Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeslie Lunceford.
Hi Jeslie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
You know how the best things in life sometimes just find you? Well, that’s how boudoir was for me. It is a passion of mine that came to me like a force of nature.
I started photography in 2017 when I was feeling unsure of my life plan and career. Then my husband bought me my first “real” camera for my birthday. From the get-go, I knew I wanted to specialize in boudoir photography, even before I had ever done a real boudoir shoot myself.
My exposure to boudoir at that time was just me and my cousin taking pictures in her basement apartment one night before my wedding on her flip phone camera. 😂 The confidence boost was still the same, though. I couldn’t stop looking at those photos. I had never seen myself that way before, and I wanted every woman out there to experience it.
Boudoir is about coming home to your body without judgment—only love and appreciation for your body and all that it does for you to carry you through this life. And we all need that reminder from time to time.
I had done all sorts of photography before becoming a full-time boudoir photographer—weddings, events, couples, families, and much more, all the while knowing that boudoir was my passion and would be my specialty. Boudoir photography has always been my favorite!
I became a full-time boudoir photographer in 2020, and that year boudoir really popped off. Probably because everyone was starting to hear how amazing it is! And I absolutely love it!!!
Why?
There is a moment during a session when you can literally feel the energy change. At first, a client might be nervous or a little scared. Then something clicks. She starts to relax, let’s go, she starts having fun, and eventually the confidence hits. The entire space fills with this beautiful light and energy.
I get this secondhand confidence high every single time. It’s honestly one of the best feelings in the world to watch someone experience self-love. Selfishly, that could be part of why I love my job so much. 😂
And what makes it even more gratifying is hearing what happens after the session. I’ve had clients tell me that the experience changed how they see themselves in their everyday lives, made them feel more confident in their relationships, helped them feel more comfortable in their bodies, or healed a part of themselves that they didn’t even realize needed healing.
The one thing I have learned to be true as a boudoir photographer is that we all have insecurities. It’s just human nature. So self-love is something we all need to give ourselves from time to time.
The sad thing is, holding on to that feeling can be very fickle. At certain times in life, the noise of the world can crowds into our minds and we lose track of the light inside of us that grows from self-appreciation and gratitude for each and every day.
I love that my job helps with reminding people of that.
I love my job also because of all the amazing people I have had the opportunity to meet, the places I have been able to explore, and the fun experiences I have gotten to enjoy. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful that I get to do my passion as my career.
The women I meet truly inspire me and change my life. I am so grateful to meet so many amazing people on such a real, raw, and vulnerable level. I don’t take that lightly. I feel truly honored that so many trust me to capture their beautiful essence.
Being a boudoir photographer also introduced me to getting myself in front of the camera a lot more. I have had the opportunity to “model” for 30+ different photographers so that I could better help my clients and know how it felt on the other side of the camera.
Being on that side was something I wasn’t very comfortable with. “My comfort zone is behind the camera” is what I always tell people, and even after all this time “modeling,” I always consider myself a photographer at heart.
Throughout my experience, I have gained a knowing that all photographers are different. Not one did it the same, and all brought unique energy. It also gave me first-hand experience of the nerves that come with this vulnerability and the awkwardness that can come from being in front of a camera. 🤪
I think it is very important when picking your boudoir photographer that you take time and find the one that vibes with you before the shoot, because the confidence glow happens only when the vibe is right. So make sure it is right for you.
For each of my clients, I like to provide a very customized experience. I don’t have one set studio. I base the location on my client’s desired aesthetic and needs. This means your shoot could be inside a beautiful studio or even the gorgeous great outdoors!
I loooooove outdoor boudoir. It is extra liberating and freeing to be out and one with nature, kind of like skinny dipping!
I also let my clients lead their experience, meaning I want you to wear what you like best. I want you to feel confident and comfortable. We will only do poses that you want to do. I make sure you feel safe and seen in a completely loving and accepting environment.
I want each and every one of my clients to have a unique experience because each and every one of us is so unique and brings a unique energy with them.
I don’t have a set flow, and I love getting creative. I have ADHD, so doing the same thing gets boring for me. 🤪 I love switching it up and making each session different and special for my girls!
So feel free to bring me all your creative ideas, and we can make them come to life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting off my career in 2017, almost 10 years ago, was a way different story with how popular boudoir is today. That is why I had to start my career off with shooting all sorts of things even though boudoir was always my speciality. It was a lot more taboo back then so finding even models to do a free shoot was even tricky. So in 2018 I set up my first ever outdoor boudoir creative meet up and it was such a blast to shoot 3 gorgeous women next to utah lake! Eventually in 2020 boudoir became more popular and I was able to take my photography career full-time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in boudoir/portrait photography, capturing women in the natural beautiful essence.
Things that set me apart, I have modeled for 30+ different photographers and no one does it the same. The energy I bring is an inviting acceptance energy that allows you to be your true self. A strict posing flow is something I do not do, I customize each and every session to every client’s own unique vision and vibe.
Capturing the woman’s natural essence and it is the most beautiful thing to witness. It’s why I do what I do. To help women love themselves with or without clothes. Your body is not something to be ashamed of, it’s something that nurtures and loves you so you need to do the same for your body. I think your body—and boudoir, for that matter—needs to be seen in a more positive light instead of being treated like something taboo. Because self-love is truly the purpose of life.
The more grace we can give ourselves, the more freely we can give that same grace to the people around us.
And who knows? Maybe slowly and subtly, we could be creating world peace together.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am a mom of 2 young boys (5y/o and 1.5 y/o), my husband is an army veteran. We love going to the mountains and exploring. I am from a small town and have lived in Utah my whole life and I still love it. My favorite animal is a humpback whale. I drive a little motorcycle and I like playing retro video games with my family. I was the Sanpete County Dairy Queen and I raised pigs for the county fair growing up.
Pricing:
- Rose Gold Package $2,000
- Gold Package $1,600
- Silver Package $1,200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sweetconfidencephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetconfidenceboudoir/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sweetconfidencephotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeslie-lunceford-66640915b/
