Boudoir Sessions: A Client’s Perspective

You’ve seen the pictures. You know women who’ve done it. But one of these thoughts keeps
racing through your mind:

• How am I supposed to pose in front of a photographer with nothing between us but a
  camera lens and a quarter yard of lace and strings?
• I don’t even let my partner see me exposed during the stark light of day…much less a
  professional with flash photography umbrellas!
• I love my hot bod, but how am I supposed to stare into the ice cold lens of a camera and
  turn on my sexy face? Do I even have a sexy face??
  

Almost every woman who has ever participated in a boudoir photo shoot has battled with a
version of these intrusive thoughts. The hesitancy, the butterflies, the doubts…it’s all normal.

What’s also normal?

Walking out of the studio afterwards feeling like a sexy, empowered badass.

I like to think the evolution of a woman’s first boudoir session with Stephanie Small goes a little
something like this:

Phase 1: Am I Seriously Doing A Boudoir Photo Shoot?
Phase 2: I’m Uncomfortable And Probably Look Stupid
Phase 3: This. Is. Fun.
Phase 4: I’m Totally Doing This Again

Chapter 1: Am I Seriously Doing A Boudoir Photo Shoot?

Oh yeah. You are.

You’re standing in the dressing room at Stephanie’s photography studio in downtown Asheboro,
wearing nothing but what God gave you.

Your hands tremble as you struggle to untangle the strings, lace, and straps of your black lace
lingerie. You step into the set and pull the straps over your shoulders.

Chill bumps are EVERYWHERE. It’s cold. Your nipples are, well, doing their thing.

And then enters Stephanie.

“Ooo girl, you look GOOD!” Her eyes are sparkling and her reassurances burst with giddiness,
“Oh my gosh, I was thinking about buying that set to have at the studio for clients! Ugh, hold on,
let me move the wings over here….”

(Side note: I’m not sure if she does this intentionally – over the years I’m learning she’s just that
bubbly – but suddenly, for a few seconds, you forget you’re scared.)

Chapter 2: I’m Uncomfortable And Probably Look Stupid

You’re sitting on the edge of the bed that’s tucked into the corner of the studio. Toes pointed,
back arched, booty popped – just like Stephanie told you to do.

There’s no way I look good like this. I’m FULLY EXPOSED! Ugh, why can’t I just lay on my
belly? Hide all the things??

Stephanie tells you it’s time to relax your body. You adjust the chest region of your lingerie; a
certain something was trying to pop out.

“Girl, you’re looking HOT! Here…check these bad boys out,” she waggles her eyebrows as she
leans over and shares her camera screen.

And then, the butterflies in your stomach morph into a burst of pride in your chest.

Who is THAT hottie?!

It’s you. You’re that hottie. How have you never noticed how dang good you look in lingerie??

• 

• 

• 

I’ll let you in on a little secret to boudoir sessions with Stephanie. She’s going to give you all of three minutes of feeling nervous, scared, or uncomfortable.

Then she’s going to show you, YOU.

And that leads us to the next part.

Chapter 3: This. Is. FUN.

Now that Stephanie has proven that you do NOT, in fact, look like a busted can of biscuits in your Victoria’s Secret lace teddy bodysuit, the game. has. changed.

In fact, time is quickly slipping away. You’re having way too much fun with this.

To be quite honest, you’re feeling a little greedy, too. You’re eager to try out the next magical pose Stephanie has tucked up her sleeve.

Here’s the thing about this boudoir photo session:

You’re feeling more empowered, more seductive, and more confident than you’ve felt in a long time.
Maybe even ever.

While under flashing photography umbrellas.

And you’re not ready for it to end.

Chapter 4: I’m Totally Doing This Again

Let me give you a little insight into the texts I sent – and the texts I received from friends – within minutes of leaving the session.

“Omg. You HAVE TO DO A BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT.”

“Sooo. I’m hot.”

“Josh is literally going to die. Ok, not literally. But DANG I LOOKED GOOD.”

You’re going to be flying high for quite some time. And you should revel in it. Seriously, go grocery shopping afterwards. You may or may not feel like the cereal aisle is your own personal runway.

And when you get the final photos back?

Get ready for ego-boost number two.

Maybe you didn’t initially plan on showing these to anyone but your partner. But don’t be surprised if you rally the troops (AKA, your best friends in the entire world) for a conversation that goes a little like this:

“Okay, which one is your favorite?”
“This one…or that one. This one? …That one?”
“I don’t knowwww. I just can’t decide.”

The title of this chapter speaks for itself, so be prepared to send that text to Stephanie:

“I’m totally doing this again.”