VISIT OUR WEBSITE & FIND A WY VENDOR: http://www.wyoweddings.com/

OUR SISTER PUBLICATIONS:  Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine http://www.wyolifestyle.com/ Wyovore  http://www.wyovore.com/ WYO XY http://www.wyolifestyle.com/WYOXY/index.html The Wyoming Woman http://www.thewyomingwoman.com/

VISIT OUR 2011 BOUDOIR EMAG — CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

image by Honey Bee Photography, Laramie

In 2011, we launched our first boudoir e-mag — a place to celebrate the beauty of boudoir photography, and a gallery of Wyoming photographers who offer this service. The incredible positive response we received was exciting — and we are thrilled to be working on our next installment for 2012!

When we started this project, I was extremely nervous — what would people think? Would they think we were encouraging some kind of porn, or objectifying women? I expressed my worry to Stephanie Osborne of Ardent Photography in Laramie — and as you’ll read in her article below, her opinion is entirely otherwise. “It’s no different than swimsuits,” Stephanie said first, and then she added, “Plus, it’s done as a gift to yourself and your husband or fiance. It’s a beautiful thing.”

How right she was — and still is! Boudoir photography is an experience — a place for you to celebrate your inner sensuality and give that as a gift made just for your significant other. While the ladies in our e-mags have agreed to let us share their images, they are sharing the idea that women are beautiful, sexy and special just as they are — and we’re all so different. That’s why he fell in love with YOU — because you are special in his eyes (and he in yours!) With that in mind, I pushed forward with a clear conscience and discovered that the idea of boudoir photography as a celebration and gift of love is a universally accepted concept.

So with that said, I want to share the article that Stephanie wrote for our 2011 boudoir e-mag — and be sure to visit our last e-mag by clicking on this link…and stay tuned for our 2012 installment, including another great feature from Stephanie!

image by Ardent Photography, Laramie

THE BEAUTY OF BOUDOIR — by Stephanie Osborne of Ardent Photography, Laramie

Newly wed, I found myself, like countless other women, challenged with finding my husband the PERFECT Valentine’s Day gift. I wanted it to be fun, memorable, unique and something that would totally surprise him!

While searching for that something amazing, I remembered hearing about a new genre of photography called “boudoir.” Unfamiliar with what boudoir photography really was I jumped on the internet to do some research…

I found the definition of boudoir photography as a “set of sensual images for a woman in ‘boudoir style.’” My interest was immediately piqued by the definition alone, and I immediately started to look for photographs that embodied this mysterious new genre of photography. What I found was breathtaking; I wanted to BE one of those women in the photographs:  stunning, gorgeous, captivating. The way I saw them was exactly how I wanted my husband to see me! There was no doubt in my mind that this was the ultimate gift for my guy, so I summoned up all the courage I could and booked myself a session with a local photographer.

As soon as my session was booked and an official date set, I suddenly became very aware of exactly how long I had to ‘get in shape’ before being photographed. Long story short, the days flew by, and in no time, it was the week of my session and I had to face the fact that I was nowhere near where I wanted to be physically. The boudoir session I had been so excited for when I booked it? I was now dreading the idea. After spending a small fortune on new lingerie, I reluctantly decided to go through with the session anyway…fear, dread and all.

When my boudoir photos arrived a few weeks after the session, I felt a sense of dread come over me. Why I had not stuck to my super-unrealistic workout schedule, or, better yet, starved myself silly on another fad diet? I kept reminding myself that my husband loved me exactly the way I was, and in the photos, I would look like myself, and that was OK. Right?

The thing was, when I finally got the nerve to look at my boudoir photos, they weren’t of the ‘me’ I was expecting at all! Where were the love handles? The thunder thighs? What about that ever-present ghetto body that I learned to deal with over the years? And who was that confident, strong beauty staring back at me? As I looked through my photos, I was absolutely shocked, humbled, proud, and, most of all, intrigued. Having MY boudoir photos taken completely opened my eyes to the real me that I had been missing out on all these years, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be able to give this new gift to women everywhere!

As women, we just don’t see ourselves accurately. When we look in the mirror, we tend to focus on our faults, things we wish we could change, and areas of our body that we’re ‘working on.’ But boudoir photos don’t lie; as I learned, they often tell an entirely different story about what we’re seeing in the mirror each day! Whether you are a size four or a size fourteen, the goal of boudoir photography is to capture the essence of what makes each and every woman beautiful. Being photographed in this fun, sensual style will boost your self-esteem, build or increase your confidence as a woman, and bring you face to face with the gorgeous girl you really are.

Of course, as much as you will benefit from booking a session, the photos also make an amazing gift for that special someone in your life. That look in your eyes; the shy smile he has always loved; maybe even the sexy way you look in his favorite old t-shirt! Giving boudoir means giving a lasting memory of that special element of yours that he won’t want to ever forget. Spontaneous, bold and unique, giving your special someone an album of your boudoir images is sure to be a fantastic surprise!

Now that you know what boudoir photography is and what it can do, I bet you have all sorts of questions (I know I did!) Here are a few FAQs that we boudoir photographers get asked on a regular basis. If you do find yourself curious, needing further information, or, better yet, wanting to book a session, please feel free to contact me directly; having been on both sides of the lens for the beautiful style of photography, I’m well equipped to answer everything you’ll want to know!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is a boudoir session? A boudoir session is your chance to capture your beauty, confidence and sensuality through photography. Sessions can be done purely as a gift for yourself but also make a great present for that special someone.

Who should do a boudoir session? Anyone and everyone should do a boudoir session at least once in their lives! Being photographed during a boudoir session is an incredible experience. It boosts your confidence, brings out your sexy side, and really captures the special beauty every woman possesses. The images from your session will be artistic, fine art shots that showcases you as you really are.

What should I expect from my session? Sessions are usually 1-2 hours long. Most photographers welcome you to bring along your own hairstylist and makeup artist if you’re not comfortable doing your hair & makeup on your own, or to choose a hairstylist and makeup artist from a list of their recommended vendors. Most boudoir sessions also include a limited number of outfit changes, but remember: the more time  you spend changing, the less time there is for taking photos. Posing is based on the look & feel you want from your photos; as a boudoir photographer, my ultimate goal is to capture you at your beautiful and most comfortable, so I keep my sessions laid back, spontaneous and fun!

Where do you shoot? Most photographers shoot in a studio or at a preferred hotel of their choosing. Some studios will even come to your home or another location of your choosing. When choosing a location, you want to be mindful of the ambiance, mood and, of course, backgrounds. All of the above contribute to a successful shoot and a stunning final product.

What should I wear? This entirely depends upon what kind of a feel you would like for your session. Whether you show up with sexy lingerie, your favorite collared shirt, or plans to be au natural, the most important thing is that you wear something in which you feel confident and beautiful. Feel free to bring in fun & flirty accessories too, like jewelry, shoes, hats & gloves, jackets, etc. If you’re going to be doing portraits in the nude, be sure to wear loose-fitting clothing to your session as well as during the day if your photos are later in the afternoon or evening; anything too restricting will often leave indentations in the skin.

Will my photos be retouched? Most photographers offer two types of retouching: basic & advanced. Basic retouching entails fixing minor blemishes, stray hairs, makeup smudges, etc. whereas advanced retouching includes all the basic retouching plus skin softening, body sculpting (within reason), and more intense acne/blemish removal. Regardless what level of retouching you choose, be sure to ask that all your photos be professionally processed to include vibrant color, rich contrast and a sharp, crisp final product.

What happens with the negatives or digital files? Client photos (the negative, files and prints) should be kept secure and handled only by your chosen studio. I recommend any prints that need to be made or products that need to be ordered be done through the same studio, as that is really the only way to make sure your privacy remains intact.

Stay tuned for more great information from Stephanie — as well as lots of beautiful boudoir images coming up in our 2012 edition!

‘Til Next Time…

Kati Hime, Editor

editor@wyolifestyle.com

VISIT OUR WEBSITE & FIND A WY VENDOR: http://www.wyoweddings.com/

OUR SISTER PUBLICATIONS:  Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine http://www.wyolifestyle.com/ Wyovore  http://www.wyovore.com/ WYO XY http://www.wyolifestyle.com/WYOXY/index.html The Wyoming Woman http://www.thewyomingwoman.com/