Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
“What is Boudoir?”
Boudoir photography is an art that is an intimate and deeply personal collaboration, in which the artist brings their skill and the subject brings their soul. The word “boudoir” comes from French, originally referring to a woman’s bedroom. In contrast with ‘glamour’ or ‘beauty’ photography, boudoir tends to be more natural in styling, with an emphasis on intimacy and sensuality instead of just appearance.
For the women I have worked with, boudoir photography is a path of self discovery and self empowerment. For a mother, it is a way to reaffirm her beauty. For a career professional, it lets her explore the creative process and experience being the subject of a work of art. For an abuse survivor, it lets her assert ownership of her own sexuality. For a bride-to-be, it is a deeply personal gift for her beloved, and a memento for decades to come.
I will work with you to create beautiful, unique art that will give you joy and become a treasure as years go by.
The most common thing my clients say when they first see their photos is “Oh my god, I’ve never seen myself like this before!”
Imagine spending a morning or afternoon as the center of attention, being involved in making art, and seeing yourself in a new light. Now imagine having breathtaking artwork on your wall, a dramatic and sensual photograph, and being able to tell your guests, “Oh yeah, that’s me.” Or a luxury photo book, in a fine black cover with the highest quality paper and gilded edges, that tells the story of your soul, as you are right now, that will only become more treasured as years go by.
Even if you are nervous about being in front of the camera, I’ll make you feel comfortable and confident.
By the end of the session, you will feel amazing, thrilled to discover a new side of yourself, and have uniquely personal artwork that you are proud to share.
There are many photographers out there, and what sets me apart from the rest is my creative style and collaborative process which leads to natural, soulful photographs that will celebrate you as you are.
“How does the experience work?”
Whether Virtual or Face to Face, all boudoir experiences have a three part structure:
First, we have a no-cost introduction meeting to get to know each other and plan the shoot. During the meeting, we’ll go over ideas for themes, decide on outfits, go over ways to practice posing, and answer any questions you have. If it’s a virtual session, we will also take the opportunity to plan out what locations in your home will be best to use, and what time of day will provide ideal lighting.
On the day of the Session, we’ll shoot for about 1 to 2 hours, with three or four outfit changes. My goal is to make the day one that is fun, with a relaxed atmosphere so you will feel confident, and it’ll show in the photographs. I’ll offer direction and encouragement as needed throughout the session, and show you some photos as we go so you can see for yourself how great you look. Virtual Sessions are the much the same, conducted by video call, with me taking screenshots. As soon as we wrap up for the day, I’ll get to work on the images.
Finally, 4 - 7 days later we will review your photographs and you’ll choose your favorites in your Ordering Session. You’ll be thrilled as I present to you my favorite edited photographs from your session. You’ll choose the images that speak to you, and decide on the collection of luxury photo album collections, digital images, printed & framed wall art or metal prints you would like to order. I think it’s important to have the very best finished results, which is why I exclusively work with one of the best boutique photo book makers in Europe, and a highly experienced art printer in California.
“What are Virtual Sessions?”
Virtual Boudoir Sessions are done through video call, shot through your own laptop or phone, using your own home as a location. This is a great option for people who are outside of Southern California or wish to maximize safe practices during the pandemic. Other than that, they are much like in-person sessions: I’ll still give direction so you’ll be confident, work with you to find the best camera angles that accentuate your features, and show you sample photos as we go so you can see for yourself how great you look.
“How much does it cost?”
My booking fee is 500, which covers everything that goes into the session, such as the makeup artist, my client wardrobe, props, and so on. All products, including Luxury Photo Books, Prints, and Digital Images are purchased separately. We can go over everything during the pre-planning meeting.
Will my photos be online?
Only with your permission. Privacy is very important to me, and the work you see on my site is only what my clients have allowed in writing. While some clients are eager to share what their experience was like, others have reasons to keep their work private.
I don’t know how to pose, will you help me?
Of course! I’ll offer posing suggestions and guidance as needed. Truthfully, not knowing how to pose is actually an advantage, because poses look… well… posed. Most of the women I have worked with had never done a photo session before, so I have tons of tips for different situations, and more importantly I understand that the most important factor is actually time. Even if you are nervous at first, eventually it goes away and you’ll be feeling naturally beautiful in no time.
What if I don’t look like your models?
You might be surprised to find out that very few of the women I work with are ‘models’ in the traditional sense: most of my clients are everyday people who have day jobs or have children. I work with women of all shapes and sizes, and do my best to highlight the aspects of them that I find most beautiful.
Please note that the people you see in my portfolio are the ones who have given me permission to feature them publicly on my website, as I only post photos of clients with their permission. If you would like to see more examples of my work, feel free to message me.
I have a problem area, would you be able to fix it in photoshop?
Of course. While my style philosophy is to celebrate natural beauty make photos that are true to life, I understand that blemishes happen and may occasionally be distracting in photographs. I have years of experience as a professional retoucher and I’ll be able to take care of any problem areas in a way that doesn’t detract from the real you.
What should I bring?
My shoots usually involve 3 - 4 looks from casual to intimate lingerie or nude, so it is good to bring some variety of outfits, especially if you also want photos suitable for social media.
Here’s what I recommend:
Sheer or Lace non-padded bra, panties, and lingerie, in black or white. Other colors can also work well, such as green, red, or pink. Avoid fluorescent or hot colors. Please remove tags and labels before the shoot, as the branding may be distracting in the photo.
Fishnet stockings or full-body suit. These lend themselves well to more abstract photos that show off curves with tantalizing detail.
Silky or sheer robes or kimonos. These are perfect with lingerie underneath, or without.
If you already know you would like to shoot nude, I recommend wearing loose comfortable clothing with no bra or underwear before coming to the shoot, as they may leave red marks on your skin for several hours.
Bring one pair of flats for walking outside, and one pair of plain high-heels. I usually do not show footwear in my photos, but heels do change the posture so I encourage you to bring a pair.
Finally, bring what excites you. Whether it’s your favorite baseball team’s hat, a T-shirt with a cheeky message that you just love, or a black leather harness with chains, bring it. I guarantee the photographs will be that much better with something you love.
Hair & Makeup
I’ll have a hair & makeup artist for the session, so you can come clean faced. If there are specific products or accessories you prefer, bring them along. If you have any skin allergies or other concerns, let me know in advance and I’ll notify the makeup artist and put you in contact with them. They will be present though the session to provide touch ups and change looks as needed.
Where is the shoot location?
My studio is a small house in a quiet part of west Los Angeles, and you have already seen it in many of my photographs. It has excellent light throughout the day, which lets me use natural light from morning to evening. This location is available at no extra charge. Other locations may be available for an additional fee upon request.
I’m also available to travel or shoot on location, message me to discuss your idea.
Can I bring a Friend or Partner?
Yes! Just give me advance notice. I’ve had some issues in the past with friends being distracting to the session, so I may ask them to hang out in an adjacent room while we work.
I also offer specials for booking with a friend, including same-day double sessions and referral rewards.
What are the ropes I see in some pictures? Can I incorporate that into my session?
Of course! That is a japanese art of rope bondage called “Shibari” or “Kinbaku,” and I have been practicing it for about seven years. It was originally techniques for tying up prisoners hundreds of years ago, but over time became an erotic art. I find that it highlights the body in interesting ways, and for the women I work with it can be a powerful experience in ways that are unique to each individual.
There is an additional fee to incorporate them into a shoot. I use high quality ropes made by a boutique specialist so they are softer than they look, and they need special care before and after a session. If you are curious to learn more, let me know and I can bring a sample during our introduction meeting.
Do you only shoot Black and White? How about Color?
My personal style is black and white, and I shoot digitally, so we can decide whether black and white or color is best for your images. I usually prefer Black & White because of the way it changes the context of the imagery. I describe color photography as a recording of “how things look,” and black and white is a poem about “how things feel.”
Thank you for reading!
If you have any other questions or would like to inquire about becoming a client, please use the form below.