Ok, maybe that headline was a little much, but it got your attention right? Gals, have you ever considered having sexy photos taken of yourself? Lots of Orlando ladies have done it. Sound intimidating?
I chatted up one of Orlando's "boudoir" photographers, Sophie LaMore of Flirtini Photography, to find out who gets these kinds of photos taken and why.
GalTime Orlando:
Why did you start taking pinup and boudoir photography?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
I've always been a fan of pinup. The mix of sweet and sassy. Naughty and nice. The women in those old Vargas and Elvgren paintings were so confident and beautiful. They exude sexiness and playfulness. Then, one day I decided to shoot my own pinup calendar with the help of a friend and the response I received was overwhelming. I quickly realized how many of the girls I knew were fascinated and wanted to be immortalized that same way. I love being able to help women feel beautiful and excited about the women they are, not who a magazine tells them they should be.
GalTime Orlando:
The idea of taking "sexy" photos is a little intimidating. How do you make it comfortable for women?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
I make it comfortable by making it about the women themselves. It is terrifying for someone to turn to you and say... "Ok, be sexy." What does that even mean? Like... Your sexy? Or my sexy? Or Cosmo's vision of sexy? I say get rid of all that. We are here to have fun and celebrate you! A heightened, exaggerated, high glamour version of you, but you none the less. And as a woman, I know where all my insecurities lie, and can help you drop all of those silly little nagging feelings. Toss your head back, kick up your sexy heels and lets have fun.
GalTime Orlando:
Why do women chose to take these kind of photos?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
I have had women come for all different reasons. One girl's brand new husband landed a job working on a cruise ship and they were going to be apart for the first time. We made a little "Bon Voyage" calendar of only the month he'd be gone with her photos. Another beauty had recently undergone gastric bypass surgery and had lost over 100lbs and rewarded herself with pinup photos. When we were shooting as I showed her a shot from my camera's preview screen she started to cry. She couldn't believe that was her. We had to stop and redo her makeup but it was totally worth it! Then I've had some special occasion shots like a "groom's card" with sexy pinup photos of his new bride and a Graduate Pinup for a UCF grad!
GalTime Orlando:
What do you recommend that women wear to a boudoir photo shoot?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
That totally changes from woman to woman and even sometimes for different concepts for one pinup's photo shoot. But if you'd like to help your legs look extra fabulous, I suggest tan fishnets as a base. You can barely see them and when you do they look extra sexy, but they pull everything tight and there is no shine which, in a photo, can read as bulk. Also, more is better. Things like accessories, garters and thigh highs can really turn a girl in a sexy outfit into a drop dead bombshell. Also, fake eyelashes! They make your whole face come to life and make your eyes look twice as big. (And don't worry, I can put them on you.) And most importantly ... shoes! Any woman can tell you shoes can make a break any outfit. You'd be surprised how many women tell me, "He loved my photos! Then he wanted me to get those shoes back on..."
GalTime Orlando:
What can you do for ladies looking for a retro pinup vibe?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
That is my absolute strong suit! I do all the hair and makeup in my shoots, as well as help with styling ideas and costume tweaks. Ruby red lips and black eyeliner, with a hair flower and a gentle body curl is going to give you the fast, easy pinup look. If you're already pretty good with hair and makeup, there are some fantastic retro hair and makeup tutorials on YouTube. Cuff your skinny jeans to a capri length with a wide cuff and add bright colored pumps and you're ready to pose for a hot rod magazine. Or a below the knee pencil skirt with a corset top and red belt and shoes for a sexy night time pin up.
GalTime Orlando:
What kind of response do you get from women when they see their photos?
Sophie of Flirtini Photography:
That is honestly my favorite part. I love getting to see women who came in somewhat timid and nervous have the time of their lives, feeling like supermodels. But, when they see they're pictures and see what goddesses they are, they absolutely glow! It quickly goes from "Oh my, you're so good" to "Wow! I look amazing!" And I love it. I can't tell you how many times a girl has told me before a shoot " I HATE looking a picture of myself, I'm not very photogenic." And then have a difficult time narrowing down their favorite photos to the ones they're going to keep. It makes me giggle, it makes me feel great to watch them giddy.
I feel we, as women, spend a lot of our lives being told what is sexy and that we are not it. We are told we are too fat, too thin, our boobs are too small, our butt is too big. I feel that it is necessary to be able to turn all of that off. We need to hear our own voices telling us how ever freckle, every wrinkle, every pound makes us unique and sensual and vivacious and proud. A photo can do help you do that. It is you. Captured. I will photoshop a pesky blemish but I will not take out a freckle. I will erase a bra strap that wasn't suppose to show but I will leave your curves. That is what makes you you. That is what makes you beautiful. If I can help you embrace that and watch you fall in love with yourself a little bit more, I'm having a great day.
You can find Sophie LaMore on the Flirtini Photography website or Facebook page. Sophie is part of the Flirtini Foxxes Burlesque group that performs in Orlando.
