Getting my OWN boudoir photos done! ~ Bedhead Boudoir Photography Chicago
I'm a boudoir photographer and owner of the Bedhead Boudoir Studio, but believe it or not, I had never done my OWN boudoir shoot. I've been shooting clients for 5 years and never took the time to do a session for myself! It's like that old phrase - the plumber's house always has leaky faucets (or however that goes!). Here I am working full-time to provide beautiful, empowering, confidence-building images to my clients, but I had never taken the time to give myself that same gift.
A few weeks ago, I decided that it was time to treat myself and finally get my own boudoir session done!
I set a day aside at the studio for my shoot and planned everything with my assistant. I did everything that I suggest our clients to do: I bought some brand-new lingerie, I got a fresh manicure and pedicure and I started drinking lots of water. I already owned a pair of sexy high-heeled shoes, so I didn't buy those new.
When the day of my shoot came, I thought that I would be calm and collected because I have been doing boudoir full-time for 5 years, but no! I was a ball of nerves! I have been working with my assistant for almost a year, but I still felt vulnerable posing in front of her. I had a lot of thoughts running through my head; "Will my images look good? Does my face look weird? What do I do with my hands? What does she think about me??" Fortunately I already knew the answers to my questions. My assistant and I have perfected our process to making every woman look and feel fantastic for their boudoir shoot, so I knew I was in good hands. But I have to say, this experience definintely made me understand how all of my clients feel when they come to the studio. I can understand why they are nervous!
I chose three outfits for my shoot. The first two were bodysuits: a black lace bodysuit with a black bra under (for a little additional lift) and a pink deep plunge bodysuit. The third outfit was a simple black bra and panty set with a sheer shirt over that I wore unbuttoned and off-the-shoulder. I wanted to keep things simple and elegant. I wore my favorite pair of sky-high back heels with all three outfits.
We started in the hair & make-up suite with Paula. She's been doing hair and make-up professionally for 8+ years and did an amazing job transforming me from my regular day face to sexy glam! For my eyes, I chose a subtle smokey eye with a dark liner and long eyelashes. For lips, I chose nude with shiny gloss. For hair, Paula gave me sexy beachy waves with straight ends - I didn't want my hair to look too curly. In the end, I loved my final look!
Next we went upstairs to the studio to shoot. From the minute the shoot started, my assistant was by my side: posing me, telling me what to do with my face and helping me know what would look best for my body type. Within a few minutes, all of my nerves and fears melted away and I felt totally comfortable! Instead of feeling nervous, I started having fun! I felt like a supermodel posing in front of the camera. I loved feeling the fan in my hair and knowing that the images we were creating were going to be amazing!
When I saw my images a few days later, I was THRILLED with how they turned out. I kept saying to myself, "Dang girl, you look AMAZING!" That feeling of self-confidence has stuck with me in the following weeks. It was just the boost that I needed!
I printed my images in a 10x10 leather heirloom album and I love it! I chose a few images to create centerfolds. I also picked one page for a photo cover. I am so happy with the final result! It makes such a difference to have the tangible album in my hands rather than just digital files sitting on a hard drive somewhere.
I am so glad that I finally took the chance to give myself the same amazing experience that I've been providing to my clients for years. My boudoir shoot was a bit nerve-wracking for sure, but also tons of fun!
Some of my images are a bit too revealing for me to share online, but I'll share one of my favorites below. I will treasure these photos forever!
xoxo Angela
