How Can I Get Ready For My Boudoir Shoot? 10 Ways to Prepare Yourself.

Let's face it, most people do not enjoy having their photos taken. So you can only imagine how that discomfort must increase ten-fold when they decide to do a boudoir shoot. In their underwear.

Never fear, I am here to give you a few simple tips on preparing for your boudoir shoot. And they do not include starving yourself or working out like a mad woman. I've said it before and I will say it again, curvy looks best in this type of photography (and in real life in my opinion!)

1. Do not apply fake tanner. I know this is hard, especially if you are totally white like I am. But really, the camera is only going to enhance that un-natural orange glow you have and you will end up looking weird.

2. Do apply lotion. LOTS of lotion, or oil. By keeping your skin super moisturized, you will create a natural looking glow that will come across in your photos as ethereal and heavenly.

3. Wear false eyelashes. I really can't stress this one enough. When I did my first shoot, all of the girls opted to wear false lashes. They make look somewhat fake in real life and you may feel weird wearing them. However, in the photos they make a HUGE difference. You actually don't really notice them in the pictures, but you will notice their effect. They accentuate your eyes and give them a gorgeous almond shape. These are a must-have!

4. Treat yourself to some pretty lingerie. You will probably never do anything like this again (although some people make it a yearly practice!) so really make an event out of it. Treat yourself to some beautiful lingerie. Not only will this make your photos more interesting, it will boost your confidence, making you look your best. Be sure to try the lingerie on befrehand, and maybe bring a friend with you to the dressing room that will be totally honest. Something may look gorgeous on the hanger, but not be the most flattering for your body. The opposite is also true. Something may not look like much on the hanger, but if it plays up your body's best features, it will look stunning. Choose a lingerie store where you will receive personal attention and helpful advice from experts, such as Pampered Passions Fine Lingerie in Engelwood. Their staff is top notch when it comes to customer service, helping you choose the right look for you and proper fit.

5. If you're worried about your mid-section, watch what you eat and drink. Now, I certainly don't mean go on a diet for your shoot! However, there are certain foods and drinks that can cause bloating so try to avoid those for a day or two before your shoot. But please, eat!

6. Get a manicure and pedicure, or at least do one yourself. People tend to forget about their nails, but they do show up in a majority of your photos. Chipped nail polish is not pretty. Also, try to choose a neutral nail color so they don't distract from your gorgeous face.

7. Look at this as a once-in-a-lifetime investment. As I said, most of you will never do anything like this again so the photos you receive from it will be a keepsake that should last forever. How fun will it be to show your granddaughter (when she's older of course!) how beautiful you looked and what a nice gift you gave to your husband!

8. Don't be nervous. I promise you, you will look FABULOUS. Your insecurities will melt as you get in front of the camera. This is your time to feel sexy so you need to relax and have fun! Nervousness and lack of self-confidence will show up on your photos. Just remind yourself that no matter how you THINK you look, you will look amazing in the end. We will highlight your favorite body parts and downplay your least favorite ones. You.will.look.hot!

9. Do this for yourself. No matter who you are doing this boudoir shoot for, deep down it is really for YOU. The end result (photographs) may be going to someone else, but the experience itself is ALL yours. It is just me and you in the room during the shoot and I want you to be comfortable, have fun and WORK IT!

10. Do push yourself to go a little bit outside of your comfort zone during the shoot. Some girls think they will stay totally covered up during the entire shoot. Of course, you can if you want. But many girls, once they are in the swing of it and having fun, decide to get a little risque. I am not talking about totally nude or anything, but maybe a hint of nudity. I am all about making your photos tasteful and classy, but also creating something that you (and your husband) will LOVE. Some of the best shots come when you let down your guard a little. And remember, I NEVER post your photos without your permission.

I hope that helps you get a better idea of how to prepare yourself for your boudoir shoot. I've never met a lady who said, "Gee, I wish I didn't get gorgeous, sexy photos of myself taken!" So treat yourself to a confidence boosting shoot today that you will cherish for the rest of your life!

 D and I were cracking up about something when I snapped this shot. And it is one of my faves! Relax and have fun =)

The Boudoir Divas International List!

The past few weeks, I've been waiting on pins and needles to see if I was chosen for the Boudoir Diva's International list. The Diva's are two classy, God-loving women who have taken boudoir photography to a whole new level and made it cool again! For the past few months, I've been devouring their training materials. They are a huge part of why my first event was such a huge success. The Diva's decided to compile a select list of the country's best boudoir photographers so that clients who can't go to them in San Diego have some options in other states.

Yesterday I jumped on my computer to check my e-mail and THERE.IT.WAS. An e-mail from the Diva's entitled, You Made It! I was so excited I couldn't even read the rest properly! To me, this is one of the highest honors I could be given, and to be given it at this point in my boudoir career is beyond my wildest dreams. And it just drives home to me that this IS what I should be doing with my life!

Thank you Divas, and everyone else who's helped me make it to this point!! My info will be listed on their site soon.

In other news, my online store is complete. You  can now purchase gift certificates for your woman, buy albums, calendars etc. with your credit card. It took awhile, but the products I've chosen are the best of the best and I love them all!

Denver Maven Marathon Coming Soon!

I'm thrilled to announce that I am having a Denver Boudoir Maven Marathon on July 10 & 11. I've attached the invite below, but also wanted to go into a little more detail on what a Maven Marathon consists of and how much fun they are!

You can come by yourself, but hopefully you'll bring a friend or two to join you and really make a party of it. We've booked the Fireplace Suite at the Magnolia so you and your friends can eat, drink some champagne, watch a movie and look through some magazines. It's the perfect girl's day out!


You'll start by having your makeup professionally done by Lindsay Schneider, the Makeup Madame. Lindsay is a true artist and will make you look like the best version of yourself! Lindsay has false lashes for $5, or you can bring your own (check out www.de-beauty.com for some wild ones). False lashes are a must-have. Because I am getting so close to your features with my lens, they really enhance each photo.

Next, you can browse through my collection of shoes, scarves, jewelry etc. to add on to whatever lingerie you've brought along. I also have some corsets and nightgowns available. After that, it's time to shoot!

In the 30 minutes I spend shooting you, it is my goal to not only make you look beautiful, but to make you feel beautiful! I am a firm believer that how you feel shines through to how you look. Every woman I photograph has issues with her body. I've heard "I need to lose 20 lbs.", "I need to lose my baby weight," "Just don't show my cellulite!" Believe me, it is my every intention to make you look beautiful and showcase your best features. I am trained in posing you in a way that will flatter your body type and bring out your natural beauty. While I'm shooting you, I want you to forget about all of your insecurities and have fun! You are a model for a day and I want you to relax and enjoy that feeling. For those of you who are still leery, here is a quote from a past Marathon attendee, "Erin made me feel not only comfortable, but pretty and secure and in the moment.  She told me exactly what to do, where to look, when to smile, when not to smile.  There was complete guidance and never a moment where I felt like I didn't know what I was doing." It's my mission to make everyone I photograph feel this way!

After your shoot, I take your best photos and lightly airbrush and Photoshop them. Again, I am going to enhance your natural beauty, not make you look like a plastic Barbie doll! If there are specific areas you'd like me to concentrate on, I will. Otherwise, I just make you look your best.

I hope that answers any questions you may have about Maven Marathons and I hope you will consider booking one for you and your girlfriends. It is truly an experience you will NEVER forget. Every woman deserves to look and feel like a supermodel for at least day!

Italian Inspiration

As some of you may know, I am half Italian. My mom is FBI (full-blooded). I just love being Italian. I've noticed that all other Italians love being Italian too =) There are so many stunning Italian women, and one of my favorites is Sophia Loren. I recently discovered quite a few gorgeous boudoir-esque photos of Ms. Loren back in the day. This was back before they airbrushed the heck out of photographs, back before size 0 was even a size. As you can see, Sophia doesn't have a "perfect" body by today's standards, but you can't tell me she doesn't look gorgeous in these photos!

Another beautiful Italian actress that I just love is Monica Bellucci. Man, she is gorgeous. And, while she is definitely not fat by any means, she does have curves and isn't your typical Hollywood body type. I hope these photos show you  that you can be curvy and voluptuous and BEAUTIFUL all at the same time. Especially in boudoir photography I've found that curves make for a much more beautiful photograph than those skinny-minny bodies. That in mind, I think I'll go eat some chocolate =)

Sophia Loren

What a GREAT shot!

Monica Bellucci

Never be ashamed of a big booty!

My Photo Session with Mr. Maven

Disclaimer* If you are a man or a skinny-minny girl who can wear a string bikini, this post is probably not going to interest you. All others, read on!

As most of you know, I have three children. THREE. I started when I was 22 and I don't think I am quite done yet. I believe that having three little girls gives me a HUGE advantage in my line of business. Why? Because I TOTALLY get what it's like to be body-conscious. I understand what it feels like to think about the body I once had and know I will probably never get it back. I know what it's like to have stretch marks, cellulite and other not-so-pretty things going on.

In light of all that, I decided to put myself in my clients' shoes and have my own boudoir photos taken. Mine were nothing fancy, they were done right in my bedroom. Luckily I had paid a visit to Pampered Passions the week before so I had something to wear besides an over-sized t-shirt and boxer shorts. And after a 10 minute bought with some false eyelashes and their not-so-sticky glue, I felt as ready as I'd ever be.

I asked my husband Evan to take the photos for me. And because of that, I learned two things. First, I was totally comfortable because I trusted the person behind the lens. I wasn't nervous and I actually enjoyed myself. If you trust the person behind the lens, you will be more relaxed. And if you are relaxed, it will definitely show in your photos. I really work hard to make sure my models trust me and know that I will make them look their absolute best. I want them to be comfortable and have a good time!

The second thing I learned is this, your husband will love the photos no matter what. While we were looking at what Evan had shot, I was critiquing my poses, the lighting, how fat my arms looked etc. But Evan liked them all...even the blurry ones. So ladies, remember, your hubby will just be thrilled that you took a leap and decided to do this for him! In his mind, you will look like a goddess. And any tweaks you may want to make to your photos...well, that's what Photoshop is for! =)

Here is just a little sampling of my session. Remember, if I can do it, SO CAN YOU!! =)

Theboudoirmaven.com launch!

After several months of hard work, anxiety, excitement and more hard work, my new site- my baby- is ready! Since starting my photography company, I have loved every aspect of it- the business side as well as the creative side. But the love I have for this project exceeds everything else I have done.

Boudoir is making its way back into mainstream photography and I could not be more thrilled. Anyone who knows me knows I love being a girl, feeling beautiful and sexy and this is the perfect way to celebrate that! This last weekend I was totally blessed by having 5 of my girlfriends get together at the beautiful Oxford Hotel in Denver for our first ever Maven Mixer. We ate, we drank champagne, we did hair and makeup and then we took some gorgeous photos (if I do say so myself!) =)

In all honesty, I could not have done it without these 5 women there to help me and cheer me on (and my mom too!) It was a long day, but I loved every second of it and can't wait to do it again. Thank you to everyone who was there, you truly made my dream come true!!

To top it all off, these gorgeous ladies even allowed me to share their photos with you. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope I made these ladies FEEL as beautiful as they looked.

And please, check out my new website! 

www.theboudoirmaven.com