She Is Not A Model. She Is Just Like You (Sarah P)
A few weeks ago, I shared a quick selfie from the studio after a Hollywood Boudoir portrait session with Sarah.
Today, with her permission, I can finally share a few of the finished portraits.
Please keep in mind that she is not a professional model. She is not spending hours every day in front of the mirror "testing poses."
She is a mother of four, and like many mothers, she has a full schedule that revolves around family and career. She is a real Charleston woman, cheerful, powerful, beautiful, and full of life. And that is exactly why I wanted to photograph her.
The craftmanship
During the session, Sarah was struck by the amount of thought and craftsmanship involved. She noticed the careful placement of multiple spotlights, the cinematic approach to shaping the face and body, and the absence of the simple one or two-light setup she had encountered elsewhere. Even looking at the unfinished images, she could already see that the portraits would be exceptional.
But the real reason was much more important
Sarah confessed to me during the styling consultation, that her concerns were not about the craftmanship of the photographer. She was afraid about self-worth, permission to do something for herself, and how she would be judged.
What mattered most to Sarah
She once believed this was “not for her.” She connected that to a deeper fear shared by many women:
- Fear of being judged
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of not being good enough
- The feeling that one is somehow not worthy of being photographed beautifully
Hollywood boudoir portrait of Sarah resting on a sating-covered couch.
Post-session selfie with Sarah showing her excitement and happiness after a great boudoir shoot
"As a mother you cannot do that"
As a mother of four, Sarah described how easy it is to become consumed by work, children, planning, meetings, and everyday responsibilities. It might feel selfish to do something that is not for the children. That could not be more far from the reality.
Your children would love for you to have a treat.
On the day of the session, Sarah told me, she had spent much of the day working from home in her pajamas, organizing her children’s schedules, attending meetings, and doing everything required of her. She had put the hair curlers while on a meeting (off camera).
The session gave her a reason to stop and reclaim a little space:
- To put on makeup
- To style her hair
- To choose beautiful clothing
- To feel attractive
- To spend time focused on herself rather than everyone else
Self-love is not vanity, it's sanity. Like every human being, you need to cultivate your own happiness, to feel alive, to feel desirable, to feel beautiful. Everybody around you will benefit, when you are happier.
This is for every woman
The Hollywood Boudoir experience is not designed for women who already know how to pose, who feel perfectly confident every day, or who think they belong in front of a camera.
It is dedicated to everyday women.
- Women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.
- Women who have spent years taking care of everyone else.
- Women who may be curious, nervous, excited, unsure, or all of those at once.
This session was photographed in the style of classic Hollywood glamour, using real black-and-white film because it's an eternal style that has won the test of time and that makes women look amazing. But it's not an exercise in creating vintage portraits.
It is classic Hollywood glamour reimagined for today’s woman: elegant, sensual, cinematic, and completely personal.
And look at her.
This is why I love this work. This is so much more than just pictures. It is about showing you how amazing you truly are. Because without moments like this, the mundane, the routine can take over and make us forget the inner elegance.
Grace, elegance, and femininity are not lost as life gets busy. Sometimes they simply need to be invited back into your life. It's not too late. It's just a decision away. Yours 🙂
If you have ever wondered what a tasteful, private, fully guided Hollywood Boudoir session could look like for you, I created a private guide to help you explore the idea.
This Boudoir Session Is Made For You. Discover Why.
Everything that you wondered about a feminine, empowering, fun boudoir session for the everyday woman in a discreet, easy to read guide that you can take with you everywhere.