Shadows & Sunlight ~ Boudoir Photography ~ Vancouver, WA

I am SO excited to share today’s post, but it also feels incredibly bittersweet…

If you haven’t already heard, I’m currently in the process of moving into a different studio space! I’ve spent the past two years (I can’t believe it!) in my previous studio, and I can’t begin to tell you how many amazing memories I’ve had there. It was an absolute honor to be joined by SO many powerful and incredible women for boudoir sessions during my time in that space.

If you’ve ever walked through the doors of my old studio and joined me for a session… Here’s a big thank you from me to you! I appreciate all of the trust and time that my clients have given over these couple years. There have been so many confidence boosts and mindset breakthroughs within the walls of the studio… making it feel so bittersweet to leave.

From the classic living room and bedroom sets all the way to our “special” sets… It was a ton of fun to create each and every setting! Now that I’m moving into my new residential studio, I have the chance to design new backdrops and creative sets that I wasn’t able to set up in my old space. That’s one huge reason why I’m making the move… I can’t wait to create new spaces that my clients will love, and I’ll also be able to make use of outdoor space!

During this boudoir model session, I wanted to do just that. I planned to use the new outdoor setting while also capturing something creative and outside of the box! Lucky for us, it was a VERY sunny day for our session. When seeing how bright and harsh the sunlight was… It gave me an idea. We ended up playing with light and shadows during the session, and I love how the photos came out!

For these experimental shots, my model posed on a bench alongside a blue wall, and the lattice-like shadows added a cool pattern to the background. Plus, the spaces in the shots that aren’t covered by shadows are lit by super bright sunlight… giving so much fun contrast to those photos!

My model later stood up against the same blue wall, and it was interesting to see how the shadows softened with this new position and camera angle. The blurred shadows really complement the sensual feel of the photos! (Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the way these shots were captured.) The photos definitely look different from the high contrast lighting that was captured at the very beginning of the session.

While we were still outside and experimenting with new types of backdrops, we moved over to the hot tub! Using a hot tub isn’t something that I was able to do in my previous studio, so I definitely wanted to try it out as a set. My ultimate goal was to experiment and see if the hot tub set would be something I should offer in the future… Based on the way these photos turned out, I’d definitely say that I want to offer this type of session down the line!

We found that the hot tub is perfect for shots that highlight the body. The water adds so much reflective light and softness to the photos, and these pictures especially look gorgeous in black and white. The photos in this setting are definitely sensual, but it’s also possible to use the hot tub to create shots that feel more playful! The possibilities are endless.

To my model… I really appreciate that you spent the day with me and helped me experiment! Thank you so much. It’s so much fun to try out new backdrops and settings, and it’s so important to do, especially when moving into a new space.

I can’t wait to get started in my new residential studio and show you all what I’ve been planning! I’m definitely proud of what’s coming, and I’m excited for you to see it.