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Bustin' The Myths | The Truth Behind Boudoir

We all know the saying, "If I had a dime..." well, true story because if I had a dime for every time I heard the following statements/questions - I'd be a rich bitch!  I can tell you that I, a boudoir photographer, say the same shit ya'll do - and I promise that whoever is photographing me gives me the reassurance that I need too.  Just because I shoot this style of photography doesn't mean I'm 100% comfortable in my skin.  Truth is that by photographing women who I can relate to, it helps me with my own issues and insecurities.  A boudoir session isn't just a therapy session for you, it's one for me as well - and I am thankful that you've chosen me as your therapist :)

So, lets knock out these misconceptions one by one...

1.  "I don't photograph well." - Who does?  Unless you are an online influencer, a celebrity, a model, etc you likely cannot take a selfie to save your life.  Did you know that most celeb's/influencers have to sign an agreement that they won't leave the house without makeup?  That counts me out of that line of work, because I leave the house without make up on 99% of the time.  It's my job as the photographer to make sure you DO photograph well, not because I want you to buy the pictures, but because I want you to see yourself how I see you through my lens and how your loved ones see you.
2. "I'm not a model." - Good, because I very rarely photograph models and truth be told... I don't know how to work with models the same way.  Next...
3. "I don't know how to pose." - Again, good, because it's my responsibility to pose you from your head to your toes, and I will.  I will literally tell you what to do with every part of your body.  I will tell you if it doesn't look right, and I will reposition you or I will reposition myself.  If you look in the mirror and you practice posing it's helpful but I likely won't pose you the same way because I don't see you the same way.  When I'm in front of the camera, I have NO FLIPPIN IDEA how to pose myself.  I'm like a deer in headlights, I rely solely on the photographers direction and I know how important it is that I give you every instruction I can.
4. "I may not relax enough." - I'll tell you this is the case 0% of the time.  I'm a complete nerd and goof ball when I photograph our clients, and by the time Staci is done with your makeup and hair (with or without the help of wine) you'll already feel like a bombshell.  99% of my clients are walking around naked within the first 15 minutes.  It's an extremely private and relaxing experience, you will feel like you got a work out by the end of it but it feels DAMN GOOD to walk around naked with no f*cks to give at anyone seeing you naked (and by anyone, I mean me).  In addition to posing your body, I even instruct you on what to do with your face.  If you need to fix your face, I'll tell you.  Speaking of naked...
5.  "I don't know if I can get naked." - Girl.  It's okay!  If you don't want to do nudes, it's okay!  There's no rule book that says you have to.  Prior to your session you'll get a questionnaire and we'll cover everything I need to know to make your session special.  Whether or not you are okay with being naked is part of that questionnaire.  We also have a private dressing room for wardrobe changes - so being in the buff in front of me is not mandatory.
6. "I'm too old." - When I started boudoir back in 2008 most of my clients were brides to be in their early 20's.  Over the last 10 years there's been a major shift, partly because I've grown as a creative, a woman, a mother.  I focus on providing a safe environment for women to find their own confidence and beauty by using our studio as a medium.  Our clients are typically between 35 and 55 years old, but we've had clients 20 years old and we've had clients 85 years old.  Age is just a number, it's not a state of mind and it doesn't matter how old you are (as long as you're legal lol).  It shouldn't be a factor in whether or not you do a session.
7. "I need to drop some lb's before I do this" - No, no you definitely do not have to.  If you are on a mission to better your health and weight loss is part of that journey and you want to document your success, then sure wait until you hit your goal.  But, if you look in the mirror and you aren't happy with yourself - then you DO NOT need to wait to do this.  You need to do it now, like right now.  Depression and self doubt will only hinder your ability to make better lifestyle choices - so, if you use an empowering experience like boudoir to jump start the next chapter in life it WILL help you get there.  Stop looking at yourself for what you could be or should be and start looking at yourself for who you are today and the battles you've conquered thus far.
8. "My friends and family won't understand." - Maybe not, but they don't have to know.  We ask every client for the ability to share their images with potential clients, but if you are afraid that your friends and family will see the images... then you can say no!  There is no extra fee for not giving us permission to use your images, in fact 10 years ago we rarely had anyone agree to allowing us the ability to use their images.  Girlfriend, times have definitely changed because majority of our clients do give us a release.  Our clients are proud to show off their images!  It's not arrogance to share your images, it's honorable.  People constantly post images of them at the gym, their muscle gains, weight loss gains, etc.  Why not post image of your self confidence gains?  How is that any more arrogant or conceited?
9. "My (significant other) doesn't like other people seeing me naked." Don't even get me started.  It's YOUR body.  It truly is tragic if your lover can not appreciate and support your decision to feel better about yourself.  I understand their reasoning, they're protective, etc etc - but this is a private session and I'm a professional, not only a boudoir photographer but a full time emergency room registered nurse and I've seen people naked every day for nearly 15 years.
10. "What am I going to do with the pictures?" - Umm... LOVE THEM!!  You can have digital files, an album, wall art, or a number or other ways to remind yourself daily how amazing you are.  No one has to see these images but you, if you choose that.  These images, this experience, this is all for you.  Having a shitty day?  Pull the pictures up and feel better.  Hubby going on travel?  Send your album with him so he has you with him.  Have a girlfriend that you feel could benefit from boudoir the way you did?  Share your experience with her!  Sometime you need moral support and someone close to you to tell you it's OKAY to do this for yourself.  You could be that person for someone else.  See my last blog about ordering wall art here.
11. "It's expensive..."-  Do you shop around for a bargain hair dresser, a cheap doctor, an inexpensive masseuse?  Maybe you do, which is totally fine - I'm a bargain shopper too!  I typically bargain shop when it comes to clothing, shoes, makeup, vacations, and much more.  But, when it comes to a service I'm a little more appreciative of the cost.  I know that it takes education, quality equipment, overhead, experience, and time to perfect a craft and I'm willing to pay extra to make sure I get what I pay for. I recently wrote a blog about choosing a boudoir photographer - you can read it here.  Our products start at $300 and we offer payment plans so that we can appeal to all budgets.

Bottom line, you deserve to love yourself for who you are.  Boudoir isn't the end all be all, but it is a great start on that journey.  We're here for you if you need us. <3 <3

We wrote a blog about this over a year ago, but felt it was such an important topic that we readdress it and add new items in.  Why Boudoir Is For Every Woman was our first blog on this topic.

xoxo, Jenn

by Jenn

Stand Proud | Atlanta Boudoir Specialist

So, you make the first move... you contact the boudoir photog that you've researched and you KNOW is for you.  Now what?  Well, hopefully they send you a prep guide or have some sort of consultation where a lot of your questions will be answered, but where is your head when it comes to the final product?  Do you want an handcrafted album, digital files, wall art, speciality art (metals, canvas, etc), a handful of prints, or do you have NO idea what you want?

Albums are amazing reminders of how incredible you are.  Digital files are fantastic for on the go folks.  But, wall art... it makes my heart SO happy!  But, think about the whole picture for a moment.  You booked a boudoir for what reason?  Was it because you needed to look at yourself differently, a confidence boost, a constant reminder of who you are in life right now?  Whatever the reason was, it wasn't so that you could hide in a drawer or a closet.  I'm going to tell you why getting wall art is the best decision you'll make.

Hanging an image of yourself (not surrounded by your family) isn't being conceded or vain, it's a daily reminder of YOU that you deserve to see.  And, if it's a boudoir photograph it's a very raw and vulnerable form of yourself.  During our sessions I am very aware of the style of images I am capturing and I always include a lot of artistic images that most folks would NEVER KNOW IT WAS YOU unless you told them.  We use our vintage claw foot tub for a lot of these images, because they're perfect to put in your master bathroom or bedroom.  A sexy silhouette in the living room?  Why not?  If you take a moment and think about the images your friends and families have on their walls, stock images, images that came with the frame or they paid for online... are sexy silhouettes not something you see a lot?

Be proud of the battles you have conquered, the ground you have walked on, the obstacles you defeated.

Read our previous blog Is Boudoir For You? For more information on picking a boudoir photographer.

by Jenn

Is Boudoir For You? | North Georgia Boudoir Studio

I always want to know what brought you to boudoir.  For some, it's a gift for a lover.  But, most of our clients come to us because they have a need.  They need to feel beautiful, sexy, empowered, confident... they need to see theirselves as others see them.  They need to document this stage in their life, for whatever reason (marriage, divorce, maternity, post baby, workout gains, spice up the sexy life).  There truly is no right or wrong answer to why you need to do a boudoir session (yes, I said "need").

When you start your search for a boudoir photographer, you likely have no idea what to look for but price is usually a main factor.  It's extremely important for your photographer to be a good match for you, and to provide you with what you need.  It hurts my heart when I hear horror stories from clients that hired a photographer who didn't fulfill their needs and ultimately made them feel bad about theirselves.  I want to make sure every client that we photograph is a good fit for us, and that we're a good fit for them.  Finding out why you need a boudoir session is just as important as you knowing why we need to shoot boudoir.

In addition to finding out a photographers reason for shooting boudoir, you should also find out how often they shoot (specifically boudoir), is it just a seasonal gig (Christmas & Valentines), do they have a safe and private studio space, do they offer wardrobe options, do they focus on the client experience or is their purpose to just give you a few photo's to share with a lover, do they have good reviews and client testimonials, do they edit, and if they do - how much do they edit, do they pose you in flattering positions, or do they spend hours photoshopping your body to the point that it's no where near real life?  It's also important to know if make up and hair is offered on site, is there assistance preparing for the shoot, are they available to answer your questions, is their response time quick, what type of products are offered, what is the quality of the product, are they active in boudoir communities (this may seem like a silly one, but it helps photographers grow creatively).

Look through their website images, instagram, facebook, etc.  Are you drawn to their particular style?  I personally shoot mostly moody, but often throw in a few "light and fluffy" style images - but if you want all very light and airy, I'm likely not the photographer for you.  When you look at my images, I want you to say "I wish I could do that" because you can do it and that girl in the picture can be you.  But, if you look at my pictures and say WTF is that?!  I'm not your girl.  While looking through their portfolios also look for a variety of body types, heights, ages, ethnicities, shapes, etc.

Final words of wisdom: don't pick a photographer for anything based solely on price.  Do your research and save your money so you can hire someone who fits your needs!

by Jenn

2019 Brand Rep Search is on! | Be Shameless with Mirrored Images Boudoir

2018 has been an incredible year and these lovely ladies above have helped Mirrored Images Boudoir grow as a business, but I have grown as a person thanks to them.  The interaction in our Glam Gang group is at an all time high, women are supporting each other in ways they've never been able to before.  It's such an inspirational group and helps me get through the day to day.  Between the group and our amazing clients, Shameless was born!  Gahhh!!  We are launching a body positive lingerie line in 2019 - which has been a dream of mine for many years.  We have put so much into this company and each item we produce, which is designed by our incredible team.  No private labeling - just high quality and well fitting products.

Do you strive to be a better you?  To inspire other women to love who they are?  Do you live a healthy lifestyle and wish to promote the benefits of it to our following?  Our 2019 GLAMbassadors will represent Mirrored Images Boudoir + Shameless and receive incentives from both companies if chosen.  You do NOT have to be a client of Mirrored Images Boudoir to apply!  To receive more information and the application fill out the form below:

by Jenn

Breast Cancer Awareness | Sparkle & Celebrate PINK Atlanta Georgia

Sparkle & Celebrate PINK was created in 2017 by a group of artists who wanted to create a day of beauty and celebration for breast cancer survivors.  Last year, Jenn Hyman, Katie Cotton, Staci Gibbs, and Jade Couch provided professional makeup, hair, body paint, lunch, wine and a photo shoot to 5 ladies in the Upstate SC.  Click here to see the celebration!

This year we held the event at Mirrored Images Boudoir studio in Gainesville GA, just north of Atlanta Georgia.  We had 7 beautiful survivors participate and even more talented artists volunteer their time and talent to the cause.

BreastCancer.org reports

• about 1 in 8 US women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime
• in 2018 an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in US women, along with 63,960 cases of non-invasive breast cancer
• about 40,920 women in the US are expected to die in 2018 from breast cancer
• as of January 2019, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer in the US
• bout 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer

Those statistics are SCARY!  Imagine yourself in the shoes of a woman who was just diagnosed... not only will your body go through big changes, but emotionally you're left to cope with this diagnosis while (usually) being rushed into a treatment plan to save your life.  Depression and anxiety impact relationships and intimacy and 50% of relationships end after there's a cancer diagnosis.  We, as women, need to stand together and support each other.  You ARE beautiful, you ARE strong, you CAN embrace the changes your mind and body have been through.

As boudoir photographers, Katie and I help women to accept and love who they are.  Every woman is capable of this, sometimes it just takes a super annoying boudoir photographer telling you over and over again how beautiful you are :)

We are so grateful for these inspirational women to allow us to document this time in their life and provide them with a beautiful reminder of how amazing they are.  Here are two reviews from 2017 participants:

“You’ve helped me begin to find myself again.  I’m getting more comfortable with how my body has changed and I am learning to embrace it…scars and all.  I really thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“My husband’s reaction to the Sparkle & Celebrate pictures was the best feeling in the world!!!!  He is so proud, he wants to share with everybody!  I know I am not a model, but after 10 years of hiding….I finally feel whole again.  I can never thank you enough – not only for what you did for me on the outside that day, but what you did for me on the inside for a lifetime!  Thank you!”

by Jenn

GLAMbassador spotlight: Tammy

Hey girl, hey!  It's been a crazy couple of months and we have totally slacked on blogging.  But, great things are worth the wait!  I want to introduce ya'll to Tammy.  She's my favorite firey red head <3 Tammy won a session with us last year, during that session she agreed to being videoed for a promotional behind the scenes video.  Not only is the video my fav but her session was incredible.  She was one of my OG GLAMbassadors and shares her personal experience with us with anyone that will listen :)  We love Tammy.  She had her second session this year and I don't even need to tell you which images below are from the second because you can SEE the difference!

Lets Meet Tammy...

"So I think I’ve been a GLAMbassador since before we had a name, lol. I looked at a lot of photographer’s websites and spoke with several both on the phone and in person, but Jenn was the first one I met that I felt truly understood my vision and what I wanted to accomplish with my session. As most women, I’ve always struggled with body image. I’ve been all sizes and I’ve never been comfortable in my skin until my 40’s. I decided to own myself as I am and started to plan for my first session!!! Well, shortly after I had made my decision, I found Jenn and I was lucky enough to win a contest for a free session! And my session was just what I needed to accomplish my goal! My husband was at my reveal and his reaction was “I’m glad you finally see yourself as I see you. “ I literally cried. And now, I show my pictures to anyone who will look at them lol!!! I’m so proud of them and the way they make me feel every time I look at them. I truly feel this is the best experience any woman can give themselves. It will open your eyes to a side of you that you probably won’t believe exists until you see your photos. But after you see it, it will be a side you will hopefully never be able forget!"

by Jenn

Sparkle & Celebrate PINK | Breast Cancer Awareness

Sponsored by: Shameless, Inc.  A new women's intimate apparel company launching in January 2019 that supports a woman's decision to LOVE herself, her body, her curves (or lack of), her scars and everything that makes her HER!

Hi friends!  It's time to announce the SECOND annual Sparkle & Celebrate PINK event and shout out to find participants!

To see images as well as a behind the scenes video from last years event, click here.

by Jenn

GLAMbassador spotlight: Heather

Heather is one of the few clients that I've actually cried with.  I do my best to keep my composure when our clients tell us about their lives - but sometimes I can't.  She told me the story of her deceased husbands addiction to opiate pain medication, an epidemic I'm very familiar with, and I couldn't hold my emotions back.  Luckily, our moment(s) of tears happened before makeup and hair so for her first session so we were ready to rock and channel that emotion when the time came.

As a nurse, people open up about their life because they feel like they can and they should.  But as a boudoir photographer, when someone opens up to me I like to think it's their CHOICE.  You don't have to tell me anything about your life or why you're sitting in my studio, but if you do it'll make your experience that much better.  Not only will the emotion show in your images but the session will truly be like therapy.

Lets Meet Heather...

I lost myself in a dead marriage.  My husband passed away after several years of being addicted to prescription pain medication for an injury.  The injury and the opiate pain medication changed who he was and changed our marriage.  I allowed myself to believe every hateful and demeaning word said to me for a long time.  I came to a crossroad in life and was given the opportunity to start over.  Mirrored Images came into my life and has given me a new view of myself.  I have put every bit of myself into my family for over 15 years and last year I decided it was time to do something for myself, finally.  I couldn't have picked a better starting point.  I love myself first for the first time in 20 years.

I have shared the pictures with family, friends, co-workers, and my new boyfriend.  I have had more uplifting comments and support than I ever would have imagined.  Most of all I can teach my two daughters exactly what a beautiful woman is, not just what is in magazines.  I have cried over my looks but you gave me a light that everyone around me sees now.  I tell them of my experience and they are amazed.  All of my friends know that my life changed the day I had my photo shoot.

Heather has had TWO shoots with us in the last year, here's a few shots from each.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you are not alone.  There are online resources as well as treatment facilities and outpatient therapies to help.

Opiate Overdose Crisis

National Helpline / Treatment Referral Service

by Jenn

GLAMbassador spotlight: Kellie

Kellie is one of our OG GLAMbassadors.  We met shortly after I opened the studio, she stumbled across our work and decided she needed to do a boudoir session.  She never had the thought prior to, and the changes she's made inside and out have been remarkable.  She takes times for HER now... as we all should.  I love her spirit and we are grateful to have her on our team.

Lets Meet Kellie...

by Jenn