About/FAQS
Intimate Expression Boudoir Photography by Karen Mitchell Smith
Karen Mitchell Smith is a freelance writer and photographer in Weatherford, Texas. Her fine art and equine photos have been featured in books, magazines and websites. Now Karen employs her artistic vision in helping women find their most sensual, sexy selves and capture that essence in tasteful, beautiful portraits to be treasured for a lifetime.
A member of Professional Photographers of America and The Boudoir Photographer’s Network, Karen brings a high level of professionalism and sensitivity to the art of boudoir photography for women throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
To see more of Karen’s work, visit her portrait and fine art gallery at www.topshelfphotos.com and www.topshelfink.com
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FAQs
What is Boudoir Photography?
The boudoir refers to a woman’s private rooms, that is her bedroom or sitting area. The French word originally referred to the place women received her lovers and close friends, but later came to mean a woman’s bedroom.
Boudoir photography is intimate, sensual, and fun – a celebration of a woman’s very essence, her sexuality. Boudoir does not have to mean nude. You are welcome to dress, or undress, to your own comfort level. Your poses will be tasteful and beautiful, never lewd or embarrassing.
Boudoir photography is about class and elegance, a way to experience a new and sexy side of you! Relax and enjoy…..this time is for you.
Who Will Be at My Session?
Depending on whether you book a party or a private session, Karen may bring a trusted female assistant. Additionally, if you choose to have professional hair and makeup, your makeup artist will also be female. We want you to feel relaxed and comfortable at all times.
How long will my session take?
Boudoir photography takes longer than typical portraits, as Karen gives you plenty of time to relax and get comfortable in front of the camera. For a private session, you should expect to spend about two hours with her, not including hair and makeup, which our salon professional can provide upon reservation.
Why do you shoot my photos in my home instead of a studio?
Typically women are more comfortable in their own environment, and your man will love to see you being sexy where you live! I bring my studio lights and umbrellas, but your home provides the atmosphere you are most at ease in. Think about the areas of your house that will be most advantageous for the shoot. An elegantly dressed bed or sofa provides the perfect staging area, but other areas of your home can be just as great. An inground swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a window with a view, a balcony, any of these can be great areas to shoot. And since we’re in your home, we have the flexibility of moving the equipment to a variety of places.
We’ve found it helpful if you can shoot a few photos of your home with your camera or phone and text them or email them to me prior to the shoot. However, if you prefer a studio setting, we have that available as well!
What should I wear for my session?
If your photos are for your love, try to think like he would. What would he like to see you in? Sexy lingerie is always beautiful, but think out of the box for some sexy ideas that may be in HIS closet. What is his occupation? If he wears a uniform, maybe he’d like to see you in it. What about one of his dress shirts unbuttoned over a lacey bra and sexy panties?
Here are some other ideas:
Football or other sports jersey and paraphernalia
Cowboy hat, boots, and chaps
Biker clothing
Fireman, policeman or military uniform
Vintage clothing
Sexy apron and a wooden spoon
His suit jacket over sexy underwear
Lace teddy, body stocking, matching bra and panty sets
Props:
Thigh highs, gloves, boas, strands of pearls, hats or hair accessories, feather fans, stiletto heels, blingy jewelry, hats
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What can I do to make my session a success?
It may sound crazy and feel uncomfortable to you at first, but practice poses and facial expressions in the mirror before you come. It will help you to know which is your best side, what your most seductive expression is, etc. We’ll have a mirror available for you to check your poses, but if you’ve practiced a few before hand, you’ll feel more confident.
Make sure you have a relaxed day planned for your session day. It will be easier to get comfortable in front of the camera if your session doesn’t come after a stressful day at work or home. We’ll offer you a glass of wine to help you relax, but if you’ve spent some time pampering yourself in advance, you’ll feel sexier. Get a massage or a pedicure on your session day. Make sure your nail polish is fresh and bright, and if you have under-eye circles, try tea bags or cucumbers on your eyes for fifteen minutes prior to coming to your session.
What can I expect during my session?
Your session is all about you! We want to make you look better and sexier in your photos than you ever dreamed. To do that, we’ll take a lot of photos. A LOT. Anything you don’t like can be tossed out, but you never know which photo may be just the right one! We want to showcase the many sides of you….fun, flirty, sexy, seductive, naughty, innocent. For each clothing change you wear, we’ll try a variety of poses and expressions. Karen may stand on a ladder and shoot down onto you as you lie on the floor. We might use your big bathtub for bubble bath shots or maybe your kitchen would be the perfect place for a sexy housewife shot.
Let’s have fun and be creative together! You will have many more photos you are excited about if you’ve allowed yourself to view the whole experience as a special gift to yourself.
When can I see my photos?
Just as the boudoir session itself takes longer than a typical photo session, so does the editing. Because of the immense attention to detail needed for boudoir photos, Karen often spends up to a half hour on a single photo. You will be able to see your unedited gallery, including the few that Karen will edit for you as examples within 72 hours of your session in a password protected gallery.
Where can I see my photos?
Your photos will be available for viewing in a password-protected gallery on this website a few days after your session. As it takes so much time to edit each boudoir photo, Karen will edit only one to five photos for you to see how the finished product will appear. Then you can choose your favorites from your gallery, and they will be edited to optimize your beauty and sensuality.
How much retouching do you do to my photos?
All purchased photos receive the highest quality editing and attention to detail. Some photos may look better in sepia or black and white , and we may want to use body crops for some photos, i.e., show only your torso or legs, etc. We apply artistic vision and creativity to each of your chosen photos individually to see what details should be brought out, how the photo can best be cropped, etc. Your photos will be adjusted for:
Tone
Blemishes, cellulite and other skin imperfections
Teeth whitening
Eye brightening
Lip pouting if necessary
Breast augmentation if necessary or requested
Stomach minimizing where possible and necessary
Creative cropping when appropriate
Creative coloring and effects when appropriate
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