10 Things I’m Still Obsessed With After 10+ Years as a Boudoir Photographer ❤️
10 Things I Still Love About Being a Boudoir Photographer
After photographing more than 2,000+ women over the last 10+ years, you might think some of the magic would eventually wear off.
Maybe the nerves before a session would start to feel routine. Maybe the transformations would become expected. Maybe seeing a woman look at her images for the first time would eventually become just another part of the job.
But honestly?
It still gets me every single time.
There are so many things I love about being a boudoir photographer, and after all these years, I’m still just as obsessed with some of the little moments—and the big ones—as I was when I started.
So here are 10 things I’m still completely obsessed with after 10+ years as a boudoir photographer.
1. The “Wait… is that really me?!” moment
This one will probably always be at the top of my list.
There is something absolutely incredible about sitting next to a woman during her photo reveal and watching her see herself in a completely different way.
Sometimes there are happy tears. Sometimes there is laughter. Sometimes she just sits there staring at the screen for a second before saying:
“Wait… is that really me?!”
YES.
Yes, it is.
And after photographing thousands of women, that moment has never gotten old.
2. The Personalized Moments
One of my favorite things about boudoir is that your session should feel like you.
I love when a woman brings something unexpected into the studio—a funky prop, a favorite piece of clothing, something meaningful, or even something that simply makes her laugh.
Those personal touches can completely change the feel of an image. And honestly, some of my favorite photos have come from the things I never would have thought to include without a client bringing them along.
Your boudoir session doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
It should look like YOU.
Need some inspiration? I put together an entire A-to-Z list of fun and flirty boudoir props and accessories to help you dream up something completely your own.
3. Those Perfect Little Slivers of Light
This is where my photographer brain takes over.
Give me a gorgeous little sliver of light coming through a doorway, falling across a body, or creating a dramatic silhouette...
I'm obsessed.
Light can completely transform an image.
Sometimes the most beautiful photograph isn't about a complicated pose or elaborate setup. It's simply about finding that tiny pocket of light at exactly the right moment.
After all these years, I'm still chasing it.
And when I find it?
Magic.
4. The Real Laughs
Yes, boudoir can be sexy, but it can also be really freaking fun.
Some of my favorite images are the ones where the laughter wasn't planned—maybe I said something ridiculous, she almost fell out of a pose, or we're trying to get that perfectly serious, sultry shot when suddenly we're both cracking up.
Those moments are real, and I love them because they're a reminder that your session isn't about trying to become some perfectly posed version of yourself. It's about having an experience, letting yourself relax, and actually enjoying the process.
And sometimes that experience involves laughing so hard we have to start the photo all over again. 😂
5. Watching Women Do Something They Thought They Couldn’t Do
No, I'm not going to make everyone do a handstand. 😂
Most women couldn't do one anyway—and I certainly wouldn't ask you to!
But this is one of my favorite parts of what I do. Women come into my studio all the time and tell me, “I can't do that pose.” And that's okay! You don't need to know how to pose, be flexible, have modeling experience, or even have a clue what to do with your arms, legs, hands, or face. That's my job.
I'll show you exactly how to get into each pose and then modify it to work for your body, your comfort level, and your abilities. Sometimes the final pose looks completely different from what you initially thought you could do, and sometimes you'll surprise yourself.
Then you'll see the finished image and think, Wait... I actually did that?!
Those moments are pretty amazing because they're about so much more than a photograph. They're about realizing that you might be capable of more than you gave yourself credit for—and having someone there to guide you every step of the way.
You don't have to know how to pose. You just have to show up. I've got you from there.
6. Hearing Incredible Life Stories
This might be one of the biggest unexpected gifts of being a boudoir photographer.
I get to meet women from all different backgrounds and stages of life, and because we're spending several hours together, I often get to hear the stories behind the woman I'm photographing. I hear about the careers they've built, the families they've raised, the things they've overcome, the adventures they've had, and the dreams they're still chasing. Sometimes we're talking about the chapter they're celebrating, and sometimes we're talking about the chapter they're finally ready to close.
Every woman who walks into my studio has a story, and I never take for granted that she trusts me enough to share a little piece of it with me. After more than 10 years of doing this, I've heard some truly incredible stories, and I still find myself fascinated by the women I get to meet and the lives they've lived.
That's one of the things I love most about this job: I don't just get to photograph women. I get to know them.
7. Extra-Long Lashes
Okay, we're getting a little less sentimental now. 😂 But hear me out: the lashes.
There is just something about extra-long, dramatic lashes that makes a woman sit up a little straighter and think, Ohhh, okay. I see what's happening here. And honestly, that's one of the fun parts of the experience—you get to play with a version of yourself you might not normally get to see.
Maybe you usually wear almost no makeup and want to keep things soft and natural. Or maybe you want to go all the way with the lashes, the hair, the lipstick, and the whole bombshell vibe. There are no rules about how you have to look for your boudoir session. Whatever feels like you, I'm here for it.
But if you want the giant lashes?
I'm definitely not stopping you. 😍
8. That Little Extra Bounce in Her Step
This might be my favorite thing of all.
It's watching the woman who walks into my studio a little nervous, maybe second-guessing herself or wondering if she really should be doing this, and then seeing her walk back out a few hours later with a completely different energy.
Maybe she's standing a little taller. Maybe her smile is a little bigger. And there’s just a little more bounce in her step.
I love that transformation because, yes, I absolutely love creating beautiful photographs. I love the lighting, the posing, the styling, and all of the little details that go into making someone look and feel incredible.
But getting to watch how the experience itself makes a woman feel? That's something completely different.
She gave herself a few hours to be pampered, to try something outside her comfort zone, to see herself in a new way, and to remember that she's allowed to take up a little space and feel damn good about herself.
That part never gets old.
9. Beautiful Window Light
I will forever be a sucker for beautiful natural light.
There's something about standing next to a window with soft light pouring into the room that can make an image feel effortless.
No complicated setup.
No crazy lighting.
Just a beautiful woman, beautiful light, and a moment.
And yes, I will absolutely rearrange a woman, a chair, a robe, and approximately everything else in the room to get that light just right.
Photographer problems. 😂
But when it all comes together?
So worth it.
10. This Shade of Red Lipstick
And finally... THIS red lipstick. ❤️
I don't know what it is about this particular shade, but every time I see it on a woman, I'm obsessed all over again. There's something timeless about a bold red lip, and the right shade can instantly change the feeling of an image and give a session that little extra dose of I'm here, I'm confident, and I'm having fun.
After more than a decade of photographing women, I still get excited about all the little details that make an image come together—the lipstick, the lashes, the light, the pose, the unexpected laugh, and most importantly, the story behind the woman I'm photographing.
Because that's really what I'm still obsessed with after all these years.
The little details. The big moments. And the women who make every session completely their own. ❤️
Ready to Experience It for Yourself?
You don't have to already feel confident to book a boudoir session.
You don't have to know how to pose.
You don't have to wait until you lose weight, reach a milestone, or become some imaginary future version of yourself.
You just have to show up.
From professional hair and makeup to posing guidance and your same-day image reveal, we'll take care of the details so you can focus on having an experience you'll never forget.
Ready to see yourself differently? Let's talk about your own boudoir experience.