When Mrs. J first reached out to me about a boudoir shoot, she was clear about one thing—this was going to be a special gift for her husband’s anniversary. She had been considering it for a while but was unsure which photographer to trust. “I looked through so many portfolios,” she said. “Yours was the only one that really stood out. The photos feel natural, like you capture something real about the person.” That’s exactly what I aim for in every shoot. For me, boudoir isn’t about creating a fantasy—it’s about showing people as they truly are, in their most confident, authentic state. When she told me my portfolio felt genuine, I knew I was on the right track.
We decided on a beach location for her session, which, to me, was a perfect fit. I’ve shot in a lot of places over the years, but the beach offers a kind of serenity and openness that’s hard to match. It was important to me that Mrs. J felt comfortable and relaxed, and there’s something about the sound of the waves and the feel of the breeze that helps to calm nerves. She was a little anxious at first—who wouldn’t be, right? Stepping in front of the camera like that is no small thing. But the more we talked about the shoot and what she was hoping to create, the more I could see her excitement building.
When the day of the shoot came, Mrs. J showed up with a few outfits in mind, all thoughtfully chosen to make her feel good. She had a vision of what she wanted, but she also trusted me to guide her through the process. I always encourage clients to bring what feels right for them, but I also like to be flexible with what we shoot. I prefer to keep the session light and spontaneous—sometimes, the best shots come when you least expect them. And that’s exactly what happened. The beach provided such an amazing backdrop. The soft, golden light of the late afternoon set the mood just right. Mrs. J started to loosen up, and with each click of the camera, she became more comfortable in her skin. The wind blew through her hair, and she laughed as the waves splashed over her feet. I could see the tension melt away with every shot.
It wasn’t just the location that made the shoot special—it was the atmosphere we created together. As a photographer, my job is to make sure my clients feel seen and understood, not just as models, but as people. That’s why I always prefer to have a conversation before starting the shoot. I want to know what they’re hoping to get from the experience, how they want to feel in the photos. With Mrs. J, I could tell she was excited to give her husband something meaningful—something that wasn’t just a gift, but a moment frozen in time. By the end of the session, she was absolutely glowing, and I could tell she had enjoyed the whole experience.
The photos we created that day were stunning—so much more than just beautiful images. When she saw the final gallery, Mrs. J couldn’t help but smile. She told me she couldn’t wait to see her husband’s reaction. “This is exactly what I wanted,” she said. “You captured something I didn’t even know was there.” I’ve been doing boudoir photography for a long time, and I still love hearing those words. It’s what makes this work so rewarding—not just the images, but the feeling that someone’s seen and captured their true self in a way they hadn’t expected.
For Mrs. J, her anniversary gift wasn’t just about giving her husband something memorable—it was about discovering something new about herself, too.