Just Do It. Seriously.
I had my boudoir shoot 5 days after…read moreturning 44, and if I could tell every woman considering doing one thing, it would be this:
Stop waiting for the "perfect" time. Just do it.
You do not need to lose weight first. You do not need to have the "perfect" body. You do not need to fix anything. There will always be a reason to wait--and eventually you realize the perfect time was simply when you decided to celebrate yourself exactly as you are.
Terri, Ashley and Shay were absolutely amazing!
Ashley did my makeup and NAILED the dark, feminine smokey-eye look I wanted. I've done stage makeup before, so I'm comfortable with a pretty dramatic beat, but if you're not used to major glam, I'd recommend staying closer to a look you're comfortable with. A lingerie shoot is already pushing you outside your comfort zone--you don't necessarily need your makeup to do it too!
Shay's hair work was phenomenal. I showed her a picture of what I wanted, but she explained why she was going to modify it slightly because she knew what my hair was about to go through during the shoot. Between the posing, movement, sheets, backdrops and all the tussling, my hair needed to LAST.
And let me tell you...this woman did some JUJU. My hair lasted FOUR DAYS before I finally had to wash it!
Terri is incredible behind the camera. She doesn't just expect you to magically know how to pose. She walks you through everything, helps position you, and makes the whole experience feel comfortable. She's also constantly checking in to make sure you're comfortable.
And the sneak peeks?!
Terri would show me the pictures as she was working and I'd be like, "Ohhhhhh...okay. I see what we're doing here!"
I already knew my budget was in trouble.
Shay also helped with backdrops, sheets and poses throughout the shoot, so it really felt like a whole team was invested in making the pictures amazing.
A few tips for the ladies thinking about booking:
Bring at least one outfit you're already comfortable in. I brought one of my own and used the rest from Terri's closet. She will also make suggestions on what may look better.
Bring your own accessories if you have specific pieces you want incorporated. The available accessories were limited and most weren't really my style. Or ditch them all together remember you're the MAIN event.
Don't feel like you need to tan. And please don't spend weeks trying to "fix" your body before your shoot.
Come prepared to step outside your comfort zone. You're already doing a lingerie shoot! But there's a difference between being pushed in a fun way and feeling completely unlike yourself, so communicate what you're comfortable with.
And finally...
Be prepared to blow your budget.
Because when you see the pictures and realize, "WAIT...THAT'S ME?!?" suddenly that original budget starts looking like a suggestion.
But honestly, this wasn't just a photoshoot for me. It was an investment in myself.
At 44, I didn't need to become a different version of myself to deserve beautiful pictures.
I just needed to show up.
So if you've been saying "I'll do it when I lose weight," "I'll do it when my body looks better," "I'll do it when I have more confidence," or "maybe next year..."
Girl. Book the shoot.
There may never be another "perfect" time.
There is only this version of you, right now.
And let me say Terri and her team make you feel incredible the entire time.
