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 by Devon Kenny

The Mighty Dolman Tee|San Jose Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyIt’s no secret that we at Boudoir Coterie are big fans of the “sexy-casual” look for photo sessions. It makes for a great warm-up outfit before moving on to the more risque stuff (if that’s in your cards) and most often results in some playful, fun and sexy photos. What’s not to love?

As I mentioned in my recent post about more modest boudoir outfit ideas, I did a sexy-casual set and wore a super cute, heather gray dolman-sleeve top with soft blue boy shorts on the bottom. While I love all of my photos, this set is absolutely my favorite, and what’s even better is that although I bought this shirt specifically for my session, I still wear it ALL the time!

In case you’re wondering exactly what a dolman sleeve shirt is, it typically has looser arm holes with sleeves that are tighter at the wrists, though the name is used rather loosely. These shirts often have larger neck openings and are sometimes short and boxy (which is why I usually layer mine over a tank when I wear it in public).

Personally, I love having multi functional pieces in my wardrobe, and this shirt is a great one. Here’s me wearing my shirt for my boudoir session and at the beach on my honeymoon.

San Jose bay Area sexy t-shirt bridal boudoir

If you’re planning a boudoir session and want to invest in items that you’ll wear again, I highly recommend getting this type of shirt. Here are a few ways I wear mine:

1. Layered over a tank, with yoga pants and flip-flops when I’m running errands (or actually on my way to and from yoga)

2. With jeans instead of yoga pants, a tank top, statement necklace and casual wedges for a more polished casual look

3. Lounging around the house with pajama shorts (sometimes I even sleep in it)

4. Over a swimsuit and shorts as a beach cover-up

The shirt I have is from Macy’s and I can’t find the exact style anymore, but I scoured the internet to find some other options that might pique your fancy. What’s even better is that these are all on sale, so get them quick before they’re gone!

1. Victoria’s Secret – High-Low Dolman Tee

2. Anthropologie – Frankie Dolman

3. Ideology – Dolman-Sleeve Striped Banded Pullover (This is the same brand as mine but the style looks a little different)

4. AE – Brunch Tee

Here are a few varying sleeve styles…

Dolman Tee

Caslon slouchy tee / Rachel Rachel Roy dolman sleeve t shirt / RVCA t shirt

If those aren’t enough reasons to run out and get one of these t-shirts right now, they’re also incredibly comfortable and extremely forgiving on days when you’re feeling a little less fabulous (I don’t like to use that three letter “F” word”).

Already own a dolman tee? Let us know how you like to wear yours in the comments. And if you’re ready to wear it for a boudoir photo session in our San Jose studio, please give us a call!

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855

Nicole

in Boudoir Must Haves / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Devon Kenny

The Many Benefits of Bridal Boudoir – Part 1|San Jose Boudoir Photographer

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyWhen I began planning my wedding, I never imagined having a bridal boudoir photo shoot would be part of those plans. As a matter of fact, it’s not something I even knew existed at the time.

Thanks to tons of gorgeous shots on Pinterest, and many deals on Groupon and Living Social, I quickly became aware and was definitely intrigued. Before I knew it, I was interviewing potential photographers and setting up my shoot.

My main goal with the photo-shoot was to have a unique and special gift for my husband-to-be. I had no idea there would be so many other benefits, but now that I know, I’d like to share them with you.

1. Stress-Free Pampering

No matter the scale of your wedding, planning can be extremely stressful. While many people will try to fool you into thinking that weddings are all about the bride, it’s often really about the bride trying to make sure everyone else is happy. Having a day that’s truly all about you is a great way to de-stress and recharge. From having your hair and makeup professionally done, to parading around in sexy lingerie (or whatever you choose to wear), you’ll get some much needed “me time.”

San Jose Bay Area sexy boudoir looks

2. Awesome Lingerie Wardrobe

While buying new stuff to wear is totally not required for a photo shoot, Boudoir Coterie includes a wardrobe consultation with every package. I chose to have mine at Besos lingerie shop in Los Gatos, and I definitely recommend doing the same if you can. Sure, shopping for skivvies with a stranger might seem slightly awkward at first, but when else do you get the opportunity to have a personal shopper for a few hours? Another great benefit is that you end up with some cute professionally-selected pieces to wear on your honeymoon too.

Boudoir Coterie Sexy pictures

3. Posing Practice

My husband-to-be and I had an engagement photo session with our wedding photographer roughly six months before our wedding. While this was great for getting comfortable with our photographer, it wasn’t until my boudoir shoot that I started feeling really comfortable in front of the camera. While any good wedding photographer will be able to help you pose and take photos from flattering angles, there’s so much else going on that day that it’s good to have some more extensive practice beforehand. Granted you probably won’t be arching your back and sticking out your booty while laying on a sheepskin rug on your wedding day (or maybe you will?), having extra camera confidence and practicing your best angles will be super beneficial in the long run. If you can take great photos while wearing next to nothing, imagine how you’ll look in your gorgeous white gown (or whatever else you choose to wear).

Those are just a few of the extra benefits of bridal boudoir. Please stay tuned for part two in the coming weeks — and if you’re thinking about having a bridal boudoir photo shoot in our San Jose studio, feel free to drop us a line!

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

Nicole

in Boudoir Must Haves / Boudoir Sessions / Main / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Devon Kenny

Subtly Sexy|San Jose Boudoir Photographer

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyNot too long ago, Danea posted about how liberating it can be to go topless, but that’s not necessarily for everyone. Are you contemplating a boudoir photo shoot but aren’t sure if you’re comfortable with baring it all — or even just baring it a little?

First thing’s first — know that you are beautiful no matter what you wear — whether it’s a snowsuit, or nothing but your own skin. The photographer’s job is to capture your beauty no matter what package it’s wrapped in.

With that being said, you should never do anything you’re not comfortable with. There is never any pressure to reveal more than you want to during a photo shoot. Yes, boudoir is sexy, but sexy isn’t just about what you’re wearing. It can be a pose or an expression. It can be a fully clothed curve or one hella hot shoe! (Did I say “hella?” I’m turning SO California).

So, if you’re thinking about a photo shoot and are looking for some modest, yet sexy, pieces. Here are a few ideas:

1. I love the look of a loose fitting casual top with boy shorts. I actually wore a similar outfit for my boudoir shoot and those turned out to be my favorite shots. Dolman-sleeve tops are my favorite!  As an added bonus, I still wear that same outfit around the house all the time because it’s so comfortable (and it happens to be my husband’s favorite)!

2. A sexy robe can be a great cover up. You can opt for something solid or a little more sheer depending on your comfort level. Just don’t forget to wear something cute underneath in case you decide to get a little more bold (I hear this can happen).

3. Shoes, shoes, shoes. Need I say more?

sexy black & white boudoir

 

Okay, so I actually love these modest looks so much that I have a few more ideas.

sexy neutral boidoir

4. Pajamas! There are so many options for cute PJ sets. I personally love short sets because they’re sexy and playful (and comfortable too!).

5. A soft flowy cardigan is also a great piece for a photo shoot. Pair it with a cute bra and you can control how much you want to show off. You can pin it closed with a pretty brooch or let a little bra peek out if you dare.

I know some of these pieces are pretty pricey, but they’re just meant to be ideas for inspiration. I love to shop clearance racks, and you might even already have some of these pieces in your closet! Vintage and secondhand shops are also great options to find pretty nighties, robes, shoes and cardigans too (just consider getting them professionally cleaned first).

Last but not least, even if you’re going for a more modest look, it doesn’t hurt to at least bring one more risque “outfit”– a bold and sexy bra and panty set would be perfect for that. You never know, sometimes that inner sex kitten comes out when you’re in front of the camera (but if it doesn’t, that’s okay too!).

Now that you’re armed with some fabulous outfit ideas, why not schedule a boudoir photo shoot today? If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area give us a call and set up a photo shoot in our San Jose Studio today!

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855

Nicole

in Beauty/Glamour / Boudoir Must Haves / Boudoir Sessions / Main / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 2 comments
 by Danea

Embrace Your Curves | San Jose Bay Boudoir Photography

Okay, so I will admit that I may have a few curves that I wish were in a few different places BUT that doesn’t stop me from loving my body and it certainly didn’t stop me from getting in front of the camera myself a few months back. Sure it would be fantastic if my boobs were bigger than my belly but hey, it is what it is. LOL. My point, lovely ladies, is that I know curves and I definitely do not shy away from them in the studio and neither should you. It really truly does not matter what size you are, every woman deserves to feel beautiful and sexy at any size and a pampering Beauty or Boudoir session at Boudoir Coterie can do just that!

I hear all the time “I will book as soon as I loose 10 pounds.” or “I would love too but I feel too fat right now” Ummmm? Sexy is a state of mind and your weight shouldn’t stop you from feeling fantastic. I have photographed many a lady who felt they could stand to loose a few pounds, and you know what, they LOVED their images and they got to see what I see in them, a beautiful girl who’s “size” doesn’t mean a thing! One of my good friends Miss A(and HERE)still, after two years, raves about her images and I want you to feel that great too!

So here are a few tips to having a successful session at ANY size.

  1. Make sure it fits! I offer wardrobe consultations for all my clients. There is nothing worse than bring lingerie that doesn’t fit. You won’t feel good and quite frankly you won’t look so hot either. Ignore the size, it’s just a number(or letter) and buy what looks and feels right.
  2. Wear what you love. We all have outfits that make us feel fabulous so make sure to bring items that make you feel like a superstar. Anything can look sexy, so bring that dress or favorite blouse and own it!
  3. Purchase items that flatter your figure. It might not seem fair but bra’s come in different sizes and shapes for a reason so be sure to try on items that work with your body type. Not sure what the right shape is? The owners of both Besos, in Los Gatos–Gail and Curvy Girl, in Willow Glenn– Chrystal, know their stuff! Both lingerie stores carry a variety of items and between them and myself, we will have you looking smoking hot!!
  4. Stay away from flashy trends. There are many sexy and cute lingerie items that go fabulously in the bedroom but I will be frank– don’t photograph as well and can sometimes look cheap in your images. Florescent bright colors, glittery and apron cuts may be cute and trendy and get his motor going but after spending $$$ on your images, I don’t want you shaking your head and asking “What was I thinking?” 10 years down the road. Think Hollywood Starlet, clean lines, flattering cuts, blacks and rich & mono tones.
  5. Don’t be afraid to mask some areas. I get it, I do. You really don’t want a bare mid-drift, then don’t bare it! Maybe wear a sexy corset or bring a sheer shall. There are many ways to be sexy and beautiful and still diminish those areas that no matter what, you can’t help but feel a little insecure about. Believe me, images taken by a photographer who specializes in Boudoir such as myself, knows lots of posing magic. 😉
  6. Most of all relax, let go and have fun.

Here’s the beautiful Miss N rocking a gorgeous corset in true Hollywood fashion. She’s got amazing curves, chose fabulous outfits for her session and these images will remain timeless.

Way to work it Miss N!

San Jose Bay Area sexy Boudoir Portraits

So come on all you curvy babes, let’s show ’em what you’ve got!

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net Or 408.460.1855

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

in Beauty/Glamour / Main / News / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Danea

Going Topless Can Be Liberating! | San Jose Bay Area Boudoir Photography

Okay, so I am not trying to start another ’60 burning bra revolution. Hahaha. I quite like bras and what they do for the look and shape of our girls. Plus they can be pretty, sexy and let’s not forget, very supportive. 😉 However I have noticed a frequency in the number of clients who are willing to toss the bra aside for some playful and sexy shots. I like to keep my topless shots classy but for the record I do on occasion and by request, photograph full frontal shots(I just never share those online). However most women prefer implied regardless of the images being playful and laughing or full on smoldering hot.

I consider this to be pretty hot. 😉

San Jose Bay Area Sexy Pictures

The gorgeous Miss J did both, okay so I admit I may have coaxed the laughing shots because I do love me some natural laughs, and from the feedback I get from their male counterparts, so do they! So here are a few mixed variety of shots. From playful, fun and down right sexy. Oh and that tushy shot in the middle, another favorite by clients, cute butt shots are a #1 request by the ladies. And that last shot, well that one is for the boys. Am I right!? LOL.

San Jose Bay Area classy sexy photos

Way to rock the sexy garter and stockings Miss J, you look amazing and it was a pleasure having you grace my studio.

So are you willing to drop that brassiere and get your sexy on? I promise you will actually have fun and love the results! Maybe we should meet first you know, get to know me before getting naked… hahaha. Just give me a call or email and I would be happy to show you around the studio which is located near downtown San Jose.

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855

Happy Humpday everyone!

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

in Boudoir Sessions / Just Because / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments
 by Danea

Tropical Turquoise | San Jose Boudoir Photographer

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photography

As a former Manhattanite whose wardrobe used to feature a whole lot of black, I really can’t get enough of bright colors this summer. My last post was all about orange, but quite frankly, I’m really loving turquoise now too!

Back in May, my husband and I traveled to Cancun for our honeymoon. I’ve never traveled anywhere with water quite like this before, so seeing such a gorgeous color in nature was truly amazing to me (or maybe it was just the “honeymoon high?”). Perhaps I’m a bit narcissistic, but I couldn’t stop staring at my toes either. Who doesn’t love a fresh pedi set against a serene beachy background? I chose Essie’s “In The Cab-Ana” for my vacation pedicure. I liked it because it was fun and bright, but I had no idea it was also going to match the beautiful turquoise water perfectly!

Now that we’re back from our honeymoon, this has become my “happy color.” Perhaps I’m partial, but I also think it’d be a great color for a boudoir photo shoot outfit. I think this turquoise would totally pop against crisp white sheets — just like a gorgeous white sand beach

Sexy Beach Boudoir San Jose Bay Area
 

 What do you think? Check out some inspiration below.

 

tropical turqoise

 

 

Summer isn’t over yet! Want to schedule your own tropical turquoise boudoir photo shoot at our studio in San Jose? Give us a call or email today.


Nicole

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

in Boudoir Must Haves / Main / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 1 comments
 by Danea

Calling All Brides! | San Jose Bay Area Bridal Boudoir Photography

Last year, long before she entered my Signature Coterie Girl search, she was a client. A client who wanted to knock the socks of her groom and va va va voom, did she ever look amazing! Miss Kristina decided to do a few bridal sets and then a full on sexy black bustier, garters and the works, but today I am just going to share a few from her actual bridal session! I figured why make the girl come in and shoot more bridals when I am sure she would rather have some new sexy images, which reminds me, you will want to read all the way through this post… trust me.

Moving right along… Kristina had some fun playing up the old, new, borrowed and blue. From pretty blue toes to sparkling jewelry, this girl certainly knows how to accessorize! We did a combination of veils, white outfits, cute bride jacket, blue panties and even a sheet set. Kristina booked the very popular Contessa Package which is two full hours in front of the camera, a gorgeous 8×8 Luxe Album and 20 digital files. Because of her outfit selection one outfit got multiple looks when we started pealing away the pieces. So Kristina had lots of gorgeous images to choose from!

Here are a few of my favorite images from her session.

San Jose Bay Area sexy bridal boudoir photography

Check out these amazing shoes! I said shoes, people. Shoes. Hahaha.

San Jose Bay Area Sexy Bridal Boudoir

Being playful…

San Jose bay Area sexy bridal boudoir

And of course I couldn’t resist a fun little shot with all these great accessories while she was changing outfits. hehehe.

San Franscico Bay Area Sexy Bridal Boudoir Photography

As with every session that takes place at the Boudoir Coterie San Jose Studio, we customize the sets and looks just for you. So no matter what you decide to wear, we will make sure you look so hot that there is no chance of him getting cold feet on your wedding day. In fact there is a good chance he will be waiting at the alter long before the ceremony begins, tapping his foot in excitement for what’s to come!

Casting Call!

Okay, so now let’s have some fun. I want to shoot a bridal session with a new face and that could be YOU! Here is your opportunity for you to participate in a  Bridal Boudoir Session!

What it is: A two hour session with Hair and MU and 1 digital files of your choosing. 15% off any addition products.

What is required:

  1. You MUST consent to FULL USE of your images. This may be online, social media, marketing etc… if you are unsure about having your images posted or used publicly then you will not qualify. I want a fresh new bridal shoot to share. Thus, this is the #1 requirement. (Please take consideration on whether this is something your soon to be husband will be okay with).
  2. You must be willing to share these images right away, this means if you are wanting a surprise gift for your fiance, you may not want to do this as there is that slight chance it could get back to him BUT I never share names of clients, tag or anything of the sort, so if you keep it hush hush, he might not find out. If you’re getting married late Sept, this will be PERFECT for you!
  3. Session will take place no later than August 31st.
  4. Must be available on a weekday morning for the shoot.
  5. To be considered, please send ONE HEAD SHOT and ONE FULL BODY shot to bcoterie@sbcglobal.net along with your name, age, wedding date and contact info. These do NOT have to be professional images, but they must be clear so I can see what you look like.
  6. There is no cash value.

Other info: Album prices begin at $750, digital collections begin at $400(for 5). I just want everyone to be aware of my prices BEFORE submitting your images so that there is no surprise when you decide to place your bridal order.

 Complimentary session and digital file are valued at $650.

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

in Boudoir Must Haves / Boudoir Sessions / Just Because / Main / News / What To Wear 3 comments
 by Danea

Orange is the new Black | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photographyEarlier this week a friend told me about Netflix’ new series “Orange is the new Black” and I’m totally hooked. While the “orange” referenced in the show title is orange prison jumpsuits, it’s inspired me to think more about the color in general fashion.

Up until earlier this year, my wardrobe had barely any orange that I can recall. That all began to change after Christmas when I had a VISA gift card burning a hole in my pocket, and I was really in need of a new wallet. I found a super cute Kate Spade “grown up” wallet (you know the kind that fits a checkbook and more than five cards?) on clearance and had to have it. The wallet came in deep purple and bright orange, and though I was initially attracted to the purple, I waited too long laboring over my decision, and ended up having to get the orange.

As it turns out, the wallet was just the beginning. Over the last few months I’ve picked up quite a few orange pieces, including a bright orange bathing suit cover up and soft orange and cream striped top.

It also seems like my closet isn’t the only one that’s suddenly increasingly orange. Recently all of the Coterie staff were together in the studio and most of us were wearing some kind of orange. It seems to be everywhere this summer!

Anyway, I was browsing online for fun boudoir lingerie and found some really cute orange pieces. Are you daring enough to give this hot color a try? Check out some inspiration below.

orange is the new black

If you’re ready to rock some hot orange in a boudoir photo shoot, contact our San Jose Studio today!

Nicole

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

in Beauty/Glamour / Boudoir Must Haves / Just Because / News / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 5 comments
 by Danea

Makeup By the Pros | San Jose Boudoir Photography

A little intro…

I would like to introduce you all to Nicole. She is a past client who enjoyed her session so much that she wanted to become a part of my team. Yay! She loves to write and will be creating some fantastic and informative blog posts for you all(amongst other things behind the scenes). All her posts will have her image at the top you you will know it’s her. I am very excited to have her join my amazing and ever growing Coterie team and I am proud to have such amazing girls to work with!

Welcome aboard, Nicole!

Boudoir Coterie Portrait photography

 I have something to confess. Before last year, I’d never had my makeup applied by a professional. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but I never had a  real reason to before I got engaged.

My first experience was in preparation for our engagement photos. I asked  the artist for a fairly natural look and had no idea what to expect. Holy smokes! I seriously could not stop looking in the mirror all day, nor did I want to wash it all off before I went to bed.

 

A few months later, I was searching for a makeup artist for my wedding and scheduled a makeup trial. This time I wanted a slightly more dramatic look, but didn’t want to go too crazy. Same result. Holy smokes!

 

Shortly after my makeup trial, and in the midst of wedding planning, I started toying around with the idea of doing a boudoir photo shoot. I was first inspired by some Groupon and Living Social deals, but then I did some research and found Boudoir Coterie. Since I finally understood the benefits of professional makeup, the fact that they provide it was one of the factors that aided in my decision to choose Boudoir Coterie for my shoot. On the day of my shoot I had my makeup done pretty dramatically. At first it was a little shocking to see myself wearing such sultry makeup, but I felt like a superstar and was amazed by how it looked in the photos. Smoking hot if I do say so myself. Of course, I also had my makeup done on my wedding day, which made me look and feel like a million bucks. I think you get the point by now. While I believe all women are beautiful in their own skin, a little enhancement can be fun. I really think that all women should try to have their makeup done by a  professional at least once.

 

One of the main benefits for me was understanding exactly what I looked like with the right makeup. As women (and I’m sure plenty of men too), it’s tempting to compare ourselves to celebrities, but it’s not really fair when they have a team of professionals working on them most of the time. Seeing what I looked like with the help of a professional made me realize that celebrities are just “normal” people underneath their makeup too. While I’ve seen and heard this many times, there’s something more powerful about experiencing it for yourself.

As an added benefit, I took lots of close up pictures of my face with professional makeup and have tried to mimic some of the looks. While I still have a long way to go, I think seeing myself done up by a professional has helped improve my own skills too!

San Francisco Bay Area Photographer

Ready to feel like a celebrity for a day? Give us a call or shoot us an email to schedule a boudoir or glamour photo session and get glammed up by Boudoir Coterie’s professional team right here in our San Jose Studio.

 P.S. Hair and makeup in this photo was done by Elizabeth and the Maddox Kai Salon in Los Gatos, CA.

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

in Boudoir Must Haves / Boudoir Sessions / Main / News 3 comments
 by Danea

Bride To Be | San Jose San Francisco Bay Area Bridal Boudoir

“Do you shoot boudoir for brides?”

Why yes, of course! Although many of my bridal shots are for his eyes only, I do, on occasion get to share. It’s past time to schedule a bridal boudoir sample session with my Coterie Girl, Kristina so we have more fabulous bridal image samples to show off… Guess I need to make some calls. 😉

A bridal boudoir session is very much like a regular boudoir session but we try and include 1-2 looks using some bridal pieces. Whether you want to include your veil and garter, or even some cute bride to be panties and mock bouquet, whatever suits your fancy for the perfect bridal shots you have in mind! Miss J planned to wear these amazing boots with her dress so we had some fun with these simple accessories. A little can go a long way… and hot damn does she look smoking!

Sexy pictures Boudoir Coterie

So what would you bring to your bridal boudoir session? Would you keep it simple and classic? Would you be willing to bare it all in just a long veil? Or maybe you would want some shots incorporating his favorite hobby? Whatever your ideas, Boudoir Coterie customizes each and every session to best suit your needs, and planning the session and wardrobe is half the fun! A complimentary wardrobe consult is included with every booking so even if you need to do some shopping, we can go together and pick out the perfect outfit for your body type… and your wedding night. 😉

Interested in learning more about what Boudoir Coterie has to offer brides? Give us a call or shoot us an email to schedule your complimentary consultation at our San Jose portrait studio so you can see it all for yourself… and start planning the session that will have him running down that aisle!

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

in Boudoir Must Haves / Boudoir Sessions / Just Because / News / Sheer & Sexy / What To Wear 0 comments