Shooting a babe for the first time is, of course, amazing, but when they come back for a second time it is our chance to really play, explore and get creative. A first session with me is almost like your introduction to boudoir and while it is fucking amazing and will blow your mind, you will A)want MORE and B)know that you can take it a step further. Repeat offenders are amazing because they know what to expect so the initial jitters are out of the way and we can get into creating! Miss K was no exception. We played up her hair and makeup a little differently than normal and really had some fun with posing, lighting and editing! So, if you were doing a second shoot with me what would you like to explore, play with, be? Feel free to leave a comment below!
She Could Be Very Judgmental {of herself} ~ Winnipeg boudoir photography
I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of Miss H on the blog in the future! She was a blast to hang out with and also helped me out a few weeks after this shoot with another shoot for a tutorial that I am working on. Not only did Miss H kill her shoot, but she got WHY we do what we do here. This babe was a little bit of a chameleon on camera, changing her look for every pose and outfit I gave her. Turns out, she was a theater kid, so she loved being in front of the camera and giving me everything she had. I will let Miss H take it from here and talk about her experience being in front of my lens for the first time:
[It made] me feel confident in my own skin again, I haven't felt this beautiful in years (I truly mean this, Teri is an absolute inspiration with the way she empowers body image and cuts negative thoughts out of her shoots). The biggest thing that stood out with me was before the reveal, the way she spoke, and how she spoke about not looking at yourself with a judging eye. That truly stuck out to me, as someone who is always judgmental of myself, and I called my mom afterwards to boast about how great that was and how amazing the experience was!
From the first phone call, to consultation, to the shoot and to the reveal, Teri was absolutely phenomenal to work with. The way she portrays positive body image absolutely blew me away. Not once during my shoot did I feel self conscious, and that's all thanks to Teri. I would HIGHLY recommend every single person to do a shoot with Teri, because the way you feel so empowering, beautiful, and sexy throughout the shoot is worth more than money can buy. Even if money is tight, she has amazing payment plans.
Boudoir shoots can definitely feel very intimidating if you've never done one before. I had kind of done one before, but wasn't fully satisfied with my shoot. I came across Teri's page and thought I would give her a call. The shoot itself was absolutely life changing. If you're even considering doing a shoot- DO IT. You will feel so strong and sexy and that feeling is priceless. Teri's photo's speak for themselves, and the experience with her was great. I would really love to commemorate her though for her outlook on body positivity which is the sole reason I think every single individual should do at least one shoot with Teri. She is kind hearted, and totally empowering. I have never met someone as inspirational as Teri who believes so much that each and every single one of us is beautiful, and wants to show us through her way of photography. My entire experience I felt safe, sexy, and not a single self conscious thought crossed my mind. The experience is priceless, and worth every single penny.
Needless to say, I may have shed some tears when I heard back from Miss H about her experience. It is my wish with every session that I help the person in front of me to gain a little more confidence and put a little crack in their negative self-image. Slowly, we work to help chip away at those negative thoughts and doubts about ourselves that we have, erasing the judgements we cast upon ourselves when looking at images or previewing a video.
If you are ready to explore yourself and help knock back some of those negative voices, I invite you in just for a consultation to learn more about how we can help you "find yourself" again. You're in there, we just need to bring that bad ass babe out!
Too fat, Too saggy {and all the other lies she told herself} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss D, oh, Miss D. This epic babe came off as quiet and reserved, but as soon as the cameras turned on she tapped into her sensuality and femininity and gave me what I was looking for. This babe has been one of the most active women in the VIP group on facebook and I am extremely grateful to her for that because sometimes I get too busy, but she sees the need to keep people inspired, empowered, and motivated. What a woman! I loved reading her story (though I don't recommend this before going into a meeting, because tears will run down your cheeks and you will look stoned because of the red eyes...) and these women, I tell ya, they just blow me away. For her, this session was about helping her see the babe within so she could be a role model to her kids and help them develop a healthy body image before the world can tell them what is "wrong" with them. But, enough of my yammering, here is Miss D's experience straight from her!!
Boudoir photos were always on "my list" but were never prioritized for some reason or other...too fat, too saggy, too frumpy, too "Mom" and of course the cost - Moms don't spend this on themselves. Coming across Teri Hoffard Photography's facebook page intrigued me. The picture I saw was of a beyond beautiful woman of not so "society sized" portion...like me.
Reading the article, this woman had all the same fears, anxieties and self-consciousness I did but yet here she was, in pictures looking so gorgeous you can FEEL her energy. That is what I wanted, that is how I wanted to feel, that is what I wanted to show my daughters. I booked my consultation! Hair and make up was fun and certainly helped aide in comfort of what was to come next; but it wasn't what made my pictures come to life.
I remember trying to follow Teri's instructions precisely because I kept thinking "I don't know how to look sexy" and "I can't just turn that on!" Her words were assuring and sometimes silly, making me at ease and trusting that she could make "this" look good. I admit I left the shoot still unsure how they would turn out. Reveal day was exciting! I appreciated her guidance and method of viewing alone before showing my husband and turning off the judgmental voice in my head. I was surprised!
The woman in the pictures looked amazing! Beauty, confidence and a sparkle I barely recognized was in these pictures. My pictures. Teri posted one of my pictures on facebook, I shared it so all my peeps could see. (Previously thinking no one but me and my husband would ever see these) The response was overwhelming. One friend in particular commented "You look incredible. And like you FEEL incredible!!" and I had to laugh because it was all very mechanical in the moment. "Point this" "Arch that" was all I had in my head.
Receiving my album was even more special. To see myself in print, a collection presented so beautifully, was my "super-model" moment. My fat, saggy, frumpy, Mom body disappeared. I could feel the energy of the woman in the picture like I wanted. The sparkle I saw in the digitals was there too. That woman in the picture is not a super-model or society sized but she is strong and confident and beautiful. A woman I want my daughters to know. I AM that woman and on days that I forget, I have a keepsake to remind me. Don't think about it, don't wait, don't judge yourself, just do it. Prioritize your well being, find your sparkle, no one is better at helping you show your sparkle than Teri.
Miss D is definitely a sparkly babe and I am so proud of her for diving into her sensual side and empowering herself. Sometimes we have a very one sided and, unfortunately, negative view of ourselves, so to see ourselves as the rest of the world does helps to improve our self-love relationship. Especially as a parent or role model to younger people, it is so important to help them focus on themselves in a bigger sense....love your body, but love ALL the things that make you awesome. Start those conversations early. I know boudoir photographer and friend of mine, Lindsay Rae D'Ottavio has her little, redheaded babe say "I am beautiful, brave, and smart." It is our job to leave legacies, so what better way than to raise a generation more consumed with being epic human beings instead of getting the perfect Kim K butt. Anyhow, if you are ready to start your self-love journey, give me a shout and let's chat about it!!