Autumn had been thinking about a boudoir session for a long time, so when body positivity and self-love became a big theme in her life this year she decided to schedule a session with me! Autumn wanted her portraits to feel romantic, feminine and strong and I loved that combination.
Read MoreI often reflect on how inspired I am by the stories people bring to the boudoir studio; their diverse reasons for choosing to celebrate themselves and their journeys with me. When Allie reached out to schedule her session, I knew the day was going to be an emotionally powerful one when she shared that she was recovering from an eating disorder and was ready to see herself in a different way.
Read MoreKelly didn’t want her boudoir portraits to feel too serious. When I met her last summer to plan a pre-wedding session, her first request was that she wanted her portraits to feel “true to her”: lighthearted, happy, full of life.
Read MoreThis past year, Hannah had been on a journey to body positivity and self-acceptance and, through her work as a health and fitness coach, a journey to help other women cultivate self love wherever they are.
For Hannah, this boudoir session was a gift to herself, a natural extension of the joy of accepting and loving herself as a work in progress.
Read MoreOne of Mariah’s passions is body positivity and, wherever she shows up, either online or in her life, she champions the idea that mental health and physical health go hand in hand. She wanted to create some portraits that were at once candid and romantic and strong. That honored her own journey towards self love and health on her own terms.
Read MoreDelaney booked a boudoir session because she didn’t have any significant photos of herself.
This is a chat I have with many of my clients and it’s a funny conundrum. As the number of our selfies and Facebook photos and snapshots taken with phones increases, the meaning in our photos decreases. Amid all the noise, it becomes harder and harder to cherish the photos that you love, that capture something personal, or essential, that mark a significant moment in time.
Read MoreWhile I mostly photograph boudoir sessions in my studio, it’s also a lovely place for personal branding photos and headshots, so when Erin reached out to me to capture some photos for her work as a musician and teacher I was excited to help her create her vision.
Read MoreSo many of my boudoir sessions start with one reason, and then develop a much greater meaning.
Elisabeth planned a session with me this past November, she wanted to create a wonderful gift for her partner at the holidays.
As we chatted about the boudoir experience, she became excited to put herself a little out of her comfort zone and to see herself a little differently - to see herself the way her partner sees her.
Read MoreAlmost the first question most boudoir clients ask me after they book a session is “ What do I wear?” While I send every Illuminate Boudoir client an extensive guide full of boudoir outfit ideas, here are some of my favorites to inspire you in your search for what to wear for boudoir photos.
Read MoreOne of the things that I love about working in Minneapolis is collaborating and working with our multi-talented community of creative people. Cora is a henna artist, she’d worked with a number of clients getting hennaed before boudoir sessions and it sparked her interest.
So she joined me for one of the first sessions in the new studio
Korissa’s photos have a secret. And a sweet story.
I met Korissa when she was searching for a photographer for her wedding, she was inspired by the idea of doing a bridal boudoir session as a really romantic gift for her fiance. She and I planned a soft, artsy session for the early spring. So I wasn’t sure what was up when she reached out in the late-fall…
Read MoreI was so honored to welcome Emily for one of my first sessions in the new Illuminate Boudoir Studio. This is Emily’s second boudoir session with me. She did her first just before her wedding and wanted to return to celebrate this new season in her life.
Read MoreCome see what a real boudoir session is like (and get a peek at my new studio!)
Read MoreOften, when I first speak to women about doing a boudoir session, they share big fears with me about how the session will unfold. I get it, being in front of a camera can feel vulnerable. I think it’s completely natural to feel a little nervous and it’s a big part of my job to make sure you’re feeling comfortable before we take a single photos.
Read MoreStacy’s boudoir session was a surprise to her. Instead of hearing from Stacy, it was her husband who first contacted me to tell me about his amazing wife. “I think my wife would love to do a boudoir session, and she deserves it,” he said. “I don’t even care if she shows me the pictures, if she does, great, but I want her to be able to celebrate herself.”
Read MoreI am so incredibly excited to introduce to you my new boudoir studio!!! If you've been following me on instagram, you've probably seen some (or a lot of) behind-the-scenes footage as I've moved in, revamped the space, and set up my dream boudoir studio.
The overall feeling of the studio is lovely - it's cozy and elegant and has beautiful light and a great feeling to it. I'm so excited to show you more, so let me take you on a little tour!
Read MoreDanielle got married last fall, and wanted to create some romantic bridal boudoir portraits to gift her fiance on the morning of their wedding. She was looking for portraits that would be romantic and elegant and sexy; documenting an exciting and meaningful moment in her own life while also creating an intimate gift to share with her partner.
Read More"When I look at my beautiful album, not only do I see a beautiful woman, I think of one of the best weekends of my life. I recommend the experience, and Alyssa to all my friends, and proudly show of my album to pretty much everyone."
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