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.
Stuff I love… on sale
I asked everyone to write back to me with their favorite Black Friday Weekend sales. Here are my favorites. I do like 90% of my shopping at Costco, so that’s going to be the bulk of this list. These are all products I actually paid for and use on a regular basis and love. Happy shopping!
My family has used this for a couple of years. Our favorite feature is the routine section. We have a family with high energy, busy schedules and most of us struggle with ADD. This keeps everyone on track for school, sports and life in general.
These headphones are used every day. I don’t love having buds in my ears because I sleep with earplugs at night. I use these when I need to focus on my household checklist. It seems to help that Roomba effect a little. At the very least, it cancels out the sounds of war cries from what the males in the house watch on tv.
We just got this TCL 65” NxtVision TV for our house at the lake. We call it our 90s home, so we wanted a tv that looks less like a tv when we aren’t watching DVDs. We don’t have internet access there (by choice), so I was a little nervous about whether it would work without a connection. It was very easy for my mom and I to assemble and get started. We literally just plugged in the hdmi cable and it was ready to go. We don’t have access to the art downloads (oh well), but we can use a USB drive to load our personal photos and use it as a giant family photo frame. That’s exactly the vibes we want in my happy place. And I did a lot of research with the Samsung and Hisense versions as well. Samsung was more expensive and didn’t include the “wood” frame. And the Hisense picture was just a little too dull.
I’m an amateur bio-hacker. I say amateur because I love gathering the info, but I’m not super committed to that lifestyle. For mother’s day in 2022, this was my gift. I’ve used it every day since then. I actually have the last generation and since it’s going strong, I haven’t switched to the next gen. I measure my sleep, stress, and now I use it in conjunction with a cgm. It’s been so interesting to watch it for this last week. I can actually see the correlation between my eating/exercising habits and the resulting sleep. Which sometimes I’m willing to sacrifice sleep for an evening slice of homemade apple pie, but I least I do it with intention. I bought mine sized for my right hand ring finger. I wish I got it for my index, but it works either way.
I did wait for this to go on sale, but I LOVE this thing. My favorites: costco premade margaritas, prosecco mimosas, and vanilla milkshakes. The kids loved making Coke Slushies. It’s very easy to clean, which was important to me. I usually refuse anything that is not dishwasher safe, but this requires zero scrubbing. It’s a little noisy and a little heavy, but it is totally worth having (especially on sale).
We had been coveting the Cloud sofa from Restoration Hardware for months, but I’m just not willing to invest that much money when I’ve got kids. So when I sunk into this at the store, I fell in love. This couch is huge. I mean gigantic. And it’s definitely not chic. It’s a massive pile of pillows. We can fit 6 people and one giant dog on it comfortably. It’s the perfect place for everyone to stretch out and watch a 90s movie on our TCL frame TV.
A groom’s gift he’ll never forget
A bride has to make what feels like 1000 decisions. Her dress, her hair, the flowers, the cake flavors, and so so many more. It is completely overwhelming. But there is one choice that stumps brides because that is their gift for their husband-to-be. In a life where anything can be delivered by Amazon within 48 hours, there’s rarely a gift that just blows a person away. But the deeply personalized gift of bridal boudoir for your new husband will be something he will NEVER forget.
Many brides use this time as a reason to get outside of her comfort zone. She’s put in time to look extra-amazing for her big day and it probably makes her feel really good in her own skin. Documenting that confidence and bringing it into a new marriage is priceless. It’s not just a bunch of sexy photos. That’s easy to do with selfies. It’s about taking time and money to say, “I love you. I value you the sensuality in our marriage. I really want to knock your socks off.”
One of my favorite sessions was a young woman who is more likely to be found in her old cowboy boots than lacy lingerie, but she wanted to step into this role to say “I do.” Flash forward, she just welcomed her first baby! Another boudoir baby that I take partial credit for.
If you’re looking for the perfect groom’s gift, especially for the guy who has everything, booking a boudoir photoshoot with Lavish Boudoir is a gift for him and an amazing treat for yourself.
Take a peek at her album design… 30 pages! Well, I left out a couple that were for his eyes only.
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.
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.
