Last year, Shannon and Sean traveled from Minnesota to Oklahoma City to step in front of my camera for a couples boudoir session.
During their initial consultation via Zoom video, I couldn’t help but notice that their living room was a painted a beautiful shade of pink. I asked them how they felt about incorporating pink into their intimate portrait session, and they were both excited and intrigued by the creative possibilities.
The portraits below are highlights from their couples boudoir session, along with feedback about their overall experience. Scroll below to see how we made pink happen - and ended up being some of their favorite portraits from their session.
What was your motivation for scheduling a couples session?
We both follow you on instagram and have been following you for over a year. We had been toying with the idea of scheduling a boudoir shoot, but the creative call inspired us to pull the trigger. We specifically wanted to work with you, so we were waiting for the right time.
What 3 things were you the most nervous about going into your couples session?
Stage fright (being intimate with each other in front of an audience), performance anxiety (the possibility of being so preoccupied with posing and the aesthetics of the finished product that the photos would turn out stiff and awkward), not living up to expectations (you were so excited about us that we were afraid the photos wouldn’t fulfill your expectations).
How did the reality of your couples session compare to your expectations going into it?
We were more comfortable in front of the camera, the shoot was more physical, and the experience went by much more quickly than expected. Additionally, it was harder to get into the poses (the fine tuning of still poses, and the moving shots) than we thought! We are used to posing in very standard ways, so adjusting to more intricate poses took some getting used to.
What was your favorite part of the experience?
(We thought awhile, then answered separately at the same time) Shannon: mine is becoming so comfortable and in tune with each other that we forgot you were there snapping pics. Also smiling so much my face hurt! Sean: smiling so much my face hurt, because it was a symptom of the lovely time I was having with my darling and how close we were able to be with each other.
How do you both feel now that you've completed the couples session?
Closer together as a couple, and proud of us for …generally being outside our comfort zones.
Would you recommend Intimate Lens Studio to others?
Yes, we would recommend Intimate Lens Studio, and Shannon has already shared the IG profile with numerous peers. Such an incredible experience! We will recommend it to everyone we know!
Would you do a couples session again?
Yes! Travel and financial logistics would be the only factors holding us back. If it were just a matter of creative energy and availability, we would be there in a heartbeat. We think there is still so much to explore and capture.
In 500 words or less, based on your experience, what would you tell someone who was thinking about booking a couples session with Intimate Lens Studio?
Be ready to be very open and intimate with your partner. It’s unusual to be emotionally and physically intimate with an audience, but it helps you get closer. However, Ore makes you feel comfortable and the time flies by. You may be having such a blast that you forget to drink water and eat snacks, so keep an eye on your partner and make sure they’re snacking. Also, make sure to eat a light breakfast and get a good night’s sleep. Yoga also helps, since it is quite physical. It’s totally worth it. Do it, even if you have doubts.
What was your absolute most favorite photo from your couples session, and what makes it special?
It’s a tie between the B&W photo in which the light is highlighting our profiles and the photo in which Sean is kneeling and looking up at Shannon in front of the pink backdrop. Both capture moments of intimacy, love, and connection. The B&W one shows minimal details, yet the close up crop of it focuses on our gaze, smiles, and expressions. And the technical aspects of this amazing photo stun us as well! It captures a specific moment we’re sharing, which is accentuated by the B&W. The color photo captures the body language from the point in the shoot we were most in sync with each other and connected. It is apparent from the shot how we feel about each other and it’s a beautiful thing.
