Celebrating growth and transition: Sarah’s elegant and openhearted boudoir portraits

Sarah brought so many beautiful intentions and hopes into her boudoir session. When she reached out to me, she was approaching a milestone birthday and entering one of those life chapters where one door closes and another opens. This was a threshold moment she didn’t want to let slip by, so she decided to schedule a photoshoot as a way to pause, reflect, and celebrate the growth and changes she and her body had experienced to arrive here, greeting a new season with gratitude. 

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about boudoir is the belief that it's about creating a gift for someone else, but the truth is the vast majority of my clients are like Sarah: choosing to do boudoir as a self-loving gift for themselves. 

After the session, Sarah had such inspiring words to share: “I have been on a self-love journey the past few years which was my impetus for booking this boudoir session. After going through the experience, I feel braver, bolder, and more willing to share my story with others.”

Envisioning the mood + style + wardrobe for Sarah’s studio boudoir session 

When planning her session, Sarah envisioned portraits that felt both down to earth and special. She wanted her pictures to have a cozy, comfortable, and everyday feeling balanced with soft, elegant, feminine energy. 

Sarah started the session wearing a bright green cropped cardigan paired with cheeky white lace underwear. Green is one of her favorite colors, and she felt very happy, natural, and easygoing in this outfit. 

Next Sarah wore a black slip with an elegant, low back and lace detailing on the trim that gave this look a hint of fancy. 

Wearing a white lacy bra and underwear set paired with a soft creamy robe, Sarah balanced a sense of strength, softness, and femininity.

Sarah ended her session with a series of implied nude portraits that documented and celebrated how her physical body has carried her through life’s seasons. It was such a self-loving conclusion to Sarah’s boudoir photoshoot. 

A few favorite boudoir portraits 

The body language in Sarah’s hands in this portrait communicates such a self-loving, graceful story. She looks grounded, joyful, and at ease. 

This portrait has lovely “Sunday morning” energy to me - Sarah’s tall stretch of her arms paired with the warm morning light streaming in the windows makes this portrait feel both gentle and strong. 

I love the strong, detailed lines of Sarah’s collar bone in this portrait. Her open-hearted posture communicates a beautiful mixture of joy and release. 

This portrait was one of Sarah’s and my absolute favorites. The texture of the brick, the movement of her body lines casting beautiful shadows, the soft, self-loving smile on her face - all give this portrait a calm, sensual, and artful energy.