Embracing softness and strength: Jordyn’s powerful, self-loving boudoir session at my Minneapolis studio
During my initial planning meeting with a client before their boudoir session, I love to invite clients to share any grounding words or moods they want their portraits to convey. It is consistently inspiring to hear the meaning and intentionality many folks bring to boudoir. When I connected with Jordyn to plan her second boudoir session with me, she shared such an inspiring vision for her session: “I want to capture my strength and vulnerability, and my power as a woman.”
Given how dominant cultural norms tend to dismiss the power in softness and vulnerability, I was so moved by Jordyn’s intention to amplify and celebrate the ways in which she embraces and embodies both softness and strength.
I first photographed Jordyn several years ago at my former studio, so it felt extra meaningful to get to capture her in another season of life at my new studio in South Minneapolis. In line with her vision, Jordyn started the session wearing a pair of simple, black underwear and a cozy, long-sleeved shirt. The soft lines of her shirt paired with the clean, straight lines in the underwear give these portraits a beautiful balance of strength and softness. I find many of my clients love to mix clothing and lingerie for boudoir outfits, and this wardrobe option can work really well for folks like Jordyn who want to capture multiple moods in their portraits.
For her second look, she swapped her gray shirt for one of her favorite cream cardigans. She also brought along a mug to hold, and these portraits exude such warm, cozy morning energy. I directed Jordyn in holding some poses that accentuated the gentle, curving lines of her body and some that captured strong body lines and symmetry to celebrate her power and strength. All of her portraits feel full of self-tender embrace.
As one of the participants in my Dear Body series, Jordyn also wrote a moving letter to herself that I paired with videography from her boudoir session. Listen to her voice as she reads her letter, and keep scrolling to see her inspiring studio boudoir portraits!
Watch her video:
Explore her self-loving boudoir portraits:
