Blair and Abigail | Chicago Boudoir | Hotel Blake
Thursday, March 18th, 2010
(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!