Boudoir Photos with Jenn Gregory Photography....
Lisa had the opportunity to visit photographer Jenn Gregory at her downtown Halifax studio and wrote this piece for her.
My steps were tentative as I headed up to Jenn Gregory Photography’s second floor studio. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. “Boudoir photos”…. the words had a slightly naughty feel to them, especially since I didn’t know what to expect. Boudoir photos are what Playboy does, right? I kept imagining my father’s collection of magazines from the 1960’s with the images of scantily clad women in sexual poses pouting for the camera.
I couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Jenn Gregory swings open the door to her Argyle Street studio with a warm and welcoming smile. The open space has been transformed on one side into a fantasy bedroom in white. The queen size bed is draped in white Egyptian cotton, generous with matching pillows. Behind the bed hang elegant draperies, covering a non-existent window. Bedside tables compliment the décor with tall lamps that lend light, topped in white to continue the theme. As beautiful as it all is, what takes your breath away is the chandelier hanging over the centre of the bed. Crystal jewels drip from the fixture, reflecting the warm light. It’s the kind of bedroom one would expect to see in a magazine feature and absolute heaven to a woman who shares her bedroom with dogs, laundry baskets and stacks of books waiting to be read.
Jenn sits down behind a glass desk and motions to a number of framed black and white portraits leaning against the wall. One in particular is striking. A woman standing side on in black stilettos. She is wearing black lace, high waist panties and leaning against a golf club. It’s an image that easily could have been a famous model found in Vogue magazine, but this is one of Jenn’s clients… and it’s a look she could give you. Jenn explains the client wanted something special for her husband who is a golf fan.
I’m back to feeling nervous. I do not have legs that go on forever and don’t own a single pair of lace anything. That’s when Jenn hands me a leather bound photo album and asks me to take a look. The photos inside are game changers. The woman staring back at me is radiant in a purple sports-style bra with a confident smile on her lips. Her hair and make-up is expertly done. In short, she is stunning... and not even close to being a size 2.
Former clients who have experienced the Boudoir photo shoot say it’s Jenn that makes all the difference. Victoria wore a red satin bustier to her session. She said, “Being plus size, it’s difficult enough to get photos that flatter you, let alone find a photographer that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. Jenn made me feel confident and sexy and was able to capture that attitude in the photos she took. She’s comforting, easy to work with and knows just what will look amazing for your body. She’s got a classy style to her photography which makes her timeless and always in style.”
Jenn explains it’s a complete package and the photos are only one part. It’s the experience. Clients are encouraged to bring a close friend for support. Packages include the services of a hair and make-up professional, a step Jenn says is crucial to looking and feeling your best for the shoot. She says it’s a chance to be pampered and helps her clients relax.
Clients are also asked to bring a number of outfits to be photographed in. This is where clients can be as creative as they want to be. A Boudoir session doesn’t have to mean lace panty sets and garter belts. Jenn has photographed many women in long, sheer blouses. Oversized mens’ shirts and a dress tie are another look that can be sexy. Many men enjoy seeing the woman in their life wearing the jersey of their favourite sports team, another popular choice.
But who’s to say the women who book a Boudoir session are doing it for someone else? Amanda says her decision was a significant one, but “wasn’t done for a partner or significant other… just me! I felt like she would only let me put my best self forward and she had an understanding of how to make her clients feel comfortable, beautiful and sexy. It was incredibly empowering.”
Jenn herself sums it up when she says “I don’t take photographs. I unleash femininity, beauty and prowess.”
For more information on Boudoir packages (and the other photography services Jenn offers), visit her website/portfolio at www.jenngregory.com
