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.
Miss B - The gorgeous Miss B… mom, wife, business owner…
The gorgeous Miss B… mom, wife, business owner…
“Leslie is so wonderful to work with!! From the moment you book your appointment she is there to help with everything. I loved the checklist she sent, it kept me excited and motivated for the shoot since I had scheduled mine almost six months in advance. The day of the shoot was amazing!! I was a little nervous but Leslie’s fun personality will instantly put you to ease. I have never felt more beautiful!! I am so in love with my photos and can’t wait to give my husband the beautifully crafted book for our 10 year anniversary.”
Miss B
The beach rule for your boudoir photoshoot wardrobe styling.
What’s the first thing you start researching when you’ve booked a boudoir photoshoot?
LINGERIE!
Yay! It’s so much fun! There are so many styles! Oh no, I’m totally overwhelmed.
I have an easy rule of thumb on just how revealing your lingerie should be based on your personal comfort level at the beach. Choose your style and then incorporate anything from the list down.
Gone streaking?
Get naked. You can cover the naughty bits, but you will LOVE photos of you in the buff. Don’t be shy. We’ve seen lots of naked in our studio and it’s no big deal. Try a body chain!
Teeniest bikini?
You’ll feel right at home in a bra and thong/panty set with lots of eye-catching details.
Sporty?
Try a look inspired by Calvin Klein with a bralette and briefs. Bring a great pair of jeans for layering.
Modest Bikini
Bras and underwear with a bit more coverage. This means high-waisted panties (they’re sexier than you think) and a bra with some underwire support.
One-piece?
A strappy or skimpy bodysuit will be perfect. Get one with pretty details.
Miracle Suit?
Shapewear with sexy trim and lace panels smooth over curves for a beautiful hourglass effect.
Cover up all day?
You are going to want layers to feel comfortable. A lacy robe (not satin), cozy cardigan, or slouchy sheer tank will have you feeling sexy in a more modest way.
How to paint a photography backdrop for boudoir
Usually my posts are meant for clients, but this time I wanted to share some knowledge with my clients.
I’ve wanted a painted back drop for ages, but I didn’t want to commit $$$$ to one if I wasn’t sure I’d use it and love it. So as I do with most things… I went DIY for this project. I do a lot of painting projects, so I had a lot of supplies on hand.
Supply list:
1) Large canvas seamless cloth like this one from Amazon.
2) Plastic drop cloth like this one from Sherwin Williams
3) Wide painters tape like Frog Tape (my favorite brand)
4) Zinsser water-based primer ( I used about a quart and a half of my gallon)
5) Miscellaneous paint in grey tones that I had lying around. I used about 3 quarts when all was said and done. I chose a medium grey and a very dark charcoal grey. The ones linked are the quarts from Sherwin Williams in satin. When it’s painted on canvas, it doesn’t have any sheen to it.
5) A paint roller multipack + roller frame + tray multipack
6) an extension pole is optional, but it will make the job easier
7) water and a mixing container with measurement markers
Time to complete project: 1 day in a dry climate
Instructions:
1) Find a large flat hard surface outdoors or in a garage and tape the drop cloth to the ground. Remember to leave room to walk around your canvas on all sides.
2) Unfold the canvas and tape the edges to the plastic sheet
3) Mix the primer with water at about a 2:1 ratio. I chose to do 1/2 quart primer to 1/4 quart water.
4) Use the roller to apply it everywhere. It will get soaked in pretty quickly.
5) Wait about an hour and apply another coat of primer with the same ratio
6) Mix your base color paint with the same ratio as the primer. Use a new roller cover and tray unless you feel like doing massive amounts of cleaning.
7) Roll paint mixture out in all directions. To the left, to the right, then front, then back. X patterns and + patterns. The thin paint will create a textured look that is more opaque in some places than others. Which is what makes it look hand-painted. Let dry completely.
8) Apply a second color of paint. For this color, I mixed equal parts water and paint. I tend to shoot slightly over-exposed, so I made the second coat a bit darker to compensate for that. I wanted a charcoal grey with bits of light grey showing in places. Use the same X and + patterns. If you are picking two very different colors, use a new roller cover and paint pan. Mine were in the same tone, so I just re-used mine.
9) Tada! A hand-painted backdrop for a fraction of the cost of paying a professional.
So far, I’ve only had this for about a week, but I’m storing it rolled up and haven’t had any issues with cracking. Diluting the paint and doing it in layers, it retained some flexibility.
Since we are on quarantine, Here’s a not-so-great snap my mom took with my camera. Yes, the focus is off.
Image 1: canvas taped down
Image 2: Eli helping me roll out the first coat of primer.
Image 3 + 4: Leo putting on the darker grey paint over the first coat of medium grey
Such an easy project, a 2nd grader and pre-schooler can do it! Well, as long as you do the mixing and constantly remind them to stay ON the canvas with their paint and off of it with their feet.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Miss L - Fabulously 40 + All For Herself
Miss L came for a boudoir photoshoot in our to celebrate her 40th birthday in a fun and glamorous way. We pampered this mom and had an amazing time laughing until it hurt and creating gorgeous boudoir portraits for her to cherish for decades.
This smile belongs to a woman who just exudes joy…
When L walked into my studio… my first thought was “Holy moly, she’s gorgeous!” Then she smiled and I don’t think we stopped giggling together for the next 3 hours.
Yes, she was nervous. She looked at me like I was a crazy person when I asked if we could leave her hair as is. But I knew that I wanted to showcase those cheekbones and perfect teeth without distraction. We aren’t all blessed with faces that just need a simple frame.
She had mentioned during our initial consult that she had done a little modeling back in the mid-nineties. I think a lot of us took those modeling classes. I did, but I topped out at 5’5 and there went the dream of walking a runway like Cindy Crawford. 🤣
But L, she’s tall, she’s got spectacular muscles that are lean and feminine, and those cheekbones… well I already mentioned those. She really could have modeled, and I was DYING to get her out of the makeup chair and in front of my lens. I just knew the light would wrap around her with so much love.
She brought beautiful wardrobe that she had splurged on, but I think some of my favorites were the ones in the white sheets and the ones in the plain black bodysuit from my studio wardrobe for the same reason I wanted to keep her hair simple. I didn’t want to distract from her beauty.
Most of the photos she released to me aren’t smiling, which is hysterical because my belly was aching from all the laughing we did. It’s not unusual for my clients to be sore the next day as I guide them through the acrobatic poses, but I’m pretty used to it. But we managed to hold it together long enough to get these amazing photos.
L, thank you for letting me share these photos.
5 Differences Between Bedroom Lingerie + Boudoir Lingerie
5 important differences between lingerie for the bedroom and lingerie for boudoir that can make or break your photoshoot.
Hey girl,
There are two types of lingerie shopping and they are very different. Knowing these 5 differences will have you well on your way to buying lingerie that will look fabulous on camera, but still be fun in the bedroom. We want you to take advantage of the knowledge we’ve gained over a decade of fabulous and not-so-fabulous lingerie for photos. The more thought you put into wardrobe, the better you’ll look.
Cheers!
Leslie
for boudoir
Loose and flowing adds 10-20 pounds to your figure. Choose figure-clinging and sturdier fabric to emphasize curves.
for the bedroom
Loose & flowing fabric like a baby-doll or a loose chemise disguises “flaws” like a mummy-tummy or full hips.
Patterns can be distracting. Bold and solid colors with vertical or hourglass lines are ideal.
Any color looks great, and patterns are fun! It’s all about what looks pretty in person.
Stockings are better. That means they don’t have rubber at the top and require a garter belt. Always size up so they don’t dig into your flesh. Or choose a set of fishnets that goes to the waist.
Thigh highs are a hit. There’s something about peeling them off that gets a guy going. I highly recommend a beautiful pair with a cuban heel, high heels and nothing else.
An old favorite set can look old if it has stains, rips or frays. If it’s not worth taking to a seamstress for repair, leave it at home for your post-boudoir nookie.
A favorite old set makes you feel comfortable and you know it’s his favorite.
Bring along that shirt, or uniform piece, but let’s not make it a focal. Wear it with a ridiculously sexy lingerie set and you’ll get the idea without being swamped in too much material.
His oversized t-shirt, button-down, jersey or uniform looks better on you than it does on him. He loves it mostly because you’ll be stripped out of it in seconds. It’s the idea of you naked underneath his clothes, not the actual outfit, right?
Bonus tips:
Underwire and structure is your friend, so buy tailored and sturdier materials.
Shiny velvets and satins are not your friend. Reflected light adds ten pounds on camera
