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.

admin 3/4/16 admin 3/4/16

Whoa - A Blow to My Self-Esteem - Christmas Tree Disease

So this is kind of an odd post, but hey what's a blog if you don't get personal and a little bit vulnerable. I am a very self-aware person and there are a few things I know I'm not... a food sharer, organized, patient or comfortable with vulnerability. I was raised to be confident in myself and when I'm not... to fake it. And I admit I fake it a lot because I cannot stand the idea of being seen as less than perfect. I know I'm not, but I don't want anyone else to think that. Ha. Anyway, so maybe that's why the Universe/God decided to hand me a big fat blow to my confidence. A while ago, I started getting this bizarro rash. What does one do in 2016 when they get a rash? Google. So I came to the conclusion that I had chicken pox (pretty much impossible to get twice) or eczema. Frustrated (and bawling my eyes out in the shower because I felt absolutely hideous) that my home care (and expensive eczema potions) were doing nothing, I went to the doctor. It took him less than 2 minutes to tell me I had pityriasis rosea.

You'd think a diagnosis would be good, because then I could fix it. I'm a bit of a control freak... when there's a problem, I fix it. Guess what... the only cure is time. Remember when I said patience was not one of my strong suits? Commence googling once again. The takeaway... the only thing that actually seems to help is UV light (great... wrinkles & cancer) and taking care of my body and mind to boost my own immune system. Fabulous... give me a pill, a shot, a cream... anything but required patience.

Nine days later (and almost a month since it first showed up), I think maybe, just maybe, it's going away. I've never been so happy to have scabs!

But here's what I learned... we are all just a random disease away from feeling like crap about ourselves. Whether we have a few extra pounds, butt-acne, unruly hair, a new wrinkle, or a rash... we let it get waaaay too involved in our self-image. I know logically, that I am still exactly the same person I was in January (except I may have an occasional pity-party for one), and my husband/family/kids/clients still love me. You know what they don't love? My whining.

So my takeaway, get over it. That doesn't mean I have to love my rash (the little bastard virus needs to go pronto), but I means I need to suck it up and focus on the 99.9% other things I actually kind of like about myself. Forget your lack of thigh gap or whatever it is that drives you crazy because it's sooo not worth your time.

P.S. Mom, you're still going to get whiny texts with photo updates because you're my mom, and that's what you signed up for when you birthed me. :-)

Want to see the stupid thing that's got me so "whoa is me!"? You'll probably laugh at me for blowing it so far out of proportion. I'll spare you the photos of my torso, though.

admin 2/29/16 admin 2/29/16

Miss K - Glamour Photoshoot

One of the first things K asked was if I had ever photographed a Native American. Having come from South Georgia where the Native American population is .23%, I could honestly say no. Well, unless you count my friend in high school who is 1/16th. But, really, I take each woman as an individual, regardless of skin tone, ethnicity, hair type, and make them look as gorgeous as they ever have and more importantly make them feel AMAZING. I think her question touched on something, though. Every woman who contacts me is a little bit nervous that somehow they won't look as glamorous as the women in our portfolios. Whether it's concerns about age, size, skin color, height... everyone seems to be surprised at their own beauty. I think Adeana and I are the only ones who aren't surprised. We see it from the moment a woman walks in our doors.

Makeup by Edgar Campos
Hair by Andrew Madvin
Photography by Leslie Cersovski

Glamour Portrait by Leslie Cersovski at Lavish Boudoir

admin 1/7/16 admin 1/7/16

New Year... New You

Actually... how about you fall in love with the you that you already are? You're important, you're deserving, you're lovable. Every January we stop and reflect (i.e. think about all the things we want to change). Some of us want to lose weight. Some of us want to be more giving. Some of us want to be more learned.

I'm all for self-improvement (I have a small addiction to that section of the book store), but I 100% believe that the most important improvement you can make is to love yourself NOW. Literally now... like this second. Even if you're wearing stretchy pants, drinking your second glass of wine and flipping through US magazine. You know what... that sounds like a person I could love!

Go look in a mirror (put some mascara and real pants on if you like) and tell yourself:

"I'm beautiful. I'm smart. I'm generous. I'm worthy."

Repeat as necessary.

admin 1/6/16 admin 1/6/16

What I See in You...

I take portraits not simply of what is in front of me, but what I create with light, emotion and most importantly your story. We are inundated with reflections... most of which we don't love. The worst is when you go to take a cell-phone picture and the camera is set for selfies. It's like, "Hello nostrils!" Am I the only one that actually says "ugh" out loud when that happens?

We see digital captures constantly. We catch glimpses in the mirror daily. Sometimes we even brave standing in front of the mirror long enough to take an assessment. What do you see? Where is your focus? If you're like most women, it's the flaws. The fine lines, the unruly hair, the post-baby pooch, the not-so-recently waxed bikini line, the cellulite, the pimple (because seriously... how can you be old enough for wrinkles, but still get zits!?).

When I see you:

I don't see fine lines... I see a life of laughter and love I don't see unruly hair... I see glamorous bedhead waiting to happen I don't see a pooch... I see feminine curves I don't see a hairy bikini line... wait... you'll have to take care of that before you come see me :-) I don't see cellulite... I see skin that simply needs a bit of good lighting to look flawless I don't see pimples... it's nothing a single click can't take care of

Let me create the most beautiful photo you've ever had taken. You deserve it.

Click the thumbnails to see before and after photos!

admin 12/26/15 admin 12/26/15

Thank you for making 2015 amazing!

xmas-1 This has been one heck of a year. I can't believe we are headed into 2016! I've lived and worked in three states. I am sitting here with my family and thought about what you mean to me. My clients aren't just my friends and my photography subjects... you're the reason for so many of my blessings:

Because of you, I've been able to turn my Georgia home into a studio instead of just carrying two mortgages.

Because of you, Leo gets to attend an amazing pre-school with educational field trips.

Because of you, Adeana has been able to plan a romantic post-deployment trip with her husband.

Because of you, I'm attending a workshop with an incredible mentor in Paris.

Because of you, I got to visit my Nana for her 95th birthday.

Because of you, I didn't have to worry about skimping on presents for my husband and kids this Christmas.

Because of you, I get to feed my Sephora addiction without choosing eyeshadow over groceries.

Because of you, my family lives a life filled with joy, adventure and time spent together.

When you support a small business like mine, it makes a world of difference. I want you to know that I appreciate every single one of you as a woman, as a client, as a friend and as a blessing in my life.

May God bless you in 2016, as you have blessed me in 2015.

admin 11/18/15 admin 11/18/15

Ask and you shall receive...

I have been dying to photograph a redhead with great eyebrows. I know... that sounds like a strange thing to look for. I found this facebook group of photographers and models... and there she was... with her red hair and fabulous bold eyebrows. Yay! If you're a photographer, you know that models who aren't booked through an agency are notoriously unprofessional. I e-mailed her and crossed my fingers. Turns out she's as sweet and mature as she is beautiful. We didn't get to spend a whole lot of time together... but I think we got some pretty great shots in the 45 minutes or so that we worked. Isn't she just GORGEOUS?!

Photography by Leslie Cersovski

Makeup by Edgar Campos