Celebrating a milestone birthday with outdoor boudoir
I got connected with Mary through a referral from someone else I've photographed (always the best compliment!). While she had done boudoir photography before to mark several meaningful chapters of her life, after learning about my work she resonated with my body-positive, self-celebratory approach to boudoir photography. Mary lives out of state but had a trip planned to the Midwest last summer to visit her family’s cabin - a place that holds deep meaning for her - so she decided to book an outdoor boudoir session with me!
When planning a boudoir session with a new client, I love to hear what they feel most proud of in this chapter of life. Mary shared how she had recently retired from a fulfilling career and felt so proud of the work she’s done and the life she’s created with her partner and kids. She was in a “harvesting” chapter of life where she felt immense gratitude for all she’s grown, and she wanted her portraits to capture her genuine joy, peace, pride, and confidence. She envisioned her session integrating a mix of energies - happy, calm, sensual, strong. Above all, she wanted her portraits to capture her authentic sense of feeling at home in nature and with herself.
After her session, Mary wrote about her empowering boudoir experience and her words instantly brought tears to my eyes!
“This was not just a celebration of a milestone birthday; it was a homecoming for me. A lovely return to my ancestral home and a loving affirmation of my 66-year old body. I reveled in each pose while basking in the glow of the late afternoon sun.
The Illuminate Boudoir experience reinforced my joy in every aspect of my body. Alyssa’s approach and portraiture unleashed my authentic, joyful self!”
Boudoir outfit planning
A huge misconception about boudoir is that it has to involve lacy lingerie, which just isn’t true! Mary doesn’t love lace, so she planned a mix of boudoir wardrobe options that felt authentic to her. To start the session, Mary wore a flowy, sheer white tunic with nothing underneath. This look had relaxed energy and created stunning silhouettes. Next she wore a long-sleeved, mesh bodysuit paired with a favorite pair of jeans and heels. This mix of lingerie and everyday clothing felt cool, strong, and full of personality.
Mary also wore a striped, button down blouse with black underwear, and she wrapped up the session with a series of fine art nude portraits. We took pictures in a forested area with incredible color, on the dock beside the water (where the golden hour light was dreamy!), and on the cabin deck. In line with her vision, her portraits hold a multitude of powerful emotions - freedom and joy, peace and contentment, passion and vitality. Keep scrolling to see them all!
Mary’s outdoor boudoir portraits in the midwest
