Edmonton Boho Boudoir Mini Session
This past March, literally days before businesses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to gather with a small group of beautiful, bad-ass women for my first boho boudoir marathon day! We were able to use the gorgeous Juniper Loft, which was full of so much natural light and greenery. Calvin Alexander did an unbelievable job on hair and makeup for all of these ladies!
I always get an influx of requests for boudoir sessions around Valentine's Day in February, since people are looking to gift photos to their partners. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, I wanted to be able to show that boudoir sessions should be done for yourself first. Being vulnerable in this way in front of a stranger with a camera is so NOT easy, but I wanted to encourage women to show up anyway, conquer that fear, and show them how undeniably strong and beautiful they are.
A day of mini boudoir sessions
Haley is a fellow photographer I first met through my time at NAIT in the Photographic Technology program. Equal parts beautiful, mothering personality and confident, take-no-shit-from-anyone business owner, she inspires me every single time I talk to her. You have no idea how intimidating it was to be asked to take her photo! It’s always nerve-wracking being trusted by another photographer, and her support means the world to me. She chose to keep her look simple and sexy, with these amazing rainbow crystal pasties that she ordered online! I was obsessed. I also loved seeing all of the stunning art inked on her body!
“She is water.
powerful enough to drown you
soft enough to cleanse you
deep enough to save you.”
- Adrian Michael
What makes mini sessions different from a full boudoir session?
Duration & Investment
My mini sessions are usually hosted at a reduced cost for a reduced period of time. Typically, regular sessions will take 1-2 hours depending on the collection booked, and can be booked at any time during the year. Mini sessions will take place on a specific date, with a limited number of sessions available, in 20-30 minute time slots. Sessions are booked back-to-back. These mini sessions are more budget-friendly than a full session that’s customized for you, and are sometimes in collaboration with a specific hair and makeup artist or florist to create unique set pieces that are only available for that day. As mini sessions are shorter, there is only time for one outfit, and your final gallery will contain a much more limited number of final images (usually 8-10, with the option to purchase more from your proofing gallery after your session). Hair and makeup will be kept more simple, focusing on glowy skin and quicker natural glam looks.
Customization
The level of customization and depth is much greater with a full length session than a mini session. Here’s what you can expect when you upgrade to a full session:
There is more room for collaboration between us. This is especially helpful if you have a concept that is more involved and would take more time to execute, such as a special look from the hair and makeup artist, a particular outfit, or set design that may take extra time for me to put together. I also may create mood boards for us in this instance!
You will have the opportunity to change into multiple outfits depending on how long you book for your session, which results in a final gallery with much more variety — and you know what they say about variety being the spice of life!
More images will be included in your final gallery, beginning at 20 fully retouched photos.
If you’re purchasing a larger collection, you can also expect a beautifully designed custom photo album to be delivered after your session!
Whether you book a mini session or a full collection, here’s how I prepare you! After completing the booking process, I always provide a boudoir preparation guide to my clients that explains in detail the way I photograph and steps that I recommend taking in order to prepare for your session. My guide covers the following topics and more:
what to wear for your boudoir session: how to choose outfits and accessories
pre-session prep, such as grooming and what to pack into your bag to bring to your session
habits that you can pay attention to leading up to your session that will help you feel even more confident and physically comfortable (like drinking lots of water and stretching!)
what you can expect after the day of your session and additional products available for purchase, such as albums and prints
Photographing boudoir is one of my favourite things because I get to see the glow of confidence on everyone’s’ faces as they leave my studio. It’s truly one of the most energizing and meaningful experiences that I can give someone. If this post has inspired you to book your own session and you want to find out more about the boudoir services I offer, visit this page and reach out to me via my contact form!
Book your own boudoir experience
I photograph boudoir sessions in a way that prioritizes comfort, connection, and fun, while creating a safe space for you to show up just how you are! If you’ve ever felt unsure about overly styled or high energy sessions, I’d love to create a session just for you! You can reach out to me through my contact form, view my portfolio, or visit my boudoir page to find out more about what having a session with me is like! Follow me on Instagram to see updates for when I’m hosting a new round of boudoir mini sessions.
Edmonton boudoir vendors
Photography: Janine Rose | Hair and makeup: Calvin Alexander