Forty and Fabulous, Meet Eliza

When I met Eliza, I was just as I always am. I was so excited to meet the woman I had been emailing back and forth with.  I was anticipating the session, studying her requested phone selfies, sharing ideas with the other stylists, and just creating a positive energy in the studio for an amazing session.  I was ready to meet her and then she arrived.

It didn’t take long, before I realized, how noteworthy and powerful she was. Those words are harsh; which is the exact opposite of how she comes off, but they are fitting. She was kind, warm, and appreciative. Her quiet confidence wasn’t something I was completely used to.

Her credence in herself was one that didn’t have to be portrayed, or proved.

It was in the way she walked, the way she smiled fully; it was in all of her anecdotes, and genuine interest in the peoples’ lives she was around. She was as sure of herself as she is the Earth is round.

It wasn’t loud, or something she was striving for, it had been in her, her whole life. And capturing that on film, is exactly what the rest of us need.

So, if you are doubting yourself, or your beautiful body, even for a single second, I hope you can channel ‘E’ and feel the fire that she set within me that day.

I love to hear how clients are feeling after our session and sent Eliza a list of questions.  Below you will find a list of questions and her beautiful responses.

‘Confidence is different in different stages in your life because of the different goals that you want to achieve.  While I have always had the confidence in me, reaching forty is a true milestone because I can honestly say that I have achieved and done everything that I want in life before I turned 40. So, I wanted to capture this moment by doing something completely bold and do a boudoir session.’

Boudoir photography has always been a fantasy that I wanted to live out.  What a lot of women tend to think of boudoir photos is that it is sensual and provocative in nature.  While this may very well be true, I view it as a way to release your inner sex appeal and confidence.  Being able to capture the power of a woman’s sensuality in photo can be quite moving.

I wanted to do a boudoir session not because I wanted to showcase my body or create something for my husband (although I am sure he will appreciate it once I show him the pictures), but because I wanted to capture this moment/time in my life.  When I look at every picture I took/take, its always tied into a memory.  So I wanted to capture this in a photo that depicts my life at this age, because to be honest, I have never felt so good in my life and I wanted a fierce photo to represent that.

Q&A

I asked Eliza a few questions, hoping to gain her perspective on a subject I am so committed to. If any of her answers resonate with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

How did you get aquatinted with boudoir sessions?  What made you want to do it? 

Boudoir photography has always been a fantasy that I wanted to live out.  What a lot of women tend to think of boudoir photos is that it is sensual and provocative in nature.  While this may very well be true, I view it as a way to release your inner sex appeal and confidence.  Being able to capture the power of a woman’s sensuality in photo can be quite moving.

What is your best advice for a client considering a boudoir session?

Just go for it! I am a person that tends to always step out of my comfort zone so if you have always been thinking about, just do it.  It is a lot of fun and you will discover a different kind of confidence within you 😉

Do you think your confidence has evolved from what it was when you were twenty versus where it is now that you are turning forty? 

Confidence is different in different stages in your life because of the different goals that you want to achieve.  While I have always had the confidence in me, reaching forty is a true milestone because I can honestly say that I have achieved and done everything that I want in life before I turned 40. So, I wanted to capture this moment by doing something completely bold and do a boudoir session.

What inspired you to celebrate yourself and choose a boudoir session of your very own?

I wanted to do a boudoir session not because I wanted to showcase my body or create something for my husband (although I am sure he will appreciate it once I show him the pictures), but because I wanted to capture this moment/time in my life.  When I look at every picture I took/take, its always tied into a memory.  So I wanted to capture this in a photo that depicts my life at this age, because to be honest, I have never felt so good in my life and I wanted a fierce photo to represent that.

What was the biggest surprise about your forty and fabulous boudoir session?

I was surprised at how easy it was to pose.  Laurie’s team did a great job of making me feel comfortable – although a glass of champagne definitely helped!

What did you love the most about working with our studio?

It was easy and intimate.  Laurie and her team of stylists knew what they were doing so it made it easy for me to pose and take the shots.

Was there a special moment that took place during the day that you weren’t expecting? 

I honestly think that I couldn’t do the poses since I never posed like a real model.  Only candid shots.  It was cool how you can feel like a model for a day.

Would you recommend the experience to other women?  And if so, why?  

Absolutely! Doing boudoir session is very liberating and so much fun too!

How do you plan on displaying the images?

I plan on displaying it in my instagram on the day of my birthday (05/22) and also frame some photos that I can place in my bedroom/house.  I do want a photo that is just a half body portrait – which I’d like to blow up and display in my living room.

Behind The Scenes

In the images below you will take a peek into our boudoir sessions.  Sessions are always relaxed and calm and the room quickly fills with laughter and a positive energy between the team.  Renay, pictured below, styles hair throughout the session.  She has been a hair stylist for over 20 years and is incredible at what she does.  Katie is our makeup artist and creates a beautiful look by keeping things natural and simplifying the whole makeup application.

Upon booking you have the option to add on hair and/or makeup.  The stylists stay the entire length of the session, changing and tweaking looks between every shot.  If you are at all interested in learning more, simply CONTACT me today to start the process!

Wardrobe Selection Process

One of the most frequently asked questions during our initial phone consultation is ‘what should I wear?’. Clients are welcome to borrow from my studio wardrobe or bring their own garments to wear.  I always recommend neutral colors including ivory, peach, apricot, tan, beige, blush, and black.  The focus of any portrait session should be on the subject themselves and less about their clothing.  Understated and romantic pieces are always suggested.

This forty and fabulous client chose a classic black one piece to wear for her session.  This partially conservative piece was absolutely perfect and a classic outfit to wear.  She paired this look with a pair of GORGEOUS stiletto Louboutins with silver spikes.  They added a sophisticated elegance to her look and ended the session beautifully!

 

Dream Job

This little dream of building a boudoir brand has grown exponentially in the last year.  I am THRILLED to announce that as of 2020 I will be booking these sessions full time which means additional availability.  Although there will always be a special place in my heart for my Elle Baker Photography brand, I am so happy to be starting this next chapter in my life and really taking Boudoir By Elle Photography to the next level.  Many opportunities are being presented and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.  And YES!  I will absolutely still be taking my Elle Baker newborn, baby, and family clients next year!!  I will just be scaling down the amount of clients I take every month to ensure I have room for all of my Boudoir by Elle clients!

I had no idea there would be such a high demand for beautiful beauty and boudoir portraits and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to work with the amazing people I do. If you are interested in booking a 2019 boudoir session PLEASE don’t hesitate to contact me today and start the reservation process.  I have a handful of remaining dates available and receive inquiries daily.  It would be an HONOR to document this special time in your life.

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