taken, so I know a thing or two about how you can make the most out of your own boudoir shoot. You may be thinking, “but Stephanie, can’t I just show up and have you tell me what to do?” Of course - and you can trust that you will be in the best of hands, with all the details being worked out for you. BUT with a little bit of preparation on your end, your shoot can be even more personalized which to me, equals a better experience, better photographs and more fun all around. Once you book your boudoir session I will send you a very comprehensive prep guide with tons of details about wardrobe, self-care, and inspiration. But for those of you who aren’t clients yet, here are a few tips on how you can best prepare for your shoot.

Plan ahead

I tend to over communicate with my clients because the last thing I want is for them to walk into our shoot feeling unsure about anything. Yes, I will be coaching you the entire time, but to help get to know you and your style better before the shoot I give you a homework assignment so you don’t feel like you are “winging it” on the day. (Didn’t think you’d still have homework as an adult, did you?) ;) One thing that I find particularly helpful is to create an inspiration board with images you love. Pinterest works great for something like this (and you can make a private board so no one needs to see it but you). This helps you hone in on your style visually, even if you don’t have the words to describe what you like verbally. Keep in mind that as you’re creating Pinterest boards, you aren’t trying to completely re-create a specific shot that you see. The point isn’t to bring in an image for us to replicate but instead to help you narrow your focus into a distinct vibes as the inspiration for your own shoot and styling. Here are a few of the images that I grabbed off Pinterest as inspiration for future shoots.

Consider variety

One of the best ways to ensure a great shoot is to consider variety when planning your boudoir looks. Three matching bra & panty sets will not produce as dynamic a set of images as three totally different wardrobe ideas. There are lots of choices for wardrobe, and you can feel free to think outside the box. Maybe you’ll want to shoot in a cozy cardigan, then a bodysuit, then just the sheets. Or maybe your three looks would be a bra and panty set, a garter set and a badass blazer. Jeans, a bathing suit, a leather jacket, even a gown can look amazing. We can talk through the options together in your pre-shoot consultations. The point is, you can feel free to step a little outside your comfort zone, try something new and capture yourself in different looks & moods.

You can rock a swimsuit as an alternative boudoir look

Trust your photographer

It is my passion to make women look amazing and beyond that, FEEL amazing. And it’s my superpower to make women feel comfortable, open and confident in their own skin. So ladies, TRUST ME. I’ve got you and your best interests at heart. And remember — it’s not YOUR job to know what to do, it’s mine. Once you arrive at your shoot, you’ll be pampered in the hair and makeup chair. This is your chance to RELAX and let go. Let go of those in insecurities, let go your negative thoughts, let go of control. I know that for a lot of my clients, this step can be very difficult – because, let’s face it, most of us have a little insecurity about one thing or another. But as soon as you let yourself think about those insecurities during your shoot, you give them power over you. Take back that power and tell yourself to let them go! You’ll have plenty of images to choose from, and I promise that you will love most of them. If there are one or two shots that you don’t love, that’s ok and no one ever has to see them ever again! So during the shoot, allow yourself the freedom to let go and embrace the entire experience. I promise it will be worth it.

I will coach you the entire time.

Get an album. 

I can’t emphasize this enough. You might think that you only want digitals but believe me, those digital images will go to waste. They will sit on your computer and barely get looked at. It’s a totally different story seeing your images in print - so much more powerful and ever lasting. These photos are ART. YOU are art. 20 years from now you will want to look back and remember that day you kicked your insecurities to the curb and felt like your best self. Many women purchase their album as wedding or anniversary gifts (which their partners of course LOVE). But more than just a gift for him, your album is a keepsake for YOU. So feel proud, display those photos, hang them on the wall, and look at your album often. Trust me, you’ll be happy that you did.

Print your photos!

Enjoy the experience. 

Sure, it can be nerve wracking, but I assure you the anticipation of your shoot will be more stressful than the reality of it. So try to relax and enjoy the experience! Channel that nervous energy into excitement, and do your best to soak in the whole experience. Listen to the music playing, look around at the studio’s environment, have a glass of champagne, chat with the HMU artist, and enjoy getting pampered!  Let yourself have fun and you will see, the most difficult part of the entire experience is making the first phone call.

Relax and have FUN!

Carry that confidence. 

Every so often pull out that album and remember how much fun it was to get glammed-up, feel pampered, and rock your photo shoot. At this very moment while I’m writing this blog post, I am in my PJs… my toddler is alternately sitting on my lap and playing with her toys on the floor at my feet, and I am 8+ months pregnant with baby #2. I’m definitely not feeling my most glamorous right now. BUT, I have one of my old boudoir albums sitting on the table next to my computer and I just glanced through it again. And it feels great. I remember not being sure of myself that day — I was just a few months post-partum, not sleeping through the night and not feeling like i was looking my best. But the photos tell a different story. Which just goes to show that we are always our own worst critics and that sometimes you need to see yourself through someone else’s eyes to believe that. You ARE beautiful. You ARE strong. You ARE a boss, and wife and mom and all the things that make you YOU. It’s not just about putting on false eyelashes and lingerie. It’s more than some sexy poses and pretty photos. What I walked away with, and what I want all of my clients to walk away with is a sense of satisfaction, pride and confidence in myself. 

It’s all about confidence

So, my lovelies, as leave your boudoir shoot, I hope that you leave behind your insecurities and feelings of not being ‘enough.’ I hope that you walk away and take with you a renewed sense of confidence in knowing you are beautiful, you are gorgeous, you are enough. You are uniquely YOU, so carry that with you in your everyday life.

xoxo, Stephanie

Ready to book your OWN Brooklyn Boudoir experience? Contact me and let’s chat!

Boudoir is for EVERYBODY | Client Spotlight | Brooklyn Bridal Photography

Since starting my boudoir business, I have always felt very strongly that boudoir is for EVERYBODY. One of the big myths about boudoir is that it’s only for a certain kind of women — one who maybe dresses up or flaunts their sexuality on the daily. The truth is, you needn’t be anything but yourself! Short, tall, thin, less thin, tomboy, glamorous… you deserve to have beautiful images of yourself! This is one of the reasons I don’t shoot “one size fits all” boudoir - I tailor your boudoir session to your style and preferences.

For the women who are out there THINKING about a boudoir shoot but too afraid to pull the trigger because they "want to lose a few more pounds" or whatever the reason may be...I want you to know that there is truly no time like the present. Remove "someday" from your vocabulary. You will NOT regret doing a shoot, but you WILL regret NOT doing a shoot. 

Miss "D" here thinking about booking me for quite awhile. She did her research, took her time, and planned ahead, finally using her upcoming wedding as the impetus for her shoot. She was nervous at first, just like most everyone is… and understandably so! It’s not everyday you have professional photos taken of yourself, much less in various stages of undress.

In her own words:

I had a wonderful experience with Stephanie! I was hesitant to get pictures taken because it I have always felt that my body was not boudoir subject material. However, after doing my research and looking at Stephanie's website and Instagram - I thought her pictures were so beautiful that I had to try. Although this is wedding present for my fiancé, I really wanted to capture myself in this moment of life. Which is what Stephanie is all about and also embraces. I left my photo shoot feeling like a sexual goodness!! Stephanie and her team took such good care of me. I felt calm and comfortable. She extremely encouraging during the shoot, and is constantly checking in that I am good with what is happening and how I am feeling. Looking at the pictures at the reveal, I couldn't believe that was me! I blushed the entire time, but loved what I saw. It was an amazing experience and I am so glad I did it!

A little bit of nervous is to be expected, I get it. Taking your clothes off in front of anybody is probably uncomfortable enough, but to do it in front of...a...CAMERA!?  Again...I REALLY get it!  I want women to come into this experience with more excitement than nervousness and will help you get there if you need some extra time or help getting into that zone.

Sending that first email is the hardest part. It’s a big first step, but once you take it, your nerves will be calmed and I will baby step you through EVERYTHING.  You will do great. Just like Miss "D” did.

Ready to take that first step? Contact me and let’s chat!