Jennifer Kathryn Photography Blog

Chicago Winter Intimate Portraiture Special – Book Your Valentine’s Day Boudoir Session!

Tags: Chicago Boudoir Photography, Chicago Intimate Portraiture, Chicago Lifestyle Photography, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Valentine's Day Photography Special
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Valentine’s Day Boudoir Session – It’s Not Too Late! | Chicago Boudoir & Intimate Portraiture

(ALERT: Sensitive intimate portraiture in this post. May not be suitable for children or office viewing.)

Oh sweet Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to believe you are already around the corner.  And while steadfast romantics count down the days to this lover’s holiday, many of us find ourselves wondering just what to get that special someone.  We want it to be meaningful, unique, perhaps playful, and certainly something that kindles that spark that drew us together.

Last year I began offering boudoir sessions as a way for women to celebrate their individuality, and if they so desired, to have a tangible gift to give to the man in their lives. And what emerged gave intimate portraiture an entirely new meaning. In boudoir we honor a woman’s sexiness, but it is by disclosing her inner strength in those intimate moments that she truly becomes empowered. While it is very much about her sexual appeal, it goes even further in portraying a deeper aspect of a woman’s exquisite character.  It becomes a way to express her sensuality in a classy and tasteful way rather than being overtly sexual as in pinup photography. It’s a celebration of every one of her beautiful features- both inside and out.

Another essential part of my philosophy as a photographer is to get to know you on a personal level so you are relaxed and comfortable and your photos genuinely reflect who you are.  This is even more important in intimate portraiture where there must be an even greater element of trust and comfort. I am there to coach you so you’re at ease in front of the camera and feel absolutely gorgeous!

What mood do you want to convey? Are you playful and flirty? We’ll focus on bringing out your natural charm. Do you want sultry and glamorous? Get those high heels and pouty lips ready! Are you looking for more simple and understated? A little lace slip and your sweet smile is just perfect.  Do you want to accentuate certain details, or show just a tease? No problem! The session is about YOU and we’ll spend some time talking about what makes you uniquely sexy.

So you walk away from this experience feeling fabulous about yourself- what’s in it for your guy? How much would he love an 8×8 nightstand album of your most smouldering images? Or a fine art book designed like a magazine spread that features you? There’s no doubt he’d linger over every delicious page…and come back often.  You can even purchase a miniature 4×4 keepsake version if he wants to bring your sexy little self with him on his next trip.  Not only is it a physical memento of your hotness (!), but it can be a powerful reminder of your sacred connection or a visual cue to rekindle some romance.

And guys, it’s pretty clear how you’ll benefit from this sexy little session, but what if you gave this entire experience as a gift to your girl?  She can bring a friend with her and she’ll get to sip champagne, have her makeup done and feel completely pampered in an hour long photo session all about her.  And we promise, you’ll love the end results too! So really, you both win.

So how do we move forward? Collections begin at $350 and each level includes an online gallery, a select number of high resolution digital images, and an album. Prints, album upgrades, additional digital images, and makeup sessions are included in subsequent collections. And if you book your session before February 14th, you’ll get the Valentine’s Day special of $50 off any collection! (If you do not need the images by V Day, you can still book at this rate and we can get your appointment on the calendar for a later date.) Turnaround for Valentine’s Day sessions is 2 days for digital images and 3-4 days for gifts, so make sure you plan accordingly.  Wanna make it a party? Book with a friend and you’ll both get $100 off any collection! (Additional friends over 2 will get $75 off.)  Please feel free to give me a call for more details! 773.789.8706.

Make your Valentine’s Day extra special this year…turn up the heat and add some passion!

(Many thanks to Lillian Toma of Starlight Makeup and Diem Angie Nguyen for makeup artistry in these images.)

Tags: Chicago Boudoir, Chicago Boudoir Photography, Chicago Intimate Portraiture, Chicago Lifestyle Photography, Chicago Photographer, Chicago Photography, Chicago Wedding Photographer, Diem Angie Nguyen, Jennifer Kathryn Gaudreau, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Lillian Toma, Starlight Makeup
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Blair and Abigail | Chicago Boudoir | Hotel Blake

(ALERT: Sensitive intimate portraiture in this post. May not be suitable for children or office viewing.)

Ahh the day after St. Patty’s. The amount of Irish blood running through my veins is probably near indiscernible, but the truth is, I just like holidays. I’m sentimental, not in a “I need to go all out to make this a real holiday” kind of way, but in a “let’s find another unique way to celebrate life today, since after all, it is a holiday!”  It’s funny to think the first time I stepped foot in Chicago, it was this time last year.  I didn’t do anything specifically for St. Patrick’s Day, but it was such a wonderful time that I fell in love with the city instantly.  How could I not with getting drinks at the Peninsula, riding the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, watching the sun set over the city at the Signature Lounge in the John Hancock Building on Michigan Avenue, and seeing the remnants of the green Chicago River! I’m glad to have celebrated again this year Wrigleyville style with a few close friends, and sipping some green beers for the first time.

But my first holiday as a Chicagoan was actually Valentine’s Day. And as a single girl, what better way to celebrate than with the gals, and getting to know some new friends who modeled for a sexy Valentine’s Day Boudoir! Over brunch only a few days before, Lillian Toma of Starlight Makeup, and fellow photographers Veronica Hinojosa and Jaclyn Simpson infused even greater vision into my upcoming shoot.  A simple boudoir session became a lively Valentine’s Day event! I am so excited to have collaborated with such talented individuals who I am blessed to call my friends.

As chance would have it, early check-in to our room at the Hotel Blake wasn’t available, but it was those golden moments I sat talking with Blair and Abigail that I got a glimpse into their beautiful uniqueness as women. The gracious staff at the Blake accommodated us as the rest of our crew showed up, and soon it wasn’t about the roles of clients and makeup artists and photographers anymore, but six women sipping champagne, telling stories and laughing together.

These are the moments I live for- when photography is a vehicle through which we open our hearts to each other and make a genuine connection. The mood was lighthearted all evening long, but as we worked together the girls revealed the depths of their personalities without words. That is where a woman’s beauty lies. In boudoir we celebrate a woman’s sexiness, but it is by disclosing her inner strength in those intimate moments that she truly becomes empowered. It’s not merely about sexual appeal, but about every aspect of a woman’s exquisite character. It was amazing to see that take place as we photographed Blair and Abigail. Blair emerged with a flirty, playful allure, while Abigail glowed with a demure beauty. Both were undeniable gorgeous and classy, and it was a true joy to work with them.  They’ve allowed me to share with you just a few of the images we came away with from our session:

I had so much fun working with Blair because she was queen of playful expressions. She would frequently smile as if she was about to share a secret, but instead chose to revel in the mystery of it herself for awhile. She was a natural.

Blair’s dramatic makeup was the perfect complement to her bold look and her sexy, tousled fresh-out-of-bed hair. Lillian’s artistry amazes me!

The rooms at the Hotel Blake were perfect for our shoot. I loved the mahogany bed with the red cushioned headboard- so appropriate for Blair’s Valentine’s Day lingerie!

I adored Abigail’s look- from the pearls to the sexy skirt that only revealed a peak at her thigh highs.

Veronica and I booked a room at The Hotel Blake with two beds so we’d both be able to spend one-on-one time with the girls. This was one of the only images I grabbed of Abigail in her pink lingerie, but it expressed to me her sweet nature so appropriately.  Lillian so tastefully applied Abigail’s makeup to subtly enhance her almond eyes. She was simply breathtaking!

Lillian Toma is truly a talented makeup-artist and I highly recommend her for any event. As one of the elite offering airbrush makeup in the Chicago area, it was exciting to see Lillian work. She also offered priceless styling assistance during our shoot. Jaclyn played the role of cinematographer as well as capturing some behind-the-scenes stills. I cannot wait to see what she came up with! We were so thankful for her help with our lights, posing ideas and for keeping us all laughing!! And Veronica was just a gem- a truly unique photographer with an eye for excellence.  I am so looking forward to working more with her in the future. After our session with Blair and Abigail, we are hooked on boudoir sessions! We are both now offering intimate portraiture as a regular part of our businesses. For more details on my collections, you may contact me through Jennifer Kathryn Photography or via email.

Here’s to celebrating life and beauty, holiday or not, one day at a time!

Tags: Boudoir, Chicago, Chicago Boudoir Photography, Chicago Intimate Portraiture, Chicago Lifestyle Photography, Chicago Photographer, Chicago Photography, Chicago River, Hinojosa Photography, Hotel Blake, Intimate Portraiture, Jaclyn Simpson, Jennifer Kathryn Gaudreau, Jennifer Kathryn Photography, Lillian Toma, Photography, St. Patrick's Day, Starlight Chicago, Starlight Makeup, Veronica Hinojosa, Wrigleyville
Posted in Boudoir, Intimate Portraiture, Personal | 7 Comments »