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. 

Oklahoma City Couples Boudoir | Nick and Amanda

Nick and Amanda's session was full of lots of laughter and fun. Both Amanda and Nick described their relationship as goofy, fun and very playful, and it was evident throughout their couples boudoir session how comfortable they were together. After being in a relationship for over two years, it was clear to see the genuine love and affection they had for each other.

 I like to incorporate couples personal interests into a couples boudoir session as much as possible, and Nick and Amanda's couples boudoir session was no exception. 

They brought collars, harnesses and chains with them, and we were able to incorporate them into their couples boudoir session for some light BDSM, while also focusing on capturing the connection and intimacy between the two of them.

 You can see all of the goodness from their session below!

Las Vegas Intimate Couples studio and lifestyle portraits | mark and brett

I had an amazing time photographing Mark and Brett in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this fall.

This couples boudoir session was extra special, because it was one of my first couples boudoir sessions to offer two types of shooting styles in one session - a more formal studio portrait session, along with a lifestyle couples boudoir session that is part of my current offerings.

The love, respect and playfulness between these two was evident throughout the entire session, creating beautiful intimate photos of their amazing connection.

The photos below are highlights from their couples boudoir session, along with reflections on their overall experience.

Enjoy!

What was your motivation for scheduling a couples session?

“…wanting more intimate photos of us together.”

What made you choose Intimate Lens Studio?

“Classy and beautiful photography that seemed personal.”

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

“Being intimate in front of the camera, the process being authentic, and looking good but authentic.”

What was your favorite part of the experience?

“The laughing and joking.”

How do you feel now that you've completed the couples session?

“I feel great! It was fun and relaxing and learned a lot.”

Would you recommend Intimate Lens Studio to others? Would you do a couples boudoir session again?

“Yes!”

Based on your experience, what would you tell someone who was thinking about booking a couples session with Intimate Lens Studio?

“I would say, be prepared to understand what it is you’re looking for, and then let go of expectations. Be ready to play and the camera makes no noise! Haha”

Toronto Couples intimate lifestyle portraits (Part I) | Instant Connection - rob and mark-che

Sometimes you get to photograph something that inspires you, invigorates you, and makes you realize you are on the right path. This creative couples boudoir session with Rob and Mark-ché was one of those moments for me.

Rob is normally behind the camera as a commercial photographer, but stepped in front of the camera to model with Mark-ché , a Toronto based model, LGBTQ+ community activist, and, on that day, a student with a final the next day who agreed to pause his studying to help us create magic!

Rob and Mark-ché met for the very first time the morning of the session, but their chemistry was instantaneous.  They were playful, relaxed, open to experimenting, and ready to help tell a story of connection and intimacy.  Having the opportunity to photograph them together on the rooftop of the airbnb I was staying at made it even that much better. 

One of the people I was staying with had this gorgeous pink tulle skirt, and we quickly determined that both Rob and Mark-ché were able to fit into the skirt.  That additional pop of color weaved throughout the images, and the colorful mural incorporated towards the end of this part of the session made my creative heart so so happy.

I hope you enjoy the images from this collaborative effort.  While these photos are more editorial/portrait based, in Part 2 of this series, I'll share the more boudoir inspired photos from this session.

Oklahoma City Dance Inspired Creative Portraits | Tylor and vinny

My mind is always a whirlwind of ideas. They float in and out of my head, sometimes faster than I can write them down. Thankfully, some ideas remain, and some special ones tug at your heart until you have no choice other than bringing to life your vision and letting the magic unfold. This ballet inspired couples boudoir session was one projected I knew I needed to bring to life.

Watching ballet dancers perform is a magical experience for me. Seeing the way dancers move across the stage, admiring the control they have over their bodies, appreciating the beauty they create with the angles and lines of their body - all of that takes years of practice, dedication, strength and perseverance; but seeing it all come together and their skill in making it seem so effortless has me convinced that just a little magic may be tossed in for good measure.

Recently I had the opportunity to work with two local ballet dancers, seeing them come together for this creative project and create their own kind of magic. I was so excited to plan this project and thrilled to capture the entire session from start to finish.

I’m excited to share with you the results of my vision to create a series of intimate portraits of two dancers showing grace, agility, and movement, with intimacy and connection woven throughout each portrait.

Dancers:

Tylor Bradshaw - Oklahoma City Ballet

Vinicius Vasconcelos - Oklahoma City Ballet

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.