Boudoir? How do you pronounce that?

You may have heard of “boudoir” and seen pictures of women that take on these photoshoots. Maybe you’ve even thought of trying it yourself, but there’s still just one thing on your mind…

How the heck do you say boudoir?!

Girl, we’ve been there before! Even boudoir photographers don’t know how to pronounce ‘boudoir’ at some point. From Montreal to Massena, our clients always say the thing: “I was afraid to ask!”

What is Boudoir?

First things first, what exactly is boudoir photography?

The word boudoir is derived from a French word which means a woman’s private salon. Boudoir photography is a professional photoshoot with an intimate style of portraiture.

Although some describe boudoir as lingerie photography, boudoir is defined by what makes you feel sexy — a bodysuit, a little black dress, or even nothing at all. The possibilities are endless and we also have an ever-evolving client closet!

Boudoir photoshoots are often booked for special occasions, including bridal boudoir or anniversaries. However, there’s always a reason to treat yourself. Boudoir portraits can be the perfect gift to a significant other, but their real purpose is to celebrate who you are.

So, how do you say boudoir?

Even if you don’t speak French, we promise you’ll have no problem saying “boudoir” after this!

Boudoir is pronounced “boo-dwaar” — in other words, it rhymes with “too far!”

The first half is “boo,” like it’s Halloween, while the second half sounds like like car, jar, or bar! Many of us initially struggle with the second half (it’s okay if that’s you)! It is not bood-wah or bow-dar, but it’s easy to see why it might be! We’ve heard it all!

Confidently Pronouncing Boudoir

We work with women from all over, including Ottawa, Watertown, Lake Placid, and beyond. Every one of our clients had their doubts about booking their boudoir experience at some point.

We don’t want pronouncing boudoir to be one more reason to hold you back.

That’s why we wrote this — no question is off the table here! From your first message to the last moment of your photoshoot, we want you to feel comfortable and confident every step of the way. You can also get in touch with us any time (we’re always here to help)!

Should you do a boudoir photoshoot?

A million times yes!

Whether you’ve been dreaming of a session for years or just considered the possibility, there’s no time like the present.

The confidence boost from a boudoir experience results in long-term effects that spill over into all aspects of your life. A boudoir photoshoot is the perfect way to pamper yourself, show off your bombshell side, and feel like an absolute goddess.

Ready to get started?

A Million Monarchs helps women like you see their multi-dimensional beauty. We’re dedicated to providing the best luxury boudoir experience imaginable. We serve women across Northern New York and Canada, including Syracuse, Albany, Potsdam, and more.

If you’re interested in a boudoir photography experience, contact us to save the date and explore our frequently asked questions to learn more!

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Book Your Massena Boudoir Session

Ready to make your reservations with us? Book your photoshoot today to hold your space and treat yourself to the ultimate boudoir photography experience.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MEET MARINA
Marina LaBaff is the owner and photographer of A Million Monarchs and Lavender Lullabies with headquarters in Massena, New York.

Do you believe in yourself? That is What Confidence is to us.

 

Your health and well-being are dependent on your level of self-love. Having a solid sense of self-assurance can help you succeed in both your personal and professional lives as well as trickle into those around you

Having self-love and confidence has numerous advantages. Here are some of the beneficial consequences that self-confidence can have in your life.

• Rather than wasting time and energy wondering whether or not you are good enough, you can focus on your efforts. As a result, when you’re confident, you’ll perform better.
• Self-confidence affects not only how you feel about yourself but also how you comprehend and love others. It also empowers you to walk away if you aren’t getting what you deserve.
• You’ll be more eager to try new things if you believe in yourself. Putting yourself out there is much easier when you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, whether you’re applying for a promotion or signing up for a cooking class.
• Believing in yourself can help you build resilience, or the ability to bounce back from life’s obstacles and tribulations.

“Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.”- Michelle Obama

Fortunately, there are steps you may take for boosting confidence. These tactics can help you feel more confident in any situation, whether you lack confidence in a specific area or in general. Here are some ways:

• Make a list of everything you’ve accomplished in your life that you’re proud of. When you’re feeling down, pull out the list and use it to remind yourself of all the great things you’ve accomplished.
• Everyone has their own set of skills and abilities. What are some of yours? Recognizing your strengths and attempting to improve on them will help you gain confidence in your talents.
• If you can’t talk to someone about your feelings, write them down. Make a note of it. It will make you feel better.
• Make a list of your objectives and the steps you’ll need to take to reach them. Just set small goals that you can cross off a list to help you acquire confidence in your ability to complete tasks.

“Just pick a goal, a goal you truly want to achieve, and take a clear-eyed look at your weaknesses–not so you’ll feel less confident, but so you can determine exactly what you need to work on. Then get to work. Celebrate small successes. Analyze your weaknesses. Keep going. As you gain skill, you’ll also gain a feeling of genuine confidence, one that can never be taken away–because you’ve earned it.”

Self-confidence, on the other hand, takes time to develop. So, if you’re looking for a quick boost, here are some confidence boosting self-love quotes:

• “The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you.” –William Jennings Bryan
• “Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” –Golda Meir
• “Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.” –Peter T. McIntyre
• “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” –Arthur Ashe
• “Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.”- Vince Lombardi
• “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”- Martin Luther

At some point in their lives, everyone has self-confidence challenges. It’s perfectly natural. Self-love is a wonderful love. There will be times when you want to give up on your journey back to self-love, but always remember to be gentle to yourself.

When you’re ready to experience your very own Monarch Transformation, you can reach us HERE.

repping for a boudoir photoshoot can be a whole lot of fun! You’re probably wondering what accessories could I possibly be forgetting?! I have searched high and low in addition to reading the prep guide! What am I missing? It is the shoes? Nope….

…OUR #1 TIP WHEN IT COMES TO BOUDOIR PREP IS TO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR SHOES!
Yes, high heels are a signature to a sexy night out but, heels are usually kicked off at the door. Ok, so if heels aren’t what I’m forgetting for my shoot.. what is? Our founder (who has over a decade of experience in prepping clients for photoshoots), she wanted to chime in on the subject:

“Ultimately, it comes down to what empowers the client. Not the photographer. Our boudoir prep guide is meant to be just that… a guide. It steers our clients clear of anything that can make their body look like it has extra pounds or that is hard to bend and pose in.

Not only do we gift all of our clients a comprehensive session prep guide upon booking, we have also curated a boudoir outfit store! “ – Marina LaBaff, A Million Monarchs Boudoir Founder

What is Marina talking about you may ask? She and her team have handpicked the most glamorous and sparkly boudoir wear based on what looks best behind the camera! Many women know to search for things online like sparkly or rhinestone lingerie, and fishnet stockings, but they often forget big, neat accessories.

Scroll to the right to learn the top 5 accessories you’re probably forgetting for your next boudoir shoot:

 

Wondering where to get all of these sparkly boudoir photoshoot accessories? We got you, Monarch! Just click the “shop” link above and take a virtual trip to our boudoir boutique! We hope you find lots of fun boudoir inspiration there!

Maybe you’re excited and preparing for your boudoir photoshoot, or maybe you just want to take some sexy photographs for yourself! Either way, we have your back with 5 tips & tricks to taking glam boudoir photos in the comfort of your own bedroom!

TIP #1 – Boudoir Lighting At Home

Make sure you have good lighting! The very best lighting for DIY photoshoots is going to be natural lighting. The entire goal of studio lighting is to mimic natural lighting, but studio lighting tends to never be as beautiful as natural light!

If you can, turn all your lights off so you don’t have something called “mixed lighting” and use your natural light resources only! This will help your iPhone take a more clear shot.

TIP #2 – Photoshoot Timing

The best time for natural light iPhone shots is anywhere from 10am to 11am. Don’t be afraid of timings though! You can often get a beautiful silhouette photo from golden hour (the hour before sunset) too. Don’t be afraid to play around with timings once you have gotten the most basic and bright of window light down!

 

TIP #3 – Boudoir Outfits

Wear something that you feel confident and sexy in. Not every person taking sexy photos feels comfortable nude, in just a sheet, or in lingerie. Glamorous selfies can be taken in anything! You could do your favorite oversized sweater off your shoulder, an oversized beach hat, or roll yourself in a crisp white towel. Use what you already have in your closet! You probably already have lots of sexy outfits that you feel good in your closet without having to go online and buy more.

Tip #4 – Hot Selfie Angles

Never photograph yourself with the lens pointed your nose. The camera lens should always be either at nose level or above!

For more slimming angles, you should always have the lens higher than your body and angled down just a slight bit this will have a slimming effect on you and won’t distort your body to look larger than it usually is. In a professional setting, a skilled boudoir photographer (wink wink) will do this for you, as well as move different angles while you sit pretty.

Pro Tip: Find a shelf to rest your phone on near the window before posing your body lower then the lens for the best angles.

Tip #5 – Sexy Boudoir Poses

Turn on some music. It’s really easy to look uncomfortable during a boudoir shoot. The best thing that you can do when you selfie is to look relaxed and confident. This can be done through the use of your very favorite music.

Make sure you don’t you don’t clench your limbs in tight to your body as this also typically happens when people are nervous before photos. Relax your arm against your body and pop your elbows out a tiny bit.

Also make sure not to furrow your eyebrows or clench your jaw. This can happen when people are nervous as well. The best tip is to close your eyes and breathe through your mouth while you say the word “peaches”. This will create just a slight sexy part and the lips as well as make the face and jawline more relaxed.

And finally, (as a bonus) DIY Tip number six is to practice in front of a mirror before you pose. If you have any kind of a mirror no matter how big or small. You can always bring that into the room and set it right near your camera so that you can see what you would look like from that angled posing makes a huge difference in boudoir photography. You would be surprised at what just an inch in an angle can do!

Just the slightest tilt of the hips or push back in any kind of limb or muscle group can make or break a photo!

If you’d like more DIY Boudoir Selfie Tips –

Join our V.I.P. Facebook group!