Can You Photoshop That? | Austin Boudoir Photographer

OKKKAYY LOVELIES. Let’s talk photoshop!
Oh the dreadful, wonderful thing of photoshop. It’s such a helpful tool for photographers, but we all know it’s often taken way too far in society and caused some very ridiculous standards that just flat out are not real life. 

But we aren’t talking about society or magazines or culture. We are talking about your personal photographer, and YOUR photo shoot.

Every photographer is going to have different boundaries when it comes to editing. And when you’re getting a boudoir shoot done, it’s good to know you have someone who is aligned with your preferences/desires. So I thought I’d create a little post about my personal boundaries with photoshop & editing and why.

First all, my goal in editing is two-faceted: 

• To represent what it looked like in real life. Believe it or not, the camera does wonky things to our bodies & skin. So when I’m editing, I’m always trying to pull it back to what I witnessed in real life, what we felt in the room, and how you’ve said you see yourself (because you know you best).

• To create a vibe. My photos are packed with emotion. I style for that, I direct for that, I edit for that. If you’re not feeling things when you see my photos, I haven’t done my job. I use light and movement to accomplish this, and it affects my editing too.
  

So let’s talk about photoshop boundaries.

You will be surprised to learn: I don’t use photoshop.  Some photographers use it religiously, and I respect the hell out of them. It doesn’t mean they are morphing everyone’s bodies into a cultural standard lol. Photoshop is an amazing tool that creates stunning images. But it’s not what I learned on, and it’s not what I need to create my images. I use a program called Lightroom, which is a smaller powerhouse of Photoshop (created by the same people). I know Lightroom like the back of my hand, and it’s where all my images you see are edited. 

Lightroom has a lot of features. Body modification is not one of them.

So I don’t use the famous “liquify” tool on any of my images. And I am not changing your shape at all. While there are some niches of photography where this is a healthy practice, not modifying bodies in boudoir is an integrity move for me.

I want to show you that your body looks incredible as it is today. And if I photoshop it, I lose all credibility and you don’t get the confidence you deserve. 

I am an expert at posing to highlight your favorite features, and using light & shadows to create all the vibes. 

I do use skin retouching, because like I mentioned before, the camera is trash to our skin. I will take out acne because that is a temporary thing, not part of who we are. And I will soften skin back up so it looks more like it did in person. Both of those align with my editing goals. 

So there ya go! That’s a little behind the scenes on my editing process and decisions. 

You will find some boudoir photographers that use a lot of photoshop or body modifications, and you will find some that do not even edit as much as I do. It’s important that you pick someone who aligns with your own values & desires. You’re paying for this shoot, so you deserve to ask how they edit your images.

-Jessie

Female Portrait Series | Austin Boudoir Photographer

A while back I was feeling a little stuck in a creative rut. I shoot boudoir photography at my studio here in Austin, Texas. And since I’m shooting in the same environment for almost every shoot, it’s become really important that I shoot other things outside of my normal so I can bring that creative energy back to my studio shoots and be really artistically present.

Needless to say, I contacted Summer about this idea I had for a Female Portrait Series.
I wanted to create a series of photos, comprised of 3 “sets”. Each set would represent a part of herself she loved. I sent her a full questionnaire to get to know her better, and then we designed set vibes on Pinterest together before finally meeting in person to shoot these sets. It was rainy that day and we thought about cancelling, but I’m glad we chose to continue anyway. The overcast, rainy vibes add a whole feel to the process which I fell in love with in the editing process even more.

Our three sets were:
1. cozy / at-home environment / reflective
2. wandering nature / discovering / peace
3. the woman who goes to get what she wants

Summer reflects all these things in her personal life and it was so inspiring to meet her with my camera and just document her Whole Self to look back on throughout the years. I appreciate her modeling for me, and fueling my creative fire.

So here ya go. All three sets.
Look over them and tell me what you think: should I add a Female Portrait Series session to my boudoir packages?

Set 1:

Set 2:

Set 3:

Austin OG Series: Local Coffee Shops | Austin Boudoir Photographer

So Austin is growing like a weed right now. (Don’t get me started on the slow drivers moving here). But other than being a boudoir photographer in Austin, I am also one of the increasingly rare Austin OG’s.

Well...like Leslie Knope: I wasn’t born here (Dallas), but I have lived here since I was two. So. Yeah.
OG. (ish).

My childhood is full of memories playing at Zilker Park and swimming in Barton Springs. Riding my bike along Town Lake. Driving through fields of wildflowers out in Fredericksburg.
They were just little local spots then. 

Now we’ve got one of the fastest growing cities around, and honestly one of the best “vibes” a city can offer. I still love this place, even as it grows. I’m constantly exploring and I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite places, some new and some old, from an Austin OG.

Whether you are moving here, have friends visiting, or have lived here forever like me and just want to explore some new places, you can enjoy these recommendations.

First up? 3 Coffee Shops you don’t wanna miss in Austin, Texas:

• Thunderbird Coffee: the location of Manor Rd. has such a good outdoor patio area to sit and relax & people watch. Plus their iced lattes are delicious.
  
  

• TOMS Coffee on SoCo: oh you thought TOMS just made shoes? Well they also make coffee, and it’s really good. Plus they have a great view of South Congress, and lots of places to hang out. Good vibes.
  
  

• Palomino Coffee: Brand new to Austin, the interior design is just amazing. Very Instagrammable. Last time I went they did not allow any indoor dining due to COVID but it’s still worth it to stop by and check them out. 

Honestly I have so many coffee shops in Austin that I love, I could make a much longer list. Maybe there will be a part 2 at some point.

What about you? Favorite coffee shops in Austin?

The "Shoot Flow" | Austin Boudoir Photographer

It’s hard to describe what it’s like to shoot boudoir in the studio unless you’ve been here, doing it. There’s the equal mix of a creative spark and things feeling totally...normal. 

You hype it up in your head so much before your shoot, and then you realize it’s really not that weird in the moment. 

The studio is set up to be very laid back. That’s my vibe when I shoot (that’s my vibe in general let’s be honest). It’s a very simple space, with lots of room for inspiration to hit us as we shoot.

You will step in, and see the bed with the white comforter.
The wall with the collage of other women who have been brave and stepped in front of the camera before you. You know you’re in company.
You show me the lingerie you have so carefully picked out, and we decide an order for outfits together.
You throw your bag and phone and keys and extra outfits in the corner
You feel at home somehow, even though you just got there.
We play your music, the comforting songs that make you feel most like yourself.
Before the camera ever clicks, I will give you pointers on what to do if you’re feeling unsure, and how to move through the shoot. I teach you how to move & what looks good in photos before you even see the camera in front of you.
We move, laugh, adjust, pose, laugh some more, and slowly you feel yourself relax. This really isn’t weird.
This is actually really fun.
You breathe more deeply. You sink into the poses. The rest of the world fades away, and there’s this space we are holding together: just for you; to just be...to get to know yourself again.

And just like that, time flies by and we’re done. You did it! You’ve got some major excitement vibes going. When you see the photos for the first time you probably think: holy shit that’s ME!?!?!? and yep.

That’s the whole point. It’s most definitely, certainly, 100% YOU.

Denim & Black Lace, a sultry afternoon session | Austin Boudoir Photographer

This is one of my girls from the last Annual Boudoir Event, back in March. It was her first professional photo shoot, and she killed it. She brought denim & black lace, which is always a good combo. And we created these sultry, beautiful photos for her afternoon session.

Here’s a link to a similar bralette as she is wearing here.

3 Great Places to Buy Swimwear | Austin Boudoir Photographer

It’s officially SUMMER in the great ATX. We have arguably one of the best cities to *summer* (as a verb) in. Between Barton Springs, Amy’s Ice Cream, and all the cool hotel pools in the city...this is the best place to enjoy the heat.

I know I am a boudoir photographer, and you’ll mostly see blog posts sharing lingerie ideas with you. But gosh I love a good swim suit. I own too many. And I’ll always buy another.

So here are 3 of my top suggestions of where to buy swimwear for your best Austin Summer!

1. H&M. Always a solid choice. They have a large array of options, and even offer cup/band sizes in some of their tops for a better fit. They are very reasonably priced, and I usually buy 1-2 from them each year. 

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2. Jolyn. Unless you are somewhat involved in the sports world, you probably haven’t heard of Jolyn. And you should because they’re amazing. I first heard about them back in my club coaching job, and as a former swimmer they are all I swim in now. They are sexy & cute, but also stay in place so you can be a little more active. Perfect for stand-up paddle boarding, or if you are going to be in your suit all day and want a little more support. They run very small, so size up 2 or 3 times. 

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3. Zaful (available on Amazon). To be fair, I’ve only bought one with them, but I’m obsessed. It was this one, and it was so flattering even when I was just a month or two post-partum. And the material is quality. I’ll definitely try them again - they’ve got lots of cute options. 

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Some Honorable mentions: Old Navy, Shein, Aerie & Amazon. 

Hope you babes enjoy your best hot-girl-summer vibes this year!
And hey, if you’re wanting to celebrate your bod in the best way, I still have a couple spots left for my poolside sessions this month. Info and booking HERE.

3 Ideas for Self-Care that Don't Suck | Austin Boudoir Photographer

Can we all have a moment for how unhelpful most self-care advice is? Like when someone tells you to just “take a bubble bath” when you’re stressed outta your mind. And then you feel guilty for NOT EVEN TAKING A BATH. Can’t you just do a face mask? Jeez. 

And that makes everything worse and it’s a vicious cycle. 
It’s time for some self-care ideas that don’t suck.

So, you may or may not know this about me but I come from a background of chronic illness. I was sick for 5 years, mostly bedridden, and underwent a lot of treatments to get better. That time taught me the value of practical self-care practices and how vital they are to overall healthy living. Sometimes we do need a spa day. But on a day-to-day basis, that really isn’t helpful for most people.

So here are three self-care ideas that don’t suck to get you brainstorming:

• Workout. Lol, I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But listen, if you are overwhelmed and stressed, working out can be the most effective way to calm your nervous system and remind your body it’s okay to rest. Our bodies operate on fight/flight when we are stressed, and there is data showing that if we MOVE OUR BODIES, it triggers our primal brain to think we’ve run from the tiger and we are safe. You can read all about this in the book “Burnout” by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.
  
  

• Turn your phone on airplane mode for an evening. I have never suffered so much from input overload as I have as a new mother during the pandemic. Sometimes I go to bed and my brain is absolutely spinning from taking in SO MUCH INFORMATION. And I think it’s only gotten worse since so much of our lives have to be online these days. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is turn on airplane mode and just BE. You don’t have to do any extra special things for the evening. Just be. Without input.
  
  

• Take pretty pictures on your phone. Okay, I know I’m a photographer but hear me out on this one. Go outside, or find something indoors that you like and take photos. Practice angles, play with lighting..and then edit it in an app like VSCO or Papaya. There is something so soothing about zoning out to one particular activity. You could also paint, embroider, do yard work, do a puzzle. Anything that allows you to tunnel focus on ONE THING, that is not on your to-do list. 

Hope this is helpful! I am passionate about practical self-care because otherwise I would be stressed out all the time as a business owner and mom to a toddler. But in the meantime: move your body or turn off your phone or get lost in a non-essential task. 
-Jessie