Why did you choose to do a bridal boudoir shoot?
“I choose to do a boudoir shoot because I honestly didn’t know what to get my husband as a wedding gift. I wanted something that he would cherish for the rest of our lives BUT not have it be a “physical” item that would eventually make its way into a box in the attic.
We had met and hired Angie for our wedding and instantly became best buds. Since her specialty was boudoir, she asked me if I was interested… I had never even really given it much thought before since I usually consider myself to be very reserved in that arena. So when I thought of “boudoir,” I thought of some really scandalous stuff, nudity, and being exposed in a really creepy way…. So we talked about it and I looked over her work and realized that this was NOT Angie’s style of boudoir – AT ALL!!
THEN it clicked – this would be an AWESOME wedding gift for my husband! It was perfect – he would never expect me – of all people – to do something like this! It was a gift that he would love and cherish and… not end up in the attic. (You can see our wedding photos here.)
It was also a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and take ownership of my own self-image and feel confident and beautiful – which is an important thing to do before your wedding day or at ANY stage of your life!
What did you love most about your classy boudoir shoot?
Everything…. Our 1940’s pin-up theme, getting my hair and makeup professionally done by Brianne of The Makeup Movement, and having the shoot also captured on video by Christian of Different Cloud Imagery…
What I loved MOST was feeling beautiful in my own skin. Of course, I was nervous at first, but Angie made it so much fun, she helped me relax and feel more comfortable. Her funny giggles and the way she goes about making you smile – honestly, she really captured my natural expressions! It became not only a gift to my husband but a gift to myself – which was confidence.
What are your favorite, most meaningful details?
Since we had a classy (not-too-exposed) pin-up theme, I thought it would be really fun to shoot it at my Aunt’s house in Danville, CA. The house sits on a gorgeous property with a great backyard, a barn, and deck with wonderful views. My aunt has very good taste and designed the house (a complete remodel). It is immaculate inside. It has a modern-antique feel. Soft yellow and green colors with dark red accent walls…
But what was REALLY special was the antique bathtub she has in the master bathroom – I thought it would be perfect to tie into our fabulous theme! Angie also brought a variety of beautiful vintage wardrobe and lingerie, vintage suitcases, hats and props like an antique feather – which led to some fun “mysterious” shots!
What are your best tips for women considering their own classy boudoir shoots?
Boudoir can be whatever you want it to be. You don’t need to be a Victoria’s Secret model to do this. Own your beauty and feel beautiful before your wedding day too! Do what makes you feel comfortable, wear what makes you feel comfortable, and do it because every woman is beautiful and deserves to feel that way. I was never topless and was pretty much covered up and I still felt sexy and looked sexy. Every time I look at those pictures, I am reminded of how confident I felt that day and how beautiful I am in my own unique way. Don’t be afraid to show this to your husband, and maybe even to the world! You will surprise yourself. It’s fun and my husband couldn’t have been happier with the result. He was blown away! And that, for me, what the icing on the cake for the overall experience was just amazing.” – Rachel
