Brazen Boudoir

Possibly a widely known fact about me:  I love boudoir photography.

Sometimes in this life we are fortunate enough to meet people that create a spark in us and change us for the better.  In 2015, I was fortunate enough to meet two such women.    They have sparked confidence in me, and have made me come out of my shell even more.

One night, while scrolling my facebook newsfeed, I saw where my friend Stevie was asking friends if anyone would be interested in doing a boudoir shoot.  Now...some people have skydiving or ziplining on their bucket lists.  A boudoir shoot was something I had always wanted to do.  I posted that I was in.  Then...of course, I started backpedaling.  “I need to lose some weight,” “I need to have time to splurge on some pretty lingerie,” were just some of the thoughts running through my mind.  Not to mention 2014-2015 had been pretty hard on my body after being diagnosed with Graves and going through the treatment.  I’d lost weight, gained weight, and my body didn’t feel like my own anymore.

Finally, I decided to go for it.  I decided I needed a tangible object to look at on days when I couldn’t see my own beauty.  I needed something on my wall to remind me that I was sexy and beautiful when I couldn’t look into the mirror and see it. 

 

I am so incredibly happy that I did.  In going that day, I wound up meeting two women that would become dear friends to me. 

Jennifer Lazos, photographer and owner of “Brazen Boudoir,” and Danielle Keesler, make-up artist and hair extraordinaire, are genuine, funny, sweet, quirky, unique women that put me at ease upon walking through the door. 

Danielle Keesler and yours truly, Photo taken by Jennifer Lazos

 

Those first images almost brought tears to my eyes because they were just “me”...but a beautiful version of myself.  I will forever be grateful to them for helping to reestablish my confidence.

The first weekend of January marked my fourth boudoir shoot.  And each time I have had the very best time, and walked away with some incredible images.

I would highly recommend every woman doing this at least once in their lives. 

Recently, I did a mini interview with Jennifer: 

Photograph of Jennifer by Carlos Lazos

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your business: “My business is about more than just photography, about pressing a shutter and "making a photo." It's about bringing a woman out of her comfort zone and giving her a life-changing experience. Reminding her, after the day to day struggle, that she is amazing, beautiful, desired and just down-right kick ass.”

What are the perks of owning your own business? “Best perk? Setting my own schedule...though, during busy season, there is no such thing as down time. But I have the freedom to take time off when I need to for family events and special occasions, or to just randomly treat my family to a day of fun.”

What are the downfalls to owning your own business? “All the business stuff attached. Taxes, pricing, marketing. I'd really love to just do the fun stuff, the meeting clients, shooting, editing. Eventually, I'll have someone to run the business side for me.”

Have you always been drawn to photography? “I have since high school. I remember being all over the beach one year when I was 16 taking random photos with an old, film camera. Over the years it was an off/on thing for me, since I started my family pretty young.”

What got you into doing specifically boudoir photography? “Um.. I hate everything else? I've tried just about damn-near everything. Weddings, babies, families, kids, events, boudoir, couples, even men's fitness. Boudoir just clicks for me. I love men's fitness {I mean who wouldn’t?!} and I love food photography but those are more for when I want to shoot for just me.”

I’m sure that you frequently hear “I would love to do a session...maybe when I lose weight/get more tone/etc.” What advice would you give these girls? “Stop. Just stop. Stop over-thinking, stop looking at yourself in that way. I swear I could retire if I was paid for every time I've heard that from anyone wanting to book a shoot. And I, legit, get it. I'm not 100% happy with how I look, but if I waited to ever be in a photograph until I was happy, I'd never be in any, and what message does that send my daughters? There is literally NEVER a 'right time' to be photographed except right now. Even if it's not boudoir, everyone of us should be making an effort to be in portraits. To exist for our children and grandchildren.”

What are your future plans? “Ha! I have a lot actually. Expanding my boudoir business, starting a second business, perhaps eventually a third. There's a lot cooking in the background. I know its a super vague answer but that's the only way to really hustle.”

Interested in a boudoir shoot?  Check Jennifer’s website out: www.brazenboudoir.com!

Self-portrait by Jennifer Lazos