n o i r / v o g u e

“I am a mother, an artist, am still hard at work, yet I know she’s there. And so, this is why I photograph and have fallen deeply in love with boudoir.”

As a preface to this post, I want to say that I believe strongly in the power of boudoir photography. As a gift to a loved one, it is an incredibly personal, unique, and vulnerable offering. As a gift to oneself, it is a revealing and empowering experience to see yourself in that light. Boudoir is powerful when done right.

A friend of mine has a boudoir studio in Pasadena, CA. Her name is Danielle Biel and her studio is called Skye Blu Boudoir. Her work is nothing short of amazing. Danielle has been an wonderful confidant, and I’m not too proud to say that her work has strongly influenced my own boudoir photography style. We’ve collaborated on a few photography projects, and she’s currently working with me on our Strength & Beauty casting project.

That quote above is hers; it’s something she said in a recent blog post about her own boudoir experience. The post is entitled “boudoir is my home,” and talks about having her own boudoir session done after years of shooting boudoir clients. It is a beautiful and emotional post, and I encourage you to read it and revel in her amazing session images.

I think you’ll agree that Danielle is beautiful inside and out, and I just wanted to share her experience here for you appreciate as well. Hope that you enjoy. Thank you for sharing, Danielle.

“A photograph is neither taken nor seized by force. It offers itself up. It is the photo that takes you.”

You can see in my portfolio that noir/vogue is about both color and black and white photography. Generally following their session, the client and I will collaborate to select specific images for black & white processing, and others for color processing.

But when this client approached me to book a pinup session for an upcoming anniversary, she knew that she wanted a photobook of boudoir images processed completely in black & white. This was both challenging and exciting to me as a photographer. So we planned and shot the session with that in mind; every photograph about shape and tonality, every image stripped of color to reveal her beauty. And I think we succeeded.

Here are a few selects from her b&w session. I hope you enjoy these images as much as we did capturing them.

Be Daring.
Be Captivating.
Be Beautiful.
Be Flirty.
Be You.

This session with C was so much fun to capture. She and a girlfriend both booked a boudoir package and we shot one long session, alternating between outfits. They were a pleasure to photograph…relaxed and it was just a joy to work with these two beautiful women.

This is something I recommend for anyone that is apprehensive about a boudoir session; booking a session along with a close friend is a great way to help any nervousness and it’s a fun experience to share.

C has kindly agreed to share a few select images here on the blog.

So you booked a boudoir session and now you are excitedly preparing. But what to wear? There aren’t really any right or wrong answers to this question, so here are a few ideas and tips to get you started.

It’s not an article of clothing, but the first thing you need is trust. A talented boudoir photographer is skilled at finding the right angles and poses that bring out your best, and you need to trust your photographer to do that for you. You must love their work and be comfortable with them as a person if you are going to be working together on your boudoir photos. I always encourage my clients to schedule a phone consultation or meet in advance to answer questions and get to know each other.

It seems obvious, but bring plenty of lingerie to your boudoir session! Always bring extra options. If you have booked a photography session with time for three outfits, bring five (or more). It’s nice to have backup options if a certain lingerie pairing just isn’t working for whatever reason. Classic ideas that always work well include sexy black or white bra/panty sets, garter belts and fishnets (backseam fishnets are amazing), and boyshorts. Generally your tops and bottoms should match, but if you’ve got a favorite top or a pair of panties that doesn’t have a good match, we can photograph them separately, cropping the image. Or shoot “implied” poses; wear the panty and use your hands or a tastefully-arranged sheet to cover the naughty bits. Or don’t.

If you have certain body concerns or areas you’d prefer not to highlight, say so. We generally go over this in a noir/vogue consultation. Along those lines, choose lingerie that fits well and flatters your body type. Need a little boost in the bosom dept? Try padded or pushup bras, or tops with ruffles. Concerned about your midsection? Consider bringing a corset to your session. Corsets are a classic pinup look and offer many creative posing opportunities for your boudoir photographer. And don’t forget your feet…bring several sexy heels options that we can mix and match with your lingerie.

I always recommend noir/vogue clients also bring a PG-13 rated outfit so you can use a few of your images in your Facebook profile or elsewhere. Jeans and your favorite hot top, or maybe that sexy little dress you bring out for special occasions. And jeans and your man’s dress shirt is always a sexy pairing. Oh, and one more thing that people tend to forget is accessories. Having matching jewelry options on hand for your boudoir session is essential.

Quick tip: before your boudoir session, drink plenty of water; it helps your skin stay soft and avoid lines from clothing. Also, wear loose fitting clothes prior to the shoot to avoid those lines. If you have booked a hair and makeup artist (highly recommended), consider having your hair done in an updo for the first part of your session. You can let it down for the second half of your session, giving you two different looks in your photographs.

If you are looking for lingerie shopping suggestions, you can’t go wrong with Agent Provocateur and Faire Frou Frou (they are amazing!). An Austin-based boutique that looks to offer some beautiful items is Kuhmillion Lingerie, and Journelle has a beautiful selection. Kiki De Montparnasse and Chantal Thomass have unique lines of modern and classic lingerie styles as well. If you are looking for something really unique, La Belle Fairy offers exquisite handmade corsets. Lella’s Lingerie offers a line of classic, affordable corsets as well. Don’t forget about Victoria’s Secret…you can find stunning options at VS and they are generally located nearby so you can try outfits on in person. PinUp Girl Clothing also offers many options, from basics and classic pairings to more retro, cheeky outfits. They’ve got quite a selection of sexy heels. Another option for super-affordable basics as well as themed outfits is Trashy Lingerie and also Yandy; they both generally have good deals on stayups, fishnets, etc. Want to try something a little different? Check out Nippies, they’ve got a fun line of sexy pasties.

Ultimately, what you decide to wear for your boudoir session is a very personal decision. It doesn’t have to be complex; sometimes the sexiest images are the simplest! A plain white t-shirt and panties; his favorite dress shirt unbuttoned and teased open just a touch; a simple lacy bra and boyshorts. Whatever you choose, make sure that it fits well and that you feel sexy in it. When you feel sexy, it will come across in your boudoir photographs. It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it. Rock it, and blow his mind.

noir/vogue is proud to be a select member of the Boudoir Photography Network.

The BPN is a website dedicated to helping women find talented boudoir photographers across the US. The Boudoir Photography Network also provides a blog with educational articles and ideas on boudoir photography, as well as tips for getting the most out of your boudoir session.

Bella Bella Boutique Luxury Lingerie has posted their National List of select boudoir photographers, and noir/vogue is honored to be featured.

The list also offers an introduction to what boudoir photography is, and basic tips for a woman planning her own intimate boudoir session.

I had the pleasure of shooting an amazing boudoir session recently with K. Her body is a canvas for tattoo art, and each has a unique story. She’s been adding to her canvas for eight years now, each by a different tattoo artist. It’s quite literally a lifelong journey of exploration for her.

We spent a long time talking about the significance of each tattoo. She approaches each new addition with the care and consideration of an artist. I don’t often get to photograph women in this style, and it was a unique experience capturing her beauty in my boudoir style. The experience truly gave me a new appreciation for the art of ink.

It was an honor to photograph this amazing woman. Here are a few images from K’s noir/vogue boudoir photo session.

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