Yesterday was the 4th of July and I hope that you all had a joyful time celebrating with friends and family (or yourself!). While the 4th celebrates a lot of things for us, a common theme is 'freedom'. Posting this client interview seems appropriate to the theme of 'freedom'. In almost every question she answers letting us know how much freedom she feels now that she has been through her OWN experience. 

Read on to hear her personal account on her boudoir session

In love and independence, 

Sarah

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

 I am 23 and turning 24 in September. And at 14, I was (and still am) jamming to my girl, Beyoncé! 

2) What do you do for a living?

 I'm a full time mommy, wife, student, and nurse. 

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

At first I thought I wanted to book a shoot to surprise my husband since I've never done anything "sexy" like a boudoir shoot. But then when I saw all the women looking so natural and beautiful in the pictures, I kept telling myself that I needed to do this for me. 

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

Being naked in front of a stranger was my first fear. But then I thought, "Why the hell not? I'm young, have a great body after having a baby not even a year after the shoot. Why not?!?" And I am SO glad I did it. 

5) Why did you choose OWN? 

I researched a ton of different photographers in the area and I didn't find one who had the look I was interested in. Until I scrolled through your site off of Google! My mouth was on the floor looking through the gallery. (Still is after seeing my pictures!) 

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

I went in with an open mind so I didn't really know what to expect. I was feeling nervous at first but Sarah is seriously the easiest person to talk to. You’ll think you've known her for 10 years as soon as you meet her. 

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

My favorite part was posing, getting a shot taken, and then pausing for a second to view the image. At first it feels weird posing at awkward angles. But when Sarah shows you what it looks like on camera, it's like "OH MY GOD. IS THAT ME?!" All of it was great but that was by far my favorite. 

8) How has the response been to your images?

My husband loved the previews so much that he thought that he couldn't love the rest. 

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

Please do it. Don't wait until you "lose ten pounds". JUST DO IT. 

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

Absolutely. As a mom, you're often expected to take care of yourself last. It's almost the social norm to let yourself go and to feel down and defeated after having children. I don't think that's fair. Women have the right to feel sexy and to feel comfortable in their own skin. This photo shoot did exactly that for me. I'm not afraid to wear that bathing suit at the pool anymore. I don't hide from my hubs after a shower. Own really made me realize, I may be a mom, but I can be hot, too. Behind clothes doors of course ;)

Let it be known that you do not have to run out to your nearest lingerie store in order to outfit your boudoir session. Some of us just do not have the time and patience to try on bra after bra, find the perfect heels, or figure out how to tie a corset. Of course those are all 'boudoir activities' that are fantastic, but they aren't for everyone. 

This is where your closet comes in! Your boudoir session should be about choosing to be YOU and choosing to say 'yes' to your own beauty and sensuality. I'll assume that the clothes in your closet represent you in the best way, and so what better place to find the perfect boudoir wardrobe than your own closet? If you're looking at your closet and you hate it then might I recommend coercing a friend into helping you have a closet-intervention ;).

Here are 3 items that are likely to be in your closet and would work perfectly for your boudoir session:

• White cotton tank top (or any basic cotton-ish tank top)
  • This wardrobe option is probably one of my MOST requested items/photos. I have plenty of tanks in my studio closet, but you probably have them in YOUR closet, too! It's a great option for those wanting a wide spectrum of abilities out of one piece. It can be worn casually or we can pull down the straps and wear it sensually. The options are vast! 

• A pair of jeans or jean shorts or any sort of denim-on-the-bottom.
  • I know I just said 'any' sort of denim on the bottom, and one of you is going to show up with denim chaps. That's fine. I'll photograph the hell out of it. Really, though, jeans and denim are incredibly sexy when photographed correctly. Pull down the zipper, let a hand 'wander', show a little skin with a few rips and tears.... I guarantee you'll love these images.

• That Little Black Dress
  • This is likely one of my most favoritest (yeah that's a word I made up) options for clients. It allows you to remain clothed if you'd like, but it also REALLY caters to the power of suggestion and the whole 'less (skin) is more' idea. We can unzip the dress, pull it sensually up the thighs, let the hands wander... etc. You get the picture ;) And if you don't get the picture, let ME get your picture.