E’s Casual, Feminine Figure-detail Boudoir Portraits

E and I spent a lot of time reflecting on the different identities she has, and how she is really proud of the place she is at in life right now. She is a mom, a wife, a friend, and a strong and thoughtful person. She has spent a lot of her recent energy and years caring for other people, and more recently has taken steps toward really feeling good about herself and who she is as an individual. Boudoir was a newer idea for E, and at first she was not sure it was for her, but the more she thought about it and especially as she contextualized it as something she could do for herself to celebrate where she is at in her own life, she was really excited to do a session.

It had been a long time since E had any pictures taken of herself outside of family photographs, and it was really empowering to plan a whole day that was just for her. She wanted her pictures to feel soft, feminine, and casual - with an undercurrent of strength and sensuality. She wanted to document a sense of wellbeing and pride in who she is through her collection of portraits. 

E brought a wardrobe full of fun, soft pieces to her session. She paired a bright pink bra and underwear set with a cozy grey cardigan. I love cardigans - they are one of my favorite layers because they offer something to do with your hands and can easily be shrugged off a shoulder for some asymmetry. She also had a berry-colored nightie with a lace trim and delicate straps, a super soft cotton tank top that she paired with a bright red lace bottom for a fun pop of color, and a coral-colored nightie with lace detailing on top. For an extra special touch, she wore a necklace with her initial on it that was meaningful to her.

E wanted to keep most of her pictures private, but was comfortable sharing these anonymous, figure-detail portraits. My inspiration for these kinds of portraits often times come from classic European art and sculptures - details that feel artistic and celebrate the form of the body. I try to take these pictures in a way that still feels like a “portrait”, even if you can’t see her face. I love that these pictures of E don’t feel generic; these feel full of life and personality and story.

E, thank you celebrating yourself with these portraits. They are so full of love and wellbeing and pride in who you are,and I’m so grateful that we got to connect and work together Seeing your intention come to life on the day of your session was an incredible expression of self-love!