Today we’d like to introduce you to Hope Orr.
Hi Hope, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all started when I was a young woman in my early 20s, working through my own body image issues. As women in this society, we are constantly bombarded with unrealistic body expectations and standards. It’s easy to constantly wonder if your body is worth being loved and seen. I often thought I was alone in feeling insecure in my body. I decided to stop chasing diet after diet and focus on learning how to love my body no matter how it looked. I remember being on a work trip and deciding that I wanted to take some boudoir images of myself. I always felt ashamed of being seen in my body, and was ready to try seeing myself differently.
I propped my camera up in my hotel room, set the self timer up, and ran to pose on my bed while the camera counted down. Seeing that first photo was surreal. Who was that beautiful woman on my camera? I felt a wave of relief and compassion roll over me, as I saw myself in a way I had never experienced before. It was as if I had a new set of eyes to see myself with. Those photos I took that day captured my body in a way I had never seen–I saw my WHOLE self, rather than the “flaws” I often focused on in the mirror. Boudoir is more than sexy images; it’s a chance to see your whole, beautiful, powerful self.
My team started offering boudoir sessions to our clients and we quickly saw the transformations that took place in so many women. Women who came into Elevated Boudoir believing that they weren’t photogenic or very sexy, left with a whole new sense of self and more confidence than ever. Time and time again, I saw that my healing boudoir experience wasn’t exclusive to me, but is an experience that’s available to anyone who wants that for themselves.
Our studio has grown over the years and we now have a whole team of women who pamper and guide our clients through their whole boudoir experience–from our trained Wardrobe Stylist who helps our clients pick out their outfits, our professional Hair & Makeup artist who pampers and helps our clients feel sexy and confident, to our photographer who guides each client from head to toe through every pose and helps them feel like a million bucks.
At Elevated Boudoir, we know that nothing is more important than feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin. Feeling confident in who you are changes the way that you show up as an individual, partner, parent, student, employee, etc. Our mission is to help women of all shapes and sizes feel confident and empowered in who they are.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I first started offering boudoir photo sessions, I assumed it wasn’t that different from my experience with posing someone for their bridals, portraits, family sessions, etc. I was absolutely wrong. Boudoir is a whole different beast when it comes to posing your client–there is a lot more focus on the body and creating art with the body. Not to mention, the client hardly wears clothes (if any at all) and the vibe and expression of boudoir photography is so different from any other type of photography. One mistake many photographers make is thinking they can and should offer all types of photography. Something I have learned over the years is that the very best photographers are those who specialize in a specific type of photography. They spend their time honing their craft and becoming the very best in that type of photography; rather than diluting themselves to accommodate every type of need.
It took me thousands of hours to learn from some of the best boudoir photographers around the world and practice their posing techniques until I was an expert at it. Our team now has an expertly curated process to pose our clients so that you don’t have to worry about a single thing. We make sure your hair, makeup, expression, and body are all posed in a way that keeps you looking natural, sexy, and authentic in your images.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Elevated Boudoir is best known for the safe, body positive experience that we offer. One of our clients said it perfectly– “I came in expecting to get sexy photos. What I didn’t expect was how impactful the experience would be for my confidence and body image. It’s an experience I will always remember!”
We not only specialize in creating artistic, tasteful boudoir images, but we offer a complete luxury experience that takes our clients through a transformational journey. Boudoir is quite involved and can be overwhelming if you don’t have the right team to support you. Clients love working with us because they have our guidance through every step of the process. We make the experience easy, empowering, and fun.
We take a trauma informed approach when it comes to our clients’ experience. Our team is mindful that our clients choose to step into a vulnerable space with people they don’t know, so we take a number of steps before, during, and after their session to ensure their comfort and privacy. We want our clients’ experience to be nothing but positive.
One of the hardest parts of doing a boudoir session is figuring out what to wear. Our clients receive a Lingerie Style Consult where they get to meet with our trained Stylist in the studio before the day of their boudoir session and receive help in selecting their outfits. We have a lingerie wardrobe of over 500 pieces of lingerie, ranging from sizes XS to 5X. Clients also receive a Lingerie Style Guide and a Boudoir Prep Guide so they know exactly what to expect and plan for leading up to their session. No stone goes unturned when it comes to preparing for the perfect boudoir photography experience.
Our clients love that all they have to do is roll out of bed on the day of their boudoir session and we will take care of the rest. They arrive at the studio, seeing that their lingerie outfits are hung up and ready to go, their Hair & Makeup artist excited to pamper them, and their photographer and posing team ready to make their boudoir session easy and fun. Our all-female team absolutely loves taking care of every detail so our clients can relax and have fun!
We believe boudoir photography is for every body; no matter their shape, size, orientation, ethnicity, or ability. Boudoir photography has the power to help everyone see just how amazing they are.
Many people interested in working with us don’t arrive already feeling sexy and photogenic. In fact, most clients will tell us that they are awkward in front of the camera–but looking at our clients’ images, you would never guess that! One of the most common things we hear from our clients is that they wish they wouldn’t have waited so long to take the leap. You never truly feel ready or confident before you sign up for your boudoir shoot. That confidence comes as you lean in and trust the process. If you keep waiting until you’re ready, you’ll be waiting your whole life. Time passes by quickly, and you can either look back at this moment in time and wish that you had loved and appreciated your body more, or you can be so glad that you took the leap and did the boudoir shoot. Which will you choose?
What does success mean to you?
At Elevated Boudoir, success is seeing every client leave our studio feeling more confident and powerful than ever before. We truly believe that every person deserves to feel at home in their own skin, and it feels like an honor that we get to support and see each client go through their own transformational journey. Every woman that works with us has a unique story and reason for doing her boudoir session. When she’s choosing to work with us, she is choosing to capture this moment in time–which is the culmination of every moment, experience, and lesson that has brought her here. Success is getting to witness her in her humanity and capture it for her to see.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elevatedboudoir.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedboudoir
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatedboudoir
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXFR0Ag__E8oyCaKD1cuqOg
