We’re SO excited to introduce to you our Spotlight Series. We’ll be interviewing and featuring the best of the best in the industry – all to share with you and inspire your inner glam. You’ll hear from lingerie designers, boudoir photographers, make up artists and more.
To kick things off we’re featuring European based Boudoir Photographer Lesley Stefanski of Adley Studio. Her images are fresh, her clients are gorgeous and you’ll be swooning for days over her chosen venues. One of the most important factors when choosing a boudoir photographer is to make sure you are comfortable around them. I connected with Lesley via twitter and feel like I’m talking to an old friend. I first recognized her work when I stumbled upon one of her well known boudoir parties hosted at a French Chateau (seriously? the perfect venue!). I’ve been hooked ever since and keep up with her daily blog.
Lesley answered a few of our questions to give you a better perspective in to the life of a boudoir photographer.
What made you decide to focus on boudoir and what inspires you the most when going in a boudoir session?
It took me awhile to find my artistic path and what genre of it I’m most passionate about, but falling in love with boudoir and photographing women in general was mostly by fate. A friend called me and asked if I would photograph her boudoir session, and after some research and making sure I knew what I was doing, I told her yes. That session changed me – the way I look at photography, at women, and even myself! We both left that session feeling empowered, beautiful and confident. I knew I needed to share it with as many women as possible! For inspiration, I’m inspired mostly by the women coming in to be photographed. We have a lot of dialog before the session so I know what she wants, why she’s doing it, what she’s nervous about, what she is passionate about and then create the whole session around her. It’s so fun to create something special just for her!
Do you have any more details on your Boudoir Parties? Are you planning one soon?
My boudoir parties are so much fun! I am very particular about the hotel we work in and pick ones that are romantic, luxurious, and totally go above and beyond a typical hotel experience. Usually the hotel has no more than 20 rooms, so it’s a very intimate party for the women who scheduled their boudoir session. Being that they are intimate events, there are only a max of 4 people in the room at one time, including the woman being photographed. I know how nervous and intimidating being photographed can be, so I make sure that she is comfortable, relaxed, and also pampered (professional hair and make up, champagne and chocolate!) as it helps to calm them and feel like they are having a luxurious experience!
We’re currently hosting three before Spring arrives. Amsterdam in January, London in February and Antwerp in March. After that, we’ll go where we’re wanted most!
Do you see a current trend in women booking boudoir sessions as gifts for their significant others or for themselves?
My clients typically purchase the session for themselves, with the album being a gift for their significant other. These women usually come to me because something major is going to change or has changed in their lives and they want to document it. This has been everything from getting married, weight loss, pre or post baby, divorce, and also the woman finding out what she was destined to do. It is such a beautiful transformation and moment to witness!
Do you have any advice for women who are thinking about booking a boudoir session but are maybe afraid?
I have a few, but I think the number one thing is this: Who told us that we’re not supposed to be sexy? We’re not allowed to enjoy our bodies and feel sensual? That sexy lingerie is only for the elite and regular woman must wear cotton under our clothes? Who told us that feeling beautiful, confident, and sexy are feelings only for those women who have it together? It’s hard to let go of those feelings of not being good enough or beautiful enough; however, when women are given a space to shine their true brilliance comes out and there is nothing I can do to stop it. And I never want to, I want to bring it out! Boudoir sessions are about igniting passions, celebrating feminity, and living the dream life!
And to wrap things up, a few more gorgeous photos by the ever so talented Lesley.
Erinn, thank you so much for sharing the images created for the beautiful women on your blog!! I can’t wait till we meet in person, I see bubbly in our future!
You are so welcome! I loved featuring your gorgeous work
And yes – bubbly sounds perfect!