What to Expect During a Couples Boudoir Session | Oklahoma City Boudoir Photographer

Envisioning the day of a couples boudoir session can be scary for some. Especially for first-timers, there are a lot of unknowns that can lead to pre-shoot jitters. I’m here to assure you that this is totally normal, and am going to walk you through a typical couples session to help. There are, of course, elements that you and your better half will bring to the table, making the experience unique and special, but here is a list of moments to expect along the way.

Before the session

 I really mean it when I say that you can reach out via email or social media and ask me any questions about the experience. I’ve done this many times; I know what works. If there is anything you are unsure of, the answer is probably in the email of details I send out regarding your session. If for some reason it’s not, I’m happy to clarify. It’s okay to have a bunch of questions-I’ll have a bunch of answers. I’d rather you flood my inbox requesting info than showing up the day-of feeling like you wish you knew more ahead of time. I’m here to communicate; my inbox is always open. 

Starting Off

Call it expertise, call it magic, call it whatever you like; I have my toolbox of tricks to help you and your partner feel comfortable. That starts with you both wearing clothing that you feel good about wearing. Certain garments work better on camera, so it’s best that we keep an open dialogue so we’re on the same page. I want you both to feel good about your photos, so if an outfit doesn’t feel right, we’ll make any changes you or your partner may need. 

            Next, we’ll break the ice, but we’ll break the ice…gently, if that makes any sense. I usually start my couples sessions with casual conversation. “Tell me a funny story about your partner” “Hum a song in your partner’s ear and have them guess what it is”-we’ll keep it easygoing and fun. I might even have you two compete in a few rounds of thumb war (You’d be surprised how freakin’ adorable a thumb war photo can be).

You also get to pick the tunes, so just let me know what kind of music you like, and we’ll let that play in the background. If you’re vibing with a certain song, we can even have a little dance party. Some of the best photos come from you and your partner just goofing off. Don’t worry, the sexy-time photos are just around the corner. 

Halfway Point

             After the ice is broken, we’ll go step-by-step through different poses and prompts to photograph you and your partner together. The poses and prompts are based on the comfort level you and your partner shared with me during our pre-session video consultation. If that means you start to unbutton shirts or pants a little bit, great! If that means all clothes stay on, that’s great too!

My goal is never to push you and your partner beyond a place that leaves either one of you uncomfortable or unwilling to move forward with a couples boudoir session. All I ask is you keep an open mind, and stay engaged with your partner. Your time with me is a time for you and your partner to connect- I’m just there to capture that connection.

 I have a few rules for couples boudoir, and but one of my biggest is this: No kissing unless I say so. I make this rule because I’m evil and cruel….just kidding. Jokes aside, I want you and your partner to have a wide range of options for photos to choose from. Some amazing photos happen in the moments just before and just after a kiss. I promise you, if you follow my kissing rules, you will have plenty of choices. Does that mean you’ll never get to kiss your partner, or that kisses are limited? Nope! You’ll get so many smooches, and snuggles, and butt grabs and all the other goodness you and your partner have agreed upon. Just not all at once!

When we’ve reached the more intimate portion of the couples session, you may start to forget that I’m in the room, and that’s ok- that won’t hurt my feelings. You may be wondering, how in the world could you ever forget about me?!?! It may seem impossible, but it happens almost every time. The main reason is that I shoot with a mirrorless camera on silent mode. That means you will never hear the shutter clicking, so you’ll never know when I’ve started or stopped taking photos unless I’ve told you.  I also advise couples never to look directly at the camera unless I specifically ask (which is pretty rare for a couples session). At this point, I want you focused on your partner. I may chime in with where to move your hand or to turn your head a certain way, but it’s really about you maintaining the connection that you two have worked to build with each other. I’m there to capture the magic, so by all means, let your mind (and hands) wander with your partner, I’ll meet you at the end. 

End of session       

            I’m not going to lie, you will probably be exhausted after the shoot. Even though it’s a lot of lying around and snuggling, couples boudoir has a way of prepping you for a really good nap.

Be prepared to need to take some time to rest after your session. To some, it might not feel like work, but a lot of energy goes into the process. Allow you and your partner some time to recharge. Approximately two weeks after your couples boudoir session, we will have your reveal and purchasing appoint where we will go over your photos and you and your partner can pick out the ones you love. My preferences may be different than yours, so again, we will strive for an open dialogue to help you and your partner select the photos that you feel great about. 

             There you have it. A kind of “couples boudoir photo session skeleton”. Keep in mind, every couples session is different, so if you feel like straying from the norm, go for it! I provide my clients with general structure so that we have the option to stray from it as and when needed. The goal is to make the experience special for you and your partner, so know that I have a plan, but that plan is not set in stone.  Keep an open mind, and the rest will fall into place. 

Toronto Couples Intimate Lifestyle Portraits (Part II) | Rob and Mark-Che

I had the opportunity to work with two amazing souls, Rob and Mark-Che, on a creative couples boudoir session. Today, I’m sharing photos from the morning of the couples boudoir session. This is Part II of the series. In Part I, I shared more about my initial idea for this creative couples boudoir session, and shared more editorial style photos from the shoot in the second part of the day. To check out Part I, click here.

While this was a couples boudoir “strangers session” - with Rob and Mark-ché only meeting for the very first time the morning of the session - their chemistry was instantaneous and amazing to capture.

Before we even got started photographing, we all discussed personal boundaries, comfort levels, and making sure that the photoshoot would be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. In addition, Rob and Mark-Che had some one-on-one time together before the photoshoot to grab food and hang out, which really helped them to be able to relax and get comfortable with each other in front of the camera.

That being said, they were both nervous in the beginning of the session. However, we were all open to experimenting, having fun, and seeing how things would unfold. There were no expectations for how the creative session would turn out, and that really helped us all to let loose, play, and let the magic unfold.

You can see how the creative session unfolded in the photos below. Stay tuned for Part III, where I’ll share some of my favorite intimate couples portraits utilizing a bathtub. You definitely won’t want to miss it!

Oklahoma City Intimate Lifestyle Portrait | Danielle

Danielle and I had the opportunity to experience delayed gratification for her boudoir session. Danielle’s session was originally scheduled for March, but because of the pandemic and businesses in Oklahoma City having to close as a result of statewide stay-at-home orders, we had to wait several months for the magic to happen.

She was my first client to photograph once my doors opened back up in May, and we were both so ready and so excited to get started! After getting all glammed up, she absolutely rocked her session. We both had fun as she tried on different lingerie outfits in my extensive client style closet. When she came out in a new red velvet bodysuit that I had recently purchased for my client style closet and we put her in the studio’s gun metal gray angel wings, I knew were were going to create something amazing.

And we did! You can see all the goodness in the boudoir portraits below, as well as read, in Danielle’s own words, about her boudoir experience with Intimate Lens Studio:

What 3 things were you most nervous about going into your session?

I was nervous about my body image, being authentic, and my comfort level.

How did the reality of your session compare to your expectations going into it?

The reality of my session exceeded all my expectations. The moment the session started, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

My favorite part of the experience was being in the moment and feeling comfortable in my skin.

What was your absolute most favorite photo from your boudoir session, and what makes it special?

My absolute most favorite photo has to be the black and white one where I'm lying on the couch. I love my smile as well as how blissful I feel.

How do you feel now that you’ve completed the session?

I feel confident and empowered. “Like Wow, I did that!

Is there anything at all you wish we would have done differently or think we could do to further enhance the experience in the future?

I wish we had experimented a little more. I'm definitely rethinking glitter, now. LOL

If you've been thinking about booking a boudoir session with Intimate Lens Studio, do it! Ore is amazing. You're gonna be in great hands.

Why I Love Photographing Couples INTIMATE LIFESTYLE PORTRAITS | Oklahoma City Couples Boudoir

Have you ever been around two people and just knew that they were meant to be?  

Not because they both look good based on society’s beauty standards, or because the couple comes from the same background and share similar interests, but because you can almost visibly see their profound and abiding connection and commitment to one another.

 You see the way their thoughts flow together and the way they seem to see into each other’s souls and know their partner’s heart.   You see the way they laugh together, tease each other, fight (acknowledging that no relationship is perfect 24/7) and make up, and live each day with the conscious choice and commitment to “do life together.”

 I enjoy being around these couples.  I love seeing their connection, seeing their joy, and I want to give these couples a tangible reminder of what they mean to each other.

It’s easy for couples who have been together for a while to get stuck into a routine, focusing on the day-to-day activities that need to get done… jobs to go to, bills to pay, chores to complete, kids to pick up, clothes to clean, dishes to wash, etc., and sometimes couples forget that their life together is more than just completing things to check off items on an imaginary list.

 It’s about living out life with your favorite human…and stealing the covers.

 And so I want to give couples photographs that remind them of the truth of their relationships that they may sometimes forget.  That their partner loves them, cares for them and has chosen them. 

I  photograph couples either at my in-home studio or at the couples’ home with the goal of capturing who THEY are as a couple.  No two couples have the same relationship, so in my pre-session questionnaire and pre-session video or in-person consultation I ask couples specific questions about their relationship with the goal of photographing each couple and capturing what it means to them to be in their relationship; how they fit, how they interact, and how they connect with each other.  I love hearing couples say that they feel like I captured “THEM.”   

Some of my favorite images to photograph involve one partner looking away, while the other partner is staring at them without the partner who is looking away knowing they are being admired.  You can see in the eyes of the partner staring intently at their lover that they know the prize they have “won”, they have a look in their eyes that says my partner chose me, and I’m so FUCKING THRILLED that I get to spend forever with them.

When I have the opportunity to capture that emotion and then present that photograph to the partner who didn’t see it because they were looking away, and that partner then gets to see that connection and love shining in their lover’s eyes, that gives me the BEST FEELING EVER.  It’s like a big warm hug (if you like big warm hugs, if not think of it as a really great high five!).

These portraits allow couples to see their love shining back at them through photographs of them together, and they can have them as a reminder either in high quality albums or as wall art displayed in their home.

The best part? You don’t have to have a special event to wait and schedule a couples boudoir session.  By scheduling a couples boudoir session, I’ll capture your love, connection and intimacy, giving you a tangible reminder that each of you is loved by the other.