What Makes a Photographer an Expert | Austin Boudoir Photographer
When I first started photography, smart phones barely existed. We had those point & shoot cameras, which are basically extinct at this point. (Remember those!?) As camera phones got better and better, I wondered how that would affect our industry. I mean, you can take a selfie or a portrait in about 10 seconds now. Why do you need a photographer? It’s a fair question.
I thought it would be cool to shed light (pun intended lol) on some of the differences you get when you book professionally. I truly believe there is a time & place for iPhone photos (and even sell a course on it!) But I also think there are times it’s best to hire a professional. Here’s some things that make photographers experts:
We have learned lighting. Ohhhhh lighting. It’s trickier to manage than you think and can make or break your photo. Not only are we kickass at finding good lighting - we are good at USING lighting to create different moods and vibes. The better the photographer, the better they are at using light as a tool. Both artificial & natural lighting.
We have experience. One reason to hire an expert is our sheer amount of experience. You know how professional musicians practice their piece over and over and over until it’s completely known to them? True professional photographers have shot your session over & over before you ever step in front of their camera. We spent time & energy practicing at a lower price point so that we know we can produce our quality of images every time. There is a lot of benefit to a photographer who has experience because they know how to handle a variety of situations within your shoot and can make sure you get great photos.
We have education. Did you know we take classes? Like travel, sit in a classroom & learn from other professionals? It’s all out of pocket expenses, but we work hard to stay current in our education and constantly learn new techniques and ideas for better photos. Whether it’s posing, lighting, communication, editing, or whatever. We are putting in the hours of learning new things. That’s why our photos are so good, we have invested in our education.
We have the goods. If I could really break down how much good photography equipment costs, you would be mortified haha. We have all spent thousands on our gear, and continue to do so as we upgrade from year to year. But it allows us to capture those really high quality images and edit them in beautiful ways. It also allows them to be printed in that cool professional way.
The create a good experience for you. There’s something really valuable about being able to hire someone to document you & your life, and not have to arrange everything yourself. Make sure you hire someone who has a refined client experience, so you can sit back and let us treat you to an easy photo experience. Again, we have the experience to know what you’ll need before you do, so not only will you get great photos, you will feel happy & informed the whole way.
So there’s some reasons that professional photographers are experts, versus just the daily life photos you take on your phone. Both are valuable for their own purpose, but there’s definitely times you should hire out for those nicer photos. Because there’s nothing like the experience, education, knowledge & gear we bring to the table. You can’t replicate that on an iPhone.
Times I recommend considering a photographer hire:
yearly family photos, maternity photos, wedding photos, newborn photos, self-confidence photos (boudoir), and branding photos.
There are more, depending on what is important to you. But those are good staples!
-Jessie
3 Black Lace Lingerie Piece for your Boudoir Session | Austin Boudoir Photographer
Y’all. If you’ve shot with me before you know I LOVE a good black, lace piece of lingerie. It’s a solid staple, and if you show up with only black pieces I won’t complain. (Color is nice too, but dang black looks good). So I wanted to do a post featuring 3 Black Lace Lingerie Pieces that will photograph well. These three pieces of black lace lingerie are flattering to multiple body types too!
Ya ready? Let’s go!
#1: This two piece set from Amazon:
I’m telling y’all: Amazon is a secret weapon when it comes to lingerie. This piece is only $17, and I’ve seen it in the studio before...it’s killer.
You can find that piece HERE.
#2: This bodysuit from Shein:
I love a good bodysuit. They look so great in photos. This one is flattering with it’s defined waistline and cut out sides. Plus it has cups, which can be a great pick-them-up for photos ;)
You can find that piece HERE.
#3: This classy balconette from H&M:
Love a good solid black, lace bra. The balconette tends to photograph well too if sized correctly. And the nice thing about getting a good black lace bra you LOVE, is that you can pair it with any black underwear and have a matching set.
You can find that piece HERE.
So there ya go! 3 solid ideas for black, lace lingerie for your boudoir session! Remember, when you book with me, you’ll get a complete What to Wear Guide, including my favorite places to shop for your pieces.
Should You Get Makeup for Your Session? | Austin Boudoir Photographer
“Should I get makeup done for my boudoir session?”
This is one of the commonly asked questions by my girls, so I thought I’d create a post to help you consider the pros/cons. Basically there is no right or wrong answer, but I can definitely help you pick which is best for you. Let’s first go over why you should consider getting makeup for your boudoir session…
A couple reasons TO consider a session with professional makeup:
It boosts your confidence. Something about sitting in the chair, letting someone else do your makeup for once...seeing them perfectly pick shades & colors....it just makes you feel like a boss. Always a good vibe going into your shoot.
I hire legit professionals for your shoot. You and I can’t do makeup like someone who has had the training & experience to be a professional artist can. I have worked hard to make sure I only hire the best of the best. Luna & Daisy are my go-to artists, and they both create beautiful looks that photograph well.
Makeup is different for photography versus everyday life. With a professional makeup artist, they will be able to make sure you have the best coverage & colors for photos. The camera tends to wash away makeup, so they are very skilled at making sure you look great for the camera.
A couple reasons maybe you DON’T need makeup for your shoot:
You’re very comfortable doing your own makeup. You’ve got no problem applying falsies? You know how to contour? You know what looks you love for your face? You might be good to go without!
You have a lower budget. Totally fair! All of my base packages do not include makeup, so you can still have the full range of experience without it. It’s an add-on if you would like it, but not required for any experience. You will get an email guide on how to beef up your makeup routine for that shoot.
You don’t have a lot of time. Makeup takes about an hour extra for each shoot, so that’s worth considering if time is an issue for you when booking.
So basically, it’s whatever meets your needs best. Like I said, there is no right/wrong way. In my professional opinion: professional makeup is worth it, and enhances your session/images. But there are legit reasons to opt out, so I always have that option available too.
I hope this is helpful!! Always available to answer any specific questions you have - email me here!
-Jessie
Annual Boudoir Session 2021 | Austin Boudoir Photographer
Last month I hosted our first ever Annual Boudoir Event here in Austin, TX. My vision was a collective event that makes sensual, empowering shoots a more regular thing. Women’s bodies change throughout the years, and it’s important to see the sexy, powerful side of ourselves through those changes.
So I set out to make an event which allowed you to do just that.
The Annual Boudoir Event.
A once a year event, for women who want to love their bodies.
Drinks. Snacks. Relaxing while you get your makeup done. A shoot directed & shot by me. Sexy images that you can’t believe are you (but they are).
It’s just a practical, tangible way to practice honoring & loving yourself.
Wanna see how it went??
Because of covid this year, we had to space every shoot out, but the eventual goal is to have a gathering of women so there is also a community aspect, and you get to know other women who have similar values as you.
It’s a yearly date with yourself. A small part of your calendar you set aside just for YOU. To pause.
To notice.
To breathe.
To honor.
To build your confidence back up.
I’m already beginning to plan for 2022 and have some really cool upgrades in mind. There will be more “retreat vibes”, hopefully more community (please go away covid), and more vendors included. It’s gonna be a good time.
The dates will be released soon, sign up to be notified here:
Hair & Makeup by:
Luna Beauty & Bridal
Daisy Maldonado Beauty
All the laid back vibes / (Austin, Texas Boudoir Session)
I am loving these laid-back, sultry sessions at my in-home studio these days. We play whatever music you’re in the mood for, you get your hair & makeup done, and shoot away. Nerves ease up, mojo sets in, and we create some damn magic. See for yourself…
Fiery Boudoir Shoot in Austin, TX
Since I am FINALLY getting back on track with blogging (oops), I am finally getting to share this fiery studio boudoir shoot from last Fall!
3 Things to Look For In a Boudoir Photographer
Okkkkkayyy let’s chat about boudoir photography, guys. I see you...curious in doing a boudoir shoot...but wondering where the hell do you actually start?
You want to hire someone with killer work…
You don’t want it to be awkward...
You’re kinda nervous about the idea of getting naked in front of a camera…
You aren’t 100% convinced it’s going to be an amazing shoot…
Everyone has a different pricing structure & you’re confused…
I’ve got you, boo.
It’s a lot to take in.
This is my profession so I know the industry like the back of my hand, and I have some tips & tricks to make you feel super confident when picking your boudoir photographer.
Before I share, let me preface with this:
you deserve to love your photographer.
It’s a vulnerable experience & you should feel like you can really trust the person you’re hiring. You’re giving them your $$ after all, and you should expect to feel good about the process. It’s totally normal to have some butterflies about it, but you should feel an underlying current of knowing your photographer can make some serious magic & trusting their process.
All photographers are a little different, so here are 3 tricks to help you find a good fit for you!
#1: Get to Know Their Personality Online
Is this permission to stalk us photographers? Hide in the shadows, answer polls, and shoot us DMs about our dogs, coffee & TV binges?
Um. YES.
It’s important to get to know the person you want to hire so you know if your personalities mesh well. For example...I’m a very direct person, so when I shoot I’m super directive and walk my girls through everything. I’m good at communicating through the process, and I have a very laid back energy. I also swear a lot so that may or may not be your vibe.
Here’s YOUR QUESTION: What kind of personality makes you feel the most at-ease?
It’s not always a question of: ‘who are you most alike?’. It’s whoever makes you feel the most comfortable, so you can just relax & enjoy your empowering photo shoot.
#2: Look at Their Pricing Structure
Boudoir photography is where you’re going to find a variety of pricing structures. The most common type of boudoir packages are structured this way:
*Base price for session that includes hair & makeup
*Reveal Session to purchase prints/albums/collections.
The average total cost for these sessions is typically: $1,500-3,000 and up.
Another structure is an all-inclusive starting package, which is then customizable for your own needs. This is the niche I fall into! Here’s how I structure my packages:
Full boudoir session (with no set time limit because I don’t like to operate off a deadline when shooting)
Professional hair & makeup
Private in-home studio included
50 professionally retouched, downloadable digital negatives
custom designed magazine delivered straight to your door
My packages are a flat fee of $750, and my girls customize from there if they’d like.
- Good to note: Most boudoir photographers are going to offer payment plans to help break up the cost. All my payment plans are in-house, so I can work with each girl’s budget individually.
YOUR QUESTION: What pricing structure/experience are you most drawn to? What matches your personality the best?
#3: Do you like their work?
I think I’ve saved the best for last. Do you like their work? This is the question of the day. Boudoir photography is just like any other kind of photography: it’s an art. You’re going to see the viewpoint of the artist in the photographs. And they will vary widely. Here’s a couple popular styles to observe & see what you like:
Glam boudoir: think Marilyn Monroe style...lots of styled poses and rich colors in the images.
Light & Airy: think of pictures with very little shadows, where the whole image is brighter. Often has lots of pinks/green hues.
Moody: lots of dark shadows, evokes a “mood”, often edited with lots of orange undertones.
Film-like: I use that term loosely because film has a lot of different vibes, but these tend to be more lifestyle shots, edited a little closer to how it looked in real life, but with a little extra ‘umph’. Often uses more grain to bring out the emotion.
(In case you’re wondering, I fall into the last category!^^)
Some photogs are going to be a little bit of a mix. For example, I mostly shoot & edit more in the ‘film-like’ style, but I also have a good amount of moodiness mixed in.
YOUR QUESTION: is their style CONSISTENT? And do you LIKE it?
You can always reach out to a photographer to ask more questions about their work!
Okay that’s it! My top 3 pieces of advice on how to hire the right boudoir photographer for YOU.
1. Make sure you mesh with their personality
2. Review their package structure
3. Know you love their work!
I hope you feel more confident in your search & know what to look for now.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below and let me know.
- Jessie
Dallas / Forth Worth Boudoir Shoot
In the Spring I drove up to Dallas / Fort Worth area for a little in-home boudoir shoot. This bride was supposed to be getting married this year (side eye COVID), so we were sneaking these images in before her big day. 2020 had other plans, I’m so glad we got to do this shoot before everything shut down (and I’m crossing my fingers she gets her big wedding soon). Shout out to Abbie, an amazing bachelorette party planner & wedding photographer, who let us shoot in her gorgeous home. I could shoot there every day.
But enough about all that - wanna see some gorgeous pictures? Here ya go:
PS: I’m so grateful to all my girls who allow me to share their images. Not only does it show off how amazing and sexy they are - it empowers other women to take the leap and get their own intimate lifestyle photos done. You can pick any level of comfortability in which images are shown (all, non-identifying pics, etc) - but damn I get excited when my girls wanna show off their photos. <3