One of the most fun (I resisted the urger to say "funnest") parts of planning your boudoir session is that we get to plan your wardrobe. 

My descriptive phrase for this portion of the planning process is: Adult Dress up

Of course, that phrase makes wardrobe planning sound a little more rated-R than it actually is, but hey.... sometimes we DO get a little R-rated for your boudoir session! 

About a month ago we had a lovely lady come in for her 6th (sixth!!!) session with us. The challenge presented to us for this particular session was to make sure that her wardrobe planning, or adult dress-up, let us choose a wardrobe that was completely different than anything she has done with us. 

Challenge accepted. 

Immediately I thought about a rhinestone body-suit. I had seen a few during my Pinterest and Instagram browsing hours, and there are a few boutiques here in Atlanta that carry them. After we mentioned this idea we all knew that this was definitely the route we wanted to go with her wardrobe. Of course, sometimes when you have a brilliant idea the universe throws a wrench and you realize you've got to works a little harder for that idea. 

With the rhinestone bodysuit we quickly discovered that they are a) Hard to find and b) extremely pricey due to them needing to be custom made. We didn't have that kind of time or budget, though, so an extreme brain-storming session needed to be had. 

Cue the brilliant brain of my client manager (and wardrobe planner), Kelsey. She suggested that we create our own illusion of a rhinestone bodysuit by buying individual sheets of rhinestones and manually sticking them to the skin of our client. Brilliant. 

Tedious...

....but brilliant. 

The results were that we had an insanely unique boudoir look that we had full control over. I loveeeeeeee it. AND I got to keep the additional rhinestone sheets for my own adult dress-up.

Over the course of the last 5 years I've photographed over 500 women and have had the great privilege of becoming good friends with many of them. Call me crazy, but there is something about stripping down to your lingerie that really brings you close to someone. 

The following client interview happens to be one from one of those clients-turned-margarita-partners and when I read through her answers I could absolutely hear her saying them out loud. She is 40 and fearless and one of the most genuine people you'll ever meet! I hope to have half of her confidence and humor one day. For now I'll settle with having her in our lives and hope that some of her magic rubs off on me! 

Read on and view on, loves. 

-Sarah

1. How old are you... or if you prefer, who were you listening to at age 14 :)?

I just turned 40 years old this year and I’m proud to say it!

2. What do you do for a living?

I’m a domestic goddess-i.e., stay-at-home mom.

3. What/who made you decide to book a boudoir session?

I have been wanting to do a boudoir shoot for a few years. However, the stars aligned perfectly this year somehow because OWN came at the right time. Maybe turning 40 made me bolder too!

4. Did you have any obstacles or fears about boudoir?

Only felt a little bit nervous the closer the date of the shoot got but no obstacles or “real” fear; I was ready.

5. Why did you choose OWN? 

Well, this may sound a bit woo-woo, but I truly feel that OWN chose ME. I sort of put it out there to the Universe that I was finally ready to have a boudoir photo shoot, and a few months later (after my 40th birthday) I was browsing Instagram and found OWN’s IG account. Once I scrolled through the pictures of REAL women looking so fabulous, sexy and sensual (yet timeless and classy) I was like, “That’s it! I’ve found my photographer!”

6. How was the actual session different from what you expected (if at all)?

I kind of had an idea of how the photo shoot would go since I had done a pinup-type photo shoot before. But truthfully, the session was even better than any preconceived idea I had in my head. I felt EXTREMELY comfortable from the moment I arrived to Sarah’s studio. Some of my pictures are completely in the nude, and I remember at one point in the shoot Sarah and I took a little snack break and we were chatting away. Suddenly I realized I was still fully naked yet completely comfortable talking to Sarah like it was NO big deal! It takes quite a while for me to be THAT comfortable with someone, but Sarah makes you feel like you’ve known her for years and that you’re BFF’s!

7. What was your favorite part of the entire experience? (priming, the shoot, seeing images, giving the images..etc)

I have two favorite moments: the photo shoot itself and the viewing appointment, where I got to see all the pictures for the first time. I was in AWE of how amazing the pictures were and how seriously sexy and hot I looked! I fell in love with my body again, and THAT was priceless to me.

8. How has the response been to your images?

“Those pics are smoking hot, girl!” was one of the reactions I got from a dear friend of mine. In fact, that same friend booked her OWN session after seeing my pictures! My husband was over the moon excited and regardless of him always being complimentary to me and my body, it’s gotten to a WHOLE new level now…if ya know what I mean ;)

9. What is your advice for women interested in such a session?

Don’t think twice about it and just book one for yourself! It’s one of THE most empowering things I’ve done in my life.

10. Did anything change about the way you see your own beauty as a result of this session?

Yes, absolutely. My body confidence has soared and I’m less judgmental of my body. I look amazing, I feel amazing, and I AM amazing.