Maternity Portraits With A Boudoir Vibe
Sarah
When I first started photography, I used to photograph a little bit of everything. I photographed families, weddings, bar mitzvahs, real estate design projects, engagements, and newborns. I mean, I was a photographer to everyone and everything. I admit that I was trying to find my way, my style, and my vision. But it wasn’t until a high school friend asked me to take his portraits for his upcoming birthday that I realized that I love to capture the essence of a human via portraits. Then, things took a magical turn when I photographed my very first body study. It was a pivotal moment for me because, at that time, I made the decision to focus on capturing women.
From the start, I knew that I wanted to create with intention. Little did I know, intention would be the foundation of my vision as a photographer. Whether I was shooting portraits, families, or boudoir sessions, I wanted to create from an intentional space and capture my subject as honestly as possible. What I didn’t know was what would happen next. I felt pressured to niche down and brand myself as only one kind of photographer. I can’t begin to tell you when and from where the pressure came. But it was a combination of being asked what exactly it is that I do, and being asked (and asking myself, truly) who I serve. In those moments of contemplation, I chose the one thing that brought me the most joy and that was serving women as a boudoir photographer. This meant, if I am now just a boudoir photographer, then I would have to either refuse family clients and other portrait work or not show it at all if I did shoot those jobs. Fast forward to today, I find myself missing some of my previous work.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions about my work. One question that stands out for me is: what aspects or feelings about my work, whether portrait, boudoir, or family sessions, share similarities? As I thought about this question and analyzed my previous work, these are the feelings that I felt: timeless, emotional, and intentional.
This year, I am recommitting myself to continue creating intentional, timeless, and emotional photographs whether that happens by way of a portrait or boudoir session. I don’t want to limit myself to the art I want to create and I want to share this art with you. If it feels right, sign me up! Just as it did with Sarah.
Sarah’s mom Dione, first reached out to me expressing her desire to gift her daughter with a portrait session. When I spoke with Sarah, she shared with me that she was pregnant with her first child and she wanted it to be documented in a timeless way. I asked her to tell me what she was looking to discover about herself during our session and she said, “I'm not JUST pregnant. I'm still a young woman.”
I am thrilled with what Sarah and I created, and though it’s been a while since we captured her session, it makes me happy to be sharing it with you finally.
Sarah’s portrait session conveys stillness and love.
While she is with child, I still see her ✨
Xo, Denice
Q&A with Sarah
DL: What made you decide to do a Boudoir Session with me?
Sarah: Initially I just loved your portfolio and style. It really spoke to me and resonated with the same aesthetic I was looking for for my maternity photos!
DL: What are you looking to discover about yourself during and/or after our session?
Sarah: I'm not JUST pregnant. I'm still a young woman.
DL: If you were talking to your best friend and wanted to tell her how you felt about your experience what would you say?
Sarah: I had so much fun! It's not every day you get to romp around a beautiful studio half-naked just loving yourself and your body, and then have beautiful documentation of that feeling.
Kind Words
“From the moment we had our consultation I knew Denice was the perfect fit for taking my maternity photos. Aside from having a beautiful eye for aesthetics, her warmth and soft-spoken nature put you right at ease, even if being in front of the camera is not your thing. I will cherish the photos she took of me forever, and I'm so glad we got to meet and work together. I think a Momma/Baby (maybe hubby) session is in our future!”
- Sarah