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What To Expect During A Boudoir Photo Session

What To Expect During A Boudoir Photo Session

 

What Does Boudoir Mean?

Boudoir in French means a woman’s bedroom or a dressing room.

Boudoir photo sessions, meanwhile, are about expressing yourself in a bold, new way. They encompass a much broader subject.

Doing boudoir is a big step that many women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are embracing.

The focus of boudoir photos is not nudity but self-expression. Our goal is to help you show your strength and confidence so that you remember who you are.

At Ella Gagiano Studios, our mission is to empower you.

What To Expect During A Boudoir Photo Session

About Our Boudoir Photo Experiences

Ella’s boudoir photo experiences combine the main features of glamour, portrait, and art photography.

We do much more than simply help you find the right pose; we create moments that cause you to fall in love with yourself all over again.

Our expert use of lighting and setting is there to accentuate your beautiful features.

What Are Boudoir Photos Used For?

Self-expression is our #1 priority. Every woman wants to feel strong, bold, and beautiful.

The truth is, you are these things and much more.

That makes our job clear. We are here to show your inherent qualities to the world.

Beyond this, your boudoir experience could be the perfect gift for your partner, or you could use it as a memento of a very important time in your life.

How Long Does A Boudoir Photo Session Take?

Your average boudoir photo session will last 1-3 hours, depending on what studio you work with and the experience of the photographer.

If you work with us, we never try to rush you through your session and create different time slots for different needs.

Do You Offer Pregnant Boudoir Photo Sessions?

We certainly do!

Our maternity boudoir sessions focus on showing off your pregnancy glow and spotlighting that special WOW factor.

We also use these experiences to help you express your vulnerability and tell a story about your journey of motherhood, your emotions, and even the challenges you’ve faced along the way.

Vulnerability and Self-Expression

Maternity photos are a big step, but they are so worth it.

So many of our clients feel a sense of being understood, especially once they are able to express their journey in such a meaningful way.

To learn more about how we handle your maternity session, visit our Contact page.

The Best Time for A Pregnancy Boudoir Session

The best time is around the 7th month.

Of course, this is all very individual and depends on how your pregnancy is progressing.

Sometimes mothers who are this far along suffer from shortness of breath, lower back pain, and other concerns.

If you’re inspired to do a maternity session with us, keep us updated about how you feel so that we can gauge the exact best time to take your photos.

Maternity photography nude 9

What To Wear During Your Boudoir Photo Session

Popular clothing items for your boudoir session are as follows:

  • Light lace lingerie
  • Light dressing gown (négligée)
  • A see-through bride’s dress
  • Maternity boudoir dress
  • White t-shirt
  • An oversized sweater
  • Something stunning – Your favorite jeans, seductive shorts, a miniskirt, or underwear
  • Something masculine – Your favorite sweater, tie, sports equipment, or uniform
  • Wedding items – Jewelry, garter, and/or wedding veil
  • Fantasy items – Mermaid costume, secretary, nurse, etc.
  • Additional items –  Shoes, panties, or stockings

Cute Boudoir Accessories

Some of our favorite boudoir accessory add-ons include bracelets, earrings, faux furs, and laurels.

Of course, accessories are just the icing on the cake. The real focus is on you and your natural beauty.

What About Shoes?

We suggest wearing stilettos.

Got Other Ideas For Your Boudoir Outfit?

We’d love to hear your ideas for boudoir outfits!

If you want to wear something not listed above or go fully nude, these are certainly viable options. Send us a message and tell us your thoughts.

We can also supply props of different kinds. Just add some details about the props you’d like to use.

Poses During Your Boudoir Photo Session

There are plenty of rules when it comes to striking the right pose, but we don’t want to bog you down with a million extraneous details.

The biggest thing you want to remember is to relax and be creative while we give you pointers during your experience to maximize your artistic expression.

The job of a master photographer is to help you show off your intriguing and irresistible side, which sometimes means experimenting with different poses that your partner will absolutely adore.

Using Props During A Boudoir Photoshoot

You only need a few props for boudoir photography.

In fact, the fewer items you have in the frame, the better the result since many props detract from the subject.

To enhance your image, you only need a few basic things, such as a chair, couch, sheets, a veil, a tasteful rug, and curtains.

Other objects like wine glasses and books also work well when appropriate.

We always choose props that fit your personality.

What To Expect During A Boudoir Photo Session

Some Specific Poses For Your Boudoir Photo Session

Although we stand by what we said (we don’t want to bog you down with too many technical details on this post), here are some tips you may find helpful when searching for the right pose.

Body Position

When lying down, try turning your head to one side and either lifting your arms to your sides or raising an arm above your head to embody a feeling of openness and vulnerability.

For standing shots, try bending one knee slightly forward and cupping your breast nearest to the camera in a position of strength and empowerment.

Bending your leg forward is a power pose that represents confidence and helps create an elegant angle for your leg.

Other poses include but are not limited to:

  • The tease. This is where you lie on your stomach with your back slightly arched and your hips elevated.
  • The inverted poise. This is where your body is turned away from the camera while you look over your shoulder.

To learn more about the poses we suggest, call us anytime and ask for details!

About Ella Gagiano Studios

Our passion at Ella Gagiano Studios is celebrating your best moments and bringing them to life with an exceptional level of quality.

Our goal is to bring your photos to life and help you present your best self.

Personalized Experiences

We offer a range of different photography styles and excel at creating bold, sensual, and elegant experiences personally tailored to you.

Our clients tell us frequently how empowered and thrilled they are to be able to branch out on a limb and try something so exciting.

However, before you decide to work with us, it is important to know some basics about who we are and what to expect during your session. This is the purpose of this post. We hope you’ve found it helpful.

Owner

Our studio was started by Ella Gagiano, who doubles as the photographer and owner. Nothing runs, however, without the help of our amazing Studio Manager Sammy.

Together, we operate a high-level studio that specializes in client experience, dramatic storytelling, and flash photography.

Now that you’re here, the next step is to schedule a free, no-pressure consultation with Sammy to see if we are the right fit for you.

Florida Location

We’ve recently moved from Las Vegas, where we operated for 10 years, to Florida.

If you have any questions and want to learn more about what we offer, especially as it pertains to your boudoir photo session, contact us today at 702-340-5505 or email us at [email protected].

PS We have substantial experience traveling to various countries and doing photo shoots for destination weddings. Inquire for details.

What To Expect During A Boudoir Photo Session

Further Reading: Boudoir Photography FAQs

1. Can You Tell Me More About Why People Take Boudoir Photos?

Boudoir sessions are empowering and reveal your strength, creativity, and self-confidence.

A big motivation is to express what you’re feeling during an important time in your life, such as before you get married, during pregnancy, or after a career change.

Boudoir photos are revealing, vulnerable, and brave. They are a learning experience for women who have never tried to show skin on camera before.

2. Can You Tell Me More About The Atmosphere At Your Studio?

Absolutely! We are very friendly and inviting and work hard to make you feel comfortable!

To get the most from your experience, confidence is key, which is why we encourage you and guide you through the correct poses every step of the way.

Fun and Playful Environment

Our photo sessions are designed to be fun and playful so that we can help bring out your genuine self.

There are many reasons why people take boudoir photos. Sometimes it’s just about trying something new and being experimental.

We certainly encourage you to call us if you have questions about boudoir photography, what it entails, our prices, scheduling, and more.

One Final Note On Our Atmosphere – Going With The Flow

Our boudoir sessions are relaxed and flexible.

Although we certainly follow a defined structure, we don’t have a rigid one. Our sessions are more about synching with your rhythm and vibe.

You might consider turning on some music or even drinking champagne to help you relax.

You can also rehearse your poses in advance with us to give you more confidence. Nothing is rushed.

We like to think of boudoir photography as a type of artistry. After all, boudoir photos are a celebration of human expression.

3. Will My Boudoir Photo Session Really Last 3 Hours?

Our photoshoots usually take around 2 hours, partly because we spend time doing your hair and makeup.

We also take some time to set up any props you may want, arrange accessories, clarify what kind of poses you are comfortable with, and go over other details.

4. Should I Get My Nails Done For A Boudoir Shoot?

It certainly can’t hurt!

While boudoir photography focuses mainly on your physique and your lingerie, every detail you can add to express yourself will only enhance your photos.

5. Should I Wax Before Boudoir?

You certainly can. You’ll just want to make sure you don’t wax three to four days before your session.

The reason why is that waxing your hair can agitate your skin and cause it to become bumpy and red.

You’ll want to wax or shave far enough ahead of time so that your skin will have its regular appearance during your experience!

6. Do You Wear Shoes To A Boudoir Photo Session?

You can, but it’s not necessary.

If you’d like to wear shoes, stylish heels are a good option, and we can certainly recommend some brands and styles that work great for boudoir.

Going barefoot or wearing socks are also perfectly viable options.

7. How Many Outfits Do I Need For Boudoir Photos?

Your number of outfits depends on how many photos you want and what range of concepts you’d like to explore.

Our photo shoots can accommodate more than one look if you’d like to schedule a longer session.

Generally, one look will take us half an hour to photograph, after which you can change if you’d like to explore something else.

8. What Should I Eat Before Doing Boudoir?

Our recommendation is to bring healthy snacks that give you energy and aren’t too heavy on the stomach.

You will also want to avoid anything that’s sticky.

Good choices for snacks include mixed nuts, an apple, bananas, and crackers.

9. What Should You Not Do Before A Photoshoot?

The main things you’ll want to avoid are:

Spray tanning, staying up all night and coming to the session tired, eating messy food during your experience, and waxing or shaving too soon before you show up.

10. Who Will Be Taking My Photos?

Yours truly, Ella Gagiano.

There is also a good chance you’ll see Sammy too, so you’re most likely going to be interacting with more than one person during your session.

11. Do You Retouch My Boudoir Photos?

This is a fair question.

Retouches can alter your photo greatly, depending of course on how much you decide to change.

Light retouches are usually preferred since we want to make the most of your natural look. But how much we retouch your photos is ultimately up to you.

Call us, and we can have a conversation about this.

12. Can A Friend Come To My Boudoir Photo Session?

If you feel comfortable, then they certainly can. Just remember, boudoir photo shoots are an intimate experience.

So, if you think you’ll be nervous having other people watch you taking intimate photos, you’ll want to come alone.

As for your significant other, there is a greater chance that you’ll feel comfortable with having them around than having a friend.

But:

You might be taking boudoir photos as a surprise gift for your SO, in which case you would still want to come to the session alone.

13 Should My Partner Come To My Boudoir Photo Session?

They are more than welcome to come! It’s up to you.

14. Do You Take Photos The Same Way For Everyone?

No, we work hard to add variety and spice to all our client photos.

While we certainly follow certain rules and best industry practices, we don’t do things the exact same way for all our clients….Unless our clients want us to copy the style of our past work.

15. Why Wouldn’t A Man Take Boudoir Photos?

Apparently, this question is going around.

The truth is that men, in fact, do take boudoir photos, especially when it comes to couple’s boudoir.

Many poses suitable for women, however, need to be altered for men.

As such, male boudoir photography is unique and comes with its own challenges.

Are you curious to know how to do a male boudoir photo shoot correctly?

If so, our main tips are (1) figure out why you want to take masculine boudoir photos.

Maybe you want to show off your new physique after achieving a fitness goal. Or maybe you want to express your desire and passion for your lucky lady or man.

(2) Visualize your preferred look. Men who are new to boudoir might not be familiar with baring their skin on camera, so work with your photographer to figure out what kind of clothes make you feel comfortable wearing or not wearing.

You can wear an unbuttoned shirt or tank top with jeans. You can also get creative with your attire – wrap yourself in a towel or a sheet or wear a kitchen apron.

By the way, remember the outfits you often see in men’s calendars!

If you dress up as a fireman or police officer, it can make for a very interesting experience. Roleplay is valid and a form of expression.

The Future of Men’s Boudoir Photography

Men’s boudoir photography is becoming more and more popular.

We anticipate it will continue to spread as more men try it out!

16. How Do I Find the Right Boudoir Photographer?

The main thing is to do your “homework” before you hire someone for boudoir photos.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with your preferred photographer and trust them completely, given the nature of boudoir.

The Gift that keeps on Giving – Christmas Boudoir Present

Christmas Boudoir Present, woman in white sheets with red lipstick

There is no better gift than doing a boudoir session.

We said it and we mean it. The foundation of who we are and how we are in our relationships stem from how we feel about ourselves. If you are wanting to gift a Christmas boudoir present to your partner so they can do a session or if you are wanting to do the session and then gift the results as a Christmas present there is a few things you should be prepared for.

 

Christmas Boudoir Present, woman in white sheets with red lipstick

When you do your session you are going to walk away feeling on top of the world. You have yet to even see your photos and you are already on cloud 9. It is going to effect the way you carry yourself, the way you see the world, and how happier you feel everyday.

When you get home it’s like you’ve got a little secret just for you, that honestly you are probably going to be dying to share with your husband! We find our clients struggle to keep the secret as they are beyond happy and feel so beautiful afterwards. They find themselves connecting with their partner more in ways they did not realize were missing. One of the things we hear often is our clients don’t feel desired, they are worried about how they look, they either don’t have time to take care of themselves because they are taking care of everyone else or they find themselves hiding away due to their insecurities. Whatever their reason they always tell us their husbands love them and always tell them they are beautiful but they just do not believe it.

Can you imagine how frustrating it can be to love someone and you find yourself arguing with them and trying to prove to them over and over that they are gorgeous? And how frustrating it can be when they feel like they don’t get all of you because you cover up and hide yourself in moments you should feel free and confident or even worse you hold yourself back from experiences in life you would love out of fear of not being good enough?

And as women we know how it feels first hand when our partners do not understand why we feel the way we do and wish we could just magically feel awesome about ourselves but it doesn’t matter what they say because we still see our flaws and have no clue what to do. (And trust us we have tried a lot of things!)

So, we get it. Which is why we focus on creating a boudoir session that highlights who you are and what makes you beautiful. We want you to see yourself from the eyes of those who love you. No longer be the person who looks in the mirror filled with criticism and searching for flaws and imperfections. Be the person who remembers a mirror does not show you at your happiest, or when you are excited, on cloud 9, living your best life. They do not show us the life and energy we exude, but a photoshoot can when you are with people who allow you to be you, who show you how beautiful you are.

boudoir christmas present, woman in red lingerie on red backdrop

 

The best gift you can give and receive is yourself and we are here to make that a reality, not just during the photoshoot, but for years to come.

We want you to remember that often times the only time you look at yourself is to criticize and when you change your perspective you will change your life.

How do I make this happen?

Call our studio and we will talk about what you are nervous about, what you are excited about and ultimately what you need. What makes you feel beautiful, and when was the last time you felt that way? What does your husband love about you, not just your physical looks, but who you are as a person. When do those moments usually happen. These are the moments that you are you, and you are the amazing woman that is loved. Now we get to plan a session custom to you to make these moments come out and to be showcased.

During your session we will absolutely take care of you. From hair and makeup to posing, you only need to show up and be ready to have fun. The session is the easiest part of your entire experience. We cannot speak for our clients, but the one thing we hear over and over is how comfortable they felt, how Ella made them feel beautiful and how much fun they had. It’s something that all we can say is you need to experience first hand to truly understand what it can do for you.

Boudoir photoshoot, florida boudoir photographer

After your session we will edit your photos and have you come back in to design the ultimate Christmas Boudoir Present. What does that mean exactly?

Creating the Perfect Christmas Boudoir Present

The first thought boudoir brings up is looking beautiful and having your man’s jaw drop when he sees these photos right? And the second thought is holy crap that is me and I NEED to see myself looking that good all the time. (it’s okay to say that, we support your ego 110%)

So how in the world do you make that happen??

Wallart

Think Terry Crews in White Chicks.

If you have yet to see it, please go check it out, if you don’t know the reference just imagine a portrait of Terry Crews lying down with nothing but a fur blanket hanging on his mantle. This is the kind of desire we want you to have for yourself. We are here to support your confidence in wanting to see yourself look that beautiful every day.

If you are ready for this kind of wow factor and confidence boost we will design custom luxury wallart just for you. It helps if you take a photo of the place in your home you imagine placing your wallart in. The place in your home that you want to be reminded of how desirable, beautiful, and confident you are.

If you are unsure of the where, think when is it the hardest for you to believe in yourself, when do you need to be reminded of how beautiful you truly are? Is it first thing in the morning when you are getting ready and want to start your day feeling empowered? Or is it best at night when you come home from a long day and want to remember what is looks like to feel free and have fun? Or better yet, when do you want your husband to walk in and be reminded of how beautiful his wife his and how lucky he is to have you in his life?

The where is up to you, but the impact it has will be long lasting. We will customize the perfect piece for the location of your choice as a daily reminder that you are enough, you are amazing, and you shouldn’t let anything hold you back!

Album

This is where discretion and enjoyment go hand in hand. We would absolutely love for every single of one of our clients to walk out of our studio with wallart of all their favorite phots, but we know that is not possible, especially because our clients love all their photos and that is just not realistically possible to hang up 60+ photos.

Our albums are the perfect solution to enjoying all your photos in a way that still makes an impact everyday on how you feel about yourself. We have different options based on our clients own aesthetics that fit perfectly with anyone who likes the more traditional route, or who wants to keep it modern, we also have the a luxury line that will guarantee a statement for those who need to be bold and stand out.

Digitals

We do not forget about digitals here, we know that having a daily reminder is a must but you also want to be able to show off your photos to your friends and send a teasing text every now and then to your man when he isn’t near you. For those who wants to be a little extra we also offer the option of your very own mobile app. What ever your needs are we are here to help create it.

Whatever it is you want we are here to help create the perfect Christmas Boudoir Present designed for just you!

While these are the three of our most popular options you are not limited by what this blog states, we ultimately recommend giving us a call and we can go over all the details of what will fit perfectly for you to create a gift that will wow. We are here to help you! Also for any of the guys who are wanting to gift this, you have it so much easier, we offer gift certificates to allow for her to come in and have an amazing time and decide on what she loves and what she wants to create so there is still a surprise for you at the end.

boudoir photoshoot of woman in black lingerie with grey angel wings

What makes a boudoir session the perfect present?

That is the million dollar question right there. We see and speak with hundreds of women every year, and have heard first hand their fears, their concerns, the why’s and the no’s of doing a boudoir session. It ultimately boils down to not feeling good enough and wanting to see themselves in a different way.

We only have one life, and not to be dramatic but it is time to start living it!

Our confidence completely changes how we are and what we do in life. Imagine waking up every day and feeling like you are good enough, that you can do anything. Imagine with us that you stop looking in the mirror to criticize but to feel confident in your decisions. You start to wear the clothes you love, you go to the beach with out fear, and you stand a little taller because you are not afraid to be seen.

Boudoir is a life changing experience, this is a gift that excites, inspires, and empowers as time goes on. There is nothing better to give someone who loves you the gift of being yourself and owning it. There is no better gift to receive than someone believing in you and knowing you deserve to feel confident and beautiful every day and wants you to know it.

Stop waiting for the perfect time, create it. Let this be the perfect excuse and make it not only your Christmas present but his as well!

Contact us today and be prepared to walk away an entirely new and confident person.

50th Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot: The Best Gift to Yourself

50th Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot, Boudoir Photography

 

50th Birthday Boudoir

If you are thinking “holy crap I am really turning 50” then welcome to the club. We hear it all the time, and yes you are not alone in feeling all these big emotions. The one thing we love hearing is how beautiful and confident women feel at 50.

And we hear it often! 50th Birthday Boudoir sessions have become one of our most inquired sessions and yes, while there are nerves and worries about inquiring to do a boudoir session, the moment we let our clients know they are actually on the younger side of our clients all of a sudden we get the truth; our ladies feel confident in who they are and want to celebrate it!

We’ve learned from our clients that you still got it at any age, and ladies let me tell you we’ve had 70 year olds in our studio who were rocking it better than the 30 year olds. (No shame at all to our younger ladies! We just know that the stereotypes are like for anyone 40 and over)  And there is something so beautiful about confidence.

At 50 you know what you want and you aren’t afraid to say it!

And we’ve learned that there is nothing better than getting older and knowing what you want, feeling confident in yourself, and feeling great owning it, because “this isn’t what I thought 50 would like” doesn’t mean you can’t redefine it.

50th Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot

What is 50?

50 is a number that you define, not one that defines you. 

Let’s be real honest with ourselves right now, you are wanting to do a 50th birthday boudoir session because you are feeling it, you know you still got it and want to celebrate it. You know that it’s taken you awhile, but you are confident in who you are, what you want, and not afraid to admit that you are still feeling beautiful.

And we are here to tell you we got you! Our goal is to focus on who you are, what you want to celebrate and create an experience that you walk away from smiling ear to ear cause you aren’t ashamed to own it.

So tell us, what is 50?

You are the only one who can define what your 50th birthday means to you, so don’t be afraid to shout it from the roof tops! 

 

How to celebrate your 50th birthday

This is a time to live! You have been so many things in your life, from daughter, sister, mother, aunt, boss, grandmother, etc There are so many things we as woman are that it’s time for us to take a step back and celebrate the most important title of all, “me” 

What do you love? What is fun for you? How do you want to honor yourself? These are all the questions we want to ask you and more. You have so much to celebrate that it’s time to let someone else take care of you.

Your birthday should focus on what makes you feel the best. Are you wanting to go all out and be bold? Do you want to see the softer side and feel free? What makes you you?

A boudoir session is the perfect 50th birthday celebration to give yourself something to feel good about not only now, but years to come. You not only deserve to be taken care of but you’ve certainly earned it.

At our studio our team focuses solely on you. From the moment you call to the moment you receive your photos everything is about creating a unique experience for you.

Before you even step foot in our studio we want to know what makes you feel the best, what your hopes are for your session, and really understand who you are.

Day of session we have make up and hair included where you will be able to be pampered and taken care of as you start off your day relaxing with champagne. 

We recommend bringing 2-4 outfits for your session to create diverse looks that make you feel amazing. During the actual photoshoot, Ella will be guiding you through all the different poses, and creating custom looks that will capture what makes you feel the best.

Afterwards we will perfectly edit your photos and have you return to have another amazing experience to select your favorite photos to create the perfect keepsake to remember the strong, beautiful, confident, and still desirable woman you are.

What to expect from your boudoir experience?

Boudoir should leave you feeling confident, have you walk away smiling, and leave you wanting to do this again!

Leading up to your session from your first inquiry we want to understand your goals and who you are. The best way to prep for a session is by being ready to be vulnerable and honest! 

We know that we talk about the confident, sexiness, and everything else that comes with being 50, but realistically we are women and we have our insecurities. 

Boudoir isn’t about putting a mask on and hoping for the best, it’s about being honest and tearing down those walls and rebuilding. Boudoir is vulnerability in all accounts, but within that you find the freedom, the strength, and so so much fun in letting go of everything that’s held you back! 

Your 50th birthday boudoir session will be the birthday celebration you will brag about for years to come.

50th Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot, Boudoir Photography

When should I plan for my 50th birthday boudoir session?

Like any big celebration you want to plan it in advance. 

Now, if you are reading this and your birthday is next week, please don’t let this deter you, as at the end of the day even if it doesn’t happen day of it is still worth being late on!

With that said, there will be a few variables in planning for your boudoir session that will be completely unique for each person.

  1. Are you wanting to have your session done on your birthday or around it? Or would the goal to be have the photos ready by your birthday?
  2. What is the goal of your session; would you want to have custom album, a stunning luxury wallart, digitals to share with friends?
  3. Do you already have outfits ready or do you need time to shop?

These are the three biggest questions that will effect when you should plan your boudoir session.

If you are wanting to have a boudoir session on your birthday we recommend booking a session as early as possible to increase the likelihood of availability, we book sessions up to a year in advance so that will give you plenty of time to secure your boudoir photoshoot on the day of your birthday.

If you are a little more flexible on dates then we recommend typically reaching out two months in advance. Now that doesn’t mean if your birthdays in a couple weeks you shouldn’t reach out, we are always down to try to make something happen to help create an amazing experience!

If you want to have any physical product then we also recommend keeping in mind that all our product is handmade in Italy and typically takes 3-6 weeks to design, create, and ship. Meaning if you would love to have a beautiful custom made wallart from your boudoir session of you feeling your best and want to proudly display it by your birthday then we suggest booking2 months prior to your 50th birthday.

Lastly! Outfits! Yes, this does take in to account outfits, if you have no deadline and want to have fun, we recommend reaching out and giving us a call to help you plan your perfect session while on the phone we can also talk about dates and get your session in and make sure you have enough time to shop and plan the perfect looks. If you already have everything and are beyond excited to get your session going then we can absolutely get you in at our soonest availability!

What should I wear for my boudoir session?

This is where this gets fun! Picking out the perfect outfit for you for your boudoir session should be all about what makes you feel the best!

We are experts at understanding how to translate the feeling of what you want into the perfect outfits to make you feel the best. Our biggest advice to all our clients though is do not get caught up with advice from online! (Yes, we know you are reading this online too lol) But seriously sometimes there is so much technicality when it comes from advice online the biggest thing they forget is you should just feel good when you wear it and love it!

Some outfits will say one thing and others another. Do you want to feel bold? We typically would recommend black or red lingerie. If you want to feel soft and romantic stick with the softer colors and whites. Are you into the glam? Well, try some gold lingerie or something pink and feel like a goddess. At the end of the day the goal is to love what you are wearing and feel free in choosing to be yourself.

If that means you don’t even wear any lingerie then go for it! We’ve had clients bring in dresses, cowboy hats and shorts, even just loose sweaters for that cute and cozy look. 

Everyone is unique so be yourself and be ready to have fun.

How to deal with the nerves of a boudoir session.

Feeling nervous before your boudoir session is completely normal and to be expected and to tell you the truth, we kinda want you to feel that way.

Yes! We said it, but it’s the truth, you should feel a bit nervous, that is what makes it so fun. 

Haven’t you been on a roller coaster before? You spend the whole line super excited and anticipating it, but the moment you are on the ride and you start slowly go up the first incline you are praying to get off the ride? Yeah, we’ve all been there and that is what makes it so much fun, because once you drop it is absolutely worth the anticipation! 

Nerves are just excitement that you cannot control and we need to feel that way again. When is the last time you stayed up all night waiting for Santa Claus, or couldn’t sleep because the first day of school was happening? It’s been years since any of us felt those butterflies and the feelings of firsts. 

We are here to say enjoy the ride and know that by end of your session you’ll already be wanting to get back in line for another session.

50th Birthday Boudoir Photoshoot, Boudoir PhotographyWhat to expect after your boudoir session.

Post boudoir session is personally our favorite part of the entire experience. We know that sounds crazy, but there is a reason. 

You’ve picked out your outfits, figured out what you want to celebrate for your 50th birthday, and now you’ve had an amazing boudoir photoshoot, what is next?

You might think all the fun is over and thats the end of it, but this is where everything you’ve planned comes into fruition.

You get to have the life changing experience that you absolutely did not expect to have. More times than we can count our ladies will come in to view their photos they end up crying in disbelief. 

For the first time in their lives they’ve seen themselves the way others do, they see the beauty, their joy, their strength. They see all the things they never see when they look in the mirror. 

It doesn’t matter if you feel good or feel insecure or nervous when you come through our doors, because it’s always absolutely thrilling to be so empowered by being yourself.

Is this the best way to celebrate your 50th birthday?

If you are asking this question right now, then we can tell you absolutely yes. A 50th birthday boudoir session is not only what you want but exactly what you need!

You’ve looked at our testimonials, you’ve read our blog posts, and you’ve seen our portfolio. You want to do this, but you are scared and that is okay!

A 50th birthday is a big celebration you’ve done so much in life and what to go big and celebrate in a big way. There are so many options out there, but we believe if you were already looking into this you know in your heart you want to do go bold and do something for yourself. 

Schedule a consultation with us, there is no commitment to have a chat to see the excitement we have for you and what we can do to help create the perfect birthday present. 

While you wait for your scheduled consultation look at our clients boudoir testimonials to see what real clients reactions were to their boudoir photoshoot.

Valentine’s Day Boudoir Photography

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Valentine’s Day Boudoir Photography

Do you want to give the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to your SO? If so, contact us to schedule a fun and empowering boudoir photo experience.

We are experts at bringing your stunning natural qualities to the forefront and leaving your SO feeling wowed.

Who Does Valentine’s Day Boudoir?

Women and men ranging from their 20s to their 60s+ enjoy this exquisite art form.

It’s perfect for creating a gift that you know your SO will love, because there is really no better gift than yourself.

Other than gifting your SO an empowering and uplifting boudoir session for themselves.

Our Valentine’s day boudoir is most popular among women and men who want to create a spark in their relationship, celebrate the love and passion they have had since day one.

It is for women who are loved so completely and are seen so beautifully but struggle to see it. It’s the perfect way to say I love myself and I see how much you love me.

Your love is worth celebrating and our clients age range from 20 – 70, with most of them being in there 40s, 50s, and 60s.

If this is you, we encourage you to call us. We are an all-female studio that specializes in boudoir photography for the every day women.

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What Is Included In Your Valentine’s Day Boudoir Session?

Our boudoir sessions include a private space in our two story studio where our team solely focuses on you. Each session is booked for one client where you will be able to relax and feel comfortable.

Our hair and makeup team will take care of you and create the perfect look for you. If you know nothing about makeup, don’t worry as they focus on what your goals are and will create a look around that.

If you want to step out of your comfort zone and go bold, we got you, if you want to have a more natural look, they can do that. At the end of the day it’s about what makes you feel the best.

While you are having your hair and makeup done you are more than welcome to have a glass of champagne, after all this is meant to be fun and relaxing – so treat it like a girls day out.

For our Valentine’s day boudoir sessions we know how important it is to convey the love, passion, and desire you have for your SO and Ella will create looks specific to how you want to convey that to your partner.

And don’t worry all of this isn’t a guessing game, leading up to your session we provide one on one consultations to figure out exactly what your SO means to you, what you want the photos to say, and help you figure out the best outfits for your session.

One of the BEST things about working with us is our flexibility and range of offerings. For us, boudoir is an art form, and your feelings and story are the canvas, so we focus on providing a fully customized photography experience.

Message us anytime with your ideas on our Contact page.

What Are Your Valentine’s Day Boudoir Sessions Like?

Our Valentine’s Day boudoir sessions are creative, fun, and professional.

We work hard to create a safe and comfortable environment where you feel empowered to spread your wings and try something new.

Our studio is an all women studio, so from the first call to the last meeting you will be working with women who are just like you.

We are everyday women and understand how nerve wracking it can be to open up and be vulnerable, but we also know how empowering it is to be yourself and celebrate that.

Instead of focusing on what you look like, we focus on who you are first and foremost.

Respect, Care, and Celebration

We treat all of our clients with care and respect and we believe to photograph our clients from the eyes of a loved one. If we see you the way they see you it becomes more than capturing an outstanding gift for your partner, it becomes this

When we see you the way your partner sees you it completely changes what a Valentine’s day boudoir session is about.

Imagine: you have heard from your partner how beautiful you are, how much they love you, and how you shouldn’t be worried about how you look, but no matter how many times they say it you still struggle to believe it.

If you are like us it also sometimes makes for some aggravating conversations in your relationship.

The truth is our partner really believes we are beautiful, stunning, worthy of being loved, but we stop ourselves from believing that.

The gift of a boudoir session is not about what it does for your partner but what it does for you and how that completely effects the rest of your relationship.

You will walk out seeing and believing all the beauty they’ve ever told you, you will go home and on Valentine’s day gift your partner an album and say this is for you.

And in that album every photo will tell them you trust them, that you see what they see in you, and that the way they love you is noticed. You will say you make me feel desired and I love you.

A Personalized Experience

To ensure we represent the real you with 100% authenticity, we give you a phone call before booking your session to discuss what’s most important to you.

For couples’ boudoir, we explore what is important to both of you before your session, that means leading up to your photoshoot we will want to have calls with each of you!

If you wonder why we say let’s make a phone call happen, reread everything above and know that there is no way we can offer you a life changing experience through texting/email. Our goal is to give you the best service possible and that means getting to know you.

A Note About Our Pre-Session Phone Call

Our customary phone call is a pivotal step in your session since it is how we figure out what you want and the best ways to help you achieve your goal.

We will also use the opportunity to address any concerns; we know for most of our clients this is the first time you’ve ever done a boudoir session and we definitely understand the nerves that come with it.

Don’t worry, we often hear “I wish I could be as confident as the women in your portfolio” and every time we hear this we laugh and say don’t worry you already are.

Our clients are camera shy, many times this is their first professional photoshoot and have no clue what to do in front of the camera, they don’t even own lingerie, and this is typically the first time in a long time they’ve done anything really for themselves and are super nervous.

You will walk out and we know that if you showed your photos to anyone they would say the same thing about you.

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Valentine’s Day Boudoir Is A Life Enhancing Experience

Our Valentine’s Day boudoir experiences are much more than just taking photos.

They are designed to enhance your life through self-empowerment and the celebration of your most intimate and meaningful relationship, you.

Valentine’s Day boudoir focuses on loving yourself. Knowing what your SO loves about you and what you love about them.

It’s about appreciating all that you make each other feel and letting them be reminded of it.

We’ve learned that what our clients think their partner will love most is something physical, but time and time again we’ve learned that their partner loves seeing them happy, confident, and finally knowing how beautiful they really are.

Marilyn Monroe once said, “A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear.”

We agree with this completely and while we will get so many bold and beautiful looks we are also passionate about having genuine fun during our session.

During Your Valentine’s Day Session

Once you come to the studio, we’ll take you on a brief tour and take all your outfits upstairs.

After you get changed into something comfortable for hair and makeup, we will pour you a glass of champagne and turn on some music and let you start your session being pampered and having fun.

During your session, we’ll provide you with professional guidance and suggestions and help you strike the perfect poses that express your highest self.

Everything will be created based on all our conversations, inspiration photos you may have sent, outfits and props you brought, and what you want your photos to say.

Our Valentine’s Day photo experiences are completely safe. We only photograph what you’re ready to explore.

One of our mottos is: Be bold, be beautiful, be you.

Whatever helps you embody the love you feel from and for you partner we support.

If that means wanting to do nude artistic looks, or something more everyday casual and intimate, boudoir isn’t only about doing lingerie – so if you want to get creative go ahead.

We have so many ideas and can help guide you through coming up with some amazing looks that you will love..

Work with us to celebrate your love and accomplishments and create an album that you and your partner can enjoy for a lifetime

Call Us Today To Schedule A Session

Couple’s boudoir for Valentine’s Day with us is an intimate experience in which we focus on the love in your relationship. Reach out to us today to prepare a time to visit our studio.

valentines day boudoir model

What Should A Couple Wear For Valentine’s Day Boudoir?

The main thing is to be yourself. Every couple has different tastes, we recommend asking yourself a few questions to get a better idea of what would be authentically you!

What do you like to wear on a special date night? What is your goal of a couples boudoir? What do you love about each other? What do you love about yourselves as a couple?

By answering these questions we can help guide you to different looks that will truly capture your dynamic.

Matching Styles

Your clothes don’t need to match exactly, but you’ll want to share stylistic components unless you are taking an experimental approach.

Some ideas include a fun night out look – think tight dress, slacks with no shirt or jacket.

Casual vogue look – jeans and topless look for both.

Lingerie look – lingerie for our women and as we jokingly say to our men nice underwear! Think boxer briefs in a color that will compliment your ladies lingerie. We’ve found black, whites, and nude colors work best if you want to go with a more sensual look.

How Many Outfits Should I Bring?

For solo session we recommend doing 2-4 outfits and for couples session we recommend 2-3 looks together and 1 look for individual photos.

How Do I Prepare For A Valentine’s Day Boudoir Photoshoot?

Practical Things To Do

1. Use moisturizers and cleansers. Moisturizers and cleansers give your skin a fresh, glowing look that will increase your self-confidence and enhance the overall quality of your session. Sammi is definitely the worst at keeping up with this kind of routine, but she was always bothered how the makeup sat on her face and our artist gave her a great tip about getting into this routine of just moisturizing once a day. Within a week she already noticed a difference.

2. Get plenty of beauty rest before your session. Proper sleep is one of the best ways to enhance your mood and appearance, so you’ll want to make sure you get plenty of rest and relaxation before your session. Trust us you will need it we always joke boudoir sessions can be a bit of a workout.

3. (Optional) Get a manicure and pedicure. This is not necessary, but it’s another way to enhance your experience. Any step you can take to improve your confidence will make your session better.

4. If you need it snacks, our boudoir session takes anywhere from 3-4 hours on average. While we provide water and champagne snacks are something that is so specific to each person. So if you are a person who gets hangry you are more than welcome to bring something with you. Otherwise don’t worry at all usually we are having so much fun we don’t notice how quickly the time passes at all.

On this note, you’ll also want to drink plenty of water in the days before your session since this will improve the hydration of your skin.

5. If you were struggling to keep your looks to 2-4 outfits you can definitely bring in a few more just in case you want to change your mind last minute.

When picking outfits, follow your instincts. Pick colors and styles that you resonate with. We will be able to bring your unique look to life.

6. Wear loose clothing on your way to the session. When coming here, it’s best to wear something loose so that you won’t have bra straps marks, panty lines, crease lines/”whiskers” from your jeans, or sock marks.

We recommend bringing a robe as it is the easiest to switch in and out of and a pair of slippers to walk around in.

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Things NOT To Do

We recommend avoiding tanning beds and spray tans a week or two before your session if this is something you have never done before since they are something that will last awhile it’s always better to make a huge change to your looks prior to your session. If you do we advice going in nude to avoid tan lines.

Likewise, you’ll want to avoid heavy sun exposure a week or two before your session to avoid tan lines and sunburns.

If you’re going to be spending time in the sun, make sure to wear sunscreen.

Avoid waxing or shaving within 3 days of your session.

If you wax or shave you’ll want to wax or shave well beforehand so that your skin won’t be red or have red bumps if you are prone to this.

Any product that you can use to reduce razor burn is also helpful.

What Makes A Good Boudoir Photo?

A good boudoir photo is subjective at the end of the day, that is why we constantly emphasize that we focus on personalizing your session for you.

A good boudoir photo is one that you look at and feel connected to. It’s like art, when you look at it it should invoke a reaction.

What reaction do you want to get?

Style

Everyone has a different style.

Are you more glam, bold, romantic? Are you a rockabilly, goth girl, goddess? Whatever your style is we will work with it.

Props

Having excellent props will also make for a great boudoir session.

We’ve got this part covered, although if you have  more unique ideas for props you’d like to use, please let us know! If we have them you can use them and if we don’t you can bring them.

Our props include but are not limited to:

  • Plush chairs and couches (with velvet, silk coverings, and more)
  • Candles and candle holders
  • Vintage step ladder
  • Roses (and other flowers)
  • Luxury bed
  • Romantic backdrops
  • Dramatic Robes
  • Angel Wings
  • Masks
  • Pearls

valentines day boudoir woman

How Long Should My Valentine’s Day Boudoir Session Last?

Our boudoir sessions are fully customizable and tailored to your desires and interests.

With that said, your experience will most likely last about 3-4 hours.

We focus on having fun and creating looks for you – it’s never about the amount of poses or strict timing, we have just found 3-4 hours is optimal to have the best experience.

During this time we will schedule your session so you can come in and relax while getting hair and makeup done, do 2-4 outfits and create a variety of bold looks you will absolutely love!

How Should I Gift My Valentine’s Day Boudoir Photos To My Partner?

We are beyond fans of physical product. There is something special about having a tangible element to boudoir photos.

Everything in our studio is customized and handmade in Italy.

Are you into a more modern style in your home and like sleek lines and a luxury feel? We recommend our Young Album

Do you like a more traditional look and want to keep it simple and discreet? That will be perfect for our GoBook

We also have the option of a beautifully handmade leather bound journal that everyone absolutely loves.

If you want something that is truly life changing and want to be reminded of how beautiful you are and your relationship is everyday we recommend wallart, all of our wallart is customized for your home, all we ask is to know where you would love to put it!

These are just some of the things we absolutely love and what our clients purchase the most, but we offer everything from digitals, small prints, albums, portrait boxes, wallart, and more!

Valentine’s Day Boudoir Wall Art

Speaking of wall art: Your Valentine’s Day session could be the perfect opportunity to create an outstanding piece.

We create gorgeous artwork to adorn your home and give you something precious to have as a token of your love.

We provide different kinds of wall art, including canvas prints, mounted wall art, and photo spreads.

Check out our signature wall art examples.

 

valentines day boudoir lady

Should I Post My Boudoir Photos On Facebook?

This is definitely an individual decision.

We love it when our clients post photos from their sessions for others to see, but we understand that not everyone is in the position to do so.

Many of our clients get Valentine’s Day boudoir photos to share privately with their SO, but after their session and when they see their photos they absolutely fall in love with them and want to share them with others.

If this is you we so support you and would also love to share your photos on our own social media pages!

With that said we will NEVER post pictures from your boudoir session without getting your explicit permission first. This is something we will discuss with you during your pre-session phone call and also once you have seen your photos, once you have given permission we just ask you to sign a release form, without it we will not post any photos.

Do You Have Boudoir Portfolio Examples?

Yes, we have 10 years worth of experience and have our portfolio on our website and our Instagram. All photos are examples of real clients.

If you have fallen in love schedule a call with us today and let us know if you would like to also become a part of our private facebook group. This is a the perfect place to get to know other clients who have gone through a photoshoot with us or plan to, where you can find inspiration and empowerment with other women.

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Sunshine and Lace: Experience A Florida Boudoir Photoshoot

Women laying on red sheet in black lingerie.

Florida Boudoir Photo Experience

Are you ready to have an empowering Florida boudoir photo session with one of the top photographers in Florida?

Come See Ella Gagiano

Ella has 20 years of experience providing uplifting and transformative photo experiences that reveal your inner confidence and the real you.

She has traveled across the world doing boudoir photography, women empowerment (strong woman), sports, fashion, and more.

Quick Note About The Meaning of the Word Boudoir

Not everyone is familiar with boudoir or what it means, so let’s define it.

Boudoir, which appeared in the late 18th century, has French roots and refers to a room, specifically a bedroom or dressing room for women.

What Is Boudoir Photography Then?

Boudoir photography is an empowering blend of fashion and glamour photography with strong sensual and romantic elements.

Keep in mind that boudoir photography is MUCH more than just taking photos in lingerie.

It’s about acknowledging your inherent beauty and courage and embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

Is Boudoir Photography In Demand?

Yes, it definitely is. More men and women are enjoying the boudoir experience today than ever before.

What Are Boudoir Photos Used For?

The purpose of our Florida boudoir sessions is to give you a medium through which to convey a message or discover something new about yourself.

Many of our clients come to us to convey feelings of love and tenderness for their SO or for their baby who is still on the way.

Florida boudoir makes an excellent gift for your partner or acts as a very meaningful memento that freeze-frames a big moment in your life.

Self-Empowerment

There are also other reasons for doing boudoir. Self-empowerment is a huge one and is very central to what we do and care about at our studio.

Who Takes Boudoir Photos?

At present, boudoir is most popular among women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

If you’re part of this demographic and are reading this, you might be wondering if Florida boudoir is something you can or should do.

The answer is absolutely!

Many of our clients are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

In fact, women in this age range are our specialty. 🙂

Other Ideal Candidates For A Florida Boudoir Photoshoot

Professional models, brides before their wedding, married women, and those who want to experience something new are all ideal candidates for a Florida boudoir shoot.

Participating in boudoir sessions for most people requires that they get out of their comfort zone. So, if this is something you’d like to try, call us today.

Self-Expression Is Priceless

Let us clarify that a boudoir-style photoshoot is NOT about nudity. Nudity only plays a secondary role.

It’s about expressing your feelings, your story, and an important part of yourself, which is priceless.

Many of our clients find their boudoir experiences to be……transformative, inspiring, and thrilling.

Florida boudoir photography

How To Prepare For A Boudoir Session

Here are some tips that will enhance your experience with us:

1. Bring more than one outfit. Why settle with one when you can try multiple? We’re creative and flexible. Your boudoir experience is about having fun!

2. Bring your favorite lotion and pamper yourself. Our atmosphere at Ella Gagiano Studios is designed to help you relax.

3. (Optional) Shave or wax a few days before your session. Many women agree this increases their self-confidence, but it’s certainly not necessary. We encourage you to do what makes you feel bold and empowered.

4. Stay away from spray tanning. This will help with your skin tone in the photos. We can always retouch as necessary.

5. Get plenty of rest the night before. It’s amazing what a full night’s sleep can do for one’s appearance and mood, so make sure you get plenty of R&R before you come to see us.

PS Don’t forget to bring some snacks and drinks with you. There is nothing like a delicious treat to lift your mood and delight the senses during your session.

The Atmosphere At Ella Gagiano Studios

Our atmosphere is warm and inviting, and our Florida boudoir sessions are relaxed and open to your lead. After all, it’s your experience!

What we do is act as professional guides to add structure to your session and use our experience to illuminate your natural, gorgeous qualities.

Rather than try to change you, we recognize that you ALREADY are a beautiful, strong, and capable woman.

We Offer A Range of Boudoir Experiences

We are able to convey all sorts of feelings and nuances in our sessions, whether you want to tell a story about your past, venerate your pregnancy, explore aspects of your personality, or try something else entirely.

We cover a broad range of concepts, so message us with your ideas on our Contact page.

To see our boudoir portfolio examples, check out our Instagram.

Where Do You Provide Boudoir Sessions?

We offer boudoir at our studio, which is located at 3175 US-1S, Saint Augustine, FL 32086.

Boudoir photo sessions can be done almost anywhere that is private, although we suggest coming to the studio and benefitting from our sets, props, lighting, and cutting-edge equipment.

The best place for a boudoir photoshoot is undoubtedly inside a professional photo studio.

The benefits of using a photo studio include:

  • Proper lighting
  • Professional sets
  • Access to thematic props that will help you enhance your photos
  • No distractions, i.e., no extra people

Bride Florida boudoir photography

How Long Do Florida Boudoir Photoshoots Take?

Florida boudoir photoshoots usually take about 3 hours, as they require preliminary work on your hair and makeup before the session begins.

Can You Tell Me More About What To Expect During A Boudoir Photoshoot?

Certainly.

You can expect to be treated with respect from start to finish.

From the moment you walk into our studio, we greet you warmly and help you prepare for the session by covering some photography basics.

We’ll show you around the studio, show you the dressing room, then once you’ve changed, take you to our boudoir set.

The Session

During the session, we only do what you’re comfortable with, so in this respect, it’s no different than any other photoshoot.

What sets your boudoir session apart is exploring an entirely new side to yourself and having an unforgettable experience. How much you want to explore is always determined by you.

Pre-Session Phone Call

We also want to note that before your session, we have a phone call or Zoom meeting with you to discuss the details of your session and write down what is most important to you.

That way, when you arrive, we are aligned with your wants and needs.

During our pre-session phone call, we also explain more about the boudoir experience, address scheduling concerns (if any), and expand upon our list of how to prepare for your boudoir session.

Call Us Today To Schedule A Session

Unlocking a new side of you has never been safer or easier. Call us today to schedule a time to come see us.

Florida boudoir studio

Further Reading: How To Make Your Boudoir Photography As Good As Possible

There are certain key ways to enhance your boudoir photography. Read more to learn what they are.

1. Choose The Right Boudoir Photographer

To find the right photographer, ask these questions:

-Why do I want a boudoir photoshoot?

Perhaps you want a new experience, to embody unfamiliar aspects of your personality, or to honor your femininity.

-Who do I feel comfortable taking photos with?

This is a good question to ask. At Ella Gagiano Studios, we are an all-female team, which might be exactly what you’re looking for.

During your session, you’ll be working with Ella and our lovely Studio Manager Sammy.

The Power of Portfolios

Choosing the right photographer gets a lot easier when you can look at examples of their work.

If there is one thing we recommend, it’s looking at your preferred photographer’s portfolio to see if their work resonates with you.

You can find numerous work examples from us on our website and our Instagram profile to see if we’re the right fit.

Find A Friendly and Helpful Photographer

You’ll also want to pick a photographer who is friendly, helpful, and communicative.

A good indicator of the quality of your preferred photographer is whether they answer your phone calls and respond to your texts.

Remember:

How your photographer treats you before your session is how they’ll treat you during your session.

At Ella Gagiano Studios, we always treat our clients with professionalism, respect, and prompt communication! We love hearing from you, so if you have questions, feel free to text or call us anytime.

Side Note:

It’s also helpful to read what your preferred photographer writes and posts on social media. This will give you an idea of how they communicate with their clients, followers, and audience.

Photographers that are friendly, punctual, and helpful are always the right choice.

Your Photoshoot Consultation

Once you’ve found a photographer who seems right to you, your next step is to call them for a consultation.

During your preliminary conversation with them, you’ll want to discuss all the details that matter to you.

Whatever questions or concerns you have, that’s ground you’ll want to cover.

Private or Public Photos

Definitely tell your photographer whether you want your photos to be public or private.

At Ella Gagiano Studios, we always ask what your preference is. That way, your photos won’t be published anywhere without your express approval.

Picking A Time That Works Best For You

After an hour or so of taking photos, you might feel a little tired, especially if you are doing maternity boudoir and have a little one on the way.

For this reason, we advise you to pick a time for your session that works best for your internal clock—some people work better in the morning, for example.

Woman in sunset - Florida boudoir photo

2. Provide Examples To Your Photographer

During your consultation, show your photographer some example photos that inspire you. Include details such as the clothing, set, concept, makeup, and hairstyling.

You can use Instagram and Pinterest for this purpose. Both are great resources.

10 to 15 concept examples should be enough for a skilled photographer to take inspiration from and creatively expand upon to make a unique photo session for you.

Regarding your clothing during the boudoir session:

Our advice is to wear what you like and what feels comfortable.

Boudoir photos don’t just mean lingerie. They can work with a nightgown, pajamas, a robe, etc.

It’s common for women to wear clothing other than lingerie items, as not everyone feels ready to wear these in front of a camera, and not everyone needs to.

Excellent photos can be taken in a lace shirt, a beautiful robe—you name it.

Creating A Digital Mood Board (Optional)

If you’ve never thought about using a mood board, they are a helpful and convenient tool that you can use to share ideas with your photographer.

You can create a digital mood board on Pinterest.

3. Prepare For The Session In Advance

Ideally, you’ll want to prepare for a couple of weeks before your photo session and get a manicure and pedicure, wax, and keep a good sleep schedule.

Also, avoid tanning beds and spray tans if you can help it.

Loose Clothing Can Be Helpful In Some Cases

Lingerie and elastic band marks stay on the skin for some time, which can change the direction of your session.

This is why we advise you to go to your photoshoot in clothing that is loose enough not to leave marks.

Following these recommendations will help you show up looking and feeling your best on the day of your photo experience.

Makeup and Hairstyling

If you need an excellent makeup artist and hairstylist, we’ll give you our referrals.

We know the best artists in Florida who will enhance your experience, increase your confidence, and have you feeling like a Queen.

Florida boudoir sunset

4. Relax and Have Fun During Your Photo Experience

The most important thing when doing your Florida boudoir photoshoot is to enjoy yourself.

Art is fun, and intimate photoshoots are an art form that expresses your beauty, which is something to be honored and revered.

So, take this as an opportunity to let loose, have a blast, and learn more about yourself as you add to your experiences as a woman.

Achieve A New Mindset With Boudoir

In our experience, the more you acknowledge your qualities, the more your self-confidence increases.

As you grow in your confidence, this improves every area of your life, helps you develop as a person, and seize new opportunities.

Are you ready to go to the next level by trying something as exciting as a boudoir photo session?

Fantastic Florida boudoir photoshoot

5. Follow Up With Your Photographer

“How long do I have to wait for my photos?” is a good question to ask your photographer.

I advise you to discuss this with your photographer before you begin the photoshoot so that you don’t get upset and say to yourself something like, “Well, it’s September, and my summer photos are still not ready.”

Usually, photographers have deadlines of one to two months.

If you like a photographer’s work but they need an extended deadline, we suggest having them produce 2 to 3 photos quickly.

Later, the photographer can finish developing the rest of the photos.

Our Technical Concept

Teasing The Audience During Boudoir Photography

For boudoir photographs, we suggest not showing every intimate detail and instead teasing the imagination of your audience.

We will coordinate with you to add all the special elements that work to cultivate your highest self.

Making You Comfortable

One of our most important tasks is to make you comfortable. We can’t overstate how much it helps when you feel welcomed and safe.

You’ll be happy to hear that we have years of experience creating a safe, uplifting environment for our clients.

Close-ups During Your Boudoir Photoshoot

Close-ups have great power in photography and are very good at showing aspects of yourself that few others get to see.

In our experience, to make close-ups good, you want to show the real you.

Although we encourage the use of makeup, we do tend to keep it to a minimum so that the true beauty of our clients can shine through.

Boudoir Photography For Your Wall Art

We also offer wall art to those who would like to use photos from their Florida boudoir sessions as decorative pieces for their homes.

Ella and Sammy will work with you closely to create superb pieces with meaningful messages that beautify your space.

Boudoir Photography As A Wedding Gift

Boudoir photos also make the perfect intimate gift for your partner.

If you’d like to surprise your SO before, on, or after the big day, contact us.

After your Florida boudoir session, we’ll give you some gift wrapping and packaging ideas and also guide you on how to turn your session into a gorgeous handheld wedding album so that your photos will be the perfect surprise.

Florida boudoir details

The Perfect Groom Gift from Bride

Boudoir Photoshoot in black lingerie red silk sheet

This is the gift he will absolutely love and one you will love to give. All our clients have said this was the perfect groom gift from bride. We know all too well that once you book your session you are guaranteed to to start out your fiance’s wedding day full of excitement but you will beginning the best self love journey for yourself leading up to your wedding day. (We will absolutely be talking about that in another blog post, so keep a look out!)

The Perfect Groom Gift From BrideBut let’s take it back to the priority of why a boudoir session is the perfect wedding present. It really comes down to one thing he is marrying YOU, he loves YOU more than anything else, right? So how can anything beat giving him a boudoir album full of heart stopping, jaw dropping, photos of yourself?

Boudoir Photoshoot in black lingerie

Nothing can beat that, but at Ella Gagiano Studios we make your boudoir photoshoot a life changing experience. One that will change the way you feel about yourself leading up to the wedding, where you know how beautiful you are, are confident in yourself, and so blown away by the whole experience that your only worry is not being able to keep this a secret until your wedding day!

Boudoir Photoshoot in black lingerie red smoke

As our beautiful Miss H says “The Hardest Secret I have ever had to keep!”

 

Bridal Boudoir Photoshoot

Are you ready to to WOW your future husband on your wedding day? Book your bridal boudoir session now!

Boudoir Photoshoot in black lingerie red silk sheet

 

Follow our Boudoir Instagram for more inspiration photos for YOUR boudoir session with Ella Gagiano Studios

 

Make up and hair: Las Vegas Make Up Girl

2020 Boudoir Photoshoot Giveaway Winner

breastfeeding photoshoot

The best gift to a new mother to celebrate all that her body has done for her

Boudoir is increasingly becoming one of the best gifts our clients want to give not only their partners but themselves as well. With Covid taking its toll on the world we saw a big shift in what was important to our clients – from more intimate weddings, to wanting to focus on their family, and more specifically an increase in our clients seeking us out to do a boudoir session.

Yes, you heard that right. Boudoir has become one of our most sought after sessions in our las vegas studio this year. Their stories are diverse, but all equally as inspiring. The need to find themselves, to stand strong and feel empowered. To celebrate love and passion. And reconnect with with their bodies.

We saw the difference it made in the lives of our clients and wanted to give back to someone who needed it, which is where this story begins.

Our 2020 Boudoir Giveaway

We wanted to create a giveaway where the person selected needed a life changing experience so we asked all our entries to fill out a few questions as to why this was important to them. We had over a thousand entries and read each and everyone. We eventually narrowed down our selection, the women all had diverse backgrounds with inspiring stories that hit our hearts. At the end of the day we decided to draw from a hat because there was no way we could come to a decision.

We went live and selected our boudoir winner!

We thought we were giving her a life changing experience but her photoshoot completely changed our perspective on not only boudoir but newborn photoshoots.

Newborn photoshoots?? Yes – newborn photoshoots.

Our winner, Valerie, was pregnant and originally wanted to plan a boudoir photoshoot to remind herself of how beautiful her body is as she is growing a little one. Unfortunately plans had to change and her photoshoot was pushed back until after she had her little boy. We still wanted to give her an amazing experience and it was such a blessing how everything fell into place.

 

 

Our boudoir giveaway winner did a breastfeeding photoshoot instead

From the time she won to the time her photoshoot was planned for when her son was 3 months old we kept in regular contact with her planning a photoshoot that still revolved around the original concept – loving your body as a new mother. We hear it all the time from our new mothers how they are struggling after the little one is born and getting to know Valerie it was beautiful how much she honored herself and her body for the life it created and the love she has for her little boy that we wanted to incorporate it all into one beautiful photoshoot.

Being able to reconnect with her body with a boudoir photoshoot was a brilliant idea and turning that into an intimate photoshoot where she honored her body and all that it provided.

Seeing how beautiful and intimate this moment was for her it stuck with us long after and now it is something we highly recommend all our new mothers who breastfeed do.

breastfeeding photoshoot

breastfeeding photoshootbreastfeeding photoshootnewborn photoshoot mother in angel wings boudoir photoshoot

 

 

Our winner received a boudoir photoshoot with hair and makeup included from the wonderful Las Vegas Makeup Girl and a custom 12×12 Italian album, along with her high res photos and 2 prints

If you want to book your session with us we have a Las Vegas Photography studio and a St Augustine Photography studio where we can do not only beautiful breastfeeding photos of you and your little one but newborn photoshoot, a maternity photoshoot, boudoir, and anything else you can think of.

Couples Boudoir for Those Who are Passionately in Love

Couple sitting down looking towards each other in love, man in white pants and woman in red lingerie

What do you do when you’ve found yourself passionately in love with your partner that shouting it from the roof tops isn’t enough?

How do you hold on to this feeling of desire, love, and longing in a way that tells them I love you and all of you for now and forever?

Maybe you’re a newlyweds and want to capture the highs of knowing what your future holds or maybe you’re like our beautiful couple Cathy & Brad who are so in love that Brad wanted to surprise Cathy with a couples boudoir session.

From the first moment we spoke to Brad we could hear in his voice how in love he was with his wife and how important it was for us to understand how they felt about each other so we could capture the passion and love between the both of them.

So when their photoshoot approached we did what we always do. We called them to find out what will be important to them. 

You can feel the love they have between the two of them so easily on the phone. They are such a beautiful couple but it is the calm, yet strong, love and passion that they have for each other that stands out above all. 

 

We are so in love with all their photos and so happy we were able to create such a perfect gift for them to celebrate their passion and love for one another ❤️

couples boudoir intimate black and white photo

 

 

Best Christmas gift for your man

Women laying on red sheet in black lingerie.

 

Ever wondered what is the best gift to give your guy? Have you been married and you are running out of ideas this Christmas? Well we have the best idea for you for this years Christmas gift and we know he is going to LOVE it! Book a boudoir photography session at Ella Gagiano Studios and surprise him this Christmas with beautiful and stunning photos of you.

How to be more confident in yourself with a boudoir photoshoot

be more confident in yourself boudoir photoshoot black woman in black lingerie with red sheet

Feeling anxious about yourself and not loving the way you look?

Wanting to be more confident in yourself is something that almost every person struggles with. How many times have you made the decision not to do something solely based on how you felt about your body? Decide to not go swimming with friends, or wear a dress that you loved because you were worried it showed off the “wrong” parts, didn’t ask someone out as you thought you weren’t good enough?

These are things that hold you back in life, keep you from feeling happy and free. Feeling confident is something many people struggle with and it’s a learning curve to rewire your brain to see all the positives in yourself, but it is possible to do, you just need to kick start the process and see how loved you are and how others see you and how you can see yourself!

A boudoir Photoshoot probably feels like the furthest thing from your mind when you are feeling insecure, but we have had many many women in our studio who feel anxious about parts of themselves and leave saying they are now no longer want to hide those parts of themself away.

But HOW does doing a boudoir photoshoot help you be more confident in yourself?

It’s simple at Ella Gagiano Studios we take the time to get to see you like your best friend or your partner does, the real you, the part of you that you forget about.

How often do you really look at yourself when you are generally happy with joy? Do you ever get to see your eyes light up, do you get to see the confidence you carry as you are in the middle of a task you’ve done a million times that feels easy, but others look at you like you have it all figured out? You only look at yourself when you are looking for flaws, how often do you look in the mirror and look at your beauty?

This is the work that happens before your photoshoot even begins, because once you do a boudoir session it all comes together beautifully. You will feel so comfortable in front of the camera ready to be yourself and that is where the magic begins.

Take it from our beautiful Miss M, she says it better than we ever could.

 

 

Now that you’ve heard from her what is holding you back? Let’s start your journey of  seeing how strong, confident, and loved you really are!

Photography : Ella Gagiano Studios

Videography: Ella Gagiano Studios

Hair and Makeup: Las Vegas Makeup Girl