Miss A. {A Boudoir Story}

A short and sweet anonymous blog is up for you today! There’s nothing more heartwarming than people trusting me from a google search! No connection, no friend recommendations, just purely about my work. <3

This was a spontaneous decision for me. I decided it was something I wanted to do, did a google search, found Katie, and booked within a couple of days.

I had a moment of uncertainty, like 'do I really want to pay money to just have pictures of me?' But, I have to say, that I am so happy that I did.

Day to day, I am very low key.. very minimal makeup, nikes, and jeans, that’s me. Looking at my photos, it almost feels like looking at a different person. I was so happy with the end results and know that I will keep these pictures forever!! I recommend this experience for everyone.

Andrea {A -second- Boudoir Story}

My idea of how I see beauty standards is that while women need to have a certain slim look, if you aren't skinny and toned, you are fat. If you are plus sized, you are fat. But then people want to say that you should love yourself no matter your size or shape. While the latter is true, there is so much more to that.

While we should be happy and confident with our bodies, we also need to remember that it's not just a physical issue, it's a mental one too. A lot of women like me have low self esteem for different reasons or from certain things that have happened to us. For me, while I do need to get healthier and lose weight per my doctor, it's mostly about my mentality of the whole idea because of physical and emotional scars, of extra stomach fat, of not feeling pretty or skinny or sexy no matter what I wear, because of how I see myself versus other women.

In one of my past relationships, I was cheated on multiple times and I was never complimented. Ever. He was abusive in all forms and I felt like I was nothing. I was told I was worthless and useless. I never thought I was pretty enough or skinny enough even though I was a lot skinnier then than I am now. I felt like I was the ugliest female that walked the earth. How could someone ever love me like this? I was so broken. So lost. In need of love and affection. In need of affirming that I am beautiful or sexy or at least worth something.

Whether she realizes it or not, Katie is helping me through this difficult journey of self love, confidence in my own body, changing how I view myself in the bedroom, and knowing my self worth. While I am in a better relationship now, I still have a lot of healing to do and learning how to have confidence. Katie is so encouraging throughout these sessions that you can't help but to feel her excitement and confidence in this whole idea. She radiates happiness and passion that automatically flows right into you. She makes you feel so attractive and sexy. Because of that, you automatically feel confident and ready to strike those poses and embrace your womanhood! Oh the difference even just a little encouragement can make.

If you are nervous about trying a boudoir photoshoot, you needn't be. Katie is so easy to talk to and she is the sweetest. Just talk to her first and she will help calm you down while her artist does your hair and makeup. After you look at yourself in the mirror when the artist is done, you will automatically feel elated and stunned. Your confidence goes up and it helps you become excited for your shoot! When you get into your lingerie ... or not ;) ... you will feel like you are a Hollywood starlet! Katie walks you through everything and suggests different poses for you to be able to do. The more she takes pictures, the easier it is to be calm and enjoy the experience of embracing your womanhood. You can flaunt your curves and sexiness while also being able to look elegant and classy. When she shows you your pictures after she has edited them, it will blow you away! And I will just put this out there .. there may be tears at this point. No matter how you view yourself, these photos will remind you that you ARE beautiful. You ARE sexy. You ARE worth it. But most importantly, that you are a woman through and through. The journey to confidence and self love may still be longer than you expect, but this is such a great start to changing the way you see yourself. You will not be disappointed! ♡ I promise you that.

Danielle {A Boudoir Story}

The whole reason I do what I do is for women like this one. Sure, it can make a great gift for a significant other or a spouse, but do it for you. Do it for the empowerment, the confidence, the self worth. Because you deserve every single bit of it.

I have to admit, when I got the wild idea to actually let myself do a boudoir shoot, I kind of thought I may have gone crazy. I'm not a very confident person and I have not particularly been crazy about my body. I walked in to my session really scared and nervous. I didn't feel like an average girl had any business showing off or being proud of her body, proud enough to embrace it or show it off. Boudoir photography has been labeled as trashy, skanky and attention seeking. Females who do this must just be out for attention for the wrong reasons. But why not this? Why can't a woman try something new? Something to give much needed confidence? Why not embrace our body that God gave us?

I am a 30 year old mother of two, and yes I did this just for myself, just for me. I did this to empower myself and to allow myself to love me as I am. I am not a typically confident person, let alone a person who is okay with their body. I was absolutely physically and emotionally comfortable with Katie. From the moment I walked in, she complimented and encouraged me every step of the way and never stopped making me laugh. Having my hair and makeup done made me feel so beautiful! I felt safe, I felt confident and I felt okay with loving my body as it is. I walked out feeling like it was finally okay to love myself and my body - just the way God made me.

I was STUNNED when I saw my images for the first time. I could not even believe that I was the girl in the photos. I looked too confident, too relaxed. The session really helped boost my self confidence and self image. To be made to feel and look beautiful gives you a gift of confidence. Society can roll its eyes and shame this type of thing but maybe we should build ladies up to love themselves more...just like Katie has done for me.

Taylor {A Boudoir Story}

I'll never get over the amazing stories of the women who walk into my studio. The things they've endured and the experiences they've had all shape who they are today and it's an honor to be able to encourage their badassery or hand them a little piece of confidence that they didn't even know they could have. This girl is just one of many awesome babes that I get to work with.

Walking into this session, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was excited. I was nervous. I was super body conscious; more so than I have ever been. I am not a small girl. I never have been. I had seen all these amazing boudoir shots of these beautiful, thin girls and never in a million years expected my photos to turn out that perfect.

I’ve had body issues my entire life. Even when my depression hit in high school and I became super thin, I still saw myself as this “fat girl.” I self harmed because of my body image. I never thought I’d be good enough, and that’s something that I still struggle with so much so today, even though I have accepted myself for who I am. Even though I do see myself as a beautifully flawed person.

I looked at myself in the mirror after having my hair and makeup done and don’t even recognize myself. I was gorgeous! I had never seen myself like this. I instantly felt a million times more confident and beautiful. I told myself, “I SO got this!”

The photo shoot in itself was so fun and comfortable. Katie was cracking jokes and telling me how amazing I looked, and how awesome I was doing. The pictures turned out so much better than I thought! I looked just as beautiful as those gorgeous thinner girls, and I just couldn’t believe it. I wanted to show those photos to the world; something I never thought I’d be comfortable doing.

If you’ve been wondering about a photo shoot with Katie- don’t hesitate. She is absolutely amazing. She made this rundown mom look hot! She’s 110% got you. She can and WILL make you look hot too!

Barbara {A Boudoir Story}

If it weren't for Katie, her sense of humor, and outstanding professionalism, I'm not sure I would have gone through with it. I almost didn't do it. I cancelled once. I doubted myself. I doubted Katie. I thought it would be a waste of money. I convinced myself I would hate it. I thought my husband would laugh at it. I'm too old for this. I felt dumb for even contemplating it.....the list goes on. I honestly thought I was wasting my time and that I was going to hate every photo.

I was NOT physically or emotionally comfortable walking in the door. I really wasn't. I'm not exactly sure how Katie's "magic" works, but she had me laughing at myself in no time. It ended up being a lot of fun. I very quickly went from covering every inch of me to changing in front of her like we had known each other for years. Next time I would change my state of mind from the start.

I walked out LOVING my hair and still not so sure about my make-up. It was more than what I am used to. I was wrong again. Next time, I will let the professionals do their job and not over think it so much. I forgot that I can be beautiful! That is so easy to do when you are busy with this thing called LIFE.

My husband actually got a little emotional over his 8X8 black leather book. But honestly, this is the single best thing I have done for MYSELF in many years. If there is ONE take away from this whole experience, it is that I am still attractive. I have been married for 20 years and this single experience has reminded me that I am also the same person that I was 20 years ago. Thank you Katie. My husband REALLY thanks you!!! xoxo

Heather {A Boudoir Story}

I don't even know what I would do without my amazing clients. It's so fun to see them come out of their shell during our time together. I can't explain the feeling that I get every time I receive a sweet message saying that I helped someone with their body image, helped create a great gift, or just uplifted someones mood even if only for an hour.

"In today's society us ladies feel like we have to have a perfect body, even after having a child. It doesn't always "go back" not everyone is lucky to have everything go back to how it was, I know I wasn't one of those lucky ones, but I was lucky to have a healthy, handsome boy. And that's all that matters.

I've always had a little "pouch" even when I was at my lowest weight (in high school). I have always hated my body, there was something I always wanted to change... But after having this photoshoot with Katie has changed the way I think about myself. I look in the mirror and see a beautiful girl that needs to stop putting her self down all the time. I am still sexy even if a little extra weight still hasn't gone away.

When Katie sent me a couple photos the night after my photoshoot... Oh goodness, I couldn't stop smiling or looking at them. I so wanted to show my husband but it was for a gift, so I sent them to my mom and my cousin.

My favorite part was dressing up of course, putting on glittery sexy high heels and looking in the mirror, especially after putting on the body suit that look intimidating (I was doubting myself the whole time)... I put it on and I looked HOT!!

Ladies, if you have been wanting to do a boudoir photoshoot but want to get those "extra 5 pounds off" don't wait, just do it now!!! You will be amazed how beautiful you are.

The photos and the experience were absolutely amazing, every lady needs a book of herself in lingerie. Even if it's just for her. And men if you want a gift that will last forever, buy her a session ;)"

Andrea {A Boudoir Story}

This girl has me literally crying in my chair right now. This is it guys. This is why I do what I do. Seeing women transform before my eyes and see themselves as the beautiful creatures they are, it's priceless. You're worth it. I promise.

Ever since I was in middle school, I was picked on because I had gained some weight from quitting gymnastics. I struggled with weight gain and weight loss all throughout high school and I even fought with bulimia for a small time. I felt like even though I was told my face was pretty, the rest of me really didn't follow through.

I tried to commit suicide my senior year of high school partly because of what I was going through with being bullied and fighting with depression. Losing the weight I had gained from the surgery was tough in and of itself. I have been even more self conscious because of the enormous scar on my stomach.

Even with things that had happened in my marriage, I felt like I wasn't enough. I wasn't pretty. I wasn't skinny. I wasn't as smart or energetic as he wanted. Nothing I did was right. I felt worthless and useless.

Throughout those years I had thought about getting my pictures done but I was always nervous or scared because I wasn't skinny and because I didn't feel beautiful. But that all changed after I took the plunge this past week.

Yes, I was still nervous as ever when I showed up at her studio. Yes, I was still self conscious about how I looked and how I viewed myself. But then I looked myself in the mirror after having my hair and makeup done and I felt like I was a model. I never knew I could be that beautiful, even if it was just me who saw it. I already felt like a different person.

From there, things only got better! During the shoot, Katie made me feel so sexy and photogenic. She made me feel so comfortable in my own skin. The excitement built every time she took a picture. I could feel myself gaining confidence. I felt like a whole different person.

When I saw my photos for the first time, I cried. I never knew that I could be that beautiful or sexy. That feeling is something that I have decided that I need to keep. So naturally, I will be going back to Katie again.

My favorite part of the session was Katie helping encourage me. She let me know that I was doing great and that I looked marvelous! She was nothing short of wonderful.

So if you are thinking of getting your pictures done, be ready to view yourself differently. You may feel nervous at first but Katie takes great care of her clients and she does such a wonderful job. You will not be disappointed!

Kaitlyn {A Boudoir Story}

Sometimes people come into your life and you just know that it's meant to be. I often spend weeks prior to sessions talking with clients, reassuring them that it's going to be awesome, discussing outfit choices and how they want their session to feel. Their comfort level is my greatest concern. "If you feel sexy, you'll look sexy." Confidence is the sexiest thing you can wear and this beauty was overflowing with it. Hear what she has to say below.

My experience with Katie Larrington was wonderful from start to finish. I had anticipated my body looking a lot different by the time my boudoir session came around, but even though I was feeling weary, Katie had plans to make me feel comfortable, beautiful and sexy the entire time.

Seriously ladies, trust her! She knows exactly what to do to make you feel incredible, and the end result is for sure going to make your partner go crazy! Katie did more than give me beautiful photos, she gave me confidence I had been missing for years. xoxo

Alexis {Warehouse Session}

Just about anyone can “take a picture,” but Katie does much more than that. I love shooting with Katie for many of reasons. There is an easygoing, softness about her that reflects onto her photos.

When shooting, Katie will tell you which way to tilt your head and how to place your hands and body, and these placements really make all the difference. She really has a great eye and knows which seemingly minimal movements will perfect a picture, I love that.

Katie really has a way of making me feel beautiful, not only through her picture taking, but through her uplifting feedback as well. I look forward to shooting with Katie again and again!

Courtney {Warehouse Session}

I enjoyed shooting with Katie, She is out of this world. Her personality really shines and it shows in her photography. I had the chance to shoot with her again here recently, it wasn't a Boudoir Shoot (one will happen soon hehe) but it was a shoot in an abandoned warehouse. So it was something a little different for her but she ROCKED it.

She was so professional and made me feel so calm and relaxed. Whenever I shoot with Katie, I feel like I am hanging out with my big sister, instead of a photographer, that is such a relief to me. Sometimes I can feel out of my element when I do photoshoots because I am doing something a little different or a little more revealing, but she makes me feel so classy and sexy at the same time. It can be hard to combine those two words together, but Katie can make it happen. She can make anything happen if you are willing to explore a little.

Step out of your comfort zone, wear a sexy dress or lingerie, whichever you prefer because Katie will work her magic and create something beautiful. - Courtney Cress

Carly {A Boudoir Story}

Today we are doing things a bit differently! Instead of me telling you how beautiful and fun my client was (which of course she's gorgeous and a blast to be around), I'm going to let her tell you in her own words how this session has affected her and her relationship. I'm so happy for her :)

After baby number three my self esteem had dropped dramatically which clearly affected my marriage. My husband would walk through the door after working all day and would want nothing more than to get in bed with me. How, I don't know. Most days I hadn't showered yet, I had spit up in my hair, still in my jammies with the kids but he still found me attractive (Me- not so much). When it came bed time the LAST thing I wanted when I layed down to go to sleep was to be intimate. Honestly I just wanted sleep.

I WANTED soooo bad to be the sexy, young thing I use to be who was always up for having fun with my sweet man. But children, housework and life got in the way. I had been praying that something would change. That I would be able to bring some spice back into our marriage.

I decided to do a Boudoir Session for my Husbands birthday and it was the BEST idea ever... Nervous, BOY was I nervous. I've never done anything like that in my life. But, I wanted my husband to know my love for him was still what it use to be. I wanted to give him a part of me that I had never given another man. He was BLOWN away by the pictures. He was sooooo surprised and super excited. He's made me try on each outfit for him and the look on his face has been priceless. He's like a kid on Christmas. Our marriage is better than ever and he can't keep his hands off me.

Thank you Katie for giving me the confidence I needed to spice up my marriage. My husband thanks you greatly :)

Amanda { Bridal Session Review}

Isn't this girl just the most gorgeous thing ever?

Looking for the perfect Groom's Gift, she came to us for something that only she could give him. And boy, did she ever? She was a blast to work with! She's in the industry so as soon as she walked in, there was a little mini reunion with her makeup artist that I got to witness that was really cool. It was awesome to see them talk and connect in a way that was new to me. Once her session started, she was so confident and willing to try anything I asked. She had brought some gorgeous pieces along with some pieces that were special and unique to her and her relationship which I always love. What's more to love?

I Know You Missed This Face

532 days.

That's how long it has been since the last time this gorgeous girl was in front of my camera. 532 days since we made magic. 532 days since she said "yes" to her now husband. So much has happened since then. Weddings, babies, new homes, new jobs, life... You know how sometimes you just get so busy and you don't even know how it's already September? You're left wondering what happened to summer and why there are already 5 aisles of Christmas things at the craft store. Well we are no longer letting life get in the way of us so watch out World.

I know you guys have missed her as much as I have so here's a small selection from our session from last weekend.

How Far I've Come

You guys remember my blog a few weeks ago about my very first official boudoir session? Well she came back to the studio recently and it was AMAZING! We have both grown so much as people in the years since our first session, not to mention that my studio has dramatically changed and I have grown and improved as a photographer. She has gotten married, gotten a house and kittens! I moved into the studio, am dating someone amazing, have worked so hard to be where I am. We laughed our way through the session like the old friends that we are. We caught up on each other's lives and rewarded ourselves with dinner after we were done. When I got home to edit I seriously couldn't believe the difference between the originals and the new images. It's genuinely night and day. I can't wait to continue to grow and improve and have her back again for even more fun!

Jodie 6 Year Anniversary {Session Review}

This beautiful creature and I have been friends for YEARS, one of my very oldest friends. We met in college - which was a surprising amount of years ago for me. I'm not going to tell you the whole story, but it definitely involves nudity, it seems to be our bond, haha. Around this time of year, 6 years ago, she began a journey with a company that she continues to love and she absolutely thrives in it! Like REALLY thrives. There is literally nothing else that I can see her doing and I'm so happy that she has found her passion and is following her heart. I am thrilled to be able to document her anniversary and her love of all things rose gold and wine. Is she not the cutest thing ever?

Brittany {Session Review}

This gorgeous lady and I have been talking about a session for literally years. We keep putting it off and off for one reason or another and she finally bit the bullet and came in for a session. I had JUST finished the new purple room (literally at 10pm the night before her session), the room still smelled like paint. It was amazing shooting someone that I have known for so long and she was totally rocking it. 

While the new space was challenging, she was SO gorgeous and so understanding of me fumbling my way around the new studio that it didn't even matter. We have these amazing images to remember our time by and she will definitely be back for more!

Summer {Session Review}

Finally getting around to blogging this amazing field session from last month! Lovely dresses, fields and rivers are some of my favorite things and this session included them all! I love everything about this girl, she's absolutely stunning. Many more sessions with her to come!

Morgan {Session Review}

We can't believe how gorgeous this girl is!

Morgan has had a few sessions with us and every time she knocks it out of the park. This was her first session in our studio and it was such a pleasure to have her. I love repeat clients and it's always magic to get to do what I love with people I love. Plus she rocked our favorite outfit at the end of her session which is always a homerun. We can't wait to have you back. 

Morgan {Session Review}

I'm so happy my girls came back for another session with me! I have a soft spot in my heart for fields, rivers and gorgeous dresses and women. I can't believe the results every time, every amazing, beautiful time. We used a few dresses from the studio including our favorite purple mermaid dress. It just doesn't get any better!

Pamela {Session Review}

Since our creative meetup, I've been stupid excited and encouraged by the work that everyone is creating. It's awesome to see how the models are able to be captured so differently, and yet so consistently beautifully by each artist. There are so many great things to say about everyone that came out so I'm just gonna skip straight to the images.

Continuing along with images from our meetup last week, Meet Pamela:  Such a beauty and so professional and talented for her young age. (I feel like everyone is so young now that I'm so old lol). She completely rocked her outfit and will for sure be coming by the studio in a few months for a session all her own.