When I meet with return clients, I like to start by reflecting on their past session and exploring what sustained or emerging themes they want to capture to reflect this life chapter. As Annika and I started planning her second boudoir session with me, she felt filled with excitement, noticing that she didn’t have any hint of nerves or uncertainty as she understandably felt before her first session. While reminiscing on her first boudoir session, Annika shared how much she loved the portraits that captured her beaming and laughing – filled with genuine joy. This giggling, light-hearted energy is a theme that continues to resonate in her life, and she initially wanted her second session to feel effortless, candid, and full of joy while also integrating a soft and romantic aesthetic.

Annika’s expansive & evolving boudoir vision

Yet as her photoshoot approached, Annika found an incredible pair of vintage underwear, a gorgeous vintage beaded necklace, and an off-the-shoulder vintage fur wrap that sparked in her a glamorous, sensual energy she knew she wanted to incorporate into her session!

Many of my clients, and especially my returning clients, notice that their boudoir vision may shift or evolve between our initial planning session and the day of their photoshoot, so I always create a little time at the beginning of the session to check in and finalize our plans. On the day of Annika’s photoshoot, she shared about the growing multitudes of aesthetics she felt drawn to – happy, soft, sensual, dramatic – and she felt open to following our creative instincts during the session.

Annika started the session wearing her glamorous, vintage look and sitting on a stool in the corner of my studio – creating a clean, minimal backdrop. For some portraits, we draped flowy fabric from the rafters to add interesting texture and depth. The simple backdrop allowed Annika to explore a variety of poses and emotions. Some portraits feel soft and sensual, some bold and dramatic, some artful and effortless, and some that radiate pure joy.

I photographed Annika walking into the middle of my studio, casting off her fur shawl, and wrapping herself into a bed sheet for a series of implied nude portraits– creating a powerful, storytelling transition into her second look. The studio was flooded with natural light from the wall of windows, giving these portraits a warm, glowy feeling. We also draped a few more fabrics from the rafters to create a magical, ethereal vibe. This look also held a multitude of emotions – reflective, bubbly, artistic, and candid.

During the photo reveal, Annika had the sweetest reaction that I’d love to share!

Annika’s boudoir video + love letter to her body

Annika is also one of the participants in my “Dear Body” boudoir videography series. She wrote such a beautiful letter of gratitude to her body that she read aloud, and that I paired with video content from her boudoir session.

“I am so grateful for your strength and resilience. I am so proud of you for the hard work you have exhibited through a pandemic, through many ups and downs, through love and loss and victories and heartbreaks.

You didn’t give up on fighting to become your best possible self.

When you look back at these pictures, I hope you see a woman who has conquered so much to be a graceful, beautiful, confident goddess who is capable of anything. Thank you for all you have become. I can’t wait to see who you’ll be.”