What inspired you to do a boudoir session?: I am getting married after being friends with my fiance for about 4 years and then dating for a little over 13. I thought that this would be a very personal gift that added a little bit of something (maybe spice?) into the first few days of our marriage. Maybe it is just us, but after being friends for so long and living together for about 8 years already, you fall into a certain comfort level. I felt like the photo session would be the perfect wedding day gift to just add some mystery and a little more sensuality into this new chapter of our lives together.
What made you decide to schedule your session with Julie?: The way she made me feel at ease. It is a very personal photo session, and for me, one that is a bit out of my own comfort zone. I knew that if I were to do a boudoir session, it would have to be with someone who I was comfortable with and that I trusted. Julie was not the only photographer that I looked at or even talked to, but she was the only one willing to meet me face-to-face for a walk-through of her studio. She patiently answered all of my questions and went over what I should expect during a photo session. I think it was this, as well as her understanding of how intimate a boudoir session is, made me feel that she would treat me with sincerity and professionalism -- which is exactly what she did.
What was your biggest fear in doing a boudoir session? Did it come true? What happened instead?: I have never had great body image. It has been something that I have struggled with all my life. Though I have, to some degree, come to terms with my looks, I rarely put my body on display and to do so in front of someone else was just plain terrifying. I was afraid that I would pick myself apart, both on the day that I did my session and when we met to review my photos. But for both experiences, those fears couldn't be further from the truth.
On the day of my session, I would be lying if I didn't say that immediately upon I stepping into my first outfit I started thinking -- "I am not right for this." "I am going to look horrible." "Why am I doing this" -- But, Julie has a way of directing you, telling you how to pose, how to "pop" your hip or your bootie that actually builds your confidence throughout the shoot. Coming into it, I wanted to immediately change back into my clothes and head out the door, but by the time my shoot was done, I had so much confidence that I could have put on another several outfits and continued.
No matter what was going on inside of my head, Julie's assurances, direction and overall confidence in both what she was doing and in me, rang out much louder and I ended up really enjoying the experience!
What was your favorite part of your boudoir session?: The kitchen set -- definitely! This was the last outfit we did and by the time we got to it, I felt much more confident in my skin and I had a lot of fun with it. Not to mention -- I got to play with flour and make a mess in a way that I would never allow in my own kitchen!
If you were to recommend us to your best friend, what would you say?: Do it. If you ever thought about it at all - you should just do it. I cannot begin to say what the session and the resulting photos have done for my confidence. Julie has an unbelievable talent of putting you at ease and allowing you to show a side of yourself that you don't typically see or may not have even know you had. You don't need to do it for someone else, do it for yourself -- do it for your own confidence and ego boost - because we all deserve it!
