How to get the Most Out of Your Boudoir Session | Dallas Boudoir Photography

If you guys haven’t noticed I did a MAJOR facelift to Wonderland Boudoir.  I thought my website was good but I had been toying with the idea of updating it for awhile.  After a long conversation and a virtual reality check from Denise Birdsong( from Modern Love Photography) I took off one full weekend to updated my boudoir site.  

One of the suggestions that Denise had for me was to use one solid image as my anchor image.  As soon as she said that I knew what image… or in my case images… that would be.  

Recently my client Tia drove all the way down from Arkansas to shoot with me for her 21st birthday.  I felt so honored that she allowed me to take these beautiful photos for her.  

There is a reason why Tia’s photos came out so incredibly amazing.  Tia communicated exactly what she wanted from her photos, already had her wardrobe ready, listened with intention, and kept an open mind.  

COMMUNICATION IS KEY FOR SUCCESSFUL BOUDOIR

The most important element in ANY relationship is communication.  Tia and I communicated so much that it was easy to gauge exactly want she wanted.  

She hit me up on the Gram (translation: Tia sent me a direct message on the social media platform Instagram) inquiring about a session.  She was turning 21 and wanted to do a shoot to celebrate herself and all her accomplishments to this point in her life. 

Tia already had a clear idea of what she wanted to accomplish from her session.  She wanted single, strong, and sexy.  She backed up this concept with inspirational photos as her example. She would find and screenshot photos from other models or photographers on Instagram.  There would be some mornings where I would wake up and find a whole slew of inspirational photos that she had gathered the night before.  

I love when clients send too much information rather than not enough.  I never want a client to feel as though they are “bugging” me when they send reference photos.  That doesn’t bother me.  If anything I encourage it.  It shows you're dedicated and excited about your upcoming boudoir session.  

Since Tia was able to explain what she wanted out of her boudoir session through photos and conversation we were able to produce beautiful imagery the reflected exactly what she wanted.  

PERFECT OUTFITS FOR YOU BOUDOIR LOCATION

What you wear to your session should not only reflect  your personality and body shape but the location of where the session will take place.  People tend to forget look over the fact that location plays an important role in planning for your outfit.  What you wear should compliment that location.  

Currently, Calvin Klien is all the rage again.  We are seeing CK underwear everywhere.  Kendall Jenner, Justin Bieber, and Twigs has been rocking this retro brand. Even Urban Outfitters now carries the line.  Calvin Klein represents minimalistic sexiness.  Something Generation Yr’s love.  I mean we did grow up with CK.  

Since CK represents minimalistic strength I knew the focus would be on her and to use the room as a backdrop for negative space.  The CK brand is strong enough not to need an extra fancy bedroom set.  The focus would be her and her Calvin Kleins.  

Since the focus was just going to be leveraged on style and posing I knew I had to shoot very simplistic and strong.  Sometimes the most effective element of art is simplicity.

HOW TO POSE FOR A BOUDOIR SESSION

Having strong and effective poses is critical when producing amazing boudoir photos.   When you look at your photos 20,30,50 years from now you will want your pictures to bring you to back the beautiful emotional state you were in when you first saw them.  Part of that is creating strong and evocative posing.  

Practice Makes Perfect

Tia is not a professional model and nor are most women who take part in a boudoir session so it’s up to the photographer to help pull out the best poses.  However, it would be really beneficial to you as the client to study magazines and movies prior to your session.  While I am not a huge selfie person I do suggest that you guys practice your “modeling face” by taking selfies and learning what your face actually does (not what you think it does) when you’re taking a photo.  

Listen with Intention

Listening to your photographer about how to achieve level 10 posing will help create epic photos that you want to buy.  Hearing is something we do all day, but listening is not something we all practice on a daily basis.  Tia rocked this season because she listened with intention.  She didn’t think about what she going to do while I was coaching her poses. She listened and then went into the pose. 

Keep an Open Mind

Keeping an open minded during your boudoir session will help you create beautiful photos with your photographer. While Tia knew exactly what she wanted from her session she did keep an open mind up when I suggested a mild variation on any idea.  Your photographer is accomplished and well versed. Typically when they suggest something it’s because they see something you may not because they do this quite often. 

Just Remember...

When you and your boudoir photographer work as a team you will create beautiful images that you will cherish for a lifetime.  In order to create these beautiful images, you need to have open and constant communication.  Also, your apparel and lingerie should match your location, you must practice strong posing, and you have to keep an open mind.  

If you’re interested in having a boudoir session or just want to learn more about boudoir please contact me using the form below.  I typically reply back to all to inquiries within a 24-hour timeframe.  
 
In the comment section below please let me know which photograph of Tia’s is your favorite.  

The Hottest Look on a Warm Winter Day | Dallas Boudoir Photography

It's 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and we are just strolling the streets of Dallas in a black sheer silk midi skirt on a Sunday afternoon in January.

The life of an editorial boudoir photographer.

Yes, this how I typically spend my Sundays, shooting beautifully designed lingerie on gorgeous women.  

We actually shot this set on January 3rd, a day after my birthday.

This perfect day produced some of the most beautiful photos have I have taken so far this year (considering it was day 3 at the time. LOL).

On this unusually warm January day Celina, Jazzy, and I took to the the streets of Dallas and hit up the least likely places that anyone would find us, a grungy alley and a forgotten about parking garage.  You must find beauty anywhere.

BOUDOIR IN AN ALLEY

Our first stop was a tiny alley between two Dallas staple restaurants.  I wanted to shoot in a place that was super dark and moody.  We originally planned to sneak into a building in the West End District that housed this beautiful 20’s style elevator… but they closed down that building for the weekend.  Good thing Celina shot in this area before and remembered this particular alley from years prior. We squeezed between the cracks of two buildings to shoot some of the best dark and moody images I have done in a very long time.  

We thought were were being so sneaky and clever shooting in this alley.

Keyword was thought.  

Turns out the owner of one of the adjacent restaurants put a camera up in that back of his building.  He came out to tell us about it and how he typically keeps the gate locked but forgot that day.   But he gave us permission to continue shooting.  I guess he saw a beautiful woman in lingerie, a girl with a camera, and a fabulous makeup artist and assumed that we would be no threat.  He could have been a total jerk about the whole thing with good reason, but he was so cool.  

We only shot for about 15 minutes in that super narrow alley.  Honestly it was probably only 2 feet wide, if that.  But it was surprisingly super clean and didn't smell at all.  

I love how the cast of the old stone reflected a moody rainbow on Celina's body.  The whole thing was dank, dark, and beautiful.  

I admire the juxtaposition of such a beautiful outfit against a worn down background really made Celina pop.  

DANCING ON ROOFTOPS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Next we headed to an empty parking garage in the middle of Downtown Dallas.  Celina brought this BEAUTIFUL black sheer bodysuit for this part of the session. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a good bodysuit.  There is just something so understated and sexy about them.

Celina also brought along a black lace rabbit ear mask.  If you guys remember about a year ago I shot in another lace rabbit mask.  There is just something about the whole rabbit year thing that I love.  (hence the logo)..  

I posed Celina in a lot of power poses because the city of Dallas is such a strong background and we needed Celina to express that as well.  

One of my favorite shots is Celina standing in front of the Statler Hotel. They are rebuilding and reoccupying this iconic building later this fall.  

While Celina and the City of Dallas play such strong characters in this photo story it has to be mentioned that Jazzy did an amazing job softening up the look a bit by doing a bold yet soft eye.  Blue is the color he wanted to play with because the sky was so clear and he wanted the look to pop against Celina's eyes.  

HONESTLY...

I am so in love with how amazing these photos turned out.  Especially since we shot in the dead of day.  In photographer world that is a major no no.  However this year I decided that I am going to throw caution to the wind and shoot in all the ways we are told not too.  I am so tired of following the rules because the people who have made history are the ones who changed it.  I’m going against the grain.

Can we talk about how BEAUTIFUL Celina looked against the Indigo Hotel for minute?  Yes ma’am!  That is ALL her!  I’m sure the guest of the hotel has a blast watching us shoot her  in such a beautiful location.  

I mean CHECK out this video we made.  Can we say love?

BOUDOIR MAKEUP

If you want a rundown of what Jazzy used on the eyes and the rest of Celina’s  then check out his blog post from our shot that day.  

Thank you guys for joining on this beautiful photo diary of Celina’s session.  Be sure to keep following as we will have MANY more sessions planned and popping up this  year!  

If you’re interested in booking with us please contact us using the following block below. Also, feel free to contact me. We look forward to working with you!

We Found Boudoir in a Hopeless Place | Dallas Boudoir Photography

Alexis is one of my favorite people in the world.  She is a fashion stylist and model who recently relocated to New York City for work and love.  She came back to Dallas in late December to visit family and friends for the holidays. While in town she requested that I shoot some photos of her for her new blog, Lone Star in the City.  Since Alexis is amazing I couldn’t say no to her!

WHAT HAD HAPPEN WAS...

If you guys weren’t aware on December 26, 2016 major tornadoes hit the North Texas area demolishing blocks and blocks of neighborhoods while many people lost their lives.

Yeah, we were shooting on that day.  In fact this was supposed to be a twilight boudoir session over the city of Dallas.  However, due to turbulent and unpredictable weather we brought the boudoir session inside of my building.  

Yes, these shots took place in the stairwell of my building!  I love how the moody emptiness is also an unspoken and unseen character in these photos.  These photos emphasize her adult allure and sexiness.  . 

Check out this video we made with Alexis.  It’s crazy how just the most simplistic of places can spark the most incredible settings.  

THE BOUDOIR OUTFIT BREAKDOWN

BOUDOIR OUTFIT

This whole outfit came from Victoria’s Secret.  I just adore gold hardware and exposed zippers.  I feel like exposed zippers are a node to vintage quality and craftsmanship.   This exposed zipper on this corset top proved to elevate the game of sexiness when it comes to seductive designs.

The matching panties to this set were so incredibly tantalizing.  Too bad they are no longer on sale.  It’s so hard to find geometric cut outs on panties, and these were perfect for that.  

The skirt was my FAVORITE part of this whole look.  First of all who doesn’t love silk?  Only crazy people.  There is just SOMETHING about silk that makes you feel instantly high class, sophisticated, and sexy.  Turn that into a tulle maxi skirt and you are asking for any woman to bring out their innermost Upper East side sexiness.  

BOUDOIR HAIR

The hair was just simple.  I wanted to do a high poofy and messy bun that sat on the top of her head, but because the outfit was so slick and Spanish inspired we opted for the more for a sleek look to embrace the aura of the feel. 

Later in our session I asked Alexis to take her hair down because it was "too" perfect (if you notice in my photos I have a thing for messy-sex-in-the-morning hair.  I wanted to something more grunge, real, and could evoke an emotion of relaxed power and longing.  

We leveraged Alexis hair as an element of storytelling.  Look how well Alexis brings in her hair to help elevate the allure of the photos.  

BOUDOIR MAKEUP

There is a reason they refer to Jazzy as the King.  He knows what he’s going.  I love how he took a chance by placing a bold red lip on a woman of such a dark complexion.  He helped add drama to the overall look by creating an intense smokey eye look.  Doing this created a sense of mysterious coy power.  

This couldn’t have been more fitting for such a crazy night.

ONE MORE NOTE

One camera you should ALWAYS have on your shoots is the Fuji Instamax.  We has SUCH a blast with this camera.  You have to check out the fun photos we took below.  

Be sure to follow Alexis’s new blog, Lonestar in the City. It is a fashion and lifestyle blog that documents how Alexis will navigate her way through New York City as a Texas Native.  

Question of the Day!

In the comment section PLEASE let me know your favorite photo of Alexis and why.  Also let me know if you have a Fuji Instamax and what you think about it.

If you’re interested in a session with us please feel free to fill out the form below and a member from our team will reach out to you within 24 hours!

Have a Great Day!