5 Fun Boudoir Photography Poses My Clients Love | Brooklyn Boudoir Studio

As a boudoir photographer, I have worked with countless women of all ages and body types. One of the things that never ceases to amaze me is how empowering boudoir photography can be. It's a way to celebrate your body and your femininity, to feel confident and beautiful, and to capture that feeling forever in photographs. One of the questions I get asked most frequently is about poses - what are the most flattering, what are the most popular, and what are the most fun? So, today I'm going to share with you five fun boudoir photography poses that my clients love.

The Floor Pose

Our floors at Brooklyn Boudoir are kind of famous. In fact, along with the floor to ceiling windows they were what drew me to the studio in the first place. It’s no wonder that the "Floor Pose" is my #1 most request pose from my clients. It’s versatile and one of the most universally flattering boudoir photography poses. And while it isn’t comfortable to be laying on a hard, cold, polished-concrete floor, there is a LOT of variety we can get get here, resulting in about 10 unique shots. All of these reasons add up to the floor pose being an absolute must-try pose for any client looking for edgy and captivating shots that highlight their curves and beauty.

One of the reasons why this pose is so popular is the sheer number of angles you can capture. Everyone looks good stretched out on the floor, and there are tons of angles you can capture - from the front, side, back, and even from above. Moreover, the reflective nature of the concrete floors creates a unique and edgy look that's sure to turn heads.

Even if you have movement limitations, this pose is still doable. You can bend one of your legs, stretch out, or lie on your side to create different looks and angles. It's a versatile pose that works well for all body types.

However, I must warn you that this pose can be uncomfortable, especially if you're lying directly on the hard, cold floor. But, trust me, it's worth it! The results are always stunning, and the discomfort is temporary. Plus, as a photographer, I will do everything in my power to make you feel as comfortable as possible during the shoot.

Sitting Cross-legged

The "CrissCross Applesauce" pose is a perfect choice for those clients who are looking for a pose that's both comfortable and easy to execute. Many clients feel nervous when they're asked to pose in their lingerie, but this pose can help ease those nerves. It's a familiar position that we sit in every day, which can make the client feel more at ease during the shoot.

It's natural to feel self-conscious during a boudoir photoshoot, but it's important to remember that the camera sees things differently than we do. This pose can show as much or as little as you want it to. As a photographer, I have a trained eye to capture the best angles and lighting, which can enhance your beauty and make you look your best. So, even if you're feeling a bit nervous or self-conscious, trust me when I say that you look amazing.

Laying on Your Tummy

Laying on your tummy is an excellent pose to start with if you're feeling a bit hesitant or self-conscious. It can be a bit more comfortable since you're not as exposed, making it a perfect way to ease into the session. However, don't let the less revealing nature of this pose fool you - it's still incredibly versatile and can capture a wide range of moods. From a sultry, come-hither expression to a playful, flirty smile, laying on your tummy can showcase your personality while still maintaining your comfort level.

What's more, this pose is an excellent opportunity to play with your hair, whether you choose to let it cascade down your back or pull it up in a messy bun. As a boudoir photographer, I love capturing shots where my clients interact with their hair, adding a playful or seductive touch to the final images.

Arms Above the Head

This pose offers versatility in terms of style. You can make it look more pinup-like or more natural, depending on how you position yourself. If you touch your hair, it can create a natural look. And if you raise your arms up it will lift your breasts, which works well for both larger and smaller busts.

Additionally, there are plenty of ways to vary the composition of the shot by focusing on different parts of your body. For example, you can frame your eyes with your arms, emphasize the curve of your waist, showcase your curves by positioning your body to highlight your booty and side body, or play with your hair and back. You can also incorporate your hands into the pose to add a graceful element to the shot.

Legs Up on the Bed

Although this pose may not be the easiest to get into, once you're in it, it's a breeze. It may take some time to find the perfect angle, but it's totally worth it. One of the best things about this pose is that it can highlight your legs or statement shoes, which is perfect for those who love to show off their footwear collection. It elongates your legs, which can make them appear slimmer and longer, creating a stunning look that will leave you feeling confident.

Apart from the legs, this pose can also capture artistic, anonymous shots that still show off your body head to toe. It allows you to play with angles, creating a unique and captivating composition.

In conclusion, these are just five of the many boudoir photography poses that my clients love. The key to a great boudoir session is to trust your photographer and to have fun - after all, this is a celebration of you and your body. So don't be afraid to try new things and to embrace your femininity. And if you're still feeling a little nervous, just remember - what the camera sees is totally different than what you are seeing. You are beautiful, and you deserve to feel confident and empowered.

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!



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!