Edit: The featured image is not one from my photo shoot with Jessica. As a private client, I would never share those images. The image is one I took of the amazing Elle DelSol and used with her full knowledge and consent.
Most of the time when someone contacts me to schedule a boudoir session, they are planning a gift for their partner. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and my schedule is already filling up.
What often happens though, is that they realize their session is a gift to themselves. Sure, their significant other receives the images, but that’s just the icing on the cake. The experience, the feeling of empowerment, the feeling of beauty and grace. Those will always belong to them.
That’s exactly how it should be.
Jessica sent me an email in December looking for a last minute Christmas gift for her husband. Unfortunately, Elle and I were booked solid and while we were willing to work late one evening to get her scheduled, we were unable to get something on the books in time for Christmas.
We chatted via email a few times over the holiday, and eventually Jessica decided she wanted to do a Valentine’s Day gift session. We scheduled our appointment for January 2nd.
When she stepped into our rented studio we knew she was feeling extraordinarily nervous. Her first words were “Here I am! I’m sorry, I’ve had three kids!” You’d be surprised how many sessions start off that way. She had the confidence to book the appointment. She had the confidence to drive herself to the studio. She had the strength to be a mother to three children. She was nervous, for sure. But this was something she wanted.
Our amazing makeup artist sat her down in the chair and started touching up Jessica’s makeup. We don’t go for over-the-top makeup, we want your natural beauty to shine through. Jessica had a glass of Champagne, music was playing, and by the time our artist moved on to her hair, Jessica was smiling and laughing and already having a great time.
When her hair and makeup were perfect, we started off with some simple shots. It was fairly early in the morning and the sunlight was streaming in through a gorgeous window. Elle expertly guided Jessica through some poses that would make the most of the beautiful light in a chair by the window.
Jessica’s first outfit was a freshly pressed white button down shirt and a black pair of boyshorts. The light was incredibly flattering to her curves, and we got some amazing shots from that first set. We showed her a number of raw images from the back of the camera and we could literally see her confidence exploding. She looked beautiful and she felt it.
Jessica returned to the changing room while Elle and I readied the lights for the next set. Jessica had arrived with a large suitcase, and later confided to us that she had no idea what to wear, and had brought everything from jeans and a hoodie to a couple new lingerie sets from Victoria’s Secret. She’d asked if we could do our second set on the big faux-fur rug. Elle was doing some quick poses on the rug while we tested the lighting when I saw her jaw literally drop.
Jessica came out of the dressing room in a beautiful red teddy. Our Makeup Artist had spun her hair up into an amazing up-do, and she looked amazing. Elle ran to the back and returned with a beautiful pearl necklace to loan her, and we got some truly breathtaking shots of Jessica on the rug.
Her third set was a true Boudoir set, on a beautiful queen sized bed surrounded by rose petals and a Champagne set on the nightstand. By this third set, Jessica was feeling the mood, and started really showing her inner beauty. She has since told me that she never imagined she would feel so sexy and powerful.
At the end of the session, we all spent about half an hour sitting in the office while I did some minor retouching on my laptop. She and Elle talked about how amazing the shoot was, punctuated by me showing her some of the photos we took that day as I finished them.
That night I sent Jessica a completed folder of her photos to choose from. Minutes later my phone rang. Elle and I spoke with Jessica for almost an hour while she processed her emotions. “I’ve never felt so beautiful.” “No one has ever made me feel so powerful.”
She picked out her favorite shots from the session, but not before booking another shoot for March! Elle and I cannot wait to work with Jessica again. I know we will make some more magic.
Thank you Jessica for allowing me to share the story of your shoot. The image attached to this post is not Jessica, it is my partner Elle DelSol. I never share images of clients publicly.
If you’re interested in booking a shoot or even just want to talk about it, please feel free to email me at vincekaphotography@gmail.com.