Why I Finally Did a Boudoir Session (& You Should Too!)

Hey #SheerBeauties! I took a big leap and traveled from New York to Youngstown, Ohio for my first boudoir shoot. It took a whole year of planning, intense workouts, and lots of prayer to make this happen…but it was all worth it! I'm excited to share the behind-the-scenes story & some of my favorite images with all of you.

There are many different reasons a person may want to do a boudoir session. For some it may serve as a wedding or anniversary gift, for others they may want to overcome body image issues or get a confidence boost. For me personally I had been following a dynamic couple; Brian and Jen, for many years on Instagram. Initially I had wanted to work with them as soon as I saw their feed and realized how incredibly talented they are. Despite this I was still a little apprehensive and it did take time for me to get more comfortable with the idea of being so vulnerable with my body in front of strangers. 🍑 I pretty much sat on the sidelines & pondered about how things would go if I ever booked my own shoot. Eventually one day I just decided to go for it & I’m so thankful I did! Shopping for lingerie & scouting out poses was so much fun. I really feel like my photos captured my personality and I was truly captivated & in awe of how I was captured on film. 

One of my favorite parts of my shoot was recreating the famous scene from the Wolf of Wall Street, “Morning Ritual”. Featured in these photo with me is an amazing local model, Tyjaan King.

When I saw my boudoir photos it was such a surreal feeling. I had never quite seen myself that way before & it felt almost as if I was seeing myself for the first time. The experience of seeing my photos allowed me to see how beautiful I truly am. Going through my divorce at a young age had left me feeling insecure, and this boudoir shoot definitely helped me validate myself and feel more confident in my own skin. It was worth every penny I spent! I can't wait to do it all again!

So, I challenge you to do a boudoir shoot at least once in your life. It doesn't matter if you're male or female, big or small, young or old. Boudoir photography is for everyone. It's time to embrace your inner beauty and celebrate yourself!

XOXO, Victoria

Don’t be shy…

Oh honey, boudoir sessions are all the rage among us ladies. And let me tell you, it's not just about getting those sexy shots. It's about honoring and loving yourself just the way you are. No matter what shape or size you are, boudoir photography makes you feel like the goddess you truly are. So, don't be shy. Embrace your beauty and go for it! To inspire you, we interviewed one of our #SheerBeauties. Her thoughts are a true gem, so keep on reading.

WHY DID YOU TAKE THE LEAP TO BOOK A BOUDOIR SESSION? I was inspired by an incredibly sexy and beautiful friend who had also had a photo shoot with Sheer Photography.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WALKING INTO THE STUDIO THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION? Wow, I gotta tell you - I was super nervous at first! But, Jen and Brian were absolutely amazing and put me at ease in no time.

HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER YOUR SHOOT? I was so shocked at how incredibly breathtaking my pictures were.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS ON THE FENCE ABOUT BOOKING THEIR OWN SESSION? Just do it! You deserve it. The high will last for sooooo long. It's been months and I still feel incredible about myself.

DID YOU HAVE ANY INSECURITIES OR WORRIES ABOUT DOING A SESSION THAT WE HELPED YOU GET OVER BEFORE/DURING/AFTER YOUR SESSION? I thought I was so fat and unattractive. But Jen and Brian were so supportive and funny that I felt amazing during my session and even more confident after I saw all of my gorgeous photos.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS WORRIED ABOUT NOT LIKING ANY OF THEIR IMAGES AFTER THEIR SESSION? I didn't think there would be any pictures that I liked and I loved 99% of them. I had a hard time picking my favorites for the album.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WAS HESITANT TO INVEST MONEY INTO A BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE? I don't regret one penny of my money spent. Not one! I love my pictures and the self-confidence I gained from it is priceless!

XOXO, Miss D

Trust me, after this experience, you'll feel like a million bucks. It's not just about the stunning images, it's about affirming your worth and feeling comfortable in your own skin. So, let's celebrate ourselves because we are all uniquely beautiful and deserving of it! If you are ready to schedule your own session, visit the CONTACT page and we will send you all the juicy info!

My first #SheerExperience

Alright honeys, listen up! This was my first photo shoot EVER! Can you tell? No. The reason behind that is because Jen and Brian made sure I was comfortable while we did the shoot & answered all my questions before I even stepped foot into their boudoir studio in Youngstown, Ohio. Once I warmed up, my #SheerBeauty was showcased!

If you're planning on a boudoir session, I'm here to give you some tips on how to make the experience as smooth and effortless as possible. You want to feel confident and sexy, and I'm going to help you get there girlfriend!!

First things first, communication is key. Talk to Jen & Brian beforehand about what kind of look you're going for, whether it's soft and romantic or sultry and edgy, maybe even a mix of both. This will give them a better idea of how to style, pose you & what areas of the studio to use. It's also important to discuss any insecurities or areas you want to highlight so that they can work with you to create the perfect shots. They email you a questionnaire to help with a lot of these things & ask things you might not even consider.

Another important factor is what to wear. You want to feel comfortable and confident in your outfits, so choose pieces that make you feel sexy, whether it's a lacy bralette or a satin robe. Don't forget to bring accessories like jewelry or heels to add some extra flair. And ladies, if all else fails, they have a whole lingerie closet, which I took full advantage of for every single one of my outfits! It was so helpful & less stressful, I came in with nothing to wear and Jen picked out everything based off what parts of my body I wanted to showcase & my self-perceived flaws that I didn’t want showing as much.

Next up, pamper yourself! Get your hair and makeup done beforehand, or do it yourself if you're a pro. It is so nice that they offer this in studio for all of us, and even better that Jen is the one doing your hair & makeup. It makes it a little less awkward to undress after you’ve been chatting with her for over an hour & feel like you two would be best friends outside of this! Don't forget to take care of your skin too - exfoliate and moisturize to ensure a smooth and glowing complexion.

Lastly, relax and have fun! Boudoir sessions should be a celebration of your beauty and sensuality, so don't be afraid to let loose and express yourself. Let Brian & Jen guide you through poses and movements, but also feel free to bring your own ideas to the table. They are amazing at working in any inspiration or props you have.

So there you have it, girlfriend - follow these tips and you'll be ready for your boudoir close-up in no time. Now scroll on down past my sexy photos and send them a message! Xoxo, Miss Y

After #BodyLove 2.0

The #BodyLove projects that we do are something that we hold very close to our heart. The first time we did it, we wanted women to embrace their "flaws". If I asked you to name 10 things you love about yourself, I know it would be hard to come up with enough good qualities or features. But, if I asked you to name 10 things you didn't like about yourself, I'm sure it would be pretty easy. We are women, we always put everyone else before ourselves and never have time to look at all the good in ourselves. With our #BodyLove projects and every boudoir session we do, we want the women who come to us to feel special, to embrace their femininity and sexuality, to feel like they are enough, to know that they are gorgeous, sexy and desirable. We want to help bring that spark out of you that maybe you've never seen before or maybe you haven't seen in a very long time. 

We had 7 women come to us for #BodyLove2.0 who were nervous as hell and scared they wouldn't look good on camera, but they trusted us to show them just how sexy they were. We only had 15 minutes to get some amazing photos with each woman and help them see how freakin' HOTT they are! So, below are 4 images from each of the women who participated in our #BodyLove project along with what they thought of themselves before they got half naked for Sheer Photography and how they felt after their session and seeing their images.

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw me, as a mom, girlfriend, friend. I saw happy and sad. I saw all my imperfections. A typical day for me is waking up, getting my son ready for school, watch him walk on his bus. Then I get myself ready and go to work. Come home to my family, have dinner, a little fun and finally bed time. It's not a glamorous life, but it's mine. And I love it! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I didn't expect the confidence it gave me. I believe every woman must do this for themselves. They deserve it! When I look at my images, I see a sexy woman!" ~ Miss C

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw a girl trying to become a women. I saw a girl who's insecure and who didn't fully know who she was. I wanted to see what others saw. I wanted to see my true beauty. I wanted to see my worth. A typical day for me, I get up, get my four year old ready for school (usually rushing) throw on some makeup and black clothes (I'm a hairdresser) let out the dog and rush out the door. I work 6-8 hours at the salon, pick up my daughter, head to the gym, home to cook, eat, pack lunches, take a bath, bed, then repeat! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I see a sexy, strong, beautiful woman now!" ~ Carly

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I saw a body that defeats me. I tryed my best to love my body, but it really just seemed impossible. How do you love something you want to change so much? A typical day for me is, wake up, clean, get myself ready, wake up my husband and daughter, go to work, get off and pick up my daughter, go home and cook, do some more cleaning, get the little one fed and bathed put her to bed, work out, and lastly wait up for my husband to have some alone time with him. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I feel the most confident in myself that I've felt in years. I now see a version of myself that I've never seen before." ~Miss C

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror, honestly, I saw imperfections that aren't easily remedied. I saw stretched out skin, rolls, and chunkier arms than I would like. I know what my pre-baby body looked like and I can imagine it still and it makes me sad. I was angry with myself for making excuses for so long, my body used to take care of itself, but know I have to work on it. I would look in the mirror and tell myself "hey at least you aren't as fat as I was two months ago!" I am trying to love myself again. Doing a session was gonna be my gift to myself when I got my body back, but it seems it's gonna take longer than I thought. A typical day for me is Monday thru Friday I get up at 6am and get myself and my daughter ready. I go to work at my new job from 8-5. I come home and make dinner, do chores, spend time with my daughter and dog. I prep my lunch for the next day and my clothes, as well as my daughters. Then I normally shower and have myself and my daughter in bed no later than 9. Every other weekend my daughter goes with her father so those weekends I pamper myself by doing chores and spending time with friends. The weekends I have my daughter are for her, chores, and family! And that's my life in a nut shell. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I have been building my confidence back up over time for a while now. Signing up for #BodyLove was a way to launch myself out of that comfort zone I have become overly accustom to. The ease I felt once I stepped into the unforgiving daylight for my session was welcoming. Jen advised me to take a deep breath and with that exhale went all my insecurities. Simultaneously, I felt my renewed confidence flood my body and I could breath freely again! All of this is due to BodyLove, Jen, and Brian for their mission to revive the Confidence in all women. When I look at the final products from #BodyLove I feel blessed. The pictures capture the strong independent woman I have become and pay homage to the remarkable body that has sustained and given life. I respect my body more after participating in #BodyLove. I knew I had a distorted view of myself and that I need to shift my focus. These final products from Sheer have done just that, they have taught me to love myself again." ~ Miss C

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I used to see a body I wasn't happy with and stretch marks from my daughter. I have been working on my body and now I see myself as a beautiful person with curves and a love for life. I carry my stretch marks as a trophy so many women can't carry a child and I have been blessed and done it. I'm loving myself again. A typical day for me is attending school part time and working full time with rotating days off and on. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I definitely feel more confident in myself. I do not see myself now as just a mom and a nurse! I feel like a sexy individual and I feel like everyone should get a chance to feel amazing like this. Jen and Brian were absolutely amazing and made the experience fun and enjoyable! Can't wait to be able to come back and do it again!!!" ~ Emily

"Before #BodyLove, When I look in the mirror I see happiness and passion. I see love and strength. I see the reflection of a woman that has lived life to the fullest every step of the way. A typical day typically consists of work as a hairstylist from 9am to any hour of the evening. Depending on the day my husband or I will cook dinner and have a family meal when we both are home. Our morning routines are simple -- shower and style hair & make up as fast as a 3 year old will let you. Evening routines include board games or jigsaw puzzles, incredibly playful bathtime for our boy and some quiet time before bed. Everyday is full of love and laughter as corny as that sounds, life really feels like a dream come true. After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I walked out of the shoot with a different air to me. A weight I didn't realize I carried was lifted. For the first time just the feeling of being a woman felt STRONG and BRAVE. I think for some those feelings come in many different ways but for me it happened while I shed some cloths and let some inner beauty escape. My images completely shocked me. I see myself in a way I never felt; sexy!!! It's amazing that an image can show such depth to me, my inner beauty shining outwardly. They are drop. Dead. Gorgeous." ~ Miss E

"Before #BodyLove, When I looked in the mirror I unfortunately saw someone that used to be in great shape, but after 2 babies and a divorce, a woman that has lost the fiery spirit she once possessed. A typical day for me is getting up with my 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter. After running around getting them ready for school, I barely have the time to put myself together. I never left the house without makeup. Now, I am lucky if I can put coverup and mascara on before walking out the door (usually though it's on my way to work...). I work full time at an eye doctor's office doing the billing and coding. After work is Mommy mode, getting the kids to their multiple activities then home for homework and dinner. Once the kids are taken care of and tucked in, I collapse on the couch to watch a movie or read a book...most likely falling asleep! After my #BodyLove photo shoot, I see a woman who while not society's version of perfect is far from being the gross person she thought she was when she looked at herself in the mirror. I see a woman who embraced the moment & allowed herself to be confident & feel sexy." ~ Miss N

Ready to become a #SheerBeauty and see how sexy you are!?!?

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