Boudoir Must Haves

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

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

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

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

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

Fabulous Boudoir Parties | San Jose San Francisco Bay Area Boudoir Photographer

With all the hype in recent days over Boudoir Photography and Boudoir Parties, I realized I haven’t put much information out there regarding the fact that I DO also shoot parties!

Boudoir parties take place at our San Jose Portrait Studio and are a great way to celebrate many of life’s milestones. Each girl chooses whether she wants a Boudoir or Beauty session. Let’s face it, not everyone is willing to be photographed in their skivvies but EVERYONE wants an amazing image of themselves so I leave that decision up to you!

Regardless of what you wear, parties are a fantastic experience full of fun and laughter! With your favorite refreshments on hand and the pampering you get, to the fun of being in front of the lens– you will be left wondering why you haven’t done this sooner! Girls sit and relax, chatting and laughing while in the makeup chair or waiting for their in front of the camera. But once it’s your turn, we shoot away from the audience so you can totally relax and enjoy the experience. Once you see a few shots for yourself, all doubts will be waved and you will all feel amazing, sexy and beautiful. Oh and be sure to plan an evening out afterwards because you will want to take advantage of how you look and feel, I promise!

Boudoir Parties sexy photos

For more detailed information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with your friends please contact me at:

408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer

Casual Can Be Sexy | San Jose Boudoir Portrait Photographer

Work what you’ve got!

I hear a lot of “but I have nothing to wear” from clients and potential clients but I assure you, you have more than you realize. Boudoir does not have to be about slinky lingerie. It’s about feeling beautiful inside and out. You definitely don’t have to spend a fortune on new outfits for a boudoir session! I tell all my clients to raid their closest for some great finds. You can really glam up simple pieces to make them hot and sexy. Accessories and the right shoes(or no shoes and long socks– smokin’!) can pull a look together. Grey is a fantastic color and looks nice on all skin tones. Pair an oversize tee with some heals and cute panties and he will never look at that top the same again. *wink, wink*

I recently had a client tell me that her hubby wears the shirt she was photographed in so much more now… we can all imagine why. *snicker* So don’t be afraid to mix and match what you already have. It will make your special someone weak in the knees remembering your gorgeous images, every time you wear that favorite shirt!

Sexy Casual Boudoir

Wardrobe consultations come complimentary with every session booked! So don’t fret, we will help you look amazing and choose all the perfect pieces for your session!

Let’s get started… 408.460.1855 or bcoterie@sbcglobal.net

Sexy Photos San Jose Boudoir Photographer