What is Erotic Photography?

Erotic photography is a form of art that captures the beauty and sensuality of the human body.  The term “erotic photography” is used to describe a type of photography that captures the beauty and sensuality of the human body.

By definition the word erotic pertains to “relating to arouse sexual desire or excitement”

When the term erotic is said it does not always infer explicit.  Many things can provoke sexual desire, the things that provoke sexual excitement do not have to be profane. It is totally possible that erotism is found in subtly, hidden between the lines, as well as blatant sexual content. Everybody has a different opinion regarding the meaning of eroticism. In general, the erotic word is also used to describe the action of any emotion that is revealed on the human face. To be more specific, it is a sexual expression. Although, you might find that there are other less sexually related things that are called "erotic" so this term is not written in stone.

What are you turned on by?  What do you find provoking? What draws you toward another person or even toward yourself?  

One night my partner and I were lounging in bed, just resting in our sweats, just scrolling through our digital devices, and he asked me, “Is your check engine light still on?”  Right there at that moment, I feel compelled to fervently attack him, he was the most sexy hottest being ever at that very moment.  You must realize that Acts of Service, is my number one love language. A few days prior he had replaced the battery in my car, and all he was doing was checking up to make sure everything was running smoothly.  That lingered in my mind for a few days, and when I shared with him my experience he chuckled. 

Another totally non explicit thing that is a total turn on is the voice of Sam Elliott that is deep, robust yet velvety and romantic all in one. To hear him speak ignites something in me. 

Erotism is not always bare flesh.  

Now that you have an idea of what really is erotic you can visualize what that means to you. With the birth of the photograph so was the birth of erotic photography. This was not a profound discovery, nothing really ground breaking. Before erotic photography we had erotic painters. Look at anything produced during the renaissance and you will find erotism. Travel even further back in time and you will find it too. 

Erotic photography can be emulate romanticism with slight suggestion or border on the lewd and downright obscene. As the famous saying goes, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” 

I challenge you to think about what feels erotic to you. Are you looking for a more sublime hidden message or are you overt and blatant?

Think about what has drawn you to individuals. What propelled you to desire them?  What brought them to you?  Are there aspects of yourself that excite you that attract others. There is nothing like loving something that you do yourself, and also having that excite others. 

Are you ready to explore your own session and create something erotic for yourself or for someone special.

Spicy Day Date - Couples Boudoir Sessions

Looking for a creative way to celebrate?

If these past couple of years have brought us anything, it really has tested our ability to be vulnerable and spend a lot of time with one another.  As we have slipped into new routines of social distance we are pushed closer to our immediate circle of intimacy.  Have we learned to distance ourselves or have learned to strengthen our  bonds with our partners. Either way it never hurts to focus on your intimacy whether it be emotional, mental, spiritual and yes of course physical. 

Boudoir photography is a special type of photography that is taken to promote self-esteem and body acceptance. Typically it is viewed as an empowering experience for women who are looking to celebrate a milestone in their lives. The reality is men can benefit from it too, and together couples can experience this journey as well.

You might be asking yourself, who does a couples boudoir session? Just ask yourself…..

Do you want to spice up your relationship? Do you want to do something that will be fun for both of you? Do you want to create a bond with your partner that you both can enjoy?

This article will cover some tips on how to prepare for a couples boudoir session to make the experience all the more enjoyable for both partners.

For the couples who are about to take this journey together, I want them to know that they are not alone.

It often starts with an impulse buy - you see an Instagram post of a boudoir session and think that it would be a good idea for your partner.

A professional photographer will teach you how to feel confident in your skin while capturing these moments in the most beautiful way possible.

It's all about taking charge of our sexuality, being comfortable in our own skin, and being able to share this with our partners.

Planning a couples boudoir session can feel challenging for some because we are working with two bodies, two minds, and three relationships. You have the relationship of the two people, and then their individual relationships of self. One partner might be a little more timid and shy than the other. Through a series of questions and getting to know you we discuss how to overcome any nervousness.

As with all sessions, I am here for you along the way. You can ask me anything. The most important thing is that you feel heard int he process. Like all relationships, communication is key. From the moment you inquire I will help guide you through the process. The session and the images are not the only part of this experience, but also the preparation leading up to your session. I have great tips and tools that will help ease you into the day of the shoot.

I have a guide specifically tailored to you and your partner.

What are your self-love resolutions for 2022?

The new year is always a great time to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Review the last 12 months or beyond. Think long and hard about how you treated yourself.  Were you being nice to the body that carries you through this journey of life, or were you over critical of yourself? It’s important to take care of yourself rather than be overly critical. We can all improve on how we treat ourselves, and it’s usually easier to start at the beginning of the year. .

Last year I made a list of resolutions for myself for the new year. I wanted to be more organized, more patient, more honest, more understanding, and more loving. I wanted to make healthier choices, take more time for myself, be more vulnerable, and be more conscious.

Self-love resolutions 

I resolve to love myself more. I resolve to be kinder to myself. I resolve to forgive myself. I resolve to believe in myself. I resolve to be present for myself. I resolve to be the best version of myself. I resolve to love myself.  I resolve to love the skin I am in today!  . I resolve to love the skin I will be in tomorrow. I resolve to love the skin I was in yesterday. I resolve to make choices that help me love the skin I am in. I resolve to do this now."

Tips to implement your self-love resolutions

I know it can be hard to implement resolutions that are about self-love, but it's worth it! It's important to remember that you are worth it. You deserve to be loved and respected. The best way to show yourself love is to be kind to yourself and dedicate time for yourself.

You may want to try meditating, or perhaps taking a bath with some lavender oil. When I come home from a long day there is nothing like a hot bath and my audible book. I grab a cold glass of water that is so refreshing in a hot steamy bath. I tap into one of my favorite audibles or grab my kindle and dive into another world. 

Solid deep sleep is vital to self care. There is a healthy medium somewhere at six to eight hours, find your balance. The mental and physical rest is so important and required. I wake up feeling rested and refreshed. For my emotional care,  I use my journal to express my feelings. In my journal I express my frustrations, but I create a list of the things I feel thankful for. I do this on a daily, and I have for many years. 

I dedicate time at the end of a day to me and start my day with accessing where I am, and where I want to be. I take time to consider and give myself permission to be happy. I practice light meditation and gratitude on a regular basis. I clear my (private) space of clutter and I keep it organized. Trust me, life has not always had this balance.  Over the years I have dealt with my struggles, but I grow every year I am alive. I learn how to love myself a little more every year. 

1. Learn to decompress after a long day through a exercise, a hot bath or reading your favorite book…UNPLUG

2. Get a good of uninterrupted deep sleep….Catch some good zzzz's

3. Wake up and write in a journal to put your emotions on paper, list all the things you are grateful for

Take some time to be gentle and kind to yourself. This will help you love yourself and respect yourself. You are wonderful right now. You are good enough. You are smart enough, you are kind enough, you are strong enough, and you are brave enough. You are not broken. You are not less than. This will help you love yourself and respect you and your body. This will help you be more confident and empowered. And I promise you that this will help you be healthier. I promise that you will start feeling better. I promise that you will start.

Self-love resolutions from others 

I've been seeing more and more posts about people making resolutions to love themselves more. I think it's a really great idea. It's so easy to focus on the negative things, but it's so important to focus on the positive. Also, I'm so guilty of it. I think I'm a pretty good person, but every once in a while I'll think something pretty bad about myself. I'm not great at letting those thoughts go, I'll admit, but it makes me so sad to think that someone might be thinking that way about themselves. It's so hard (and maybe impossible) to be perfect all the time. Like, I don't think I'd ever feel completely comfortable with myself

Conclusion 

We are all at different stages in this journey of self love. Whether you are coming out of a toxic relationship, or maybe still in one, it is vital to find the help and the tools that enforce healthy emotional, mental and physical actions. A toxic relationship doesn't always involve another person, it can also be with ourselves.  

We entered this new decade with so many challenges. So many expectations are put on us everyday. The last thing you should do is project unrealistic demands on your own self image. Start this day by loving the person you are right now

Stop saying you are an ordinary woman, you are extraordinary.

I do not photograph everyday women, I photograph extraordinary women like you. I have yet to meet a single woman who is just an everyday woman. Every woman has a story that is worth telling and I am sure you have one too. How can you be extraordinary?

You are not ordinary!

I'm not going to say that you're an ordinary woman, because you're extraordinary.  I'm not going to tell you that you're just like other women, because you're not.  I'm not going to say you're like other women my age, because that would be a lie. The truth is, you're unlike anyone I've ever met, and I have not even met you yet. 

I know this because every woman I meet is totally different and unique from the last woman I met. While the knowledge I possess to create and craft an image of you in the best light carries over and grows with each person, not one of my sessions are the same. Not one of my sessions are the same because each of you speak to me differently. While I keep the core elements, the flavor of the recipe changes from person to person. 

Seriously like each snowflake is unique, each woman, each session is totally unique and special. 

I hate seeing people use the term that they are the boudoir photographer for the ordinary woman.  That really rubs me the wrong way. Ordinary refers to blank white copy paper, not a human being. Human beings are complex, vibrant and colorful. Stop thinking of yourself as a carbon copy of just an ordinary woman, because I truly believe there is no such thing as an ordinary woman. 

The boudoir genre is truly an art from within that takes a lot of thought and talent to pull off. It is not for the faint of heart and pulls in a lot of emotion and experience. It goes beyond what you see in the photos into the real life of the subjects. The individuals are strong and beautiful. They are every woman. Every woman has shared their story, and no two stories are the same.  There is nothing ordinary about about that. 

There is nothing ordinary about a single soul I meet. We are faceted in the most brilliant ways. Not one single person leads an everyday life and we all have a story.

What is your story?

The Perfect Role Model to Follow - Ms A

So many women that walk through my door come in with a slice of apprehension. That is totally normal and 100% okay. You are probably meeting me for the first time and I am asking you to be vulnerable. You have chosen to walk through the doors and share a side of you that rarely gets seen. If you are struggling with self image ideals of yourself that makes it even harder. While our perception is that plus size women struggle the most, I am here to tell you that all women struggle. This story is more about it being a state of mind than anything.

The tub is a fun set and addition to your session

So much of our worth has been tied to body image. While women are mostly impacted, I do want to recognize men go through it too. So if you are man reading this, know I hear you and I see you. The majority of individuals I work with are women and I can empathize with my gender. As a woman myself, I understand all of the things in life you are asked to do and maintain. I feel like a superhero on some days and then on others I feel like a complete failure. When it comes to my body that is a constant love and hate. I will admit that lately it is mostly love.

So on with the story of Ms A. When she contacted me she told me that she had done another session a few years ago. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. I wanted to know about her previous experience. She told me she loved it and wanted to do it again. She wanted a different look. There was a dark and moody sultry vixen waiting to be unleashed in my studio.

When Ms A came to the studio I was blown away by her excitement. She was ready to go and she was the most prepared of anyone I have ever had come in. This was not her first rodeo and to top it off she is a total lingerie connoisseur. Plus size lingerie is not as readily available or easy to find. Thankfully in the past 5 years we have had a really amazing influx of great brands emerge. I will cover that later on, back to our story.

Ms A, opened up her suitcase and it felt like a steam trunk of glamour gasped for a breath of fresh air. If I asked “Do you have fishnet thigh highs?” She said YES! “do you have a black garter to match? “ She said YES!

This chic had everything. She was ready to flaunt her assets and 100% trusting in my ability to mold her into the light.

Right at that moment I knew this session was going to be an explosion of fireworks and she was a masterpiece in the making.

The most important thing you can do for your session is relax and learn to love an appreciate your body as it is today. It is through truly loving your skin, truly appreciating your shape and loving this vessel that carries you through this life. We cannot exchange it for a different model so learn love yourself.

Many women will ask how I pose them if they are plus size. I will pose you just as I pose anyone else. If you can do the pose I will put you in it. The most important thing in this case is bringing the right size lingerie for you. Don’t bring in a baby doll that is going to look like a tent, get a form fitting bodysuit, bustier or anything that shapes your body. Ms A wears a piece that forms to her body and I posed her in my favorite floor pose.

All Bodies are beautiful

And no matter what angle or pose I wanted her in she was game. Communication is key and I want to know if I put you in a pose if it is uncomfortable. The other really important thing you being on the day of your session is your voice. Let me know what you are thinking. I am not a mind reader and when you tell me what you are thinking or feeling I can serve you better.

Bring in something fun that you might have thought of! Want to feel like a Queen? Bring in your crown!

Not everything you bring in needs to be lingerie either. It was a last minute decision that Ms A made to throw in this fun tulle skirt. We ended up totally getting this Betsy Johnson moment! If there is something you think might be fun, bring it. You have your chance to shine and express your personality in a safe open environment. If you knew the childhood I had you would know it is pretty difficult to shock me.

Ms A is free in the moment and feels like diva and lets it all out. Her express is of total power and comfort. This is why this image is so successful. She believed in herself then and continues to do so today.

We all have insecurities we want to overcome. Some things may sound trivial to one person but are everything to another person. You are free to share those blocks with me.

My goal at the end of the day is that you feel like a Pretty Woman! While I know that looks are not who we actually are, if you feel happy about your outside it does help your inside.

If you look closely at her shoulder you will see her daily affirmation “Pretty Woman”

The Perfect Gift - Seattle Bridal Boudoir Session

Wow your Love on your Wedding Day with Bridal Boudoir!

Bridal Boudoir in Seattle

Let me make this easy on you, a bridal boudoir session is hands down the best gift you can give your soon to be and it is also the best mood booster for you.

The white studio is the perfect backdrop to show off your beautiful lingerie that you have picked out. If you have not picked anything out I can help you. I also have this great guide that helps you find the perfect piece. If you still cannot find that primo piece let me help you.

I have been a part of the wedding community for many years. While I rarely shoot weddings anymore, I am still deeply connected to many of the individuals that plan, cater and orchestrate amazing heart felt wedding day celebrations. I have continued to participate in many of our community events, as I feel boudoir is still part of the process. I understand every step of the way as I was present in hundreds of weddings for nearly two decades. If you have any questions about your up and coming wedding I am happy to help and point to in the direction of some amazing DJ’s, florists, bakers, planners, and venue coordinators.

3 Best Tips for your Boudoir Session

When you come in for a boudoir session with us, we will help guide you so you feel prepared. I also know we all have super busy lives and sometimes we just cannot accomplish every task we set out to do. If you find that life takes over and you show up with nothing, these three tips are are going to be your savior and hopefully only a day or two of preparation.

You might be surprised to find out, but none of these tips require lingerie to be purchased or really any money to be spent. All of these tips are self care that can be done at home.

1. REST - get a good nights sleep, stay away from alcohol the night before your session. A solid 7-8 hours sleep will provide you with a fresh well rested face.

2. Hydrate - Drink lots. of water in the days leading up to your session. Take a bath, moisturize your skin. Especially if you are prone to dry skin make sure you do these simple things to help you skin look supple and fresh.

3. Manicure - This doesn’t have to be fancy at all. You don’t even have to do polish. Of course I recommend that you treat yourself to the salon, but not required. You can do a simple home manicure. Make sure your nails are clean and even. I incorporate your hands a lot and you don’t want to have jagged ripped nails. If you are curious about nail colors check out my blog article on manicure ideas.

Boudoir Builds Self-Esteem, for real!

 Confidence is Intoxicating

What do you think of when you hear the words boudoir photography? Maybe you think of sexy women in lingerie, strutting their stuff for the camera. Or maybe you think of models with the “perfect” figure, makeup, and hair. Maybe you think I could never do that or I wish that were me.

Boudoir photography is so much more than sensual, intimate photos. It’s about you—learning to love yourself and your body, feeling empowered in your beauty and femininity. No matter what you may think when you look in the mirror, you are strong, sexy, and unique, and your beauty deserves to be celebrated. I talk with so many women of seriously all shapes, sizes, heights and backgrounds. I know how one comment from someone can stick with you for life. I carry a few of those with me for life. No matter how hard I try to push them out and say they don’t mean anything, they linger in the corners of my existence. It’s funny how you can brush off one comment but the other just digs under your skin.

It wasn’t until I went through a few really life changing events that I learned how to live with my insecurities and how to make my confidence build into something brighter than my fears.

Still nervous about getting in front of the camera? Here’s how a boudoir session can help build your self-esteem and confidence.

See yourself in a completely new light.

Boudoir photography allows you to see yourself and your body from a different perspective. Instead of noticing your perceived flaws and disliking your body, boudoir can help you see just how incredible and beautiful you are. Spending a day getting pampered and strutting your stuff is more than just a good time—it can completely change your self-image. When you stop to see how gorgeous you truly are, you begin to appreciate yourself and your body a little bit more. Plus, you’ll have those stunning images to look back at on days when you’re just not feeling yourself to remind you of how sexy you are.

Show yourself a little more love.

I think we could all admit that we’re a little better at loving others than loving ourselves. But every single one of us deserves love, and you definitely deserve to love yourself. A boudoir shoot can help you feel more confident about the way you look and more comfortable in the skin you’re in. That’s a big deal! As women, we see so many negative images from the media and people around us about what we should and shouldn’t look like. Boudoir can help you push away all that talk and learn to better love yourself!

Step outside your comfort zone.

If you’ve considered doing a boudoir session, chances are you’ve thought that you could never look as sexy or confident as the women in those images. But guess what? Those women have things about their bodies they don’t like to, but they took a leap of faith and reminded themselves that they are beautiful. You can do the same! A boudoir session takes you out of your normal, day-to-day life and shows you the sexiness and beauty that you often just don’t see.

Celebrate you—and have fun doing it!

One of the most intimidating things about a boudoir session for many women is getting nearly or completely nude in front of a photographer. Trust me, I get it! But it’s my job to help you feel completely at ease. After all, I’m here to capture your beauty and make you feel like the gorgeous woman you are. Boudoir is a fun opportunity to celebrate who you are and to bring your sexy self out of hiding! You are allowed to start at whichever level you want. You just need to tell me your comfort zone.

Feel a sense of empowerment.

Let’s face it, we all have insecurities. But getting treated like a celebrity for a few hours can certainly help you fully embrace your natural beauty and sexiness. And once you see your images, you’ll be blown away by how incredibly gorgeous you really are. Those photos will always be around to remind you of your beauty and help you rediscover that self-confidence anytime you need it.

No matter your age or where you are in your life, you deserve to love and celebrate your beauty. A professional boudoir shoot can help you do that and allow you to see yourself as the gorgeous and incredible woman you truly are.

What Boudoir Means to Me

"If you're searching for that one person that will change your life, take a look in the mirror.”

YOU are beautiful. Let me help show your beauty. Boudoir can be more than just taking sexy photos. For most women who walk through our doors, a Boudoir shoot ends up being a day of self-love and realization of just how goddamn amazing you are. 

It's important for everyone here at Seattle Boudoir & Co to make sure from the moment you walk in until the second you leave, that we are here for you and it's all about you on the day of your shoot. 

Our Team here at Seattle Boudoir & Co would say that Boudoir means to love yourself, and a reminder to love your body and mind no matter what. We are all struggling with something day to day, and we are all going through our own personal battles. This is sometimes the reason why women come to us for a Boudoir Session. Women want a day to themselves, away from the hustle/bustle of daily life, to get pampered and dolled up and to feel like a QUEEN. They want to see themselves from the outside, from a new perspective. 

Have you ever had someone tell you that you are beautiful, and felt the words in your head "no I am not,"? That's why we do what we do - we want to show each women her unique beauty and uplift her. As women, we tend to hate on the way we look on the outside. Society has pretty much engrained this in us our entire lives. Instead we should be celebrating being alive and being a badass! We are all drop dead gorgeous in our own way. This is why we love doing what we do! We love showing women that they are beautiful inside and out. 

Nothing makes me happier than seeing the looks on women’s faces after they get their hair and makeup done, and then when they shed happy tears at the end of the day when they have seen their images for the first time. I am so fortunate to have been blessed with this career. 

The amount of confidence I see each woman have as they leave at the end of the day is what makes this job worth while! 

So, ask yourself:
What does Boudoir mean to you? 

The Importance of Using a Makeup Artist During Your Boudoir Session

The Importance of Using a Makeup Artist During Your Boudoir Session, and how to get the exact look YOU want:

Communication is Imperative

 This article was written with the Makeup Artist in mind - communicating to the Photographer, how to make sessions a positive experience, but we find that the client can also help make their end-vision, a masterpiece, but knowing the back-end-behind-the-scenes-goings-on, of how YOUR final images, HAPPEN!

 Communicating your creative vision to the makeup artist before the shoot is vital. You think this one would be a no brainer, but you’d be surprised. Let’s start out with the obvious thing here first: no one is a mind reader. Keeping a chain of communication between the entire creative team working on a shoot is essential. This includes mood boards, pinterest and wardrobe. Please keep in mind hair styles are dependent on what they have to start with. This allows the makeup artist to come prepared with everything they need for the shoot. We have to lug around a lot of stuff, and if we can lighten our load, it helps us tremendously. It also keeps us organized. If we have a solid idea of what each look will be on each model, we’ll be more prepared and will move more quickly through each look.

 Harmony is everything. Sometimes a shoot is just a photographer, a model, and a makeup artist. Sometimes a shoot is a photographer, photographer’s assistant, makeup artist, hair stylist, makeup artist’s assistant, art director, editor, stylist, and an army of models. Shoots can range from anything in between these two and more depending on the shoot, the client, the purpose of the shoot, and the budget. It’s important to have all the moving parts working towards one goal. If everyone is confused, things won’t run smoothly and the shoot will be stressful, forced, and limited in time. Communication is the key to keep everything fun, friendly, and productive.

Be Patient:

Don’t rush the Makeup Artist. Yes, we’re used to working under pressure, but I’ve worked on shoots where I haven’t even taken out my brushes yet and the photographer is asking me if I’m done. This is another case where communication is key. If we know how many looks we need to get done in one day of shooting, we’ll have a better idea of what looks we can realistically complete in the time frame given and whether or not we need to bring an assistant. Also, plan to have the MUA and styling team come very early to set up their stations and get ready. If you’re rushing and putting major pressure on the MUA, you might make things take longer since we’ll be stressed or scrambling.