Offer good through Cyber Monday– or until sessions sell out!
Ladies, today we’re talking underwear!
You know how they (whoever they are?) always say that you should get rid of anything in your closet that you haven’t worn in over a year? Well, I’ve been really trying to abide by that lately, and it’s definitely a challenge. Even though the walk-in closet I share with my husband is big enough to be a small bedroom in Manhattan, it’s pretty small by California standards, and I’ve filled it up rather quickly.
I’ve also been trying to apply the same rules to my bureau. The other day I decided to dump out my lingerie/underwear drawer and tossed all of the items that needed to be retired. When all was said and done, I realized I needed to buy some new underwear, so off to Target I went!
I guess you’re probably starting to wonder where I’m going with this, but I just like to provide a little back story. It adds color. The fun part is coming up!
When you’re preparing for a boudoir photo session, or looking to buy something a little more exciting than a four-pack of Hanes, Target might not be the first store to come to mind, but they have some really pretty lingerie.
I was mostly in the market for every-day practical panties, but when I found this Gilligan & O’Malley thong, I had to throw in something special. Turns out, not only is it super cute, but also might just be comfortable enough for every-day practical too.
The material is extremely soft and the lace details make it super feminine. Check out how the lace goes all the way across the top of the back. Gorgeous! And the best part? These underwear are only $5 each, or five for $20. I just got the purple color on the bottom left, but at that price, I might have to go back and get some more.
Are you brave enough to rock this feminine and sexy thong for a tushy shot? Give us a call today for a complimentray consultation in our San Jose studio.
bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855
Nicole
I love Fall. It’s one of the few things I truly miss about the East Coast, and I get a little nostalgic each year when it rolls around. Thankfully these feelings quickly fade as soon as my hometown gets it’s first snowfall and it’s still sunny and 70 degrees here in San Jose. In the meantime, I’m getting my pumpkin spice lattes early in the morning while it’s still crisp and cool outside and reminiscent of the Fall weather I’m used to. It’s the small things.
Aside from the crisp cool days, and everything pumpkin flavored, I also really love all of the gorgeous Fall colors. I might not get to enjoy the beautiful foliage in California, but there’s always fashion!
The deeply saturated colors are so pretty, classic, and flattering to many skin tones. As a matter-of-fact, when I got married in April, I bypassed all of the typical Spring colors and chose “spiced wine†bridesmaid dresses from J.Crew. This gorgeous, deep reddish-purple color looked fabulous on all of my bridesmaids and I was able to make it more “Spring-like” with bright purple and green accents. As an added bonus, they can all wear their dresses again this Fall too (isn’t that what all brides like to think?).
Anyway, this Fall I’m really loving navy blue. Back when I lived in New York City, like most New Yorkers, black was a staple in my closet. While I still think black is quite chic, I love how much softer navy can be. It pairs great with browns and creams and is very flattering. I’ve been seeing a lot of great navy lingerie online lately, which I think would be perfect for a boudoir photo session. Here are some of my favorites from around the web (including a few really affordable ones from H&M):
I really like the idea of pairing these pieces with a soft cream cardigan or wrap and cozying up with a cup of coffee for a more casual look. Of course, you could also add a hot pair of heels for something a little more vixen-ish too;-)
What’s your favorite Fall color? Ready to rock it in a boudoir session this Fall (hint, hint – now is the time to book your holiday sessions!)? Give us a call or shoot us an email to set up a free consultation in our San Jose studio!
bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855
Nicole
Pinterest, that wonderfully, evil, inspirational time suck. If you haven’t jumped on board you are either smart or missing out. Haha.
I love it and although I have been REALLY good about keeping it for business and posing inspiration I have noticed a few crafty things slipping into my boards, and I am sure more awesomey goodness will makes it way in, especially with Halloween right around the corner– it’s my favorite holiday, right next to Christmas, seriously they are kinda tied for the bestest most awesomest holidays in my books. I wonder how many words I made up in that last paragraph? But I digress…
I have many boards started and categorize mine by set… standing, sitting, bed, etc… this helps me with new ideas when flow posing.
I encourage clients who are also Pinterest users to start an inspiration board. It doesn’t matter where they find the images as long as they are images they love– meaning they do not have to be from my website but that is always a bonus. Hahaha. Actually I think it’s kind of cool when I see images posted from fellow photographers that I know personally, heck I post their images too! I even pull up Pinterest boards while clients are getting beautified. It helps me get into a creative zone and it inspires me to try new things in a shoot. I don’t copy images outright but I may try a pose or an element from a pose. I also look at body types and what poses might work for different clients. For example, we once tried this pose of J-Lo only to discover that girlfriend must have some very long legs, or a short torso or something because it just didn’t work… but it did make for a lot of laughs. 😉
So there you have it, yet another inspirational way to use this amazing site– Boudoir. So do you use Pinterest? Would you use it for shoot inspiration? I believe they now have private boards so really there is no excuse. And yes we can pull it up during your shoot!
So go ahead, be inspired by sexiness. Pinterest isn’t just for recipes, kid crafts and home improvement anymore. *wink, wink*
Ready to put that inspiration to good use? Contact us today and I promise I will make you worthy of being pinned(even if they will never actually make it online). 🙂
P.S. Of course you may pin from this site!
It’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.
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
Here are a few varying sleeve styles…
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†wordâ€).
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
When 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.â€
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.
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
Not 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! Â 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?
Okay, so I actually love these modest looks so much that I have a few more ideas.
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