Mrs. L's Boudoir Experience

One of my favorite things about client sessions is chatting with the client afterwards. I get to see the whole thing unfold from behind the camera but to be able to hear how my clients viewed and felt during their own experience makes my job that much more meaningful to me. I recently got to do a session for Mrs. L, as an anniversary gift for her husband.  They have been together for 7 years and she really wanted to make his jaw drop with a surprise gift! As you can tell from her photos, she looked drop dead gorgeous in every single shot. I am obsessed with ALL of them!

What made you decide on doing a boudoir session? 

I had always wanted to do boudoir as I thought it would be a great gift for my husband, partially because I never wear lingerie and also because he has now made it through seven years with me! However, my career field has always made me a bit wary of having my photograph taken in lingerie. One of my friends did a boudoir shoot for her husband for their wedding and the pictures were gorgeous, so I started to reconsider. After speaking to Annika and relaying my concerns, I decided to make the jump. She immediately put my concerns at ease. 

How did you decide on what to wear? Did you bring any meaningful accessories? Did the Pinterest board created for you help?

I knew very little about lingerie when this process started. The pinterest board was incredibly helpful because it helped me learn more about different lingerie brands and styles. I actually really liked all of Annika's boards, so I looked at a lot of other client boards and then created my own board, which was a combination of her suggested lingerie styles for me and others that I really liked. I then sent that to Annika to get her take. In the end, I went with a mixture of different colors and textures of lace in a lot of different styles. I brought a hand embroidered jacket that my husband had purchased for me during our time traveling in Asia together-- it paired perfectly with one set of lingerie. 

Let's talk about the day of the shoot. Were you nervous before arriving? How did you feel being in front of the camera?

I actually wasn't nervous before the shoot-- more excited, as I have never done anything like this. I felt a bit awkward in front of the camera at first and had a hard time not laughing. Annika gave me all these various tips to have a "Victoria's Secret" face, which at first made me feel really ridiculous, but they actually worked. Once I got the hang of the poses (to include the face pose), it all went really smoothly and was a lot of fun! 

Tell me about the experience you had during the session. Were the poses what you expected? Did you have fun? 

I didn't really know what to expect, despite the fact I have been following Annika's Instagram for awhile. I felt the poses were a really great work up. We started with some standing poses and then moved to some lying down. What is great about Annika's studio is that she has all these different colors and textures from the brick wall, to the bed, to her rug choices, and wallpaper, etc. She can really create a unique atmosphere for each pose based on the lingerie you are wearing. 

I had such a good time throughout the process. Annika really puts you at ease. I had a lot of fun just chatting and laughing with her. 

I always have to ask, were you sore the next day from the poses? 

Ummm, YES! My lower back was definitely sore and so was one cheek the next day. Ha. However, after seeing the photos, a little bit of soreness was completely worth it! 

What were your first thoughts when you saw your images? Have you noticed a mental shift in the way you view your body since doing the shoot?

My first thought was, "Oh my gosh...that is me?!!". I never really thought I could look like that. 

I've always been pretty confident about my body image. I know I'm not perfect, but I've always been happy with me. However, I never thought I could look like a model. The makeup, hair, the poses, lingerie, and Annika's very talented photography, all came together to produce some really incredible images. While this shoot was really meant to be a gift for my husband, in the end, I think it is more of a gift for me. :) 

Do you have any advice or tips for ladies who are thinking about doing a session? 

Relax! Annika does such a great job. She will walk you through this process so that in the end you will have an end-product that you will absolutely love. Enjoy the process and don't stress! It really is a lot of fun! I kinda wish it wasn't over for me. 

What was your absolute favorite part of this experience? 

I really loved the photo shoot. It was fun to get into lingerie and chat with a girl about all the details of the lace and ribbons. I also had so much fun just laughing and having fun with Annika. She is full of a lot of interesting stories and just brings a really bubbly and warm presence to all that she does. Also, how badass is she for having her own company like this! #bosswoman