La Femme Boudoir Photography

A glamour photography session that puts you center stage.

September 17, 2019

When you think of glamour photography, what pops into your head?

I’ll tell you what comes to mine: the 1990s, big hair, bright makeup, a boa or a big string of pearls, star filters, and JCPenney. Here’s a snapshot of google image results.

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Bahaha-- kinda dyin’ right now. Luckily, personal style and also photography style has changed.

Glamour photography is meant to put emphasis on beauty.

It’s basically beauty photography, in the plainest terms. And boudoir photography, my main gig, was basically born out of the Glamour Photography genre.

Fun fact: I seriously dislike the word Boudoir, mostly because it’s so painful to hear others try to pronounce the word correctly. Glamour though? It makes me think of the above.

While Boudoir was born out of Glamour, and a square is a form of a rectangle, Glamour takes some qualities of Boudoir but isn’t quite the same. So let’s re-evaluate what makes a glamorous photo.

Styles Change With Time

In the photos above, you’re seeing everything feminine, including hair done to the max. Back then, that meant a perm, lots of hairspray and LOTS of teasing. You’re seeing what looks like professional makeup application as well. Back then, that meant lots of bright colored eyeshadow, eyeliner, lots of blush and contouring, and shiny lipstick. You’re also seeing decorative hats, gloves, and big jewelry, I’d love to ask, “What in the &%$# were they thinking?!” But I’m sure our kids will be saying that about our style at some point down the road.

Glamour Photography is about very Feminine Posing and Lighting

You’re also seeing a style of posing and lighting that is very feminine. Hands framing faces, lots of angles and triangles in the arms and neck areas, shoulder and chest exposure, and light that is flattering to the face. While I’m not sure what kind of direction was used to evoke emotion and expression in some of these photos (which I’m sorry but some of them are just pretty silly) these aspects of glamour photography are pretty classic and stand to this day.

Today's Modern Glamour photography

So let’s take a look at some modern Glamour photography. These are images that stand out to me and make me totally excited about shooting Glamour. Naturally, I made a board using Pinterest. Here’s the link and here’s the snapshot:

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Let’s talk about the parallels between these modern Glamour photos and the ones that literally make me think of Fraggle Rock.

Close crops

These are beauty shots. They focus on the face, hair, shoulders, neck, and hands. While Boudoir focuses on much more of the body and body language, glamour shots are more like beauty headshots with pizzazz.

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Accessories and Styling

So these are like beauty headshots with pizzazz, and what I mean by pizzazz is the added styling. Nowadays (thankfully), instead of using boas and generic costume jewelry, these images are styled with more intention. Instead of just throwing in props, modern glamour portraits use more body language, shadowing, and minimal but intentional props. And instead of color everywhere, the image is kept a bit more classic and neutral with a pop of color. Don’t get me wrong; some clients and stylists are all about color! But for the most part, unless this is a Mac advertisement, I think our generation values more of a timeless image instead of following what’s “in” at the moment. 

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Body language

There’s a good chance that if you went to JcPenney for glamour shots, your photographer sat you down, gave you the same couple of props they offered the last customer who walked in, told you to look at the camera, and it was up to you to do something with those props. Not much direction is given by a store employee whose job it is to hold a camera and just let the rest happen.

That’s exactly how those first glamour shots look to me, and to be honest, I’m not sure much has changed in the realm of superstore studios. (Do they even still exist?) Now, the world of professional photography is more cutthroat than ever. If you want good photos, you don’t go to JCPenney. Your cousin, my cousin, and everyone else’s cousin is or knows a professional photographer. And as a professional photographer, that forces us to set ourselves apart from the next, choose a niche, and really become the expert in that niche.

I mean, you wouldn’t hire a baby photographer to shoot your glamour shots, would you?

I wouldn’t. A glamour or boudoir photographer would be specifically trained in guiding you through the right kind of body language for this type of photo. They would be able to tell you exactly how to sit, which way to turn and tilt your head, where to look, and what expression goes with all of that. The photographer would guide you through your hand placement, and tell you how to hold your prop or clothing in a way that makes sense with the pose and your expression. Every little piece of the photo must jive, and that is a huge difference between 1990s glamour shots vs. today.

Glamour shots are very much still alive— They’re just Different

At the end of the day, Glamour photography shots are very much still alive, just in a very different form than the ones you discovered in your Aunt Doreen’s shoebox when you were little. Photography, and personal style have thankfully taken a turn away from gaudy and toward minimal and classy. Because of what they’re known as traditionally, you probably wouldn’t go to a photographer and tell them you want Glamour shots. Instead, you’d probably try to explain your vision to them and say something along the lines of,

“I kinda want Boudoir, but less nudity… more like a headshot, but sexier than a headshot? Shoulders-up, maybe? A studio lifestyle shoot mixed with boudoir?”

What you’re looking for is a beautiful, sensual portrait of yourself, and this is what today’s glamour shot is. Glamour shots are still very much relevant, as evidenced by platforms like Pinterest and Instagram; they’re spreading and being shared like wildfire across the platforms. And just as our moms and aunts did, we all want and should have a beautiful portrait of ourselves showing a bit more something than a traditional headshot, even if that something is mere personality. Millennials, especially, greatly value individualism and personal innovation, and they’re using portrait photography to display and share just that.

While I say that I shoot Boudoir photography, I feel like glamour photography is inherently included in that genre. I photograph women, and my main goal and passion is to guide them in expressing themselves in a sensual way. To show them how beautiful they are, through my lens. And just to come full circle with this analogy, while Glamour photography is a square, with specific parameters, it’s also a rectangle (or a form of sensual portrait photography, like boudoir.) Get it? Am I crazy? Maybe. I’d shoot Glamour shots all day, just the same.

Curate your Vision of what type of Glamour Photography Shots represent you

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My advice: If you’re looking for a session of this type, use the resources available to you and put together a collection of images that best portray your vision. Pinterest, Instagram, and Google images have a plethora of ideas and examples. How much skin do you want to show? How styled up (or down) are you looking to get? Share the images with your photographer so he or she can get on the same page as you. 

You might feel silly asking for Glamour Photography shots, but rest assured, you’re far from being the only one in pursuit of a beautiful portrait of yourself.

INTERESTED IN BOOKING A BOUDOIR SHOOT?

First, please read through the FAQ here,
and if you'd like move forward with a phone or studio consultation to discuss a session further,
please fill out the form below!

Tell me everything you envision in your Boudoir Shoot.

What are you most excited to capture & celebrate?

I will get back to you within 24-48 business hours!

How Much Do Album Collections Start At?

Album Collections start at $1050. Each collection includes 10+ images in a beautiful custom designed album.

How Much Is Required To Lock In Your Session?

$500 is required to lock in your session date, and payment plans are available.

Are Payment Plans Available?

Yes, payment plans are available! I'll help you plan your payments so you can stay comfortably within your budget.

I'm So Nervous! Is A Boudoir Session For Me?

Girl, everyone goes into this being nervous in some way, shape or form. If you weren't nervous I'd be surprised. I'd be nervous! The good news is that those nerves will dissolve within minutes. This session is all about you. We work together to stay within your comfort level, focus on the aspects of you that you're most proud of, and the whole session will feel like a woman-to-woman hangout. You're going to be stunned at how beautiful you look through my lens, and I can't wait to see your reaction! I work with mothers, single ladies, newly single ladies, brides, nurses, girls in their 20s, women in their 50s, and everyone in-between. I'm even hired to photograph other boudoir photographers! A boudoir session is for you, and your grandma too. Read 15 Reasons you deserve your boudoir session if you need more convincing.

How Long Have You Been A Boudoir Photographer?

I've been surrounded by photography my entire life. My parents are Master Photographers, and my brother is also an amazing photographer who specializes in weddings. (You can read more about this in my bio.) I started photographing weddings with my parents when I was a young teenager, and from there I fell in love with portrait photography. Especially portraits of women. I find it so interesting that each woman I work with is so different than the last but at the same time we share so many similar experiences. I knew I wanted to photograph intimate portraits of women long before boudoir photography became a thing. I focused on women's portraiture in early 2011, started La Femme boudoir in 2012, and the brand officially became an establishment in 2017. I've photographed hundreds of women and it never gets old. When I'm not photographing women, I'm photographing past boudoir clients' families and new babies, and I wouldn't change that for anything. You can see some of those non-boudoir portraits here.

What Is Your Retouching Process Like?

While Photoshop is our friend, I’m not going to over-retouch and make you look like someone you’re not. I will use lighting and posing to accentuate your best assets and make you look like the best version of yourself. Photoshop is there to rid the eye of distractions, minimize flyaway hairs, get rid of a light switch or two, and other non-life-altering functions. I will also use Photoshop to smooth out skin, minimize pores, and get rid of lint & wrinkles within reason. Once we narrow your images down to your favorites for your album, we'll go over my retouching process and look at each image a bit more closely. That being said, YOU are beautiful and so are your curves. We are women, our skin is soft, and our bodies are capable of miracles. Let's celebrate all that!

Will You Help Me Prepare For My Shoot?

Absolutely! I'm here to help you from the moment you contact me until the moment you get your products, and beyond. As soon as we lock in our date I'll send you some resources I've written especially for clients of La Femme Boudoir, as well as a Lingerie Guide with tons of links to lingerie shops and blogs for guidance. I want this experience to be as fun, exciting, and stress-free as possible and I do my best to make myself available for any questions and concerns you might have. After our session, I'll have you back in to guide you through the photo selection process. Many times, this is a same-day viewing so you won't even have to wait more than a couple hours to see your images! After our viewing and ordering session, I'll design a custom album layout based on your favorite images, which you'll be able to approve prior to production. Clients have told me that my process is incredibly helpful and stress-free, and that's why they've kept me as their personal photographer since!

What Can I Expect When I Book A Boudoir Session With You?

Fun, excitement, empowerment, and a whole new sense of confidence. Jump over to my blog to read more about What to expect from your boudoir session.

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