Charleston Boudoir Featured Session: Boudoir Photoshoot Giveaway Winner Kandi

When I began shooting boudoir photography way back in 2004, I had no idea that I would change lives. I just thought it was about having fun and taking pretty photos for people. But over the course of my career, I’ve realized it goes way beyond “pretty pictures.”

Connecting with Kandi through this giveaway reminded me so much of my “Why.” (more about why I love to shoot boudoir here) While I was talking with her on her finalist call, I KNEW she NEEDED this. She needed to see her worth, see her beauty, and to reconnect with herself on a deep level.

I think we accomplished exactly that.

• What made you decide to enter the giveaway?

  I entered due the fact I feel like I will end up alone and I've been struggling with depression. Am I unlovable? Am I going to be alone forever? I wanted something to help me feel good about myself, especially since I'm getting older and my body is changing. I wanted to feel good again :)

• What were you wanting to gain from having a session?

  It wasn't until after I spoke to Dawn the first time that I changed my mind of what i wanted to get out of it. Instead of just building my confidence I really wanted to do the "married" type boudoir shoot for myself. Almost like I was marrying myself and this is for me, not for guys to look at, but just for me.

• How were you feeling before your shoot? Any thoughts going through your head?

  I was nervous. I felt gross about my body and not confident at all.

• Now that you've had your own photo shoot, how was it?

  It was very encouraging. everyone was great and even when I didn't have the courage to speak up they pushed me to so that I loved everything. Dawn is amazing and made me feel so comfortable and confident and it really felt like girls just hanging out.

• How did you feel about having your hair and makeup done?

  I've had my hair and make up done before but she was AWESEOME! I went out right after to show off.

• What would you say to someone thinking about doing a boudoir session?

  I'd definitely suggest it. It's not what you think. I thought initially it was going to be about getting pictures that you like but it's so much more than that. It's an inside transformation of what you think and feel about yourself.

• Is there anything that we could have done better to make your experience perfect?

  No, I can't thank you enough!

Need some more encouragement? Check out this post!

Also check out Sarah’s session. She was our second of three giveaway winners.

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ARE YOU READY TO BOOK YOUR BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE?

YOU CAN CONTACT ME HERE.

Charleston Boudoir Featured Session: Erica

I absolutely loved working with Erica and being part of her journey. I had followed her on social media and was in awe of the confidence she displayed while sharing her knowledge on health and fitness in her posts. She spoke passionately about the transformation she experienced after the birth of her child to where she was now. Erica was now on the path to loving herself fully and completely, while also not being afraid to take some time for herself. That’s what her boudoir experience was all about for her.

Here is what she had to say:

What made you decide to do a boudoir session? Please describe how you came to the decision and what finally made you take the leap!

At the beginning of the year I decided to finally make myself a priority and invest in self care. After taking care of my health and taking time for me, I found a love for myself that I never had before. I booked my boudoir shoot for me. It was a way to celebrate my newfound self-love and serves as a permanent reminder of how good it feels to put myself first.

What made you decide to hire me as your photographer?

After researching and looking into many photographers who offer boudoir, it was fairly easy to book my shoot with Dawn. Her photos are absolutely stunning and I fell in love with her style right off the bat! There wasn’t a single bad review and women raved about how amazing and comfortable Dawn made them feel - and I knew I needed that!

How were you feeling before your shoot? Any thoughts going through your head?

I was definitely excited before my shoot, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous! This was my first time ever doing anything like this and I’m usually extremely reserved and private.

Now that you've had your own photo shoot, how was it?

It was AMAZING! I’m so glad I did it and so thankful I’ll have these photos for life. It’s truly an experience that I’ll never forget and I’m still amazed at how comfortable Dawn made me feel. She really made me feel like a super model and made the whole process so elegant and easy - even for someone whose never done it before.

How did you feel about having your hair and makeup done?

One of the reasons I booked with Dawn was the fact that hair and makeup were available. I definitely cannot do either for myself so having it done right there in the studio was incredible. I loved getting pampered!

If this was for a gift, what did your significant other say about your photos? Did they have a favorite pose or outfit?

Well, this was a gift to myself.. but my husband definitely didn’t complain! He still loves looking at my box of pictures and we could never pick a favorite because we love them all!

What would you say to someone thinking about doing a boudoir session?

If you’re thinking about booking - DO IT! I recommend it to everyone now and feel every woman should experience this at least once in their lifetime. Any insecurities or concerns you may have - I promise you Dawn will take care of! She is the best at making you feel insanely beautiful and you’ll discover so much confidence from your shoot!

Also check out my session featuring Sam here.

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ARE YOU READY TO BOOK YOUR BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE?

YOU CAN CONTACT ME HERE.

Top Tips To Prepare For Your Boudoir Session: Charleston Boudoir Photography

Ok, you've finally booked your shoot! Now what?

There are tons of nerves and emotions leading up to a boudoir shoot, and that’s 100% normal! Here are my top tips on how to prepare and not freak out. I've got plenty of fail safe tips on choosing outfits, getting organized, and how to look your best for this awesome experience!

Here is another bit of good news. Once you are booked in, I will be sending you some very detailed guides with even more prep info, places to shop, and wardrobe ideas for every body type.

Prep your skin, face, and brows.

• Hydrate by drinking tons of water the week of/ morning of your shoot. Hydrated skin will look dewy and glowing for the camera.

• Wash your face and apply a lightweight facial moisturizer and eye cream. Arrive with NO MAKEUP on. Your session fee includes professional makeup application!

• Groom those brows. Whether you wax, tweeze, or trim be sure your brows are in good condition.

Prep your body.

(And by prep your body I don’t mean starve yourself and workout like a maniac.)

• Avoid tan lines at all costs. Please. If you need to even out your coloring, try a light spray tan 2 days before your shoot.

• Shave or wax underarms, legs, and bikini area.

• Arrive to the studio in loose fitting and comfortable clothes. No jeans, bras, or socks since they all leave weird lines on your body that can take a few hours to resolve.

• Stretch. Seriously… you are going to basically be doing yoga all day.

Prep your fingers and toes.

• A simple mani + pedi is fine. Your nails are going to be visible in many of your images, so don’t show up with chipped polish or broken acrylics.

• I love a light pink or French manicure for a soft pretty look. Dark grays, eggplant and black look amazing for the sexier stuff. You want to make sure your nail color works with all of your outfits.

• Matching your nail color for both hands and feet is less distracting.

Prep your hair.

• Arrive to the studio with clean, dry hair. Make sure your hair is completely dry and do not flat iron it. The stylist will have a difficult time adding volume or curls to flat hair.

• If you color your hair, schedule your touch up 5-7 days before your shoot.

• Don’t do anything drastic, like cut bangs beforehand. You don’t want to risk being disappointed with your new look.

Prep your outfits.

• Once you are booked in for your boudoir experience with me, you will receive a wardrobe guide to assist you in choosing outfits, yay!

• Be realistic about what looks good on your body. For instance, if you dislike your tummy area, don’t choose skimpy undies. Look for something high waisted or opt for a bodysuit.

• Speaking of bodysuits, bring at least one. They literally look AMAZING on every one.

• Bring options. You can always return what you don’t use and I will help you select the best pieces.

• Snip out those little tags.

Prep your mind.

• Ditch the negativity. Yes, you will be nervous, but obsessing about all the things you dislike about your body is only going to make you doubt yourself. Focus on what you love and get yourself into good headspace.

• Don’t stress. I have photographed thousands of women in the last 18 or so years. I’m a pro at coaching expression and posing you from head to toe. (I’m also very much a perfectionist, so I’m going to be obsessive about every detail.

• Breathe. You can do this. It’s going to be fun, I swear.

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ARE YOU READY TO BOOK YOUR BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE?

YOU CAN CONTACT ME HERE.

Charleston Boudoir Featured Session: Sam

I’m usually not a fan of props, but a Harry Potter themed boudoir session is a “HELL YEAH” for me. Sam was so much fun to shoot with. From the minute she walked in with her Taylor Swift tee shirt, I knew we were going to be instant friends. Don’t let her sweet vibe fool you though, this girl brought the fire!

This is what Sam had to say about her experience:

When was your session? February 2021

What made you decide to do a boudoir session? Please describe how you came to the decision and what finally made you take the leap! I was turning 30 and wanted to do a Thirty & Flirty shoot for myself.

What made you decide to hire me as your photographer? The quality of work that I saw made me decide to use you as my photographer.

How were you feeling before your shoot? Any thoughts going through your head? I was excited mostly. Maybe a little nervous. I'm not a sexy person but looking at my photos, you would have no idea!

Now that you've had your own photo shoot, how was it? IT WAS AMAZING!!!

How did you feel about having your hair and makeup done? I felt glamorous. It is always strange for me to have that much makeup on but I looked smoking hot

If this was for a gift, what did your significant other say about your photos? Did they have a favorite pose or outfit? GIFT FOR MYSELF. I liked the photo of my butt while I was laying on the bed in the green outfit.

What would you say to someone thinking about doing a boudoir session? WIth Dawn? DO IT WITHOUT HESITATION. My girl creates magic with that camera of hers.

Is there anything that we could have done better to make your experience perfect? My experience with Dawn was perfect! I look back on those photos and remember how incredibly confident I felt. It was an amazing experience.

Also check out my featured blog post with Erica here.

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Join the VIP Group

Connect with with the GB community in our empowering, ladies only, private VIP group.

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Are you ready to book your boudoir experience?

You can contact me here.

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Charleston Boudoir Featured Session: Samantha

When Samantha walked in the door, she was like a little beam of sunshine… seriously. Her bubbly personality and laid back attitude made it so easy for us to vibe throughout the whole session. We decided on a natural and soft makeup look to compliment her boho inspired wardrobe and chose the perfect accessories to go with it.

Here is what Samantha had to say about her boudoir experience:

When was your session? July 2021

What made you decide to do a boudoir session? Please describe how you came to the decision and what finally made you take the leap! My friend did a shoot with Dawn for her wedding some years back so I started following Dawn on her social medias. I love her work, vibe, how tasteful and elegant her photos are. After viewing her photos and always seeing her posts, I finally decided after maybe 4 years I wanted to do a shoot!

What made you decide to hire me as your photographer? I followed Dawn on Instagram and her photos are so beautiful. Not only the sets but the LIGHTING! I looked at a few other boudoir photographers in the area but Dawn's eye for natural light made me choose her instantly!

How were you feeling before your shoot? Any thoughts going through your head? I was so nervous leading up to my shoot. I stressed myself out finding the perfect outfits and worried about how my body looked. I stopped going to the gym a few months before my shoot and a week beforehand I almost cancelled. I hated how I looked and didn't want to get pictures of myseld half naked. But my husband talked me into keeping the session. It was honestly all I talked about since I booked it and 7 months later it was finally time and I'm so glad I did it!

Now that you've had your own photo shoot, how was it? I had the best time! Dawn and her team made me feel so comfortable and so beautiful. I brought a few outfits and asked Dawn her opinion on which jewelery to wear with what outfit and she helped me complete my looks!

How did you feel about having your hair and makeup done? I loved having my hair and makeup done! Who doesn't?! Getting pampered the having a full photoshoot after that makes you feel like a badass!

If this was for a gift, what did your significant other say about your photos? Did they have a favorite pose or outfit? I did the photoshoot for me, but also for my husband. He loved the photos! I did take some topless and those were his favorites!

What would you say to someone thinking about doing a boudoir session? For anyone thinking about doing a boudoir session I say do it!! Don't wait! Don't let any insecurity keep you from this experience! We are our own worst critic and if you let those insecurities stop you then you'll never do it. Put on the sexy lingerie get your hair and makeup done and rock it! Dawn will do the rest you just have to be you!!

Is there anything that we could have done better to make your experience perfect? I feel my experience was perfect! I felt so comfortable from the minute I walked in. Dawn really made the session comfortable. While getting hair and makeup done we all talked and it felt like being with friends. I did some photos topless in a thong and I didn't feel awkward!

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Connect with with the GB community in our empowering, ladies only, private VIP group.

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Are you ready to book your boudoir experience?

You can contact me here.

Charleston Boudoir Featured Session: Alison

As soon as I saw that Alison was rocking that vibrant hair color, those curves, and brought a positive attitude to her session, I knew it was going to be an awesome day. Her only hang up was having someone else do her makeup, but I had full confidence that Shannon, my makeup artist, was going to knock it out of the park. Alison’s confidence hit another level the moment we started shooting and soared again when she saw her photographs for the first time. Proof that when you embrace who you are, in this moment, you will absolutely shine.

Here is what Alison had to say about her shoot:

When was your session? January 2021

What made you decide to do a boudoir session? Please describe how you came to the decision and what finally made you take the leap! I was turning 30 and wanted a fun and unique way to celebrate.

What made you decide to hire me as your photographer? I read the reviews that others had left, and loved that every one had something positive to say about you. They all loved how comfortable you made them feel, and of course your pictures were beautiful!

How were you feeling before your shoot? Any thoughts going through your head? I was a little nervous, just because I only had one pose in my repertoire and was worried I wouldn't know what to do. I also have a bad knee and was concerned about that.

Now that you've had your own photo shoot, how was it? It was amazing! Dawn made me feel so good about myself. As a curvier girl, I think the world tends to tell us not to show off our bodies. I've always had a little bit of confidence about myself, but you pushed it to that max. My curves were viewed as a positive and weren't hidden away. I also explained my knee and Dawn made sure I was always comfortable and not in any pain.

How did you feel about having your hair and makeup done? To be honest, I was excited about the hair because I suck at that, but I was a little nervous about my makeup. I went to school for it and have always done it myself. So to have someone else take control, was really pushing my trust but it all came out beautiful!

What would you say to someone thinking about doing a boudoir session? Do it! Do it! Do it! I'm someone who has posted their pictures to to social media, saved one of the pictures as the background of their phone, and shown the pictures to everyone who wants to see. You don't have to be like that, you can just take the photos for you. That's what I wanted at the core, to do something I've never done before and it made me feel sexy, strong and beautiful! I know a lot of people do this as a gift for someone else, but I think at the true root of it, it's really for yourself.

Is there anything that we could have done better to make your experience perfect? Honestly I really can't think of anything. I look back at that day in such high regard.

Make sure you also check out my featured boudoir session with Shakira here.

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Join the VIP Group

Connect with with the GB community in our empowering, ladies only, private VIP group.

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Are you ready to book your boudoir experience?

You can contact me here.

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Let’s Be Real For A Second: Charleston Boudoir Photographer

This is my best friend.  Shannon has been my best friend for over 15 years.  Shannon swore to me for years that she was not photogenic, that she much preferred being on the other side of the camera.  She hates her legs.  She hates her nose.  She battles with the same feelings of insecurity that I myself have felt... and that every single one of you have felt at some point in your life.  Here is the difference between Shannon and every one of you that have not yet stepped in front of my camera... She felt the fear and did it anyway.  She refused to let her insecurities rule her world. She trusted me.    

This is not the first image I've taken of Shannon and God knows it won't be the last.  The day we shot these images was a shitty day... for the both of us.  We were planning for a week or so to have a "play date" and neither of us wanted to let the other down, so we showed up at the studio.  I hadn't slept, hadn't eaten,  was overwhelmed having gone off of medication I was on for years, and was a flat out, hot mess.  Shannon had an argument with her fiancé,  had been crying, had PMS (we all know how we feel when we have PMS) and felt "gross".  We almost said forget it, let's shoot another time.  But we didn't.  

She threw on some red lipstick, messed up her hair, climbed on the couch and got vulnerable.  She turned down the noise in her head and TRUSTED me.  This is what happened. MAGIC.

So here's the thing- You can continue to tell yourself that you're not pretty enough, skinny enough, sexy enough- whatever... Or you can suck it up and reach out- tell me what you're afraid of, tell me you're not photogenic and don't know how to be sexy, or better yet tell me why you want to do this even though you're scared to death.  Then trust me, MAGIC will happen.

If you need some more encouragement and proof, check out this post about why I know you can do this!

Check out this post about our Top 10 Boudoir FAQs.

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Join the VIP Group

Connect with with the GB community in our empowering, ladies only, private VIP group.

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Are you ready to book your boudoir experience?

You can contact me here.

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