Freeing Yourself From Self Imposed Prisons

I love shooting boudoir in Dallas. Everyone deserves beautiful and sexy photos of herself.  As a female boudoir photographer, I love capturing all the small nuances that make a boudoir photo Pinterest worthy. Yes, hair and makeup play an important role, but the most important role in a photo is the element of emotion.  How does this photo make you feel? What do you want to do after seeing it? How does this person feel while shooting?  What was going through her mind? What was the photographer feeling while capturing the shot?

Perhaps I am the only person who wonders that last questions since I am a photographer. I have been shooting since I was 14.  While sitting in my High School photojournalism class my teacher quickly learned that in photography I am drawn to the element of art.  It was never about a perfectly composed photo or if the highlight were perfect.  It was about the story behind the pictures and if could I accurately tell it from a single shot.  

This is why I can't wait to showcase this next set.  I shot this back in February.  While that was three months ago it feels like it was just yesterday.  Sometimes I just need the freedom to create and shoot.  Photography is an art form to me. When shooting this beautiful soul  I just wanted to shoot freely, make mistakes, and be without all the production. No hair. No makeup.  Just God, the muse, and myself. 

Enter Ms. Jay.  She was exactly what I was looking for. Confident, fun, beautiful, subtly sexy with just a bit of quirky and nerdy. We spoke on the phone and communicated through email.  I told her I was in the process of changing my style and I need to shoot with more passion, more authenticity, and more emotion.  I need to push beyond the fashion, hair, and makeup and just focus on the core.  The core being two people creating a masterpiece. The core being, "Who is this person."

I wanted to shoot through my heart.  With reckless abandon.  I wanted to feel free. To escape all the barriers I put up and put all of me out there. While, admittedly, there was more I could have done to push myself when I look at this set,  I am super happy with the results.  

What I am most happy about is that J trusted me.  She left nothing on the table and worked with me. Her comfort with herself made me more comfortable with myself.  While most of my sessions aren't centered around me, this one was.  

What did I learn from this project?
The first, last, and most important relationship you will ever have will be the one you have with yourself.  People can detect authenticity in your work.  If you aren't happy with where things are going it is your responsibility to change that.  No one else is required to help you, but you.  

I learned that when I'm honest with what I really want to see out of my clients they are more willing to listen.  There have been times when the client only half gets the pose I want and I will tell them that will work... but when culling my photos I get upset because the photo could have been that much better if I had played chicken with my client had I stuck with what I really wanted out of her.  I learned that I needed to be a more honest communicator.  

In this session, I was able to direct J exactly like I wanted because I was doing this for me.  Yet, why wasn't I doing this for my clients?  That's what they wanted right?  The biggest compliment I get from people is how I direct.  If I am to be honest with myself, I can be better with telling people what I want from them.  I will.  With and without the camera in front of my eyes.

I also learned that you truly need to "fuck-their-thoughts".  Who is their?  Also, why are we fucking their thoughts?  'Their' are all the dumbass voices in your head who promote self-doubt.  Those thoughts that drive fear and promote stagnation.  Those that want you to stick to the status quo.  Those stupid fucking thoughts that stop you from achieving greatness because you feel uncomfortable.  While we are at it, fuck your comfort.  Yes, in the event you are wondering, fuck is my favorite cuss word. 

I felt like a bird while shooting J.  I was without restraints.  Flying free. Unbound to any type of expectation to anyone.  This was my world were I finally allowed myself to create freely. I was living by my own rules. Fuck the hair. Fuck the makeup. All I wanted to do was create without these limits, fears, and self-doubt I conjured up for myself.  Gawd, did it feel amazing. To be in a single moment of complete and utter mental freedom is the most satisfying state of mind you will ever achieve.

That's what creates leaders, artist, and innovators, right? The ability to dream outside the limits. To do what people think are crazy?  To do what people wish they had the audacity to do. Do what scares you. Do what makes you grow.  

I will be working with J again so please expect to see her more on this blog.  When you see Jay it will be an extension of me expressing a piece of who I am.  It will be a part of me dying to escape this self-imposed prison I built.  

I appreciate J because she trusts me.  I trust her.  She has given me full permission to work with her with no limits.  I can't wait to create more art with her and share my musing with you after my sessions with this beautiful soul.  

I know everyone is going to ask so... EVERY single piece that J is rocking was styled by me and can be found at Forever 21. 

Please make sure to follow J on Instagram HERE:
https://www.instagram.com/red_copper_fox/

 

In the section below let me know something you limit yourself on and how you plan on changing it.

If you're interested in your own boudoir session hit us up using the form below!

Surviving Abuse and Loving Life | Dallas Boudoir

Back in December I held a model call.  I host model calls because I shoot a lot of boudoir but not a lot of women want to show off their beautiful work.  Don't get me wrong.  I get it.  Many women want to keep their intimate sessions private and I totally respect that. While I get super bummed about that I do inherently understand.  

Therefore, I decided to host my VERY FIRST model call in Dallas.  Boy was it a freakin' success!  I actually only did it on Facebook and I got a number of cool inquiries coming in.  Since I only had a limited number of women that could participate in the model call it was hard making a final selection.  However, I was able to pick a few ladies for this project and I couldn't have been happier.

One of those ladies was Shalena.  Since then I have fallen head over heels for this beautiful soul.  Shalena was picked for this model call because her reasoning really touched me. In her email for consideration she wrote: 

"My reason is because behind every smile there is a deeper story to be told. And I am one of many survivors of mental, and sexual abuse. I've come a long way in my life. People always tell me that I have an amazing smile. But if I had a chance to tell my story, to encourage other girls/women like me, I would. It would be a privilege to be chosen. And to finally have supporters instead of users and abusers who take advantage of my beauty from within."

I have never been mentally abused but I have known people who have and I can tell you that it's very hard.  Even when said abuse stops, it's never really over for that person because they still have to live with the effects of that daily. 

Shalena is a strong woman with a beautiful personality.  She has a smile that can light up a room.  She is fun, friendly, and carries a sense of happiness that is totally infectious.  I couldn't be more happy to have shoot Shalena. 

Another thing that made Shalena stand out was her short hair.  Won't lie.  I have been LIVING to shot a woman with the same haircut and face shape as Shelana.  Short haircuts are so awesome and bold and not many women outside of Amber Rose have the balls to just rock a short cut.  Shalena knocked it out of the damn park! Lets just call Shalena's session a home run!

For the Model Call sessions I wanted to shoot it somewhere very cool so we opted for this awesome Airbnb that randomly populated days before our attended session.  The guy who owned the Airbnb was so incredibly gracious. He also turned out to be a furniture designer so the space looked extra cool.  

I love when I become closer with my clients.  They mean the absolute world to me.  Getting to know people on a deeper level for why they want to do a boudoir session has allowed me to dive deeper inside of myself to deliver the products they need.  

Didn't she rock the hell outta her session?! I hope you guys enjoyed Shalena's session as much as I did!  Just in case you're wondering Jazzy did the makeup!

In the comment section below who are some other celebrities that can rock the bald cut?

A Major Surprise at a Boudoir Session | Dallas Boudoir

When of my favorite things about boudoir are the shocking revelations that come from my clients.  Case in point with Ms. A.  She told me she was actually four months pregnant!

Say what?!  I did not know that when booking a session with her.  In fact, I think she was just now finding out.  LOL. So keep this fact in mind when you see the photos of our four months pregnant client doing a boudoir session.  

You would never know this because posing we leveraged posing to her advantage to keep the appearance of the belly down.  I LOVE posing women to get the desired angles needed.  Learning to pose women is important for two reasons. It leans your subject out and allows you to shoot more evocatively.  I mean let's be honest, what sells a photo is the story that it wants to tell.  Storytelling is successful when the viewer can sense and feel the emotion from the still pictures.  Photos can be done to make us feel any array of emotions.  I look to make my photos powerful.  

I feel as though there is a lot of power in allowing ourselves to be evocative and emotional and that's what I was doing with Ms. A in her session.  

This is another session that was styled by me and makeup was done by Jazzy Baptiste. 

In the comment section below let me know what you think the most important elements of a photo is.

Losing 100 lbs & Shooting a Boudoir Session | Dallas Boudoir Photography

At Dallas boudoir photography studio, Wonderland Boudoir, I love capturing women in their most intimate states because of their reason “WHY”.  Why did they come in and book a session? The most common reason is because the photos will be part of a groom's gift.  While this was the reason why Ms. X booked her session, the meaning was actually much deeper than that.  The reason "WHY" melted my heart.

Ms. X came in because she lost over 100lbs.  She was able to lose that weight through the love, motivation, and partnership of her now husband.  He loved her at every size, saw beauty in her when she couldn’t, knew her potential, and most importantly, helped build up her self-esteem.  

She wanted to do this boudoir session as a gift to him.  She wanted to tell him thank you for loving her for who she was.  She wanted to say thank you for seeing her soul and loving her for that.  However, she always wanted to do this session for another reason.

She wanted to finally to be able to celebrate herself unapologetically.  She wanted to give herself permission to love and appreciate what she worked hard to achieve.  She wanted to tell her story and let women know that they can do this as well.  Losing 100lbs is no easy task but with the right mindset and the right people around you it’s more than achievable.

Ms. X said one of the weirdest things about buying lingerie after losing all weight was it's still crazy to her how much smaller she had gotten.  While everyone congratulated her on her magnificent transformation, being in clothes 6 sizes smaller than her original weight is still foreign to her.  She said her friends were getting on to her about buying new clothes. Since her frame was smaller everything she wears now is way too baggy.  After going lingerie shopping she finally saw what everyone was telling her.  Even the bodysuit shown in these photos is too big for her, but she rocked the hell out of the look.

This is what we should really learn from Ms. X and her now husband.  Marriage isn’t just a contract.  It’s a partnership.  You and your spouse are a team.  When one is down the other has to be there to help pick them back up.  You guys have to love and motivate each other.  There should be no ego involved because if one of you win, you both win.

In the comment section below, please let us know if you were to book a boudoir session what would the reason be?

Also, if you are interested in shooting with us please fill out the form below as we would to be your photographer for your boudoir session.

7 Best Places to Buy Lingerie Online

Right after booking a session with me panic mode kicks in... WHERE DO I FIND SEXY LINGERIE PIECES THAT DON'T BREAK THE BANK?!  Today I will bring you 7 online stores that you can buy sexy lingerie from for your boudoir session.

FIRST: FIND YOU LINGERIE STYLE QUIZ!

1.) Victoria's Secret

Let's just get the obvious out of the way first.  Victoria's Secret is clearly the leader in lingerie.   They have an array of pieces in a range of prices that won't make you swear bullets.  

If you are a novice when it comes to styling then the best starting place is Victoria's Secrets.  I have also noticed that Victoria's Secret has really stepped up their styling game. 

Pro Tip:  Try to shop in the larger Victoria's Secrets.  The bigger stores house more inventory.  These stores tend to get more of the online inventory and often hold some of the better pieces in the back.  Always ask sales associates if they have any cool new pieces in the back that haven't made it to the front.
  
DON'T OVERLOOK: The bodysuits.  Victoria's Secret has some of THE SEXIEST bodysuits in the game!

Some of my Favorite Bodysuits:

• High Neck Lace Teddy

• Long Sleeve Plunge Teddy

• Long Sleeve Lace Bodysuit

• Strappy Teddy

• Cut Out High Neck Teddy

2.) Yandy.com:  

Yandy has some of the most incredibly priced lingerie out there.  They probably have over 2000 online SKUs.  If you can imagine it they probably have it.  If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Victoria's Secret with more color options then Yandy.com may be your site.

Don't Overlook: The color choices from Yandy

Some of my Favorite Bodysuits:
 

• Strappy Lace Halter Bra & Panty

• Eyelace Teddy with Garter

• Burgundy Multi Strap Bra Set

• Satin & Sequin Romper

• Metallic & Lace Deep Plunge Thong Panty

3.) MissGuided:

I have to say this is ONE of my FAVORITE places to find bodycon dresses.  If you are looking for a sexy dress to wear as part of your boudoir session then MissGuided will be your place.  One of my favorite things about this UK based company is that your shipment comes to the States really fast! I'm not sure if they have hubs in the US as well, but they are fast and efficient and I never have to wait too long for my package to show up.

PRO TIP: Check the site often as that always have flash sales from 30-50% off.  

5 of the HOTTEST bodycon dresses for boudoir
 

• Strappy Scuba Black Bodycon Dress

• White Long Sleeve Midi Bodycon Dress

• Red Lace Cami Chocker Dress

• Bandage Cage Midi Bodycon Dress

• White Applique Flower Midi Bodycon Dress

4.) ASOS:  

This is another amazing UK based fashion site.  I have to say that the British really know a thing or two about good fashion.  Like MissGuided, the shipping from ASOS is unbelievably fast. I will tell you that I get my packages faster from ASOS than I do Forever 21, which is an American company.  

The thing I love best about ASOS is the array of brands they work with on the site.  The buyers do a great job curating pieces. 

PRO TIP: Shop the swimsuit section for traditional lingerie alternatives

• Red Swimsuit

• Champagne Multi-Way Swimsuit

• Chocker Mesh Strappy Cut-Out Swimwear

• Strapless Swimsuit

• Fish Net Halter Bikini

5.) Forever 21:

Outside of the shipping I just LOVE Forever 21.  When I'm asked to style client boudoir sessions about 80% of the pieces come from Forever 21.  Forever 21 has SKU's for days.  I'm lucky that I'm based in Texas because we have some of the BIGGEST Forever 21's in the world located out of here(However, that Forever 21 in Time Square is nothing to scoff at).  

However, I have to admit that shopping online for Forever 21 is much easier for me.  The stores just have SO MUCH FREAKING inventory that is can be very overwhelming.

PRO TIP: Forever 21's return policy sucks.  Therefore if you are interested in a piece there is a VERY good chance you will find it in store.  Stop by a Forever 21 location with the item number to locate the piece.  Sometimes actually going into the store is better because you will see if the piece in person.

• Oversized Perfect Sweaters for Boudoir

• Boxy Ribbed Sweater

• Heathered Oversized Sweater

6.) H&M:

I LOVE H&M's Lingerie section!  Yassssss Girl!  Out of all the places I have listed I must say that I prefer the lingerie section at H&M the best.  The bras feel the best here.  Actually, my favorite bra comes from H&M.  

Here is the problem with H&Ms lingerie section though... they don't have it in every store.  I KNOW! In fact, when I was in Playa del Carmen in February that's when I first learned that H&M even had a lingerie section.  When I came back to Dallas I tried to find it here only to find out that all H&Ms are not created equal. We only have one location here that has lingerie... and it's not that big.  I know in LA and Houston the lingerie sections in those stores are much better.

PRO TIP: Call your location H&M first to find out if they have a lingerie section before you go there.  

Sexy Lingerie Pieces from H&M:

• Lace Thong Bodysuit

• Shaping Push Up Bodysuit

• Shaping Dress

• Microfiber Balconette Bra

• Lace Bralette

7.) Adore Me

Alexis is my stylist, friend, and client that put me to Adore me.  Adore me is a subscription based site that specializes in lingerie. While their pieces are super cute I can say that they don't feel comfortable.  At least for me.  I feel that the pieces are better suited for women with a smaller chest.  If you are heavy chested I would not 100% recommend Adore Me.  However, Adore Me has a great selection of pieces for you to pick from.  You can get these sets for $40.

These Awesome Sets from Adore Me:

Venetia Unlined

Paris Unlined

Leia Contour Plus

Kellie Push UP

Akhila Contour

Planning for your boudoir session shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg.  The 7 locations mentioned are beautiful and cost effective.  You will also be able to wear this pieces in your everyday life so you will get you cost per wear out of them.

Let me know of all the places covered which is you favorite

CONTACT US!

If would like to book a boudoir session with us please fill out the form below or go to our contact page and give us a call.  We typically return calls and emails within 24 hours!

How to Style a Badass Boudoir Session | Dallas Boudoir

I feel like every time I shoot a session it's my favorite and having  Ms. M in front of the lens was no exception. 

Ms. M's session kicked ass for a number of reasons. Her hair and makeup were perfect for the location. She listened with the intent to follow, and she trusted my directions to get the perfect poses and looks for each frame. However, the most important thing was that her looks weren't your typical boudoir lingerie pulls. This was a beautifully styled session .

Today we are going to break down each look and why it worked, where the pieces were purchased, and how it was styled.

BOUDOIR SHOULDN'T BREAK THE BANK

Now don't me wrong, I LOVE to shop for lingerie.  It's so much fun! However, after window shopping on Agent Provocateur's website pieces add up pretty quickly and the average woman probably isn't trying to spend $1600 on lingerie.  

All the items you will see today were purchased from Target,  Forever 21, or came from the client's own collection. I think the most expensive piece was about $20.

Remember,  it's never the price of clothing, it's how you style it.

LOOK 1: Bodysuits for Boudoir

White Bodysuit: $3 Forever 21, 
Cut-off shorts, Heels: Clients previously purchased pieces

Let me be perfectly honest.  I love bodysuits.  They are so fucking sexy.  They are sensual because there's an understated allure about them.  I believe it's because they hide so much but let the right body parts show off.  Bodysuits hug the body and this allows you to appreciate the feminine form.

This bodysuit was purchased brand new from Forever 21 for ONLY $3!  Yes, a Forever 21 was actually closing down for a remodel and they were having a fire sale.  This bodysuit found a new home.  It's very important to make sure you look out for sales to help save you money.  Even without the sale, this body retails for no more than $11.

LOOK 2:  Lace Bralette & High Waisted Black Panties

Lace Bra Top: $16, Forever 21
High Waisted Bottoms: $20, Target

Right after bodysuits my favorite element on lingerie is lace.  Lace is just a classic element that brings a sense of tradition to photos... even in this beautiful blue.  The bra top makes it bit more modern with the straight lines that highlight the breast.  

The bottoms are actually my favorite piece.  I feel like high waisted bottoms don't get enough love.  When not on the body they have a tendency to look like granny panties, but once you put them on they flatten the tummy area to make you look long and lean.  This is perfect for most body types.  It's especially useful when you have a little muffin top going.

Look 3: Lace  Faux Silk Top & High Waisted Floral Bikini Bottoms

Top: $15, Forever 21
Swimsuit Bottoms: $15, Forever 21

I love a good loose top.  Yes, I know boudoir is all about the tight and sexy, but sometimes we just gotta let the girls live!  this is probably my favorite top of all times.  Well, not really but lets got with it for this post.  The top is fun, loose, and allows Ms. M to move around freely.  When you feel free in person you look free in your photos.  

Since we were shooting outside floral was a perfect choice.  The color couldn't have been better since we were shooting in late evening during the summer.

LOOK 4: Nude Bikini Top and Nude Mesh Bikini Bottoms

Tank Top: $15, Forever 21
High Waisted Bikini Bottoms: $15, Forever 21

Another secret I have for beautifully styled boudoir sessions is using swimsuits or bikinis instead of traditional lingerie.  

I KNOW! Who would have thought?!

I find that swimsuits are equally as sexy and lingerie and no one will know the difference anyway.  Furthermore, swimsuits tend to be a bit more fun, edgy, and sexy since they are designed for people to actually see in addition to being functional.  Another advantage of using swimwear instead of traditional lingerie for boudoir session is that the pieces come in more colors.  Having more colors provide more versatility when it comes to styling for a location.

WOW!  I know that was A LOT!  However, I how Ms. M gave you some ah-mazing ideas on how you can plan your own boudoir session.  Just keep in mind that your boudoir session is a reflection of you and your style.  As long as you stay authentic to your aesthetic you will look great.  If you have any questions about styling please contact me.  

In the comment section below please let me know which look was your favorite and why.

CONTACT US!

If would like to book a boudoir session with us please fill out the form below or go to our contact page and give us a call.  We typically return calls and emails within 24 hours!

LA Chronicles: The Sexiest Downtown Los Angeles Boudoir Session, EVER!

I would be a lying if I didn't say that this Downtown LA loft shoot with Kryssi Korleone wasn't my favorite from the whole LA series.  

Kryssi and I actually met through Jazzy.  What's funny is she is actually from Dallas and only lives two miles from me.  I find it ironic that we met 1400 miles away from home.

Jazzy and I love to get better at our craft and we actually had a shoot lined up at El Matador State Beach Park but that didn't pan out because the model cancelled. Desperate to shoot, Jazzy had remembered that one of his friend's client was in LA the same time we were.  His friend linked us up and this is how this love story happened.

Life Hack: Life is What Happens When You're Making Other Plans

When things don't go your way remember that it most likely means that something better is right around the corner.  We can't get hung up on things that don't go the way we planned.  If we do, we might miss the surprise life has in store for us.  Trust in the detours that life gives us.    

When the young woman canceled at the last minute I wasn't even angry.  I'm glad I didn't waste any emotion on that because Jazzy and I got something far better.  In fact, this has been one of my favorite sessions of 2016.  The photos from this LA boudoir session were so revered that I had Endee Magazine reach out to me about publishing the series!

If you would like to purchase the magazine please check out Endee Magazine (here).  

We shot this boudoir series in a Downtown Los Angeles loft located next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  The looks actually came from Kryssi's own fashion line!  I would post a link but her site isn't live yet.  However, once it's live I will share with you guys.  

Boudoir Pro Tip: Don't Stick to Just Lingerie!

I want to express how I love that two of the three looks Kryssi is rocking were done in a dress or a skirt.  When you are doing a boudoir session remember that you are not limited to just lace numbers from Victoria's Secret's or Yandy.com.  Venture out and add sexy dresses.  I typically find that bodycon and wrap dresses look the best on the feminine form.  

I hope you guys enjoyed this sexy series story from Kryssi Korleone and the please check out our Joshua Tree boudoir session and our LACMA Night Boudoir session.  Shooting boudoir in LA was a dream come true. I thoroughly enjoyed Los Angeles and I cannot wait to go back again in 2017.  Please look out for a travel announcement in the first quarter of the new year.

In the comment section below please let me know which one the three outfits featured you like the best.  

CONTACT US!

If would like to book a boudoir session with us please fill out the form below or go to our contact page and give us a call.  We typically return calls and emails within 24 hours!