Simply Boudoir » Modern

Happy Mothers Day – North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:14:07 +0000

One of the greatest joys of my job is working with women who are mothers. Rather they have adopted or had their own, they are all sHEROS in my eyes. I love that moment when a mother contacts me ready to take just a little time to herself to be pampered and enjoy herself. With no significant other or kids requesting things from her and a moment to relax with a glass of wine, have her hair and makeup done and slip into something that makes them feel like a million bucks. Maybe a new piece she’s hoping will WOW their husband or a his tee that she wears to bed every night that he just loves.

These women come in and let their guard down. They know their bodies have changed and they are ready to accept that and celebrate it. They work over 40 hours a week caring for everyone else and taking care of everyone elses needs and now they are allowing themselves to be taken care of. I think this is the hardest part for most – overcoming the guilt of taking time for themselves. It shouldn’t be that way though, because mothers deserve this time so much. They crave it and need it. I’ve had women who just wanted to sit and chat in the studio after their session because they enjoyed just being away from it all and they felt amazing and not judged in their own skin.

Mother’s, this is to you. A job I have yet to decide if I want to devote myself to but one that I am more than happy to help you celebrate. You are all so amazing and beautiful and I thank you for allowing me to show that to you. For now, raising fur babies and helping you celebrate is my calling.

Here are just a handful of the mothers who have come to me since last Mother’s Day – the ones who have given me permission to share. The truth is that over half of my clients are mothers and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Rock on, sexy mama!

Telephone – Greensboro, North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:29:13 +0000

I think all women know the feeling of waiting for a call. Giddy. Nervous. Anxious.

“And much to my surprise, I reached you on the number line. You never called my name on the telephone”. – The Black Angels

With Love – Cary, North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:34:39 +0000

Do all things with love.

Glass – Greensboro, North Carolina Boudoir Photographer

Stacey — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:13:51 +0000

Shooting through glass has always excited me and I’ve been doing it a lot more often lately. I love it for many different reasons. For one, it gives off a lot of reflections of what’s surrounding the client without them being too intrusive. I also love the voyeuristic feel of it, which with boudoir, can be super sexy. It also gives off a sort of haze and softness that cannot be matched in post and it just makes everything milky and hazy. LOVE. You do have to move around and provide a filler for the glare but even this is fun to show and hide certain parts of the body.

These are just a few shots of mine where I shot through glass. If I didn’t have a window available then I would simply use a pane of glass (you can buy old ones at antique or salvage stores).

Black Swan Boudoir – North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:04:05 +0000

When “J” first contacted me she had a few ideas in mind. One of them was a Black Swan theme since she had previously seen the black feather shawl I have on the website. Together we created a private inspiration board on Pinterest (LOVE this new feature) and I immediately went to Jade with her idea so we could nail down makeup ideas. We didn’t want it to be cheesy but we also didn’t want it to be half-ass. That same night I went on etsy and found some amazing feather wrist cuffs that were the perfectly accessory and with the perfect touch of femininity with the lace trim.

I was so excited the night before her shoot that I could barely sleep. Ideas were swarming in my head and all truth be told, we tried them the next day and not all of them worked. I think that’s okay though because between my client, Jade on hair and makeup, and my collaboration, the outcome was perfect. “J” is not a dancer but she is a performer (singer and guitar player) and that helped immensely.

I wanted these to be obviously Black Swan inspired but because this IS boudoir, I also wanted them to be feminine and pretty. For some of the shots we took the feather shawl and pinned it around her waist to make a skirt. Jade did a phenomenal job of both painting detail and gluing feathers to her back like they were sprouting. We wanted to keep her expression morose and stern and let her clothes allow the images to be sexy. We paired her black lace bra with my under bust waist cincher, black lace panties, and the feather accessories.

We did many different looks that day but this one was last and probably the most thought out. I will post her other photos in another shoot next week. I LOVE when clients get inspired by something and we can all come together and collaborate and run with our ideas. I think it really makes the experience and photos unique. Check the bottom of this post for “J”‘s response to me after seeing her proofs. And a HUGE thank you to both she and Jade for this fun idea and all of the work put into it. Real client, real shoot, real dreams coming true. Be inspired!

“Stacey!! Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this whole experience with you and Jade. I am so glad I found you and I can honestly say you boosted my confidence and made the process so much more than a shoot. You uphold the idea of real, strong, and beautiful women, sharing their stories and encouraging the rest of us. I looked through your recent blog reviewing 2012 and I was so touched, especially by the way that you captured each woman’s personality and made that shine through each picture. I feel like I came out of my boudoir session with two new girlfriends, so thank you so so much and I will be telling every girlfriend I know to try boudoir with you” – “J”

2012 in Review – North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:05:04 +0000

There is still a little over a week left in 2012 and while I still have 2 shoots left, I know if I don’t do this post now I will not get around to it with holidays and schedules coming up.

2012 has been huge for me. It is the year where I pushed myself and my limits. I became a full time photographer in July and I could not have asked for a bigger blessing in disguise. As I looked back over the photos to compile these images, I am in awe that I only met these women this year. Women I have come to adore and I feel like I have known forever. Women who I keep in touch with and whom are some of my most avid supporters; both in business and life. This is just a small glimpse into this past year and the stories and images I have been so blessed to share with the world. As always, this is only about 50% of the ladies I have had the pleasure of photographing, as privacy is my number one interest with clients and I respect their rights when it comes to image sharing.

While these images are beautiful as are the women in them, it is the stories behind them that you don’t always see. Women who have fought and are fighting cancer. Women who are business owners, mothers, wives, and lovers. A woman born with 2 uterus and who at 40 has decided she may finally be ready for children. A woman who was pregnant at her session but unfortunately lost her baby to a tubal pregnancy 2 weeks later. A woman who’s husband hasn’t touched her intimately in months and another who’s husband pushed her to celebrate herself and see herself as beautifully as he does. A woman with a double mastectomy, newly weds, brides to be, incest survivors, women working over seas, women in armed forces. We have cried together but more importantly, we have laughed together. All of these women that have one thing in common – the desire to look and feel beautiful and sexy, just as they are.

My heart is full and I have become a better person for helping them with their journey. Documenting their beauty and sensuality and giving them permission to celebrate it. I could go on forever but sometimes less is more. I adore you all, and I thank you for an amazing year. Also, I have to give half of my credit to my amazing makeup artist, Jade. She has been my sidekick and partner through this all and I could not ask for a better stylist to have on my team. We have gone through bottomless cups of coffee and packs of eyelashes but not once has she complained about the early mornings and late evenings. Only the best for my clients! Also to my amazing boyfriend who has been my biggest supporter and has put up with so many nights where I only had the energy to eat and fall asleep while watching a movie. I cannot wait to see what 2013 holds. Please, keep shining on.

Thank you Internet – Charleston, SC Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:56:45 +0000

This awesome lady and I have been friends for about a decade now (holy crap!!) after first “meeting” online wayyyyy back when. Do you remember before Facebook and Myspace, there was Face The Jury? It was a shameless website where you simply uploaded a photo of yourself and people would “rate” you. The perfect thing for the fragile psyche of a teenager, right? Anyway, I did a search for people in my hometown and her photo came up. We became online friends and then one night right out of high school I was sitting in Waffle House and she walked in. That was the first time we had met in person. We found out we had a few other mutual friends and a few years later when I got a message about a guy that saw my photo on Myspace and wanted to meet me (I know what you’re thinking…but 7 years later, we’re still together), I contacted her to see if she knew him as I noticed they also shared a few of the same friends. When she told me that he was a decent guy, I decided to meet him. I trusted her opinion, thank goodness.

We have kept in touch all these years, mostly online and still sharing those same friends. I photographed her beautiful wedding earlier this year and then traveled to Charleston this past month to photograph her boudoir session. This session is both to gift her husband for Christmas and also to feel beautiful again, after having a baby only THREE months ago. I know, go ahead. Take a minute to wrap your head around that.

We had such a blast at her shoot. The hotel was amazing but our room had only one window, and it was in the bathroom. Fear not, she brought an awesome friend along and together all three of us moved the entire bed across the room to face the window in the bathroom. Never underestimate a group of geeky girls who can throw down whiskey with the best of them.

I am grateful for the internet and for it leading me to amazing people. I am grateful for it still, allowing me to keep up with their lives as they graduate college, get married, have kids, and call upon me to document their lives. While I no longer photograph weddings, I have had a great time keeping up with this beautiful lady and am so proud of where she has gone in 10 years. I never expected anything less from her, though. Thank you, for everything…but most of all for allowing me to capture such intimate photos of you and for allowing me to share a few here. Bottoms up!

Simple Sweetness – North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:22:37 +0000

A photo that holds emotion with a beautiful and comfortable subject doesn’t need much else.

Veil – Greensboro, North Carolina Boudoir Photography

Stacey — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 17:30:34 +0000

What are you waiting for that will let you drop your proverbial veil? The one you put up to make you feel safe. The one you hide behind so others won’t know your dark secrets or the things that make you different. The one we all have. Is it shame? Is it embarrassment? Is it fear of rejection? Is it change? Why do you let other people dictate your happiness? People whom you may be surprised by, when they learn of your idiosyncrasies are right by your side — some who may even step up, sigh, and say “me, too”. I want to be your friend, take your hand, and prove that you are worthy. That you are beautiful, just as you are.