What are you waiting for?

We hear it too often:

“I really want to do a boudoir shoot, but not now!”

When Juliette and I talk about our photography work, people often express the desire to have a boudoir shoot done. They share about the fact they have been wanting to do it for a long time, that they are waiting for the right moment to do it, but never seem to know when it is.

The truth is, the perfect moment to do a boudoir shoot doesn’t exist! Of course, there are a couple of factors to take into consideration such as time and money (time because you need to be able to dedicate a good chunk of your day just for yourself, and money because a boudoir shoot is a little bit of an investment), but for the rest, it is mostly fear that makes people keep pushing back the idea of doing a boudoir session.

Yes, boudoir photography can be intimidating. But it is such a transformative experience and trust us when we say that the more you wait, the more you are missing out on something extraordinary!

Celebrate Your Present Self

If you feel proud of who you are right now, then celebrating yourself with a boudoir shoot is a really great idea! Maybe you got out of a toxic relationship, or you changed carrier for something more fulfilling, or maybe you are turning a certain age and feel fabulous, then you deserve to treat yourself for all the hard work you had to do to in order to be where you are today.

It takes a lot of courage to make the changes we need to be happier in life, so we hope that you can see how strong and badass you are! A boudoir shoot is the perfect gift to capture that strength 💪

Reconnect To Your Body

So many of our clients dislike their body, and every time it breaks our hearts to hear how they talk about themselves:

“I hate myself!”

“Ugh, I am so ugly!”

“I am fat, it is awful!“

“I wish I could have a different body!“

For way too long, society has taught us to see our body as an enemy by creating beauty standards, and conditioned us to make them our reality. It is so deeply rooted that every part of ourselves that don’t follow those standards became “imperfections” that have to be destroyed. The result is that we are now so disconnected from our body we forget that without it, we will not exist. We focus on what we believe we “should look like”, completely put our sensuality on the side, and replace it with bitterness.

Doing a boudoir shoot is an important step to reconnect with your sensuality, and start loving your body for its natural beauty. So if this resonates with you, then this is the right moment to do it!

The Middle Finger You Sometime Need To Give

There is no better sweet revenge than doing something that makes you feel super confident other people find scandalous. There is a moment in life where we get tired of people’s judgment and being pressured to live a life that isn’t what we truly want. When you reach to that moment, your inner rebel takes control and encourages you to do stuff that make you feel proud of yourself.

When you do a boudoir shoot, you try an experience that allows you to become your own sexy and sensual version of yourself, and this is so freaking liberating.

It feels like giving an empowered middle finger to all the shitty things people have told you and done to you. You don’t want to wait forever to feel this way 😎

Life Is Unpredictable

This is going to be a big cliché, but there is so much truth there: life is too short to be waiting for the perfect moment!

I, Fanny, recently lost a family member, and it was very sudden. She was young, she was travelling with her husband, and she died. Her death was a sad reminder that you never know when it is time for you to leave this earth, and it feels like a slap in the face. Either it is death, an accident, or any other life's uncertainties, there may never be a "right time" to embark on this journey. The more you wait, the more you take the risk that it never happens.

If you want to try boudoir photography, stop overthinking it and just do it! You will never regret having a boudoir shoot done, but you might regret not doing it…

As you can see, the beauty of a boudoir shoot isn’t in waiting for the ideal version of yourself; it’s about celebrating exactly who you are today. Every curve, every scar, every feature tells your story, and that story deserves to be honoured. Boudoir photography is about embracing your present self with love and courage, because you are already enough, already beautiful.

Speaking of now or never: we are having a Holiday boudoir special so you can treat yourself with our mini boudoir sessions for the holidays, and give a very special gift to a very special someone at the same time! Click below for the details!

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Check out our Unstoppable photo exhibit

It’s a wrap! Our Unstoppable 3.0 photo exhibit was on October 7th, and it was a success! We sold around 90 tickets and were able to get $2000 for the 2 charities we raised funds for: After Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Canada.

Since our exhibit is over, we can finally share with you all the photographs! This collection includes 19 photos, divided into 4 distinct sets, and we'd love to give you some insight into the story behind them.

When we started to brainstorm about the photoshoot, it was really important for us to work with women who were breast cancer patients and survivors to showcase different type of bodies and breasts, as most of them have undergone single or double mastectomies, some with breast reconstructions and some without.

We also wanted to illustrate the struggle of body-acceptance for breast cancer survivors, especially after a single or double mastectomy. It’s an unfortunate reality that breasts are often tied to ideas of femininity and sexuality. The emotional and mental impact on women when their bodies are changed in such a significant way is barely discussed. They are left feeling less beautiful, less feminine, and less worthy.

This exhibit is our way of showing our support, love, and admiration to all the women who are dealing with breast cancer 💗

Set 1

For the 1st set, we asked all of these beautiful women to start by covering themselves, except 3 of them, to showcase them as pioneers towards self-acceptance.

It was important that most of the models hide themselves and look away from the camera, to also show the feeling of loneliness breast cancer can make you feel. We use red as primary colour for the fabrics to show the pain, heartbreaks, and internal fights those women have to go through.

Set 2

The 2nd one was created with the idea of showing more women slowly uncovering, with the support of the first 3 models, and feeling more comfortable with their naked body.

In this set, we really wanted to recreate a boudoir room, with bright and light colours to bring a feeling of peace and happiness, in which our models are taking care of each other to represent the power of sisterhood and showcase the importance of having a feminine circle to fight the loneliness you can see in the set before.

Set 3

The 3rd set is the "no f*cks given" set, designed to be bold and defiant.

In this set, ours models are fully showing their breast and feeling more confident with their bodies. We chose royal colours such as gold to highlight their power and courage! We wanted something unapologetic and for these women to make a statement:

They will not hide any longer!

Set 4

The last one is s heavily influenced by the Renaissance era, and is all about rest and reflection to continue their healing process.

In this set, we used blue and purple colours for the fabrics, as we wanted to create a relaxed and serene atmosphere, symbolizing the achievement of self-love and the unity of a newfound community.

It was also very important to pose them in the most soften ways possible to showcase their natural bodies, and emphasize that stillness state.

Doing this 3rd edition of our Unstoppable serie was once again a beautiful journey rich in emotions, and it was a true pleasure meeting wonderful human beings! In case you were not at the opening night of this exhibit, we hope you enjoyed seeing the photos in this blog article and the story behind this project.

We want to thank all the fabulous people who have helped us created such a beautiful event, we are forever grateful!

Cancer was a test of my strength & resilience

This blog was written by Ellyn Winters, breast cancer survivor and one of our model for our Unstoppable photography exhibit.

I was diagnosed with ER+PR+ HER2- breast cancer on March 10, 2022. The diagnosis of cancer came as an utter shock. I was fit, a non-smoker, and a social drinker. I breastfed my kids. I had no family history. I also was diligent about my breast scans. I had a baseline at 40 and went every two years since turning 50. My last mammogram in 2019, in the words of my surgeon, was “perfect.”

And yet, I found myself two years and two months later, with multifocal cancer in the left breast. Three tumours, with the largest measuring 4.5 cm. How that was even possible will always be a mystery to me.

After two surgeons’ exams and an MRI, it was determined a mastectomy was the only option. I opted to have both breasts removed for symmetry and peace of mind and chose aesthetic flat closure – a form of chest wall reconstruction that leaves you with a perfectly flat chest.

Initially, things looked good with respect to my lymph nodes. Even after surgery, my doctor told my husband everything looked good. But pathology told a different story. Cancer was found in microscopic amounts in my left side lymph nodes. So I had 12 weeks of preventative chemo and 15 rounds of radiation to reduce risk of recurrence.

Cancer was a test of my strength and resilience. For the first four weeks after my diagnosis, while I awaited my biopsy, I was crippled with anxiety. I couldn’t get a breath or pick myself up off the floor. But as time went on, I gathered my courage, decided to “love my fate” and decided cancer was NOT going to take me to the mat. I fought back, trained like I was going into a marathon, and went into surgery and treatment with the stubbornness of a bull. I made it through. I never stopped working and never missed a client deadline. 

I also became determined to eliminate the shame and blame that seems to swirl around a breast cancer diagnosis. It bothered me terribly to see women express humiliation, or feel they need to hide away. So I fought, and continue to fight back against this societal stigma.  I wrote an opinion piece for The Globe and Mail. I wrote a book. I was featured topless in People Magazine, showcasing my scars and flat chest. I have co-created the first conversational AI for those on the breast cancer journey. And I am proud to support UNSTOPPABLE and share our uniquely brave beauty with the world. 

I didn’t want cancer. I still can’t believe I had cancer. But I decided that the universe set me on this path for a reason, and I am determined to make a difference and make things better for my daughter and other women.

Go check Ellyn’s Instagram to read more about her work in the breast cancer community!

If you are interested in our Unstoppable exhibit, you can find all the details and tickets below:

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Scars only form on the living

This blog was initially written by Patti Hone on her blog: Tata Cancer.

A few months ago, I was asked to participate in a photo shoot with 9 other breast cancer survivors. We were a diverse group of women of all ages, size and race, but we all had SCARS, both physically and emotionally. Some of us had one breast, others no breasts, and still others with partial breasts. Some have had reconstruction, others not. We came together as strangers, but immediately bonded. We all had been touched by this horrific disease, and we all shared in that pain, fear, hope and fight. We didn’t have to say anything to each other…we just knew how each of us felt. We shared an experience that had changed our lives forever…an experience that bonded us as sisters for life.

The photo shoot was designed to educate, showcase and celebrate our bodies with or without breasts. It was very empowering. As a woman, society puts a lot of expectations and pressure on how we look. We are expected to have breasts…two. They are a sign of femininity, of beauty and of sexuality. But as women who have experienced breast cancer, our bodies no longer fit that mould, and we struggle with our body image and how we are perceived. I struggled long before having been diagnosed with cancer. I was always self-conscious of my appearance. I was never thin enough, pretty enough or attractive enough. I battled with this self-doubt for my entire adult life. Now throw in a double mastectomy and eight subsequent surgeries, and this “image” became an even bigger hurdle. And now, here I was, agreeing to pose topless for the world to see “baring” every bump, bulge and scar.

As the ten of us came together for this shoot, I could feel the energy emanating from each of us. There was no judgment and no shyness; only positivity, support and admiration.

We did not feel ugly. We did not feel unworthy. We felt powerful. We felt beautiful. We felt SEEN!

On October 7th, our photos will be displayed in an event to raise money for breast cancer. Tickets are now available as well as an “ask” for donations if you are unable to come but would like to help. 100% of the money raised will be donated to breast cancer charities.

We are proud to bare our scars. We are warriors, survivors and thrivers. Our scars remind us of what we went through and what we overcame. Scars only form on the living, and we celebrate life each and every day!

If you want to read more about Patti’s story, go to her blog!

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Boudoir over 60, we highly recommend!

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure to photograph a fabulous woman, Madame M, who reached out because she was finally ready to try boudoir photography. In her initial inquiry, she mentioned that despite being 61 years old, she wanted to continue to feel empowered with her body and sensuality.

Since it was her first time, she was very nervous about her photoshoot. She shared with us that while she was on her way to our studio, she had kind of a panic attack to a point where she was very close to turn back and give up on this experience. Boudoir photography has been in the back of her mind for a long time, yet some little voices (fed by social norms and fear) were almost stronger than the excitement of finally doing her boudoir shoot. But she managed to stay strong and showed up for your photoshoot!

We are so glad she didn’t give up. She posed so well and her photos are beautiful! She truly deserved to experience boudoir photography. Her story, as well as all the other wonderful women who posed in front of our lens, inspired us to write today’s blog, hoping it can help women to take that step as well 💛

Women and ageism, it’s time to stop that BS!

Most women over a certain age do not dare to try boudoir photography, and how can we blame them? The stigma against aging women is brutal, and boudoir photography doesn’t help the cause! There are so little representations of women over 50 or 60 years old in the boudoir industry because society still believes that beauty equals being young. In society’s eyes, women lose value as they age, but they also become those sexless beings who lost touch with their sensuality. Because of those stereotypes, most fashion and boudoir photographers have over time prioritized younger women for their artistic projects, giving no room to people not fitting in these criteria.

Boudoir photography isn’t an easy experience, especially for first timers, as it can make people feel quite vulnerable (not everyone can easily pose in their underwear in front of a stranger!). Most of the inquiries we receive are coming from people who want to regain confidence, and learn to like their body the way it is. So for a woman who might be lacking body-confidence and has been told by the media that because she passed a certain age she is now worthless, doing a boudoir shoot can be extremely difficult!

Meeting those women who want to try boudoir so badly but stop themselves because they feel like they are not good enough breaks our hearts, and we wish mentalities could change faster! Thankfully, more and more people in the industry, us included, fight to change those social constructs. It is taking some time, but things are evolving. Now we need more brave people to try boudoir and share their awesome pictures with the world so they can inspire more people to do the same (honestly, that is the faster way to create a change)!

Fight those negative voices that are stopping you from doing a shoot!

But how can someone find the strength to give it a try even though they might feel really anxious about it? Well, if you are reading this blog and recognize yourself in those words, know that you are not alone! Many people are curious, yet afraid, by boudoir photography. And our main advice would be to first find the perfect photographer for you! Choosing the right person for the job is the most important step, as you want to make sure you will feel comfortable during the process. Then, just do it instead of overthinking the whole experience. The more you think about something that stresses you out, the more excuses you will find to not do it.

And 👏shut👏those👏voices👏down👏. If you are excited about doing a boudoir shoot, but you suddenly start thinking that you are too old, not thin enough, not muscular enough and whatnot, think about something else or keep focusing on the joy you get from doing a shoot.

Please believe us when we say that you are perfect the way you are! The beauty industry makes millions of dollars, selling us products we don’t need and making us believe we have to look a certain way to be worthy and desirable. There should not be any beauty standards to begin with, but unfortunately it is what it is. What we can do on our side is fight this nonsense by accepting our natural beauty and celebrate our body.

And what better way than a boudoir shoot to do so !

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How to Make Your Boudoir Photoshoot Fun and Pressure-Free

When people connect with us regarding a boudoir photography, it is very common for them to feel nervous. Not only does boudoir photography requires a lot of trust in the person shooting it, the majority of our clients hs also never done anything like it before. There are a few ways to make this experience as stress-free as possible, so you can make the most of it.

Remind yourself why you want to do a boudoir photoshoot.

Before letting self-doubt and fear take over, pause for a moment and consider why you’re drawn to this experience in the first place.

Is it to feel more confident in your body or to celebrate it? To learn to let loose and be more positive about yourself? Maybe you want to try something new, or perhaps you’re thinking of sharing it with a loved one? Whatever your reason, it is a beautiful one, and it didn’t pop in your brain out of nowhere. Hold on to it, especially in the early stages of your boudoir adventure.

Relax? Easier said than done!

Very true, it might not be easy to relax but lucky for you we have some tips that will help you to do so :

• Avoid planning last minute.

While we can accommodate last minute shoots, it is not something we necessarily recommend. Doing things last minute is rarely a good idea as it creates unnecessary pressure due to rushing. We suggest you book your shoot a month in advance so you have time to gather everything you need and nicely prep for your shoot.

• Find the perfect boudoir studio.

Each boudoir photographers have their own style and way of working. When you look for the perfect match, don’t stop just at the aesthetic of their work. It is very important you book a meeting (either on the phone, Zoom, or in-person) to talk about the details and see if their way of working is aligned with what you are looking for.

For example: will they make you sign a contract? How do they handle privacy? Is makeup and hair included? Are their pricing transparent and clear? Who is the actual photographer? Do not hesitate to ask questions or share any concerns you might have.

If you book a photographer you don't feel comfortable with, it will tarnish your shoot and the all experience.

• Enjoy the getting ready part.

Planning for the photoshoot itself is often overlooked but it is so much fun! Looking for ideas, thinking of the vibes you want to create, and putting outfits together.

To keep this as pressure-free as possible, dive into it with the proper mindset: do not compare yourself to anyone you will see online and don't limit yourself and your abilities to pose like a badass. Create a Pinterest board or mood board and save anything that catches your eye.

Taking the time to prep for your shoot build up the excitement and the confidence around this experience.

• Your shoot should look like you

When doing a shoot, you should not feel like you are wearing a disguise. From the outfits to the atmosphere of each set, you have to feel 100% like yourself.

Make sure to bring outfits you love and you feel good in. It doesn't have to be classic lingerie! Any outfit can be turned into a boudoir one with the right creativity. Also, go through your favourite pieces that are considered too much and give them a spin.

• Consider bringing props

Props can be a game-changer on a photoshoot. Not only does it make your session even more true to yourself, but it also gives you something "to do” if you are camera-shy. Props can vary from something as simple as your favourite coffee mug or book to some things related to a beloved hobby of yours.

• Have fun!!!!!!!

And finally when you checked all of the above, just enjoy your shoot 😘 Practice some poses in front of your mirror, create a playlist to bring with you the day of your shoot, be playful while posing, let your inner badass-self out, imagine you are in a fashion show,…

Don’t let the camera frighten you, this is just an accessory that will capture the moment you finally shine and let yourself be your beautiful you!

Boudoir photography will really help you reconnect with your body and sensuality. And it is something we all have (or had) a hard time with due to the old school fashion industry’s beauty standards and the judgment coming from others. We know some of you might be thinking: “Well I am not beautiful and really not sensual!”. Those thoughts are very common, but let us tell you something: they are also false.

You are beautiful! You are sensual! It does not matter what you identify to, your age, or the body you have, we all are gorgeous, sexy, and sensual beings.

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We created our Parisian photo studio in Toronto

Earlier this year, we took one of the biggest steps for our little business: we got our first official studio space. It had been a dream for many years and if you are curious to know why we even went in this direction, you can read our first post about it here.

What we haven't explained about this project is the actual vision for our space and how we brought it to life. So allow us to walk you through our gorgeous space…

The criteria and non-negotiables

When we started thinking about a space, we created a little list of our priorities for it. We just found it after digging around, so let's see what we have checked off the list.

Here is what we initially wanted:

- Close to line 2 in the West end
This one is a ✅, as we found a space located in the West of the Junction, area we barely knew and now cherish

- 800 - 1000 square feet
✅, our space is actually right in the middle, with 900 square-feet

- Natural light
Score, as we have a corner unit with unobstructed view ✅

- Love a good industrial but not dilapidated-looking and not only bricks
❌ but it was actually a blessing, which we will elaborate below.

- Avoid first floor for privacy and safety
✅ We are on the second-floor

- Easy street parking & accessible via public transit
✅ That was one of the nicest surprise in this area. Bus stop is right across the street and there is free street parking all around. The sweet spot between city and residential vibes.

The following were not must but appreciated:

• accessible (elevators): ❌ We only have one flight of stairs, but stairs nonetheless

• outdoor space: that's a HUGE ✅✅✅ as we scored a gigantic terrace that you will see below.

• A/C: ❌, sadly.

Overall, we managed to get many of the tings we wanted, and this list truly helped us when we had to decide between 2 particular candidates.

The visits and first vision change.

We started the visits in September 2023, and honestly, nothing stood out until the end of November, when we ended up with not 1 but 2 pretty sweet spots, same rents, just very different styles.

The first one was indeed an open space with an industrial look, which we initially wanted. It is a pretty common type of space in the industry and it didn't even cross our minds to have an apartment layout. But when we stepped in our current unit, we both had butterflies.

There was this charm to it as it was renovated but the building is from the 20's, and some features just took us back home to France for a minute. Then we saw the huge patio which is truly a gem to find in this city.

After spending a couple of days sitting on it, we realized quickly that we were already projecting ourselves in it, with ideas that were very proper to this space, so it was a no-brainer…

2 photographers, 2 minds and 3 rooms.

A huge asset to having an appartment layout that we didn't think about is that it gave us the opportunity to both express ourselves in the decor.

While Fanny and I are obviously very similar and had the same idea for the foundation of the space, aka our Parisian-inspired look, we do differ on some aesthetic choices.

I was in love with a romantic, lighter tones bedroom vibe and Fanny was dreaming about a darker, moodier room, so we decided to take one room each, and have the common ideas for the 3rd room. Lucky for us, the space was very bare, which made it easier to fully customize it.

This is how our Séjour (living-room), Salon de Jour (Day Lounge) and Salon de Nuit (Night Lounge) were born. Here is a little presentation of them all, with random anecdotes we don't want to forget!

Le Salon de Jour aka Day Lounge

This room was imagined as a "getting ready room”, where you just wake up with the sun, look beautiful, relax with a latte made by your lover while reading your favourite novel.

This room humbled us hard on the moulding creation. We had absolutely no knowledge on how to build anything like this and thank the Irish gods because one of their leaders came to our rescue to bring us back to earth and get to work. (This is also when we found out that using a nail-gun makes you feel pretty powerful).

Le Salon de Nuit aka Night Lounge

This one was thought to be when you lounge before hitting the town or when you are coming back from it. Make yourself a Martini, put on your favourite vinyl and enjoy the sultry vibe around you.

Fanny has a mini panic attack after painting 3/4 of the room in this green. I remember hearing “I think I hate it” from the other room. It was thankfully short-lived, because everyone stepping in this room is raving over the rich green she chose!

Le Séjour, aka the living-room

We wanted some warm, rich tons for this room, with a distinct Art Déco twist, golden touches and a terracotta wall. It also had to be functional, as we use this room for our meetings and reveal sessions.

We found this fire mantle for $15 on Facebook Marketplace, from a vendor who just wanted to help us out with a piece he loved, and we are forever grateful for him.

La Terrasse aka the patio

This was the last section we created, firstly because we moved in in winter, but also because we weren't too sure what to do with it, until our recent trip to France. We saw the wisteria trees that are so familiar to us in the summer and decided to turn our outdoor space into a provencal oasis.

We went to the massive park to find branches to use to build our tree and between making sure they were bug-free and the weird looks we got from people, it was an adventure!

And now, altogether!

We just had a little virtual tour video done, with some more recent updates, and you can now pay us a little visit!

It has been such an accomplishment for us to pour our hearts and souls into this space. It's constantly evolving, we have a million more ideas and we can't wait to keep sharing its evolution with you.

If you are interested in shooting with us in our beautiful home, you can get more information by clicking here.

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6 tips for a better boudoir experience while being on your period

We all agree that being on our period isn’t a pleasant experience: being in pain, losing blood, being tired, having our hormones going crazy, feeling bloated, having to use the bathroom often, and much more, makes it hard to feel like a sexy and confident being. So when the time of your boudoir shoot comes and you realize you will be on your period, it can feel like a bummer.

But don’t you worry, today we are giving you 6 tips that will help you have a positive boudoir experience while being on your period if you cannot push back your shoot!

Painkillers medicine

This one is a given but feeling comfortable while doing your boudoir shoot is very important, so you want to make sure to not be in pain while posing. Don’t hesitate to take some pain killers before leaving for your shoot. Taking them at least 30 minutes before the beginning of your boudoir session should do the trick!

Avoid wearing sanitary pads

If possible do not use pads, especially if you are planning to wear some lingerie. Pads are thick and very difficult to hide so instead you might want to use a tampon or menstrual cup. But if you do not like having a foreign object in your body, you can find nowadays beautiful period underwear that can be perfect for a boudoir shoot.

Bring one or two small towels

Having a couple of hand towels in your bag while on your period is always useful. You might need them if you have to clean yourself quickly, or use one to put under your bum in case you are worried you might stain the furniture you are sitting or laying on. Don’t forget to also take a plastic bag with you so you can put the used towels in it!

Change and freshen up

We all know how uncomfortable it is to spend a part of your day with an almost full period protection and wondering if it is leaking because it is time to change it. For your peace of mind and a better boudoir experience we recommend you to change whatever period product you are using just before starting your shoot. And if you can, do not hesitate to rinse yourself as well so you know there is no risk of smell or visual.

Avoid lingerie that is too tight

If you are like us, you know that when we are on our period it feels good to wear loose clothes. Since our uterus feels (and is) bigger than usual, wearing tight pants or tight underwear is very uncomfortable. If you only bring tight lingerie or gorgeous corset to wear during your boudoir session, you will end up spending the entire shoot feeling constricted, and it might show on the final pictures. To avoid this, bring a mix of different outfits so you can switch from wearing tight clothes to loose ones. It will make the session more comfortable for you!

Bring some outfits that covers your belly

It is not something you will hear us say often! Usually we like to tell our clients to show the parts of their body they like the less instead of hiding them during their boudoir shoot (it is in our opinion the best way to learn to accept and love those parts). But being on our period means that we are naturally bloated, and we know it is not a pleasant feeling.

On top of making our belly bigger than it usually is, there is also the discomfort that goes with it. So we understand that people don’t necessarily want to see that on their photographs. If you can relate, then bring some outfits that will hide your bloated belly such as bodysuits, babydoll gowns, dresses, shirts…

Bonus tip

Don’t hesitate to tell us if you are experiencing any discomfort or pain during your shoot so you can take a break to calm the cramps down. Here are a few items you can bring with you that can help ease the pain during the shoot:

• Herbal tea to drink during your session. Red raspberry leaves, ginger, peppermint, and chamomile tea, can help to reduce the bloating and calm down period cramps.

• Heat or cold pad. Heat can help relax the muscles contributing to cramping, so applying heat to your abdomen or back can help relieve your pain.

  An ice pack can also reduce pain. Cold therapy narrows blood vessels, which eases menstrual cramps.

• Extra medicine to take if the pain comes back during your boudoir session.

As mentioned, your boudoir shoot should be a fun and comfortable experience. So if the idea of having your period during your session makes you feel uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to ask us if it is possible to push back your session, especially if you give us a couple of weeks notice. But in case it is not possible, try to not stress too much about it and follow those guidelines. If you manage to relax during this time, you will still get a beautiful experience 💛

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Two boudoir photographers are better than one!

If you have been checking out boudoir photography for a while, you might have noticed that the majority of the photographers work alone during their shoot. But then you came across our business and see that we work as a team. So you might wonder:

“Does it make a difference to have two photographers during my boudoir shoot?”

The answer is yes, and here is why:

STRESS-FREE PHOTOSHOOT

Most of the people who try boudoir photography for the first time feel nervous with the idea of doing a shoot for several reasons: they are nervous about showing more skin than on a regular photoshoot. They don’t like their body, so posing feels nerve wracking. They don’t know how to get ready for their boudoir shoot and feel overwhelmed.

There are so many reason to feel stressed out before and during a boudoir session that it is our job, as photographers, to create a stress-free environment. Having two photographers on-site definitively helps your shoot go very smoothly. When one of us is shooting, the other one is prepping for the next set by reorganizing the studio to create a different vibe, thinking of the next idea, and even putting together your next outfit.

This allows us to be very efficient, so you can:

• Fully enjoy the duration of your boudoir shoot instead of wasting time waiting around because the photographer is prepping alone for their next idea; and

• Relax and enjoy the shoot without feeling rushed by your photographer because they are running out of time.

MORE DIVERSITY OF PHOTOGRAPHS

Since we rarely both take pictures of a set at the same time, one of us uses that time of not shooting as an opportunity to think of and prep her next idea. Which is perfect to help us dive deeper into our creativity to create unique lighting effects, get more props involved, figure out different poses, or even find other beautiful angles of you posing to take photos of while the other is shooting her set.

Which means you get:

• a tailored experience instead of having the same pictures as everyone else,

• the possibility to see yourself from two different perspectives, angles, and in different atmospheres; and also

• more photos for you to choose from during your reveal session.

Of course we will find you beautiful on all the photographs, but you know your face better than we do. So having more photos means you get access to a good variety of different poses and facial expressions for you to choose from.

FAST IN-HOUSE EDITING

Working as a duo also means a shorter editing turnaround time, without the need to outsource it. Let us explain!

It is very common for photographers to reduce their workload by outsourcing the editing part of their photoshoots (the editing process involves making a selection of photos, changing the visual settings of a photo such as the lighting or the colours, but also heavier editing such as skin edits and so on) to freelancers or other studios specializing in photo editing (they can be located in a different country).

Being two photographers working with you during your boudoir shoot means we divide the editing of the pictures you will purchase by two (we each take half of your photos to edit them). By doing so, there is no need for us to outsource this part, therefore your photographs stay fully private, and you get them faster!

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Imagine you finally took the decision to do the boudoir shoot of your dream. You spent some time gathering the best outfits and accessories, and prepping for it (maybe you went shopping, took a day off from work, went to do your nails or hair, or finally found time to be kids-free for a few hours) when at the last minute you get a phone call from your photographer who tells you that unfortunately they cannot do your boudoir shoot because they are sick or something happens. There are usually two outcomes possible: your shoot is rescheduled, or you get assigned to another photographer.

We are humans, so emergencies happen, unfortunately. But for you, it is an inconvenience and that can ruin your experience! You spent time getting ready for that shoot and organizing your life around it that even if you understand those things happen, having to reschedule your shoot can be a problem. And not everyone would feel comfortable having a boudoir shoot with a photographer they never met before!

When you book your shoot with Juliette and I, Fanny, you are always talking to us only, and you will meet both of us during your Zoom meeting (in which we get acquainted and discuss your ideas if you have any). So in case one of us cannot be part of your photoshoot due to an emergency, the other one will be there to make your shoot happen!

BONUS POINT: DOUBLE THE FUN

Boudoir photography should always be a relax and fun experience. Juliette and I have known each other for such a long time, and our friendship is the strength of our business! We are lucky to have such a great connection which makes our energy very contagious!

We hope this blog will bring you one step closer to book your boudoir shoot… and even better with us :)

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Why I posed for a boudoir shoot instead of shooting it.

Hello fellow reader, Juliette here, co-founder of Scandaleuse Photography. I have now been a photographer for over 15 years, and my work has always been around making every-day women feel beautiful. I am indeed a fervent believer that everybody should feel great about themselves. But I can't pretend this mission was totally self-less: looking back, I can say with confidence that I put myself on this journey because I just didn't feel good in my own skin so helping others do it was a way to help myself.

And it's worked. A lot. But the past few months, I felt like I needed a reminder so for the first time in 7 years, I ask Fanny, my co-founder, to give me what we give to our wonderful client: a boudoir shoot.

Now, if you have been around Scandaleuse, you could say “dude, we see you all the time in a boudoir setting” and you would be right. However, when we opened, Fanny and I took the decision to model for our work to have the freedom to use the photos the way we want. Those shoots are "work-related", productive, with a specific goal and… I am not posing alone.

Posing with somebody is easier in my opinion. The focus is on you as a group, not solo. It takes off the pressure. Doing a photoshoot for yourself is a whole different feeling that I hadn't experienced in years. And I needed it.

The need to reconnect as a woman.

I haven't been shy to share about my experience with body-dysmorphia since a very young age, to the point where I was heavily editing my photos the minute I dabbled with Photoshop.

Body-dysmorphia will always be a part of my life, but I am proud to say that, at 32 years old, I have done enough work on myself to shut it down fairly easily.

This need for a photoshoot wasn't because something felt off with my body. It was because I needed to reconnect with myself as a feminine being.

The "go-go-go mode”

It's safe to assume that I am leaning towards a "type A” personality. I respond a lot to achievements, I'm impatient, always rushing and executing something. While it comes with wonderful perks like creativity and ambition, it also comes with a lot of burn-out, frustration and masculine energy.

To sum it up easily, masculine energy is all about doing while feminine energy is all about being, itself tied with sensuality.

And what's the link with my request to do a boudoir shoot? Well, if there is one experience in which you can just exist, let go and let your sensuality shine, it's a boudoir shoot.

So, how did it feel to step in front of the camera?

Don't let the fact that I am a professional boudoir photographer fool you: it was challenging for me too! Maybe even more so, because I am deeply familiar with posing and what looks good and what doesn't. Pressure on!

But part of my reasoning going into this as also to let myself be guided. (And that's a scary feeling for me!). The whole point of doing this was to stop controlling everything, I would have felt like garbage about myself if I put on my professional hat and took over! So I let go, trusted my partner and focused on feeling good.

I had also forgotten how exhilarating boudoir is! We always talk about it but feeling it again was such a strong reminder of why we do what we do.

And Just like anybody else, I felt like a sexy & badass freaking goddess. Exactly what I was looking for, and I am craving for more!

It is easy to forget how good and necessary this feeling is, even when you literally work in this field.

Even though, for many, it is perceived as completely superficial and narcissistic, we all need to feel strong and beautiful. It makes you a better human towards others but you also are in a much better state of mind to take care of yourself properly. Re-doing this experience fired me up on many levels, just as I was expecting, and now I also get a bunch of cool visuals to go with it!

What about you, would you do (or re-do) a boudoir shoot? Make sure to consider us if you do ;)

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How to calm your nerves before doing a boudoir shoot

Do you feel like a boudoir session could be exactly what you need to do for yourself but a fear is standing in the way? That's totally normal and even… expected. Before you talk yourself out of a wonderful experience, let's go over the main blocks you may encounter when you think about a boudoir photoshoot.

Ditch the fear of being ridiculous

This one is probably the most dominant one. Isn't boudoir reserved only for perfect-looking people, based on all of the photos we see around?

Absolutely not. If anything, it is quite the opposite. The boudoir field has changed drastically in the past decade. It has become a wonderful artistic and therapeutic tool to reconnect with yourself and your body, instead of exclusively showcasing lingerie models. All bodies are now be in their deserving spotlight, no matter the type, shape and age!

We can't even give you a more dominant audience in our field, as we work with people between their early thirties and early 60s, all with different backgrounds and stories.

Now, you may be wondering: “okay, that's great, but you still need to be a minimum photogenic and know what to do with yourself”

Here is the secret: everyone is photogenic but not everyone has received the right guidance to be so. And guess what? It's not your job to figure this out on your own.

A professional photographer should be able to guide you to pose so you don't have to think about and can just learn useful tips. They will know the right angles, to flattering poses and everything you need to get photos that look like you but make you feel like a million bucks!

Take the time to prep to ease your nerves

We underestimate how fun prepping for the session is, but also how helpful it is to feel more confident stepping into your session.

Gathering clothing options you feel your best in, trying new pieces, thinking of fun props, looking for inspiration for hair, makeup, poses, vibes… All of these are key to feel more at peace before you even step in front of the camera.

Ask all the questions you need

Boudoir photography is not your area of expertise, so of course you can ask every question in the book! There are no silly questions, so if you are unsure of anything or need clarification, whether it is about the actual booking process or advice on an outfit, just reach out and ask. Any professional is happy to offer guidance on what they do best!

Kick-in-the-butt punchline: You will never regret doing your photoshoot, but you will definitely regret NOT doing it.

One of the main feedback we receive from our clients after their session is: “I wish I had done this sooner".

Like anything you wish to do for your well-being, you will definitely feel the weight of regret if you initiate the first step (aka gathering the courage to inquire for a session and tell your story) but don't follow through. Don't let this haunt you!

There you have it, your go-to guide for calming those pre-boudoir shoot nerves. Remember, it's all about having fun and celebrating you. Instead of focusing on perceived flaws or imperfections, shift your mindset to appreciate and love your body as it is. Trust that your photographer is there to capture your beauty in its purest form and that vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

Get ready to embark on a beautiful and powerful journey, it would be a shame to miss out on it!

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When celibacy makes you lose touch with your sensuality

Here we go, another blog not super easy to write about but definitely needed, as sometimes it feels great to put words on paper! Today, it is my turn (Fanny) to write about some inner battles that have been happening for quite a while.

I have been sick for a week now, nothing serious, but it is making me feel sad, vulnerable, and weak. And you know how it goes, when we feel low, we have the tendency to think about the past. So lately I keep thinking of the decision I took 2 years and half ago to celibate, but most importantly the consequences of that decision.

His words were the last straw!

In October 2021, I was dating this guy, and one night while we were being intimate, he said to me:

“You are so thin, I could break you!”

Yeah, who says this kind of things, especially while being intimate with someone, right? You will be surprised on how many times men have said shitty things to me. I was shocked and preferred to ignore his comment, but this sentence stuck to my mind (two years later, I am still thinking about it). It was hard for me to hear this as when I was younger I was bullied in middle school for being a small body person. And even though I became more resilient with time against this type of comments, sometimes it still hurts. Especially when I am in a vulnerable moment. But I guess it was the extra push I needed in order to change a few things about my relationships.

Even if I have been lucky to never be in an abusive relationship, my relationship with men has always been complicated: I have been cheated on (classic!), ghosted, lied to so many times, told awful comments... I was also in a 4 years relationship where my partner was secretly keeping track of our sexuality on an Excel spreadsheet. So romantic, isn’t it?

I never seemed to attract the right type of man, but I believe that I was unconsciously attracting what I was looking for. I have always been afraid of commitment, and never really trusted my partners. So self-sabotaging by being with the wrong people was easy!

The change I needed, and it felt great…

After that comment, my body and sexuality shut done instinctively, and I was over men and dating. My libido left the country! Celibating became surprisingly very natural, and I honestly I didn’t plan it to last that long.

The first year felt amazing, and it created so many positive changes in my way of being! I have always been a sexual and sensual person. That sensuality felt like it was my whole personality, from the way I was dressing up to my way of interacting with people, and the energy I was putting out there. But when I took the decision to remove sex from my life, my sensuality disappeared too as it felt like I didn’t need it anymore:

• I changed my wardrobe, prioritizing long and comfy over of short and tight.

• I started to see men as potential friends instead of potential lovers, which changed the way I was interacting with them.

• My body language changed too, became more chill than seductive.

I never realized the amount of energy it took to be my past seductive-self, so focusing on a different part of my personality made me feel lighter. Opening Scandaleuse Photgraphy with Juliette and being a boudoir photographer helped me a lot with body acceptance and increasing my confidence level. But going into celibacy felt like it was the next step I needed in my personal development journey.

… until it didn’t anymore!

Unfortunately, I took it too far without even noticing (with every transformation comes its opposite effect). Since in the past I was using my body to seduce, the fact I shut down my sensuality made me fall into body neutrality and I now feel completely disconnected from it. When I look at myself in the mirror, I can tell I am a pretty woman and I like what I see but in a neutral way. I am able to tell myself there is nothing wrong with my body, but I don’t feel that proudness of looking good anymore. When I think of my body, I feel out of it!

To a point where it is becoming hard to like pictures of myself as I don’t feel impressed. The last time Juliette and I took some boudoir photographs of ourselves for marketing purpose, I was really harsh with myself. And yesterday, when I was looking for a picture of me to illustrate this blog, I cried at my past photographs because I miss the feeling of looking at a photo and being able to tell myself: “Damn, I look hot!”.

On top of that, the idea of being intimate with someone again scares me. This body neutrality has decreased my self-love level and makes me feel less confident and less seductive. Instead of taking a break like I initially wanted, I unintentionally shut down my heart to love others, in a way also to myself, and created a fear I never had before.

I have thought in the past that being sensual was maybe an act, a mask I was putting on to make myself seem more interesting to others, but I was so wrong. Sensuality is part of me, it’s the fire that I need to keep LOVING. Without it, I don’t recognize myself, so it is time to find it back!

Boudoir photography to the rescue!

And the best tool for that is a boudoir shoot to help me reappropriate my body and let my sensuality shine again. Even if we take some photos of ourselves for the business, doing a shoot just for me is a different experience. Boudoir has this therapeutic power that really helps you regain confidence. During the shoot you get the opportunity to wear outfits that make you feel like your most badass-self, you pose in ways that are very flattering for your body, and you get the opportunity to express all your personalities.

Definitively a powerful and transformative experience!

Even if I do not recognize myself lately, I do not regret the decision to celibate because it happened so naturally. This has taught me a lot about myself, and it is the best way to grow!

I am so grateful Juliette and I can self-reflect by writing when we feel like it. We believe that there is no shame in sharing about your personal journeys, and it is a great way to spread awareness on issues others might be dealing with too.

We wanted to thank everyone from our community for being supportive and listening (in this case reading) to what we have to say 💛. Let us know in comments if you can relate to this or if it has happened to you in the past (or any thoughts you have when reading this story)!

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How boudoir shoots increased our confidence on every level

Since we opened Scandaleuse, both of us have been posing in boudoir settings for many reasons. To know what it actually feels like, to have content to share with our community, to be creative… But we often forget to talk about how it actually changed us too. There is definitely a before boudoir and after boudoir, even for us.

The expectations VS reality of boudoir.

Boudoir is usually thought as something you do for someone, likely a partner. People get in the mindset that they have to illustrate somebody else's fantasy, only to benefit them. We don't agree with that.

Boudoir should be done for yourself first. It's a way to get quality time with yourself, reclaim your body, see it in a new light. It's a chance to just exist without judgement and expectations. And it comes with long lasting effects you wouldn't know until you try. Even ourselves didn't know that before stepping in front of the lens. We have now been posing for 5 years and can confidently share all of the beautiful changes boudoir have done for us.

The given: we feel beautiful.

There is a lot of power behind feeling beautiful. A new energy emanates out of you, everything around you just feels lighter. It already feels wonderful in a regular setting but imagine feeling beautiful without your clothes on, which we aren't told to even think about. Now that's unlocking the next level of feel good vibes for sure!

The removal of negative body vision.

Rare are the ones who can tell they absolutely love their bodies. And who can blame us? We grow up naturally comparing ourselves to others and to beauty standards shaped by society. When something is not considered “beautiful", we are told to either hide it or to work hard to improve it. It is very easy to end up with a very negative vision of our appearance that follows us for years. For many of us, it even turns into body-dysmorphia.

Seeing our bodies repeatedly on photos without clothes on showed us what our bodies actually look like, and that is far away from what the crappy vision we had.

Don't get us wrong, it was scary at first, even for us. But what a slap in the face it was to see our bodies in an objective light. Turns out our "flaws” were not that flawed.

We are not afraid of our "sexy” sides anymore.

If you were to ask us 10 years ago if we thought we were sexy, we would have awkwardly laughed and say absolutely not. It was just inconceivable to even think it. Another prejudice we deal with: wanting to feel sexy, while being completely natural, is "wrong” so we just avoid it.

Doing boudoir photoshoots showed us that:

1. Feeling sexy comes in many many ways, very few of them are even being related to sex and none of them are related to pleasing someone else.

2. There is SO much power behind this feeling. Looking at our boudoir photos make us feel strong and badass as hell.

3. We had been severely missing out on it.

Deconstructing the shame around something leads to turning it into confidence. And that works for anything.

What about the impact on the confidence then?

Tapping into all of these points has led us to a pretty rock solid confidence in ways we didn't even imagine:

• Reclaiming our bodies made us shut down the negative voices of our surroundings and instead focus on what WE feel good in and show it.

• Boudoir has successfully and positively forced us out of our comfort zone. This made it a lot less scary to try other experiences like that we didn't think we would ever try.

• Doing something that is considered shameful or frown upon by many and, again, ending up having a wonderful outcome has not only removed a lot of our fears but also comforted us in all of our choices afterwards. Even when people disagreed, even if it was unconventional. We just realized we were a lot strong than we thought.

After all, isn't confidence about having a "no fucks given” energy?

We went from shy, insecure beings to free, empowered and proudly sensual women. To this day, we use our boudoir shoot as reminders when we feel down or discouraged. These versions of ourselves were always there, they were just quiet and hard to uncover. Now, we hold on to them tight and cherish them.

And you should too. Set yours free and let it shine.

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