Giving and receiving the gift of boudoir: Greta’s romantic, self-loving boudoir session
Greta had been wanting to do boudoir for a long time, so she felt deep gratitude and happy anticipation when it finally felt like the right moment to say “yes” to a photoshoot. She approached her boudoir session with two clear intentions: she wanted to claim a day all for herself as a self-love gift, and since she is getting married soon, she also wanted to have special portraits she could give her fiance on their wedding day. Greta wanted her boudoir session to be a gift she both gave and received, and I loved hearing how excited she was to spend a day appreciating herself and marking her journey into a new life chapter.
Greta also arrived with a clear vision for her boudoir session: sweet romance, glam, and confidence. While she wanted her portraits to capture a variety of moods and energies, she felt most drawn to a romantic wardrobe style that would showcase both her glamorous, confident side and the soft, whimsical energy she envisioned for her wedding day. She had a blast shopping for her boudoir session and selecting items in line with her vision.
Afterwards, Greta shared such beautiful reflections on the impact of her boudoir session. “Validation, love, vulnerability, hope, and generosity are the words I keep coming back to every time I try to turn my thoughts about my session into words… I came in ready to celebrate my upcoming wedding and get a surprise gift for my fiance and instead, I received such an unexpected and wonderful gift, and it will bring me joy for the rest of my life. This session and the keepsake photos serve as a soothing touchstone that however I might feel, my beauty is right there for anyone to see.”
Greta’s outfit inspiration & boudoir portraits
One of Greta's first outfits was a lacy black bodysuit with soft, champagne colored trim. The scalloped edges of the lace felt very feminine and curvy, and the deep v-neck added a powerful and dramatic energy. She loved how strong, sexy, and elegant she felt in this bodysuit.
Next Greta wore a turquoise bra and underwear set with a matching garter belt and stockings. The jewel-toned color of this lingerie set with peacock details on the stockings made Greta feel extra special and fancy. We used the studio's window seat and deep green accent wall for these portraits, and I think the architectural lines of the window and wall emphasized the bold, dramatic feeling of the lines of her lingerie set.
Greta then wore a ruby red silk slip with sheer lace paneling down the sides. She felt elegant, confident, and romantic in this outfit.
To wrap up the session, Greta wanted to do a series of implied nude portraits incorporating her wedding veil. She stood in front of my window panel, letting her veil drape behind her, and then she rested on the bed with her veil wrapped around her. These portraits encapsulated the whimsical, fairytale feeling of her upcoming wedding day and felt so full of calm, confident, self-loving energy.
