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.
Is boudoir worth it?
Absolutely!
Obviously I am biased, so I’m going to say yes. If I didn’t think boudoir was life-changing and invaluable, I’d have given it up ages ago. It can completely transform your confidence and therefor your life. It’s also one of those key memories you’ll look back on for decades, with photos as evidence. One day, when you’re old bones hurt while turning the pages of your beautiful boudoir album, you’ll smile and think, “Wow. I certainly was more beautiful than I knew.”
Women (moms in particular) have trouble spending on luxury. We will get our kids the newest baseball bat that they’ll use for a season until they grow. Their closets are full of Nikes, Crocs and Uggs. Our husbands ride on a fancy mower just because they “need” it to keep the lawn looking decent. Those are luxuries. And I doubt your kids or husband have any guilt about that investment. In fact, they’re probably already adding to their wish list for the next must-have.
Boudoir photography is a luxury. And professional boudoir photographers command luxury pricing and should absolutely be providing a luxury level of service. There is a wide range of pricing to reflect the level of care and experience your photographer has.
Signs your boudoir photographer is worth paying a higher price:
She has a studio (either rented or owned) that is set up specifically for boudoir.
She has a wardrobe of lingerie and accessories to borrow.
She will hire a top-notch glam squad to have you camera ready.
She’s trained with mentors over several years to fine tune her skills.
You’ll get coaching about how to prepare for your photoshoot.
You feel comfortable and open with her immediately because she’s honed her interpersonal skills.
She has reviews across several platforms.
Her website is polished and easy to navigate.
None of these things happen by accident. These are the signs that a boudoir photographer has invested in herself to create a better experience for you.
Can you find cheap boudoir photography? Yes. Is it worth it? Probably not. I can help you with taking boudoir selfies for zero cost. Then you can save your money for a real photoshoot later!
If you don’t know, I’m also a money coach, so I never want a woman to invest in something she can’t afford. I loathe debt. And I don’t really hate anything. Not even mushrooms and they taste like old dirt to me. But debt makes my skin crawl. So if a photoshoot is going to cut into your ability to to provide food and shelter for your family… then this is not for you right now. Budget for this. Set aside monthly savings just for this or wait until you get a bonus or tax refund. Heck, get a side-hustle for a few months and know that every time you Dash, you’re one bag of food closer to your boudoir photoshoot.
So is boudoir worth it? Yes.
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.
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.
