Outdoor boudoir is a whole different animal. The traditional boudoir poses just don't do here. And outdoor boudoir is so much more than being sexy and seductive in your lingerie. Over the years my style of boudoir has been described as "Free People".  Yes Free People has become an adjective for my style of boudoir photography. Inspire was created to nurture a woman's femininity, strength, and spirit. It is flirtatious and wild. It isn't about seducing men. It is about seducing life. 

So I am sharing MY favorite poses. This is boudoir unplugged.

Many women don't know what to do with their hands during a photo shoot. I always encourage to play with your hair. Zhuzh your hair to add volume and texture. Wrap your ends around your face. Slightly graze the ends  with your fingertips.  Dance and shake your head! Be playful, fun, and flirty...okay and a little sexy too.

Oh the booty shot! Every client wants at least one good photo of that ass! Instead of the traditional bent over provocative booty shot that you might see in studio boudoir, I love to keep my clients standing and feeling free. I will tell you to put your hands above your head while you dance to music, or to put your fingers through your hair.  I will direct you to cross your feet and push your hips and butt toward the camera while also standing on your tippy toes! Since high heels aren't in your normal outdoor boudoir wardrobe, standing on your tip toes will create the same booty lift effect. Warning, your lower back will hurt! But it will be worth it!

Not only does putting your hands by your chin and mouth give you something to do, it creates a flirty allure. It brings attention to your lips where the power of your voice comes from...and the occasional sexy kiss. :) 

I love this variation of the close-up portrait because it gives me a chance to play with your hair - maybe put flowers all around you

Okay so this pose is a little more traditional to a studio boudoir shoot. I like this pose because it emphasizes the hips, zhuzhes the hair, and shows off the boobs. It also makes a great centerfold for your album!

I wouldn't really call this a pose, but capturing graceful movements. If shooting in a body of water, I encourage clients to bring a long dress or kimono. Not only will the fabric give you something to do, but it captures femininity. 

Okay there you go! Those are some of my favorite poses when I shoot outdoor boudoir, but certainly not limited to! Make sure you pin this for reference before your own boudoir shoot! 

Client to photographer relationships are just like any other relationship. You have to not only trust each other, but be able to freely communicate and establish a comfortability with each other. Boudoir client/photographer relationships require an even deeper relationship then most. As your photographer I will be witnessing some very vulnerable parts of you, physically and emotionally. Boudoir IS nerve wracking already, then I go ahead and add the great outdoors! Yes, you will be in the elements getting your portrait taken in as little or as much clothing that suits you. Women have real insecurities, myself included. Having a camera pointed right at you doesn't make it any easier to overcome them! Girl, this is what an Inspire Boudoir experience is for! I give you the tool of nature to calm your nerves and begin to be present. I add the tool of boudoir photography to not only help you face your fears and begin to own the incredible woman that you are, but to document this momentous adventure you are going on. Lastly, I have one hell of a playlist that will help you feel more comfortable! 

So here are 6 ways to build trust with boudoir client:


1. Have an authentic online presence. 
Most of my boudoir clients come from seeing me on Instagram. Not only do I post lots of work from my portfolio, but I post from my personal life. My clients already know I have 3 dogs, that I am married, and what I like to do on my free time. There they can see my Instagram stories of my every day and behind the scenes from shoots. Through my personal stories and images, trust is already beginning to be built. They get a sense of who I am before they even decide to schedule a consultation.


2. Have a pre-boudoir shoot consultation.
We meet for a pre-shoot consultation to get know each other face to face. We meet to go over your boudoir shoot expectations. I ask you lots of questions regarding your intention behind your shoot and your why. But before we get down to business about your boudoir shoot, we just sit and talk! 

Our world thrives on quick fixes. There is a magic pill for absolutely everything! What if you could not only prevent underlying symptoms of fatal illnesses, but also reduce your body from going into overdrive mentally? Imagine a treatment that is readily available and cost absolutely nothing. Nature Therapy is the treatment of going outside in nature to heal. Studies conducted in many parts of the world, including Japan have shown a correlation between green spaces and lower mortality rates up to 12%. 

"The percentage of green space in people's living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents," concluded a Dutch study of 250,782 people.

Inflammation is the body's response to an outside threat like spraining our ankle, stress, and toxic chemicals. Since city dwellers are surrounded by toxicity and the busyness is a constant stimulator of stress, our bodies response system goes into overdrive and instead of inflammation keeping us safe it starts to cause auto-immune diseases, depression, and cancer. Our bodies start to attack itself. Early phases of research in Japan has shown a connection between nature and the making of anti-cancer proteins in our body. The boosted levels of these proteins can last up to seven days after a long trip in nature. By taking long walks every day surrounded by trees and slowly breathing in fresh air, your body will be able to fight off cancer causing toxins and mental stress. 

Your mental health is also directly correlated to your physical health. Studies have shown that mental clarity was greatly improved just by looking at images of nature. When mentally stressed your body physically tenses causing headaches and fatigue. Without proper sleep your body cannot heal. So before you pop that Tylenol PM, try taking a free walk, breath, and relax. Your body will thank you.

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You were a woman first.  A woman with swag and sex appeal. You were a woman before you were a mom and now that you are walking milk dispenser for tiny humans, it is easy to forget that you were once that sexy woman. So grab your favorite set of lingerie or that dress that makes you walk a little taller, and book yourself an outdoor boudoir shoot!

It is easy to get stuck in a rut when you are busy living your life for others. When there is already so much to clean and laundry to wash, is it really necessary to change sweat pants? Yes girl, it is! Throwing your dirty hair in a bun and putting on those trusty sweat pants does sound appealing, but get out of that comfort zone! It is not okay to live complacent in life! It is not okay for your kids to see that either. Push yourself to try something new and remind yourself you are more than just a mom. You are an adventurous, fierce, hardworking woman and you are an inspiration to others! 

Let's not forget what brought those little bundles of joy into this world to begin with! Not only it is easy to forget to care for yourself, but it is easy to forget to care for your significant other! Parenting isn't supposed to be a one person job. It takes 2 to make them and it should take 2 to care for them! So what makes you and your person feel more connected to work together? SEX. An outdoor boudoir shoot is an experience that makes women feel more primal, more connected, and sexy AF! Most of the time, they cannot wait to get home and work off all that adrenaline created during their boudoir shoot! And those beautiful images are just a reminder to not only feel more connected to yourself, but to connect with your person too!

Mom life is chaotic. You experience life changing moments ALL THE TIME from giving birth, to those first steps, to sending them off to college and it just doesn't slow down long enough for you to take a breath and let it all in. Outdoor boudoir uses nature as a tool to help you breath, refocus, and feel refreshed. It is a spa day mixed with a little sexy. So experience something just for yourself and get to your inherent qualities of power and beauty through nature.

Feminism: the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

Last post I mentioned I am not a feminist in the way society has deemed feminism. You can read that HERE. I believe 100% in the actual definition of feminism. I believe in the equal rights and opportunities for both men and women, especially growing up an only child, independent. I was taught to do everything, "feminine and masculine" tasks, cleaning and changing a tire. Getting paid less just because of my sex is NOT okay with me. Treating me differently because I may fit a female stereotype is NOT okay. However, I believe I should not hate men just because they are paid more, because they are more likely to gain respect. I do not believe I don't need a man in my life. I CAN change my own tire, but that doesn't mean I won't accept a man's help. Men and women are like yin and yang. We both have different skills and when we work harmoniously, the world is a better place. I believe in men being gentlemen and holding the door open for me. I believe in women being nice and holding the door open for me. I believe in being a decent human being to all. When women put down men just for being men, we are just as bad as men not treating us equally. Do not hate the player, hate the game. Rise up and own your power as being a woman, while also being human. Change the game. Change the world.

I am not a feminist in how society has deemed feminism. I completely agree with the equality of men and women, but do not agree with hostility that this word has been made out to be.  I believe in the strength of women. The strength that women have to be who they really are. To dare to try it all and be okay with failure. The strength that women have to be both a lover and a mother. The strength women have to start movements and make their voice heard. The strength women have to speak out for what they believe in. The beginning of the feminist era in the 70's paved the road for women of today to step out and speak up for what they believe in.  To truly live in their purpose.

No one WANTS to get uncomfortable! Discomfort…well its exactly that, UNCOMFORTABLE! It is this space where all the magic happens. It is this place that you look back on when you are telling stories to your grandchildren and recall all the amazing courageous things that you have accomplished in your life! Getting uncomfortable doesn’t necessarily mean bungee jumping or finally telling your boss to F off and stomping out of there! Every single day you can do something small that scares you. Maybe it is sharing something personal on an Instagram post or cooking a new dish to eat. All these little changes over time add up to one amazing life! They help you grow and before you know it is easier to make those big scary decisions! One day you can actually quit your job and do something that truly sets your soul on fire. One day you can put on that bikini and strut your gorgeous self around the pool! The point is discomfort leads to growth. You will never change if you remain complacent and coast through life. 
I recall one area of my life where I did something uncomfortable every single day. No matter what came up, my answer was yes. When I was invited to go on a mini road trip, I went! When I was invited to have drinks with strangers, I had a drink! When I wanted to get in shape and tone up, I ran 6 days a week no matter the weather and hired a personal trainer. It was uncomfortable being in the unknown. It was uncomfortable at first talking with strangers. It was DEFINITELY uncomfortable running every day and pushing weights. It was even more uncomfortable fronting money for a personal trainer. Ha! But making new friends, having more energy, the feeling of confidence from working out, IT ALL TRUMPED DISCOMFORT!

One night I was cuddled up and in my pjs. I finished a 10 hour work day and I was exhausted. My friend texted me and begged me to come out country dancing. I really really wasn’t in the mood. I wanted the comfort of my bed. I grumbled while I brushed my hair and threw on my clothes.When I got there I spotted a guy at the bar that looked exactly like a guy I used to know from 3 years prior. I hadn’t seen him in forever so I wasn't sure. I just kept watching, creeper status, in his direction. My heart pounding, trying to build up the courage to approach him. I finally found him alone at the bar and I approached him, “BUDDY!” I called out, “How are you?!” 

He gave me a big hug and made small talk for awhile before asking, “Wait, what’s my name again?” 

“Buddy!” 

He answered, “That’s not my name.” 

Oh shit! I thought! So embarrassed I tried to walk away. This was EXACTLY what I was afraid of. I didn’t want to make an ass out of myself and approach a total stranger. He stopped me from walking away and asked my name. We talked the entire night and he asked for my number. 

Little did I know, that total stranger at the bar, that man I embarrassed myself in front of, would become my husband 5 years later. Because I stepped out my comfort zone. Because I felt the fear and approached him anyway, I met the most important person in my entire life. 
Getting uncomfortable and facing your fears IS A GOOD THING! Sure it can be terrifying! It will make your heart race, cause anxiety, embarrass you, but you will grow! It will lead you to BIG GREAT THINGS! BIG GREAT THINGS THAT YOU WILL TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT! 

Every single one of my clients are super nervous before their shoot. Their mind races with doubts about their body, their ability to pose in front of the camera. They don’t let those thoughts take over though. They feel the fear and book their shoot anyway! I guide them every step of the way. First by sending them my Dream Shoot Planner. In this pdf magazine are posing guides, wardrobe ideas, etc. It eases their fears. I am always available by text during business hours and often I get photos of possible wardrobe purchases. My job is try to ease your fears, get your cute booty to face them, and capture this beautiful moment for you!
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You can read more about Growing a Pair and Getting Uncomfortable HERE: I quote Betty White and it's hilarious! 

What to wear is the most frequently asked question I get from you ladies! My biggest advice is to not complicate it! My absolute favorite is a simple bra and panty set and bodysuit. It is the best foundation to build on. From there you can add a kimono or robe, a fur jacket or blazer, and plenty of accessories and jewelry! Below are my top choices for your boudoir wardrobe! You will be surprised on how many of these items you already own!  

My favorite thing for clients to wear is not really lingerie at all! It is a bodysuit. Most bodysuits flatter every shape and size. They are great if want to hide trouble areas like stomach or stretch marks. They also come from in a variety of style, from lace to athletic.

I like to shop at American Apparel or Forever 21 for bodysuits! Another favorite choice is from a company called Girlfriend Collective. They make their bodysuits from recycled material and are highccut to show off those legs and bum!

One of my favorite dresses to photograph, especially in the water is an all lace see through dress from Amazon!