SD Workshop attendees: The Divas sit down with a client/model

Boudoir Divas: So Ali, are you a professional model?
Ali: Oh my goodness! I am most definitely NOT a professional model! I am probably the furthest thing away from that!

BD: Can you tell us what you do for a living?
A: I actually teach ninth grade English at a high school, so getting to do stuff like this is like embracing an alter ego! In the past two years I actually lost about 80 lbs, so besides being able to step out of my normal life as a teacher, it is really nice to feel beautiful and sexy in my new body when I have these pictures taken. I think that NOT being a professional model is actually an advantage in situations like this, because I really am like a canvas for the photographers to use since I have no idea what is going to make my body look good and I have to fully trust the person taking the pictures and trust that they are going to make me look great!

BD: Congrats on the weight loss! Have you had a shoot with the Divas before?
A: Yes! I actually had the opportunity to shoot with the Divas about a month ago and it was the coolest thing ever! I felt so beautiful and it was SO FUN! WE had music playing, everyone was laughing and talking and just having a great time in general.

BD: What made you want to get the shoot done?
A: My sister has worked with the Divas before so I was eager to have the same experience that she was able to have. She RAVED on and on and on about how cool they were, so when I had to opportunity to work with them, I took it! I also wanted to do something that celebrated ME. So much of my life is about everyone else around me and making sure that everyone is learning, affirmed, comfortable,etc, so being able to be the center of attention without being in my classroom was so exciting! I mean, what girl does not like to be the center of attention every once in a while!? I don’t have a boyfriend or husband right now, so it felt very decadent to be taking these pictures that were going to be for no one besides myself. It feels so good to feel pretty/sexy/desirable….which is something that is not an everyday thing for me. Although I do have to say that since my first shoot with the Divas, I HAVE been trying to channel my own inner Diva in my day to day life. I LOVE IT!

BD: And we love hearing that! What did you think about the Studio and your overall experience?
A: OMG!!! (can you tell that I spend the majority of my time with teenagers??) I seriously walked in and was in awe of their amazing space. I had perused their website and wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the studio space exceeded my expectations! It was like a dream! I felt like a Barbie! haha. I couldn’t wait to see how they were going to use all of the different areas. The best part was, of course, the lobby where “Sex and the City” was playing and also I really liked the girl who did my make-up and hair. I think that she was able to create a whole “look” for me. The make-up and hair really helped me to get into character for my shoot. I think that it is really important to have someone who can do that for the clients because that is part of the whole “experience”, being able to truly be transformed in a way that a woman could never achieve on her own.

BD: How did you feel when you first saw your photos?
A: I couldn’t even believe that it was me in those pictures! They took the most flattering pictures! I told them that I really love my legs, so there was a group of photos that made my legs the focal point. I felt so comfortable that there wasn’t even a chance to me to get in the way of what they were doing and try to pose myself. I completely trusted that they would pose me in a flattering way and make me look great! And, the pictures were truly a reflection of that! I love the Divas!

BD: Did the Divas do anything in particular that you liked or helped you during your shoot?
A: The thing that I loved most about the Divas is that they are constantly communicating with the model. I was never out of the “loop”, wondering what was going on. They were so affirming and were giving me so much guidance and encouragement throughout the whole process. I also felt like I really got the chance to know them before we even got started taking pictures. They made me feel comfortable and it was so funny because at the beginning of the shoot I was a little shy about essentially standing around in my underwear, but by the end I was running around, sitting, standing, lying down, basically not even realizing that I wasn’t wearing clothes! In their studio it is more normal to be “nearly nude” and less normal to be fully clothed! From the moment I walked up the stairs and was greeted by the client concierge to the moment I was back in my car in the parking lot, I felt like I was going to have (and had) a great time!

BD: Off the top of your head, is there anything you recommend to photographers who are interested in pursuing boudoir photography?
A: You HAVE to have people skills! You can’t be shy and you have to be able to make your clients feel at ease. Because, let’s face it, unfortunately the majority of women feel most UN-comfortable when they are not clothed. Therefore, it is definitely the duty of the photographer to create an environment in which the client feels beautiful and where being almost naked is totally normal! I also think that it is SO important to create a relationship with your clients BEFORE they even take their clothes off! This will create a sense of trust and confidence. Also, location location location! Super important! Obviously Kimberlee and Marisa have had a lot experience, success, and time in which to create their studio, but in order for people to take you seriously, you NEED to have a cute, creative studio. It doesn’t need to be huge and fancy, but first impressions are crucial and your clients will appreciate all efforts you make to ensure their comfort. Also, you obviously have to be able to carry on a conversation and be able to tell if a client is a “talker”, because I know that I liked joking around, laughing, and having fun with my photographer–this made the experience all the more fun and also I felt like I was just hanging out with friends. What could potentially have been a kind of awkward moment was instead something that I look forward to doing again! I am looking forward to meeting all of you!