The body is an archive: L's powerful boudoir session

L had been dreaming about doing boudoir for a long time, waiting for the right moment to say yes. She lives out of state and travels a lot for work, so she researched boudoir photographers all over the country. I was so flattered when she reached out to book a session at my boudoir studio in Minneapolis during a work trip to Minnesota! 

L had just celebrated a milestone birthday, and she wanted her boudoir session to be a testament to who she is becoming in this season of life. She also felt inspired by her grandmother, who would take pictures of herself every decade to document the different stages of her life. L loved looking at her grandmother’s pictures over the years and seeing her sense of self and physical body change with time, and L was excited to contribute to begin building an archive of her own with her boudoir session. 

When planning the boudoir session, L described feeling drawn to a wide range of moods and energies. She wanted some moments to feel soft and effortless, some to feel cool and dramatic, and some to feel extra artistic, using light and shadow to capture her body as a sculpture. 

fun boudoir outfit ideas

L started her boudoir session wearing a fun, floral bra and underwear set. I created a textured, layered backdrop with fabrics in my studio to bring out the spring colors of her set and add a really atmospheric, flowy feel to the portraits. L also wore a white lace balconette bra with high waisted bottoms, which felt feminine with a subtle vintage vibe. Next she wore a lavender lacy slip she felt fabulous in. To end the session, L wrapped up in a sheet and in more flowy fabrics from my studio for a series of implied and fine art nude portraits. I love how effortless, artistic, and self-loving these portraits feel! 

Boudoir photography with L in Minneapolis