An interview with Liz Hansen - Chicago Boudoir Photography Studio
Hi Liz. Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now? What brought you here?
Hello and thank you so much for having me!
I have lived in the Chicago area for 12+ years and consider this to be my home. But I have lived all over - in California, Virginia, Utah, Texas and Michigan. I also lived in Rome for a couple of years (and yes, I would love to move back to Italy!).
We landed in the Chicago area when my husband was offered a job here after graduate school. We moved into an apartment sight unseen and without knowing a soul. We have loved putting down roots and raising our kids here.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
I love making homemade crescent rolls from scratch for holiday meals.
I am directionally challenged and rely heavily on Google maps!
I love to swim. In the winter I swim laps at the gym and in the summer I swim in Lake Michigan.
I love following Princess Kate's fashion choices. It's on my bucket list to meet her someday!
What are your favorite local places, spaces and eats to frequent?
Hometown Coffee (Winnetka) - Harvest Kale Salad
Grateful Bites (Winnetka) - Pepperoni & Hot Honey Pizza
Space (Evanston) - Live music
Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest) - Walking trails
Chicago Botanic Gardens (Glencoe) - Lightscape during the holidays
Peckish Pig (Evanston) - Three Cheese Mac
La Taquiza (Winnetka) - Cheeto Burrito
Aire Ancient Baths (Chicago) - Hot & cold plunge pools
Hoosier Mama (Evanston) - Banana cream pie
Alamo Drafthouse Movie Theater (Chicago) - Vintage movies + food
What are you reading and watching?
I love to read memoirs, especially if they are written by women. Some that I've enjoyed recently are "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" by Lori Gottlieb, "Brain on Fire" by Susannah Callahan, "The In-Between" by Hadley Vlahos and "The Big Freeze" by Natalie Lampert.
When I want to zone out, I like to watch "Love is Blind" and the "Golden Bachelor / Golden Bachelorette" franchise. I am a sucker for a good love story!
What’s one piece of professional advice you’ve gotten OR that you give to others?
Done is better than perfect! As an entrepreneur, there are a hundred different tasks to get done and you need to wear so many hats all the time. When you are a business owner, it can be overwhelming to figure out a website, email newsletters, paid ads, SEO, client experience, marketing, bookkeeping, taxes, online reviews and more! Instead of trying to get everything perfect all at once, just get started with something. You can always improve on it later. I believe that getting something done is almost always better than getting it perfect.
Your mantra?
Our family motto is: "Hansens can do hard things!" My kids sometimes push back when I remind them of this motto because they think it's harsh, but I really believe in it. Life is going to be tough, but so are you! Smooth waters do not make skilled sailors, right?! When challenges come, I try to be a problem solver instead of a complainer.
Let's get down to business. Please introduce Chicago Boudoir. What is it? How does it work? How long have you had this business?
Boudoir is a fancy French word that means "a woman's bedroom." A boudoir photoshoot is a Victoria's Secret style photoshoot experience for the everyday woman. At the Chicago Boudoir Photography studio, I specialize in helping women of all sizes, shapes and ages feel comfortable and confident in their own skin.
Every photoshoot at my studio includes:
Professional hair, makeup and lashes
Full magazine quality retouching
100% female staff
Privacy guarantee
Posing guidance - you don't have to know how to do this!
Same-day photo reveal
I absolutely love hosting women in my studio for this unique, empowering experience!
What did you do prior to starting Chicago Boudoir?
I opened a photography business in 2008 and photographed families and weddings. I started specializing in boudoir in 2015 and opened up my own boudoir business in 2018. I have loved photography for a long time, but I really feel like I found my calling when I got into boudoir.
Before I was a photographer though, I got a master's degree in education and I was an ESL (English and a Second Language) teacher for several years. My retirement plan is to move to Italy and teach English there.
What was the impetus behind starting this?
A decade ago, I signed up for my own boudoir photoshoot to create an anniversary gift for my husband. I was super nervous to strip down in front of a stranger, but the experience was transformative for me. After the shoot, I felt an inner expansiveness and a greater desire to take risks. I felt ready to stand up and show up in new ways. A few years later, I opened my own boudoir business because I wanted to offer this confidence-building opportunity to more women. Over the past several years, I have photographed more than 2,000 women and loved every minute of it!
Do you help with print projects after the beautiful photos have been captured?
Yes, absolutely - I want you to enjoy your boudoir photos for years to come. I offer a variety of print products from your photoshoot including leather-bound albums, photo boxes and framed wall art. We also offer retro viewfinders, wallet prints and digital downloads. You can see images of the products we offer here: https://chicago-boudoir.com/print-products
Any myths about boudoir photography you'd like to bust?
There are so many myths about boudoir! And I love busting them! Here are some common myths about a boudoir photoshoot:
You need the perfect body to enjoy a boudoir photoshoot. MYTH!
If you have a body, then I believe that it is perfect for a boudoir photo shoot! There is no ‘right’ body type when it comes to boudoir photography, because boudoir is all about loving and celebrating YOU. I specialize in creating beautiful images of every woman to celebrate your unique beauty - all sizes and shapes.
You need to lose weight to do a boudoir photoshoot. MYTH!
Boudoir is not about fitting into society's beauty standards. Boudoir is about feeling beautiful in your own skin. I believe that sexy is not a size! Sexy is an attitude!
You need a partner to give your boudoir photos to. MYTH!
While boudoir photos make a great gift, boudoir photos aren’t exclusively for the benefit of someone else. A boudoir photoshoot is all about celebrating you. If you want to share this celebration of self with someone, great! But a boudoir photoshoot is mostly for YOU!
Everyone will see your boudoir images online. MYTH!
No need to worry. Here at the Chicago Boudoir Photography studio, we will NEVER share any boudoir images without signed permission. We will always keep all of the images from your boudoir photoshoot 100% private.
You need to have a special occasion in order to book a boudoir photoshoot. MYTH!
While it is true that some people book a boudoir photoshoot for a special occasion (bridal, maternity, birthday, anniversary), a boudoir photoshoot doesn't have be for any particular reason. Just being alive is a reason to celebrate and to document your fabulous self!
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about Chicago Boudoir?
I understand that a boudoir photoshoot may be out of your comfort zone. You will be putting a lot of trust in me by hiring me for a boudoir photoshoot experience. And for that reason, I offer a 100% happiness guarantee. If you come to the Chicago Boudoir Photography studio and you are not just absolutely blown away by the photos I create with you, then you don't spend a dime. That's my guarantee to you!
How do we reach out for more information or to book services?
Call or text: 312.425.2946
Email: hello@chicago-boudoir.com
Website: https://chicago-boudoir.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago.boudoir/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagoboudoir
I can't wait to celebrate YOU at the Chicago Boudoir Photography studio!
xo Liz
