We are so pleased to welcome Lyndin Kane of http://www.runningfromtheruns.com/ back to the blog. Lyndin shared a ready-to-go local winter date itinerary (or ‘instadate’) with readers last year here on the blog.   Read on for her look at the growing Halifax Boudoir Photography scene, complete with lovely photos from some talented local photographers.

Have you heard of boudoir photography?  Or the female photographers who have been at the heart of the boudoir scene in Halifax?  These photographers are making women feel confident, beautiful and downright hot all across the city.

What is boudoir photography?  Stemming from the French for a woman’s dressing room, boudoir is photography that focuses on capturing classy, glamorous photos of women, often in lingerie and in a bedroom (but not always!).

With the goal of learning more about this genre, I spoke with Jenn Gregory of Jenn Gregory Photography, Jaclyn Poole of the husband and wife team at Morgan West, Tanya Reynolds of Tanya Reynolds Photography and Heather Crosby-Gionet of This is Photography.  I wanted to learn about who is doing it, why they are doing it and some of the challenges that clients and photographers face.

So, who would ever dream of trying such a thing?  Pretty much everyone, including women of all shapes and sizes, all ages (approximately 30-60), stay-at-home moms, career moguls, couples and yes, some men!  Women are doing this for a variety of reasons.  They are celebrating themselves, an age milestone or weight loss. They are showing they’ve still got it after having a baby or getting back out there post-divorce.  They are having a time with their girlfriends or using it as a way to stay connected with their partner.  Some are capturing a moment in time before body altering surgery.  Many people are offering these photos as wedding and anniversary gifts.  Reynolds assures, “He will never say, ‘I wish she had bought me that watch’”!

After deciding to take the plunge, the biggest hurdle clients face is nerves.  Most people are anxious and worry about their lack of experience posing for photos or about their trouble spots.  But, the best advice these ladies can give is – leave it to the pros and trust your photographer.  Forget those love handles!  Your photographer is the expert and will use a variety of techniques including the right poses and lighting to capture you at your best.

In addition to these techniques, you can often choose a package that includes hair and makeup which should help you to relax, feel pampered and give you an opportunity to chat with your photographer before your shoot.  Poole adds “a little wine always helps, too!”  Depending on the photographer, shoots can take place in either dedicated studios, a hotel room, on location, or in the case of Morgan West, at Interlude Spa.

 

How do you get ready for your shoot?  The photographers will give you some tips prior to your booking and encourage you to research the vision you have for your photographs, which includes finding a number of outfits and accessories to change into throughout the shoot.  Crosby shares that she has incorporated everything from snowmobiles and motorcycles to a snake, so feel free to think outside the box.  Your homework will also include practicing poses at home, which will help you to feel more natural when the big day arrives.

After speaking with these talented women at length, I noticed a few common themes and challenges.  The most important message was about confidence, specifically the importance of having confidence in yourself, of acknowledging your own beauty and owning it!

There was another common theme that popped up throughout our interviews and Tanya Reynolds captured it best when she said, “These photos are really nothing more than a Victoria’s Secret or even a Sears catalogue”!  These photos are about as shocking as your weekly flyer delivery.  They are about confidence and empowerment, about changing your perspective, about having fun, standing up and saying, “I am beautiful as I am”!

So, what drew these four women to boudoir?  They were all interested in this idea of empowerment and helping others to see their own beauty.  They create a rapport with clients that helps clients to feel comfortable and to enjoy the experience.  The experience is also rewarding for the photographer. “I love to see the client’s reaction that first time they see their photos, they are amazed at how beautiful they look,” says Gregory.

In addition to the excitement from clients, photographers often hear from the husbands requesting to see the rest of the shots.  Women eventually learn to let loose during the shoot, but when picking photographs they tend to remain conservative.  One of the biggest lessons for clients is to be bold, daring and confident throughout the entire experience.  Heather Crosby-Gionet can truly empathize with how difficult the experience can sometimes be; she has been on both sides of the camera and has truly enjoyed taking part in a shoot herself.  You can read her recap of her experience here and find out from her first-hand how incredible she felt afterwards.

So, if you are thinking of doing boudoir, be sure to do it for you.  But, don’t let your insecurities stop you from being adventurous, you may just surprise yourself.  And don’t listen to others who think boudoir is scandalous; it will be however you want it to be.  You are the model, but also the visionary. It is an opportunity to try something new, to treat yourself and to create a piece of art where you are the masterpiece.

About the Author: Lyndin Kane is a bilingual freelance writer and blogger located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  She pens a health and wellness blog, Running from the Runs,  where she advocates for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome.  Ever positive, Lyndin is always looking for the humour this condition lends to daily life.

Follow her on Twitter @Rnningfrmtherns

Connect with her on LinkedIn