minneapolis boudoir photographer | challenging your comfort zone by becoming the subject of artwork

It can be a challenge to define what art is, or what art means, or what is the purpose of art — but even if you’re an art nerd and those are discussions that you actually have in your life, it’s still pretty rare to think of yourself AS the art. Many times we might think of gods and goddesses, great historical figures, humans of exceptional beauty or ability as the subjects of art — and looking into art history, that makes perfect sense! So what if we put ourselves into that position? Seeing ourselves as the central figure in a piece of art might change the way you see yourself, right? Something to be gazed upon, marveled at, valued? How cool to be up there with Aphrodite and Venus, Mona Lisa and the others.

Seeing yourself as deserving and powerful in that way can feel squidgy and uncomfortable at first, and that’s perfectly okay. Raven said she wanted to do a session because it felt wildly out of her comfort zone. And that same thing is true for most boudoir clients! But everything truly worth doing is hard, right? It wouldn’t be a significant experience if it weren’t a bit of a mental hurdle to get in the door. So if you’re feeling that way, congratulations, you are 100% normal!

Raven did our classic 90 min boudoir experience at the Minneapolis studio in natural light. Here’s what she had to say in preparation for her experience and after it was finished…

What sort of vibe do you have in mind for your session?

Sexy!! I struggle with bringing out my sexy, powerful side, so I’m totally up for the challenge.

Tell me about what brought you to boudoir photography. Why are you here?

I want to feel sexy and empowered in little clothing. Boudoir gives individuals the opportunity to feel beautiful and sexy in their own skin. I love this and would love to push myself!

Do you have any concerns for your session?

I’m not really good at posing sexy so this is definitely a challenge for me. But I am super excited to work with you and give you complete freedom to pose me how you want :)

Describe who you are and or how you think of yourself in a way you wouldn't mind sharing alongside your images.

I like to think of myself as goofy! I love to have fun. I believe I am empathetic and a good listener and I’m always trying to grow and develop myself into a better person each day.

How did you first become interested in a boudoir session? And what made you decide to jump in?

I had seen a TikTok on some boudoir photos and knew I wanted to try it, but didn’t feel comfortable at the time. I think becoming more comfortable with my body made me decide to jump into it. Lots of work and self love pushed me! :)

How did you find Render Boudoir and what made you choose Britt over other intimate portrait artists? Did something stand out to you?

My boyfriend’s friend did a session with you (I can’t remember her name), but she recommended you!!!

From booking to hair/makeup to the session, ordering appointment, product delivery, and communication -- did the whole thing feel like a luxury experience? What did you love about it and would you suggest any changes to make it better?

Yes! I felt very taken care of:) When I was getting my makeup done, I told Annie that I felt like a celebrity getting ready for a fancy event lol! It was nice to be taken care of for the day.

How did you feel about the variety in your images? Was there enough to choose from in regards to full body, partial body, and detail/close cropped images? Was there enough variety in eyes down vs. eye contact? A variety of facial expressions to choose from? A variety of modest images and racy ones?

I LOVED the variety of images I had. I loved seeing me in more modest sexy poses, and then the racy sexy ones too.

How well did I read your comfort level and desired amount of "spice" in your images? Were you hoping for something more modest? More sexually explicit? More undressed? Or did I deliver exactly what you expected and hoped for?

You delivered exactly what I hoped for. I wanted to come out of the session feeling confident and beautiful, and you absolutely helped me with that!!

Was this an experience you'd recommend to others? If they had reservations, what would you tell them?

Yes!!! I would say go into it with an open mind. You’re in an incredibly safe space and with a wonderful photographer who knows what she’s doing!!