What’s Your Take On… Boudoir Photography?
It seems every bride-to-be is doing it, and everyone has an opinion about it
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jul 28, 2010 at 06:30AM
32 Comments
Slideshow: Images from top boudoir photographers around Seattle and insight into what it’s like for them and their sultry subjects. Here, an image by Joey Nicole who says her clients are always surprised by how glamorous they look.
View Slideshow »Photographer Joey Nicole says “Nine times out of ten a woman begins this process feeling apprehensive and unsure. Even if she is confident about walking around in her lingerie, most women are completely unsure about posing. I work to ease this worry by letting them know that I will show them each pose myself first, and coach every single step of the way.”
View Slideshow »Photographer April Greer built her boudoir photography experience while living in Germany; in 2007, after returning to the Northwest and realizing that clients were using words like “provocative and sexy” to describe her work, she added the service to her offerings.
View Slideshow »April Greer says not all women book their boudoir sessions because their significant other wants them to do so. “Most of my clients have always dreamed of doing something like a boudoir session. They arrive to the studio early out of excitement. On several occasions my clients have purchased two custom boudoir books; one filled with images she adores and another for her significant other. The book for herself is far more racy and sexy in comparison!”
View Slideshow »Photographer Jenny Goldberg-George says she “usually get a big high five from the groom on the wedding day!”
View Slideshow »“Most sessions are filled with laughter, but I had one woman share that part of her reason for doing a session was to help pull her out of the sadness around the death of a loved one; she said that the experience helped lift the fog and that was really touching to hear,” recalls Jenny Goldberg-George.
View Slideshow »We asked Lance and Trixie at Old School Pin Ups how many women are apprehensive when they the session begins. “Seven out of ten when they walk in the door, 0 out of ten after seeing their first images on the monitor. Spending two hours with Trixie in their makeover, she helps build their confidence, then they’re guided through poses on the set so by the time they have completed the first of nine poses, all apprehension is gone and is replaced with joy and enthusiasm.” You have to admit that this gal doesn’t look at all camera shy.
View Slideshow »At Old School Pin Ups there is definitely a vintage calender girl vibe. Here’s more on that from the OSP team: “We designed a dream studio complete with eclectic sets (the Bachelor Pad, Oriental Bar, Tiki Room, and of course Boudoir), our complete makeover including hair make up and wardrobe, and our classic mid-century style photography. We create a wonderland experience in intimate photography producing images that are instant classics, to be treasured forever, never going out of style.”
View Slideshow »Addressing nerves, photographer Susan Berman of Tease Studio says, “Women are apprehensive ten out of ten times. It’s not normal to parade around in front of a stranger in skimpy underwear! And it is certainly not normal to do it in front of a camera! However, ten out of ten times, within the first 15 minutes, all inhibitions are set aside and everyone really starts to have fun. There isn’t anything anyone can show me that I haven’t seen before!”
View Slideshow »Of course it’s not just brides who get seduced by boudoir. Susan Berman of Tease Studio says, “I do a lot of sessions for military wives and girlfriends. Being able to provide a service and product that eases the time these soldiers are away from their loved ones is a really precious and sweet gift.”
View Slideshow »“I’d say nine out of ten women think ’that’s awesome, but I could never do it’ when they first hear of boudoir. But it sticks in their minds and when the perfect opportunity arises, such as a wedding, they just go for it! Meeting ahead of time and being treated to professional makeup removes any leftover apprehension. Very few women are nervous by the time we start the session and they always relax quickly,” says photographer Cheryl Jones at Belle Boudoir.
View Slideshow »Cheryl Jones shares this story: “A client let it slip to her fiance what she was doing. Throughout the session he sent her sweet, encouraging text messages and photos he wanted her to replicate! As women we are really rough on our bodies and it’s refreshing to remember that the men in our lives see us as sexy and beautiful, and don’t really care about the flaws we see. Boudoir is an opportunity for us to see what he sees.”
View Slideshow »At Katrinka’s Secret, Christina Mallet’s boudoir services began with the pregnancies she documented; “non-pregnant women requested I photograph them, sans bump, in the same ethereal, sexy style I used for pregnant women,” she says.
View Slideshow »An example of Christina Mallet’s urban style
View Slideshow »Sara Adamski-Satterlee of Photos by Sara says she considers her style more aligned with Vargas-style pin-ups. “With this style, it’s not necessary to strip down… unless you’re feeling it. It’s all about being sexy in anything from a full dress to nothing at all,” she says.
View Slideshow »Sara says, “I try to shoot nearly everything clean enough that we don’t have to keep the images in the safety deposit box. I want the women to feel fabulous, enjoy the process, and love the results. We only go as far as the client wants to go and she usually only goes as far as her sweetie would want to see.”
View Slideshow »Kat Speyer at Persimmon Images says, “As a bride, I was thrilled to discover boudoir for myself and had a fabulous time at my session. I think I loved the experience more than my husband loved his photos! It was so liberating and fun. I decided to offer boudoir to give women that same experience—in addition to sexy, flattering photos. I feel confident in my own body and comfortable in my skin and nothing is greater than empowering another woman to feel that way, too.”
View Slideshow »There’s definitely something to the ‘secret’ element of all this. Kat Speyer relates this story: “I had a client whose fiance was suspicious that she was up to something and kept calling during the session. She had a friend with her to throw him off the trail, but it was hard to keep from laughing in the background while they lied to him about what they were doing. The guy must have called four times trying to trip them up. He loved the photos when he got them, though!”
View Slideshow »Phil Holden at Seattle Boudoir Photography reports that, “So far our youngest client has been 20 years young and our oldest was 63. That 63 year old was also in a wheelchair and weighed over 300lbs. It really doesn’t matter what size, age or shape you are. We have also had clients celebrating divorce and others that are single and have been for years, they wanted to do this for themselves.”
View Slideshow »Phil also relates this story, “Ms N, a self described plus-sized girl came into the studio nervous because she has never been comfortable with her body and was worried about what we would think of her. She left feeling ‘freakin hot’ and had the most empowering and liberating experience of her life. My words don’t do this justice, you can read about it for yourself at http://offbeatbride.com/2010/06/wedding-boudoir-photos”
Talk about a hot topic.
Especially among brides-to-be (and, one supposes, their grooms) there’s a growing … let’s call it a hunger … for boudoir photography, in which less is more, smiles are sexier than they are cheerful, poses are playful and provocative, and the whole idea is to conjur, well, more hunger. When it comes up in conversation, the yay’s and the nay’s easily separate into teams. There are those who claim to be ready, willing, and about ready to pose themselves (or see their loved ones do so), and those who just can’t wrap their head around it.
In the slideshow here, we hear – and more importantly see – from photographers at Old School Pin Ups, Photos by Sara, Persimmon Images, Tease Studios, Katrinka’s Secret, Jenny Goldberg-George, Belle Boudoir, Joey Nicole Photography, April Greer Studios, and Seattle Boudoir Photography.
These Seattle shooters, all of whom offer different styles of the certainly not-new art of boudoir photography, shared with us their experiences in dealing with apprehension – or, as is often the case, the absence of it – and with satisfied customers, and satisified partners-of-customers. (We asked, and even offered to keep the answers anonymous, but there seem to be no unsatisfied customers.) Of course, they share their images as well.
Take a look and tell us, what’s your take on boudoir photography?
Tags: Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, What's Your Take On...
What a GREAT gift to give to your significant other! My personal fave is Tease Studios…I booked a session and felt totally at ease and comfortable the entire time…what a blast, I am so glad I did it!
Boudoir is an amazing experience. I’m in love with the simple, sexy style of The Tease Studio… if I were ever to have boudoir photos done again, Susan is at the top of the list.
LOVE IT! Single or coupled up, I think every woman should do this.
Wow…they are all great but Joey Nicole’s are my favorite. Risque, but still classy!
LOVE seeing these – it’s fun way to spend a day.
Cheryl Jones (Belle Boudoir) provides the ultimate pampering experience months before you reveal the results to your husband. Not only did the images give me a self-esteem boost but it’s a perfect wedding day gift for my husband. She was caring and gracious from the start, and immediately made me feel thankful I made the choice to have these photos taken. I would recommend her, and this experience to any woman, pre-marriage, pre-baby, pregnant, post baby, one year wedding anniversary, 20 year wedding anniversary… It is a wonderful gift to yourself, and for your lover. I cannot wait to see his face when I give him this photo book, in the words of Cheryl “he’s going to flip”.
I think this is a great idea. We are doing an “all traditional” wedding. So, a formal engagement party, couples party, bachelor/bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, eve of bridal party, ceremony/reception, day after brunch to honeymoon. So with a photo like this, it will ignite the “heat” when received, lets say night before wedding?? I love it, can’t wait to do it!!!!
The team at Seattle Boudoir Photography was what made my experience top notch. You have a hairstylist/make-up artist, a wardrobe/set stylist and a photographer with a really great eye for portraiture and for those artsy shots. You come away feeling like a super star. One look on the comments on their website and you can see the transformation that occurs. You don’t need to be a bride. You only need to be a woman with a desire to show her sexy side. Even if you don’t think you have a sexy side…or have long forgotten what that means…Seattle Boudoir Photography will help you remember. This is coming from one very pleased client. :)
Kat at Persimmon Images is amazing. She has an uncanny ability to make the session relaxing and fun while encouraging the subject to maintain and perhaps unleash her own type of sex appeal. Kat’s creativity and enthusiasm foster an incredibly diverse and interesting portfolio; she really has a knack for capturing the individual’s personality, so while her style is unique and identifiable, her photos never seem generic. It really was a pleasure to work with Persimmon Images, and I can’t wait to do it again.
I’ve been looking into doing this forever, but I’m camera shy so I’m a little scared! Photos by Sara is cool because it looks like she can take you from fully dressed to however far you want to go and still look sexy, not skanky.
This is a great blog topic. It would be great in the magazine as well. They are all great but I really like photosbysara.com – Classy, Sexy, Cool!
I highly recommend photosbysara if you want to do a fun and unique girls night out or bachelorette party. My girlfriends and I all got together and had so much fun doing this! It was like playing dress up and the pictures turned out so beautiful. The pictures were fun and sexy yet tasteful, and Sara and made all of us feel comfortable while posing for the shots. What sets her apart is she can give you the retro pin up girl look, and by the time she is done with the photo everyone looks flawless!
I checked out quite a few boudoir photographers’ work and found many to be somewhat cheesy or tacky … and then I saw photos from KATRINKA’S SECRET! Christina’s work is artistic, classy, and oh-so-sexy. My session with her was such an empowering experience, and I’ve recommended her to so many people (even strangers, as I showed them some of my photos – that’s how good I felt about the way I looked!).
Katrina’s Secret is AMAZING!!! It is an awesome experience from beginning to end… I felt so comfortable, beautiful, and sexy the entire time. I LOVED the experience and would highly recommend it! I left Katrinka’s Secret with professional yet sultry and sexy photographs, a renewed sense of self-esteem, and even felt like I had made two new friends in “Katrinka” and her assistant.
I had the chance to do the pin up experience with Old School Pin Ups….It was AMAZING!!! So much fun, and the pictures turned out great! Lance and Trixie are two of the greatest people i have ever met. They truly make the whole thing fun and exciting. You are completly at ease with every step of the process.
A group of 4 girls went to Old School Pin Ups for my sister’s Bachelorette Party and it was a blast! I was up first & if you know me, you know how self conscious I can be, but both Lance & Trixie put me immediately at ease and by the time my shoot was over, I was strutting all over the place in the awesome lingerie Trixie had picked out for me. You feel beautiful, sexy, playful, and wild at OSPU. And the pictures turn out amazing!
I got a set done for my then-girlfriend at Old School Pin Ups. I must say I was pleased with the results . The book and calendar we got was really high quality. Who wouldn’t like a pinup calendar where every month is their sweetie?
I recently had photos done at Old School Pinups, and to be honest, it was so much fun, I forgot how much I hate getting pictures taken! Seriously, friends of mine have entire photo albums with pictures of me in which I’m hiding my face. Anyway, the minute I walked into their studio, I was wrapped up in a big Trixie Lane hug and whisked away to her fabulous pink glittery dressing room. She makes you feel totally at ease. By the time your hair and makeup is done, you feel like a supermodel!
I’ve done ‘boudoir’ photography before, and it was a really uncomfortable experience, mostly because the creepy photographer was just leering at me. Lance Wagner is the exact opposite of that guy. He’s totally understanding of the fact that it’s somewhat nerve wracking to be scantily clad in front of relative strangers, and yet he still manages to get a phenomenal picture. He also is a genius at being able to determine your best angles and direct you into the poses without being bossy or mean. And oh! the pictures! I’ve never thought of myself as particularly attractive, but when I saw those pictures, I was like, ‘Hey, who’s that really gorgeous woman in that photo?’ I LOVED them! I felt beautiful, sexy and gorgeous that day like I never had before!
I thought my husband’s head was going to explode when he saw the pictures! His eyes were all big and he had a HUGE smile on his face! Thanks Old School Pinups!
I did these for my groom’s gift and he LOVED it! And I loved doing it! The folks at Old School Pinups are fabulous, they make you feel amazing and take beautiful shots. I highly recommend them!
maybe it’s me, but i never associate the sort of fun, playful pin-up pictures that they do at old school pin-ups and other retro photogs with boudoir pictures. i’ve always loved the stylishness of pin-ups and their winking, while boudoir…. well that reminds me of malls, bad make-up, big hair and sad suburban housewives. it always seemed like it was trying too hard, taking itself too seriously. pin-up pictures, when done right, are much more enjoyable. i’ve caught OSPU photographs all over the place and love what i’ve seen from them. i think they might be the best in seattle.
the article was interesting, but i wish you’d have included other pin-up photographers too. what are the chances you’ll do a piece on pin-ups and burlesque?Seattle Boudoir Photography is priceless. The best gift any woman can receive. I re-live my moment with the team over and over again. Seattle Boudoir Photography makes you feel at home and one of the gang. Relax, and enjoy every piece of it and the photos you see will mystify you. Phil, Nicole, Kim-I cannot thank you enough!
Katrina’s Secret was an AMAZING experience!!! It was an awesome experience.… I felt at ease, empowered, and sexy during the shoot. I LOVED the experience and would highly recommend it! I left Katrinka’s Secret with professional yet sexy photographs. Great experience that is a treasure to keep forever….Christina is a true professional with an amazing talent….highly recommend!!
I have an appointment at Katrinka’s Secret later next month and I am so very excited for it. I think that these photos can make a great gift, but mine will be simply for me. Sure my man might get to see them, but when it comes down to it, I am doing these for me. Christina’s photos truely celebrate the female form, not just the sexy poses and lingerie you buy. I had looked at many portfolios before finally selecting Katrinka because her work seems to capture the sex appeal of a natural pose, and not just a high heeled, perfectly positioned ideal. I am excited to celebrate my body and spend the day feeling sexy and beautiful.
Old School do an amazing job. The did some shots of me that I still use in my press kit. Well worth the money. And they are both grand people.
Kat (Persimmon Images) is fantastic! My boudoir session felt as comfortable as hanging with my girlfriends. She really let my personality shine through but at the same time encouraged and captured a sexy and sensual side that I hadn’t ever seen in photos of me. My husband was completely floored when I gave him the photos in a book, he had no idea. Thanks Kat!
I had some bodoir photos done by Old School Pin up in Seattle. I had them done initally for my boyfriend at the time. But They turned out to be a gift to myself. I am in the military and just got back from a deployment not even a month when i had them done. They made me feel so beautiful and reminded me that there was a woman under the uniform. Lance and Trixie were so professional, i was never once worried about what i was wearing or who was in the room. I think every woman should get photos done for them selves just to remind them of who and what they are
This is SO much fun – I had these photos done with Sara Satterlee…unbelievable and so nice to have. Tasteful, and fun to share with a loved one. I can’t wait to do more!
I just love the whole look and feel from Old School Pin Ups !!! They have an eye for color, composition and FUN! When you look at the proofs you just wonder how in the world they were able to capture you like they did. Their set-up is amazing and the way you’re treated while there is beyond belief! Love, love, love Lance and Trixie!
Old School Pinups are the way to go!
They did a fabulous job on my pre wedding pix, and I am not easy to photograph:)
They made me look beautiful!
Fab & Professional all the way!
Both of my experiences at Old School Pin Ups have been amazing. The finished book I gave my husband as his groom’s gift blew him away. We just recently did a mid-century Mad Men style pregnancy photo shoot at Old School Pin Ups as well. Trixie and Lance are a professional team that know how to make you feel comfortable the moment you walk through the front door of their amazingly designed retro doors. If you want classic pictures that you can cherish for a lifetime then Old School Pin Ups is the place to make your appointment. Call Now! OldSchoolPinUps.com
I echo the comment on Katrinka’s secret. They are wonderful! I had such a great time and felt so pretty. My husband LOVED his book and it made a great gift for our anniversary. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
I cannot begin to truly explain the wonderful experience I had shooting with April Greer. I am not one who does photo shoots often, so at first I was a bit nervous. However April is a true professional, and has this aura about her that not only puts you at ease, but the photos are simply breath taking. I was shocked…that is really me! I have seen numerous shoots that April has done her work is stellar! If you are considering doing any kind of shoot, boudoir, wedding, fitness…this is the lady! Love her, Love her work, and would shoot with her again..anytime!