Is Boudoir on your Bucket List? ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir ::: Orange County Boudoir

Bucket lists. Most of us have them. Some of us want to travel to exotic places (well, ok, maybe after CV19), others want to something adventurous like skydive or bungee jump, some want to get married, have kids or adopt. But have you considered boudoir for your list? Boudoir is simply celebrating your life, no matter what stage you are in it. It’s something that will help you live your ideal life, right here, right now. It’s about living. And if these last few months have been anything for us, it’s a reminder that this life is WORTH LIVING and living well. It can push your boundaries and give you a sense of accomplishment like nothing else can.

Contact us today if you are ready to celebrate the most incredible person ever - YOU.

Boudoir is for all ages ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir ::: Orange County Boudoir

A common objection I hear from women over 40 about having a boudoir session done is their age. I think women remember themselves when they were younger and feel like a boudoir session is something that should have been done in their 20’s or 30’s thus buying into the myth that boudoir is only for younger women. Pshhh. I beg to differ… Age doesn’t matter when it comes to beauty.

Sure, we might not look or feel like we did in our 20’s, but guess what? We have had time to know our bodies (yep, I’m lumping myself in this, too). We already know how to look great and how to feel sexy. A boudoir session is just a way to bring that confidence back out into the spotlight!

Whether you’re looking to celebrate a milestone birthday or spice up an anniversary or birthday, boudoir is the perfect way to bring that confidence out.

This gorgeous gal, while needing to remain anonymous because of her job, is a stunner who is in her 60’s. She came and she conquered it!

“Getting old is a privilege, an art, a gift. Accumulating gray hairs, pulling the pages off of the calendar, and celebrating birthdays should always be a reason for happiness. Happiness for life and everything it means to be here.”

Are we the studio for you? ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir ::: Orange County Boudoir

If deep, meaningful conversations scare you … we might not be the studio for you. We go above and beyond to get to know you. You are so much more than just a client to us. We want you to feel valued here - that’s more than just showing someone you care. We want you to feel heard, to be seen, to feel known. We choose to go deeper with our clients because we see you as friends. We trudge through any assumptions, tensions, expectations, or awkwardness you have coming in to help us get to know you better and for you to get to know us better. You’re never gonna hear us brag about the hundreds of clients we see in a year because we don’t shoot hundreds of clients a year. We average about 6-8 clients a month. This helps us remember the details about you - the stories you choose to share with us. We’re not a churn and burn business and never will be. And we’re damn proud of that!

The Grass Is Already Green Under Your Feet ::: Orange County Boudoir ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir

Isn’t it silly that we’re like people who look across a river to admire the view, but we’re oblivious to the ones on the other side looking back at us through their own binoculars? Look under your own feet, friends. The grass is already green - no matter what season of life you’re in.
It’s about changing your perspective. A true perspective allows us to see a view from many angles. One with a better understanding, self-awareness, and gratitude.

So excited to finally share these images :)

Your Experience with Grace and Lace Boudoir ::: Orange County Boudoir

Many women are intrigued by the idea of having a boudoir photo shoot but have no real sense of what the experience is actually like. The first step (and hardest, for some) is to reach out to us. We don’t hide anything - from the very first email, we share some details about ourselves and send information over to you to help you decide if we are a good fit for you. Wanna chat on the phone? No problem. Want a pre-shoot consult to ease your nerves? Let’s set up a skype call.

Hair & Makeup

We will be playing your favorite music (answered on your questionnaire) when you walk in to help set the mood you want. We’ll start with hair & makeup. This is where you get to relax, drink some champagne, and chit chat so that we can get to really know you. If you’re not a big talker, that’s fine - I’ll do the talking ;) We’ll also go over all of your outfits and narrow them down, if need be.

Creating Stunning Images

It’s ok to have nerves … heck, even I do when I’m photographed. If you still have them when we start shooting, you’ll be over them quickly, I promise. We'll start with the most comfortable clothing and simple poses. The shooting part of the session is roughly an hour and a half in length so be prepared to tighten your stomach, arch your back, and just have fun and laugh! I will give you super easy-to-follow posing directions so no prior experience in front of the camera is needed. I promise that you will love the experience just as much as you love the photos! I’m such an awkward dork (and comfortable in my skin knowing that) that you won’t even have time to be self-conscious about yourself.

Your Reveal Session

This is my favorite part. Some (or most) women are more nervous to view their images. This is where you might wonder if I was able to capture any images you would like of yourself. I’ve proven so many women wrong - hence, why it’s my favorite part! At your personal viewing & ordering session, we will go through your edited photographs together and decide which products you are interested in purchasing! This will take place approximately 1 week after your session. We'll start with a slideshow where a handful of your images will be viewed set to music.

Products are delivered 2-4 weeks after the final payment is made.


What Do I Wear For My Boudoir Session?? ::: Orange County Boudoir ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir

Our favorite question is "what do I wear for my shoot?" The answer to this depends on the mood you are trying to convey - some clients like to bare it all and some are more conservative. Think about the mood you want for your session - are you looking to spice it up or are you looking to keep it playfully seductive? Maybe you want both? The key is finding lingerie that fits your style and that is a good fit to show off your beautiful shape!

Don't worry about bringing in too many options, we will help you narrow down your wardrobe choices while you're sitting in hair & makeup. We select up to 4 different outfits and choose shoes, jewelry, and any props you brought.

Ideas for wardrobe:

  1. Corsets, stockings, and heels are great for shaping and accentuating the body and breast.

  2. Cut Off tank tops and crop tops are great for showing a toned midsection and can help give an "edgier" look

  3. Garter belts and stockings are perfect to make any outfit a little bit sexier. Don’t worry about knowing how to fasten them, we’ll help you if you need it!

  4. Bra and panty sets are classic. Choose a softer cup with a color that is flattering to your skin tone. Push up bras can gap if you're laying down or it's not sized correctly, so get your bra professionally fitted before your session.

  5. Topless with just panties - High Waist, Cheeky, or Thongs look amazing.

  6. A man's dress shirt can be sexy, but if you find it is too big for you, find one that is closer to your size.

  7. Long necklaces with jeans or cut off shorts

  8. Bodysuits and teddies are designed to look much like a one-piece swimsuit and therefore will cover your midsection. The amount of coverage provided by a teddy can vary from thong to brief, sheer to opaque, triangle to underwire. A teddy with underwire will help if you're looking for a little lift for the girls but also want to minimize your tummy area.

  9. Waist cinchers/pasties/harness bras/fishnet tights are all great if you are looking to have a spicier session.

  10. A white sheet (we'll provide that!) Less is more and it's also one less thing you have to think about bringing.

  11. If you and/or your significant other are sports fans, bring in a jersey. Jerseys that are made for women are much more flattering.

  12. A cardigan/sweater is great if you are going for a fall/winter cozy look.

  13. A tank top and panties will give a much more casual, relaxed vibe.

  14. Consider going fully nude -this may sound intimidating but sometimes this is where you'll learn to love yourself completely.

  15. Don’t forget to bring some killer high heels! Nude heels can go with many outfit choices. Black heels are a MUST. However, anything strappy, studded or with bling is great. The higher the better. Try to stay away from platform and wedges for your shoot - they can shorten the look of your legs.

  16. Baby Dolls are NOT recommended as they tend to hide your figure and make you look boxy. They don't photograph as well as they look in person, unfortunately.

  17. Confidence and a smile.

A list of our fave places to shop:

Yandy www.yandy.com

Hips & Curves www.hipsandcurves.com

Forever 21 www.forever21.com

H&M www.hm.com

Adore Me www.adoreme.com

Journelle www.journelle.com

Victoria's Secret www.victoriassecret.com

True & Co www.trueandco.com

Naja www.naja.co

Honey Birdette www.honeybirdette.com

Anonymous Bridal Boudoir ::: Orange County Boudoir ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir

Come take a peek into this stunning, anonymous bridal boudoir. Just because it is a gift for your wedding day, definitely doesn’t mean it has to be all white or with your vail. By all means, if that’s what you want to do, let’s do it … it just doesn’t HAVE to be. You could do blue like this stunner below. And nude. ;)

Whatever you end up deciding, let it be something you’ll be thrilled about later on, too.

Want to know what it's like in front of the lens? ::: Orange County Boudoir ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like in front of my lens? Let this client share her experience with you... “I am SO glad that I stumbled upon Grace and Lace! I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to do a boudoir shoot for several months, and then I had to find the team I thought I could trust, and that I could afford! If you are on the fence about doing a shoot, or are just trying to decide who to go with, I cannot recommend Grace and Lace enough. I am so camera shy, and am usually the one behind the camera on family trips and such, so I was very nervous and unsure of what to expect. But the experience from start to finish was so perfect. Jeni and Sarah are so professional, but also just super friendly, welcoming, and fun! 
The day of my photo shoot, I was greeted by a welcome sign on the door with my name on it, and we got right to work on hair and makeup. I felt like every second of my time was utilized to the fullest, and that I was kept in the know about the whole process. While doing hair and makeup, Jeni went through the pieces that I'd brought with me to decide what outfits we would shoot, and the whole time we were talking and getting to know more about each other. I LOVED this, because it felt like I was building a friendship and a trust that made the whole day feel so easy and comfortable. Jeni is a PHENOMENAL photographer, and coach. She obviously knows her stuff, isn't afraid of the silly and awkward, and her work is absolutely stunning. I am not sure what I expected my photos to look like, but let me tell you, they are so much more than I ever could have hoped for. I loved that I was able to view my photos in an online viewing that Jeni walked me through, since I'm not a Huntington Beach local, so she saved me the drive! She is so great at walking through the whole process of selecting the perfect photos (which trust me, is SO HARD! They're all amazing!) and she never made me feel pressured to buy more than I said I wanted or could afford. 
Long story short, if you haven't already, book with Grace and Lace. I'm already trying to find an excuse to book again!”

Model Releases ::: Orange County Boudoir ::: Grace and Lace Boudoir

Hi Friends!! I just wanted to go over model releases with you guys real quick … so there is absolutely no confusion when it comes to YOUR boudoir session. We NEVER work with paid models. Each and every one of our clients are paying clients. We never want anybody to feel obligated to share their photos, if you would rather they remain private, we completely understand. After all, this is a very intimate and private type of photography we are talking about here. Many of our clients feel so confidently about their photos that they are excited to share them - whether it’s a full release or a partial release. Here are the differences with the different options:

FULL RELEASE

Please share my images online on any platform. This option is for those clients that are excited to show their images to the world! This option allows us to share it on our Grace and Lace Boudoir Facebook page, our private group, Instagram, and Pinterest. They will be used in advertising, marketing and any other place where our images are featured! 

PARTIAL RELEASE

There are different variations for this on our release. You can choose to just have anonymous images shown or be specific about where you would like for it to be shown (i.e. just our FB group or just our website)

NO RELEASE

This is what you would check if you do not want ANY of your images online, print, etc. You want them to remain 100% private.

We completely understand that boudoir photography is very personal and we respect your privacy. We will never share your images online or in print without your written permission with this image release, so rest assured. We never pressure you either way. Some women are excited to share all of them and some may not want to due to their comfort level, or job, etc.