Boudoir blog for women in Maryland, Virginia & DC who are interested in booking a boudoir photoshoot near them. Products, clients, tips and tricks are a few of the things you’ll find on the Lavish Boudoir Blog.
Bridal Lingerie for boudoir
It's still wedding season here in Maryland, and just because the weather is cooling down doesn't mean your wedding night has to be anything less than smokin' hot. I've rounded up a couple of my favorite bridal-inspired collections that will have you more than ready to say "I do."
Featured online shops for bridal lingerie:
Honey Birdette
AdoreMe
Fredericks of Hollywood
Finally booking a photoshoot at 52!
Booking a boudoir photoshoot at 52 isn't as uncommon as you think. At 52, women are often empty-nesters. They've discovered how to love themselves unconditionally. And they're ready to finally book the sexy photoshoot they've always dreamed of. See Ms. J's session, the exactly perfect woman for this post.
Let me introduce you to Ms. J, who finally booked her shoot at age 52. And let me tell you, once she made up her mind, there was no holding back. We got her in the studio within 2 weeks for her photoshoot (probably so she wouldn't chicken out).
J came to me because she was accomplished in so many ways. She served in the military, she runs like a super athlete (still placing 1st in her age group), and she was in a new relationship (now married). As you can imagine, she's always been a disciplined woman to be that accomplished. But she's also incredibly positive and high energy. We're still friends on Facebook and I love seeing her posts in my feed because she seems to always be celebrating something. But, letting go and trusting a photographer to capture a whole different side of her was scary.
We wanted to make sure that we stayed true to her vibe… strong, sexy, empowered, and playful woman. We got her out of her fatigues and into a variety of lingerie looks that captured her many facets. She is built like a marathon runner. Strong and lean and beautiful. But we wanted to highlight her petite but feminine curves. I used a lot of side lighting to highlight her strong muscles and lovely figure.
We had a high-energy photoshoot with smiles and ideas and so much fun. Even with short notice, we pulled it together with almost 70 photos for her. I think she put almost every single one in an album, and I know she got a gorgeous piece of art for her wall. J, if you're reading this, where is your album today?
Thank you for bringing so much light and joy to my studio, J!
CLICK IMAGES TO SEE FULL CROP!
I’m Leslie, owner and photographer at Lavish Boudoir!
I offer super fun and transformational boudoir photoshoots (complete with makeover) to help you feel confident, sexy & comfortable in your own skin.
I’d be honored to have you in my Maryland studio.
perimenopause the perfect time for boudoir?
As a woman over 40 (42 to be precise), I am smack dab in the middle of this perimenopause bonanza.
HRT
100+ grams of protein
stubborn belly fat where once I had definition
4 am wake-ups
weighted vests
age spots
supplements that take ages to count out
less-than-stellar physician care
I mean… who knew so much was going to change? Duh, menopause was a known factor. Everyone knows that at some point your periods stop and most people recognize the symptom of hot flashes. But thanks to Dr. Mary Claire Haver and some other doctors hell-bent on improving the lives of middle-aged women… there’s a wealth of information and practical steps we can take.
Once upon a time I had a client come to my studio. I was like 32 with such nicely balanced hormones. She was 50ish. She wanted to reconnect with her sexy side. Okay, that’s what I hear from most moms regardless of age. During her session she took several breaks that I was more than happy to give her. But I was unprepared to understand or empathize with her crying streaks or her hot flashes. It was a roller coaster and she was embarrassed and apologetic. I assured her that it was totally fine and I was there to meet her where she was at. (women pictured are not the woman mentioned)
Flash forward a decade and I know sooooo much more. And I believe that every woman going through perimenopause or menopause should book a boudoir photoshoot for herself. Here’s why:
1) Divorce rates go waaaay up during this time. I am not a a therapist, but I know that improving a woman’s self image improves her intimacy with her spouse. Improving intimacy can improve the relationship. Also, sex distracts from the rage we feel when our husband chews loudly.
2) No matter what you do, you feel like your body is just not the same. It’s not. If you’re 30 and reading this and think you’ll just exercise harder and keep up the clean eating and you’ll age like a celebrity, let me give you a big hug. You’ll need to store those up for when you have a rude awakening one day your denim just won’t zip. But that’s okay. The only person who expects you to look like your 25-year-old self is you. So get into that flattering lingerie (yes, it’s time for the more expensive stuff) and take some sophisticated boudoir photos that focus on what you still have.
3) YOU ARE NOT GETTING YOUNGER. If you think you feel old at the age you are today… you will only feel older next year. So book the boudoir photoshoot now. If you magically reverse age… book another one then.
4) It’s fun. So much of the stuff you’ll be told to do like the laundry list I posted above will require effort and isn’t much fun. But boudoir is a lot of fun. Especially with Lavish Boudoir. Because I’m going to build you up and have you feeling like a million bucks before you even see a single photo.
Lakeside Boudoir
This summer was meant to be spent at the lake. My family got a small cottage on the shores of Lake Gaston. We wanted to spend our days living like a country song… boating all day then drinking beer on the dock while we watched the sun set. Ahhh… makes my shoulders relax just thinking about it.
But…real life was that my boys had the honor of playing for their Little League All-Star teams. Which is amazing and I couldn’t be more proud of them for putting in the work. But when you sign the form to play…you sign away the boating days.
Our neighborhood is filled with families and one in particular takes baseball even more seriously than we do. They live and breathe the sport. So when their kids and my kids headed to camp… the grownups got to have some fun of our own. We called it Camp Cersovski. Of course, I can’t resist the chance to throw in a photoshoot in a new place and the light at our cottage is just gorgeous. Miss A was totally up for it… and boy did she earn it after the 2025 season.
We often forget to take time to reconnect with the women we are aside from the roles we play. Especially headed into the 35+ years. It’s easy to lose the hours to a career, a kid, or a home. Taking time out to do something special and fun is revitalizing. It makes us better humans, which in turn strengthens our roles.
We ended up taking photos in the primary bedroom, a spectacularly moody bathroom and of course on the lake itself.
I will be offering these limited photoshoots as an option, so keep an eye out. Lake Gaston is about 3.5 hours from Calvert County and DC. It’s an easy drive with plenty of great places to stay.
How to wear a man's button-down shirt for boudoir
How to Wear a Man's Button-Down Shirt for Boudoir
Well, you don't. We've all seen the movies where the adorable girl wakes up, pulls on her man's button-down shirt and looks even more adorable as she sips her coffee on the sofa while flirting adorably with him. So you're thinking why not wear my man's button-down shirt for boudoir.
Chances are, you aren't the same exact size as your husband and I'm 99% sure you've got more curves. Maybe you're curvy and he's that guy who can eat an entire pizza in one sitting and never gain an ounce. Maybe he's taller and broader than you. Either way, his shirt is unlikely to be flattering.
Keep reading for how to get the look
How to wear his shirt without looking like him:
Buy a man's shirt in your size. It will look like you raided his closet, but it won't dwarf you. If you're petite, look at the juniors section. Miss K is wearing a junior's large white shirt that I picked up on sale at Macy's.
Bring your own button down shirt. It will nip in at the waist to highlight your hourglass figure, but still give the same look.
Pose so that you're barely wearing the shirt. Do NOT button it up all the way.
Styling Tips:
Add a wrap belt to show off your waist
Make sure that it as been ironed or steamed but not starched
Pick a color that suits your skin tone. Pale and more sheer materials look great for back-lighting and dark colors have an edge.
Pair it with super-feminine skivvies for contrast.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Don't bring a shirt he is extremely attached to. You don't want stray makeup on his favorite Hugo Boss shirt.
If you want to keep this a secret, bring your own shirt. The man who never pays attention will probably suddenly be offering to take clothes to the cleaner's.
Creases from the wrapping. Get it steamed or toss it in the dryer with a damp rag before you come to your shoot.
We'd love to show you just how to rock this look during your own sexy photoshoot.
What to ask your boudoir photographer...
What to ask your boudoir photographer
besides how much and are you available?
I don't know if I'm the 1st or the 10th photographer in your quest for an awesome boudoir experience, but I'm glad you found me because I'm going to help you find a boudoir photographer that you love.
You're probably feeling a bit overwhelmed and confused. Most of my inquiries have no idea what to ask me. So where do you start?
Start with these questions:
1) How long have you been photographing boudoir? A photographer can be awesome whether the answer is a year or 10, but listen to her confidence. If she* says it proudly, she probably has the skills to back it up.
2) Do you photograph other genres? Maybe this is her specialty, maybe it's not. Maybe this is her "quick cash" weekend marathon idea, or maybe this is what she spends her time perfecting. I know photographers who solely photograph boudoir and spend extraordinary amounts of time and money learning their craft. I also know some talented photographers who really prefer photographing families, but occasionally dip their toes into boudoir. The more time someone puts into their craft, the more you'll get as a client.
3) Will I need to rent a hotel room or do you have a studio? I have done both, and each has its perks. Just keep in mind that a hotel will be an added cost that could be spent on your gorgeous photos.
4) How will you help me get ready for the shoot? The more you put into a photoshoot, the more you take away. That means there's a t0-do list of beauty preparation. It goes way beyond shaving your legs. And some things are counter-intuitive. Everyone wants to tan... don't. Dry orange skin is NOT sexy and is incredibly costly to fix in Photoshop.
5) How much retouching do you do on the photos and is it before or after I buy them?There are lots of different answers to this. Some artists prefer to show you rough edits and then will retouch the ones you purchase. Some offer no retouching at all, as they prefer a more artistic than glamorous look. Personally, I retouch all of your proofs before you see them. I am very light-handed with the Photoshop because I've been doing this long enough to get it right in camera. But I would never show a client a photo that wasn't absolutely gorgeous and tell her how I'll make it better.
6) What's your privacy policy?Some clients want EVERYONE to see their awesome photos; some clients, like lawyers and teachers, require that NO ONE sees their photos. If you are comfortable sharing, make sure there is a written contract/model release. If you want them to remain private, you need to say this. I would never ever ever share someone's private photos without her permission. If you are particularly sensitive for cultural or professional reasons, ask about in-house printing so that the photos never go online.
7) How and when do I choose my photos?Some photographers offer inclusive packages and some have the photoshoot and products separate. Both have pros and cons. We offer it separately because we want you to only buy the photos you LOVE, not ones to fill a pre-purchased quota. Also ask if your proofing will be online or in person. We don't offer online ordering galleries. Those get hacked very easily and pervos love the idea of seeing photos they're not supposed to.
8) What should I wear?This will obviously depend on what you want. But the response is very telling. If she says she'll guide you to choose based on your body type and desired look, you know she's invested in making YOU look good. If she offers you a generic list of ideas or no ideas at all, you could end up with an outfit you thought would be adorable, but photographs terribly. Click here for our top three tips to get the best boudoir wardrobe fit.
9) Do you offer files or products or both?Everyone has different needs, but you should know if the photographer suits your desires. Do you want to hold a beautiful boudoir album in your hands and rediscover your beauty page-by-page? Do you want to be able to surprise your husband at work with a naughty sexy text? I love both ideas, so I offer both. I believe that photos have 1000x more impact in print, but I also love quick and easy sharing. Anything you buy in print gets a matching file. This is my current favorite product.
10) Do you offer files with a print release, copyright release or just for digital sharing?Most consumers have no idea what this means, so here you go:
PRINT RELEASE: The photographer is giving you and anyone described in the release the rights to print your photos for personal use. That means yes you can wallpaper your bedroom with 8x10s, but no you can't submit them to Playboy. The photographer still owns the artistic property.
DIGITAL RELEASE: This is similar to the print release, but only applies to digital sharing. You may not print these. You may not add Instagram filters. You can just upload and share. This may be enough for you, because you just want to email your best friend to show her your sexy new photos.
COPYRIGHT RELEASE: This means the photographer can no longer do anything with the photos without your permission. This usually comes with a very heft commercial price tag because it means that you could sell that photo to whomever you want. This is unusual and unnecessary. Don't worry, if you didn't sign a model release, she can't use your photos in her portfolio.
QUESTIONS TO ASK IF IT'S A BOUDOIR MARATHON OR GROUPON OFFER: How much time will be allotted just for me? Will my shoot be customized to my body type and specific needs? Will hair and makeup be included? What happens if you're running late?
Whew, you made it. It's a lot to ask, but it's important. You're putting a lot on the line with these photos and we want you to have an incredible experience.
