It’s a trend that’s on the rise, and when we started to think about it, the only way to get a real appreciation for modern boudoir photography was a trip to the front of the camera. When the opportunity came up, our stunning Wedding Show Coordinator and current bride-in-residence, Stephanie Gareri, volunteered to go the front lines, as it were, for a first-hand experience of what it’s like to strip down and oil up for a private boudoir session with photographer Josée, from Élisir. Stephanie also agreed to be interviewed about the process:

The Wedding Co.: Sooo… how did it go?
Stephanie Gareri: It was awesome, loved the experience.

TWC: What did you anticipate most about the shoot?
SG: I was definitely apprehensive about being totally nude in front of a complete stranger. It’s quite rare we bare all and strut in front of the lens. When I look through my baby albums I rarely had clothes on and loved every minute of it. I was really comfortable before puberty and learning about body image!

TWC: How did you prepare?
SG: As per Josee’s instructions, I lathered my body with cream about three times each day for a week, I also found a great DIY-face mask recipe for the night before so my skin would be glowing and detoxified (1 TBSP of honey and a 1 TBSP of oats). I wish I would have gone and had my nails done.

I find it awkward to be the centre of attention so I coaxed myself into being open to Josée and leaving all my inhibitions at the door. Curiosity also played a role, who doesn’t want to know what they look like naked?

My goal was to embrace the feeling of naked freedom I had as a child while injecting some sexiness and losing my inhibitions to achieve some creative and beautiful pieces of art that both my fiancé and I could enjoy.

TWC: Where did you shoot and for how long?
SG: We shot in her studio where she played soft Billie Holiday and Parisian-inspired music and offered me a glass of champagne to relax at the start. The atmosphere lends to her creativity,it is a soft blue and white with a beautiful big window. I was in her creative space for two hours, it would have been longer if I had my hair and makeup done there.

TWC: What was the process of the shoot?
SG: We started off slow – in my tank and undies. Josée worked to get me comfortable in front of the camera for the first few shots and before I knew it, I was completely “nu” and prancing around listening to her direction.

TWC: Was there something you learned about yourself in the process?
SG: I definitely surprised myself by getting comfortable a lot sooner than I thought I would. I learned that I am more comfortable exposing my breasts than my behind!

TWC: When it was over, were you excited to see the photos?
SG: The anticipation to see the photos kept me up that night. Josée showed me a couple during the shoot which totally took me by surprise. I think it was a good technique on her part to give me a peak as once you get a taste of how you look “nu” – I got even more relaxed and let her do her thing.

TWC: Tell me about what happened during the shoot – did you feel like a model? Did it become ‘normal’?
SG: Being “nu” became normal about half way through. I will admit that as comfortable as Josée makes the atmosphere and as beautiful as the photos are, I am not 100% in love with the idea of showing the “frontal” region.

She shoots a lot of pregnant women which has given her an interesting perspective of the movement of the female body. Her direction was easy to follow and she gets you in comfortable positions that really accentuate a woman’s best features.

TWC: Any final thoughts on the experience in the studio?
SG: Josée markets the experience as a gift for a groom, but I truly believe this is a wonderful gift any woman daring to bare all would enjoy. It is an empowering and enlightening experience.  It is rare to non-existent that we ever expose ourselves completely in front of the camera. I like her style and the emphasis she places on natural beauty. She encouraged me to bring props and items of clothing, etc. that I would like to incorporate but said no blacks or fishnets! She achieves pure sexiness and allure by using light, pale colours and minimalism. She promotes the idea that sexiness is derived from inner beauty.

The experience is a truly intimate perspective of the skin we live every day in; it may be a cliché, but our body is a work of art and documenting this freedom, this moment and the natural beauty of the body is decadent.

TWC: Now that you’ve seen the photos, what do you think?
SG: I am completely blown away! All I can say is WOW! WOW! WOW! It is a surreal moment when you look at the slideshow and realize “Hey, that’s me!” I cannot say there is one photo I do not love. There are a couple that expose a little more than I anticipated that I would rather do without but I can cut those out. I absolutely love how she captured my natural beauty – I am truly astonished at the results and they are beyond my expectations. I plan on creating a book with Josée which I can share with Scott and cherish myself. This experience and the photos are something I will enjoy for a lifetime – it captures a moment of sensuality, excitement and simplicity.

Do I recommend this? Absolutely. Whether you are single, engaged or married – go for it!  It is a decadent, one of a kind experience.

Élisir’s boudoir package ($2000) includes champagne, hair and makeup with a professional stylist, a private portraiture session with Josée and your best poses are bound in a high quality keepsake art-book. Additional prints or canvasses can be ordered. Stephanie’s boudoir shoot was provided free of charge by Josée / Élisir Photography and her makeup (Deana Bassi) and hair were also complimentary and provided by Francesco Fontana (www.studiofontana.ca).