Paris, Lingerie, Boudoir + A Lesson in French Confidence 🇫🇷✨

I just got back from the most incredible trip to Paris, and I have to share some moments with you—especially if you’ve ever dreamed of shooting in the City of Light. 🌆📸

I have had the honor of collaborating with ​Sugar Cookies Lingerie​ for over 4 years now, and this was our third trip to the City of Light together. It had always been my dream to capture stunning boudoir imagery in some of the most breathtaking Parisian locations—think golden balconies, moody hotel rooms, and yes… the Eiffel Tower in the background. And I am thrilled to have made that dream happen once again this year. ♥️

But these epic boudoir photoshoots were just the beginning…

Here are some other highlights from our unforgettable trip:

✨ Cocktail party & fashion presentation with Maison Close – Their wonderful team even created a signature cocktail in Maison Close Purple in honor of our event! I always thought Maison Close was too sexy for a woman "my age" but I was proven wrong - their new ready-to-wear collection is everything, and you’ll soon find it at Sugar Cookies! I purchased the black tuxedo pants with lace - something I had been thinking about ever since I saw them in person at the August trade show!

✨ A history & atelier visit with couture corset makers Cadolle – This was our attendee's favorite event last year so we went back to the beautiful jewel box of a shop and learned about the importance of a properly fitting bra and the differences between French and American Styles when it comes to the feminine ideal. Seeing their craftsmanship up close was a masterclass in lingerie artistry.

✨ A showroom tour + sneak peek of Aubade’s Fall/Winter collection – We even got to visit the team of seamstresses working on prototypes. Aubade is a staple of everyday luxury, and their new designs are going to be stunning.

✨ A tour of the Dior Museum – These highly coveted tickets are tough to come by but we had to visit for the fashion, as well as the Peter Lindbergh exhibit (my favorite photographer!) So many instagramable moments here!

✨ A personal chat with designer Paloma Casile – This was a new brand discovery for me. Paloma's passion for lingerie as both fashion and empowerment was beyond inspiring, as was her tenacity as a young, female business owner. I even made a bold purchase for myself (see above)!

✨ An epic evening of burlesque & champagne at Crazy Horse Cabaret – Because no trip to Paris is complete without a little Parisian glamour and tease. 😉

And then there was this moment…

During a breathtaking hotel balcony shoot, my client and I had a surprise encounter with two chic Parisian women who spotted us from their apartment across the way. At first, I thought they were upset by our shoot—only to later find out they lovedwhat we were doing! They even offered us their own apartment for a new angle (which resulted in one of my favorite behind the scenes shots of all time). 😍

A Lesson in French Confidence 🇫🇷

In the U.S., boudoir is often seen as something just for a partner—but in France, it’s truly an art form, a celebration of self. A moment to honor your own beauty, at any age, just because you deserve to. And that’s something I want all of us to embrace. ❤️

I can’t wait to share more from this trip—including behind-the-scenes, my top Paris hotel picks for boudoir shoots, and of course, how you can create this magic in your own work. Stay tuned!

À bientôt, Stephanie

P.S. If you want a sneak peek of the images, keep an eye on my ​Instagram​—I’ll be sharing soon! 😉 #ParisBoudoir #SugarCookiesLingerie #ConfidenceAtEveryAge

Let Boudoir Photography Change The Way You See Yourself

Choosing portraiture photography is a powerful step toward self-discovery, self-expression, and increased self-confidence. Professional portrait photography is an artistic and insightful medium that helps to capture your unique persona and beauty. This art form allows you to create a visual narrative of your life, express your personality, and capture memorable moments in a particular era that means a lot to you. In this blog post courtesy of Brooklyn Boudoir, we'll explore how professional boudoir portrait photography can boost your self-confidence and change your outlook.

Change the Way You See Yourself

A professional portrait session with an experienced photographer can help you see yourself in a new light. The photographer will create an environment where you feel comfortable, relaxed, and confident. They'll guide you through the process of posing and help you to find your best angles. A portrait session is an opportunity for you to explore your personality and showcase your unique beauty. By capturing the essence of who you are, you will be able to see yourself in a way that you may never have before.

Capture An Era

Portrait photography captures unique moments in a person's life. These moments can range from a special celebration to a personal achievement; sometimes, they simply mark a major life change that becomes a turning point. A professional portrait photographer will capture these moments in a way that reflects your individuality and personality. They'll create an image that tells the story you want to tell.

Banish Insecurities

Many people struggle with insecurities about their appearance or personality. A professional portrait session can help you overcome these feelings so you can create an image that is both beautiful and empowering. Whether you've recently had a child or are working on the process of self-love, the act of having your portrait taken can help you refocus your energy into a more positive form.

Unleash Your Creativity

Portrait photography is a powerful medium for personal exploration and creativity. It provides an opportunity for you to express yourself, showcase your unique personality, and experiment with different styles and themes. A professional portrait photographer will work with you to create images that reflect your personality, interests, and passions. This session provides a creative outlet for personal exploration, which can be both enjoyable and empowering.

Photo via Adobe Stock

Take Your Images Even Further With Adobe Express

Once you have your professional portrait photos, there are a variety of ways to enjoy them and showcase your unique personality. Adobe Express is a powerful photo editing app that allows you to create beautiful projects with your favorite images. You can use these tools to create photo cards and other keepsakes using your high-quality images; here are some examples.

• Create a beautiful anniversary card for your loved one using your favorite photo. This is a great way to incorporate your photo session into your special day. Just choose the template you like best and include the photo of your choosing.

• Make a sweet Valentine’s Day card for your significant other using your favorite shot from the session. Not only is this a great memento, it’s easy to do. Just upload the image and use the tool to add fun or romantic text.

• Create a beautiful photo calendar that uses a different boudoir photo for each day of the month. This makes a great gift for a special someone. Adobe’s templates make the process easy; the hardest part is deciding which photos to use!

• You don’t need design skills to create a gorgeous desktop wallpaper. Adobe makes it super easy, and you can have a beautiful reminder of your photo shoot completed in minutes. Choose your colors and customize the wallpaper with different fonts or icons.

Professional portrait photography is a powerful medium for self-expression and personal growth. It provides an opportunity for you to explore your personality, showcase your unique beauty, and capture memorable moments in your life. By choosing a professional boudoir portrait session, you can boost your self-confidence, see yourself in a new light, overcome insecurities, explore your creativity, and enjoy your photos for years to come.

Ready to see yourself in a new light? Get in touch with the pros at Brooklyn Boudoir today to set up a session.

Just do it, Seize the Day, and other Clichés that are True

Happy New Year all!  It’s the day of resolutions, the day we set all the good intentions about bettering ourselves and not falling into the same patterns as last year.  My goal for this year?  Rev up this business.  Blog more.  Get on top of my social media.  Shoot more.  Find more like minded women to collaborate with.  

But wait, I think my phone needs updating.  I should do that first.  And that pile of papers that’s been sitting on my desk - that definitely needs addressing.  Is there milk in the fridge?  Hmm, yeah, I should probably go to the store and get some fresh milk cause I wouldn’t want for it to run out just when I need a big cup of coffee, which I will definitely need before I start all the blogging I plan on doing…

Brooklyn Boudoir was conceived several years ago while I was visiting my husband’s family in Miami.  A friend of ours had done a boudoir shoot as a Christmas gift for her fiance.  This woman was not traditionally sexy - she was rather tomboyish and I was shocked that she would choose to give her partner a boudoir portrait for Christmas.  And at the same time I was completely inspired.

It was such an ah-ha moment for me.  I had been wanting to build a portraiture business but had no real interest in photographing babies or children, or weddings.  I had already been exploring boudoir without knowing it or assigning the word “boudoir” to it in a self-portrait project.  I had no idea that boudoir could even be a business!  It was a perfect fit, something I had already essentially been doing, and a perfect marriage between all my interests - portraiture, sensuality, girl power…  and I felt so validated to know that there were other women out there who wanted to celebrate their sensuality in the same ways that I did.

Photography I felt comfortable with, but building a business??  That was a totally different story.  First I need to build up my portfolio.  And create a logo of course, and create business cards, and study the specifics of boudoir photography and of course then study what it takes to build a small business … and then I got pregnant.

And suddenly it’s 2 years later and while there have been a lot of valid delays to revving up the business (I had a baby after all), there were a lot that we mere procrastinations.  And procrastinations of course, just boil down to fear — fear of failure, fear of putting myself out there, fear of judgement, fear of not being able to provide for my family, fear of … 

How often is it that the anticipation of something is way scarier than the actual DOING of it??   I can either casually see what happens, or actively pursue the career that I’m passionate about, that I’m good at, that i can help people with.  Or, I can spend my time doing chores, browsing Facebook and letting more months pass by.  

Look, life happens, chores need to be done.  But here’s to spending 2017 working towards something for YOU, procrastinating the procrastinating and actively following your heart.  

The answer is YES - YES, this is the right time, YES you can do it, YES to whatever it is you want to do.

So let’s do this thing!  2017, yee-ha!

xoxo, Stephanie