*After her Personal Branding Session we tied in a short Boudoir segment using her partner’s Triumph Motorcycle. Adding a personal touch into your Boudoir Session can make it even more meaningful.*

Some sessions don’t fit into a regular timeline, and they’re not supposed to. What happens when you’re actually given the time to settle into yourself?

This Boudoir and Branding photography session took place in Vernon, BC, and was built entirely around Adrienne’s vision and personal story.

Nothing about this session with Adrienne, professional Numerologist & relationship Coach here in the Okanagan, was rushed or pushed through. That’s part of what turned this session into something much deeper that goes beyond photography. We talk about this on her Podcast Soul Codes & Cosmic Alignments.

A Session Built Around Her Vision
Blending Branding and Boudoir in a Way That Felt Right
Guided, Not Directed
Branding Into Something More Personally Expressive
The Reveal and When You See Yourself Differently
Taking Time to Come Back to It
Why This Process Matters
If You Have Been Thinking About This

Listen to the Podcast

Get In Touch With Adrienne

A Session Built Around Her Vision.

Adrienne came to me because she was looking for something specific. She wanted an interesting combination of work — Personal Branding Photography to highlight her growing business as a Numerologist and Relationship Coach, and Boudoir Photography using her new love’s motorcycle as a way to feel empowered for herself while also being able to give him something she knew he would love.

She wanted something earthy, spiritually significant to align with her and her brand, and something a little spicy to add into the end.

Adrienne would have a knowing little chuckle with you because she knows in my Numerology that I have the Arrow of the Planner, and plan we did!

In her podcast you can listen to her talk about this — Initially wondering why I wanted to know the details right down to what her jewelry was like. She then relates to experience with other photographers and missing that aspect of planning and discussing the vision prior to the session.

This is how I approach every boudoir session and branding session in the Okanagan, creating something that reflects who you are, not a template.

Blending Boudoir and Branding in a Way that Felt Right.

It’s not every day that someone calls me wanting both boudoir and branding, so I was excited to blend the two genres together.

Adrienne wanted her branding to include some portraits of her to use across her website and social media for marketing content so they had to remain within those boundaries.

What is interesting about her though, is her work is rooted in energy and anchoring into her divine feminine was an important direction the vision was to take.

We began solidly with branding portraits which incorporated details like her customized cards, specific tools used for grounding and the beautiful symbolism and meaning in all of the jewelry pieces she picked out.

We moved through the session as we both got into our flow together into more strong and feminine images through outfit changes and guidance.

Boudoir photography doesn’t have to feel separate from the rest of your story. It can be a natural extension of it.

Guided, Not Directed

There is a difference between guiding someone through something and directing them. As a guide I am constantly checking in and watching my clients. Its important to know when to offer breaks, take a sip of water, and even just stand around for a minute to breathe.

Guiding her through the session looked like knowing when to move on to a new area, checking in “are you comfortable to climb onto that?,” and saying things like “oh yes i love what you just did there!",” and “let’s soften the shoulder down just a bit and bring your face up to the sun.”

People tend to relax around me and the more time we spend together the easier it becomes. This is why I love to take my time out on a session because eventually people put themselves into positions that are more natural and comfortable.

Adrienne trusted me, and together we worked, and I guided her through the process and never left her wondering why she was doing something or what to do next. The process between us became very natural.

This resulted in images she was connected to that felt like her.

***Are you comfortable to climb onto that?***

Letting the Session Evolve

Drawing towards the end of our branding session it was time to get out that motorcycle and pivot into Boudoir vibes. We only loosely planned where this would take place and Adrienne was ready to trust me when I said, “let’s shoot with the motorcycle in my driveway.” I live in a rural area after all.

She changed into her stunning bodysuit and came prepared with riding boots and a really awesome robe to use.

We began to work with the bike and I tried her out a few different ways and we moved the bike around until we got it just right.

And, Adrienne lit up.

I could see it in her, and could tell how much she was glowing. The motorcycle was her partner’s and we talked about it in our planning session. I knew that bike was important to him, and of course, he rode it to our location that day.

I loved that he was there with her to support her during this moment. I think that made it more special.

There were a few moments that I chose to capture them during that session, outside of the plan. Part of a session like this is to be ready to pivot and see what’s really going on.

***I could see how much she was glowing.***

The Reveal and When You See Yourself Differently

There was something different with Adrienne than what i typically see during my sessions — she was not nervous to actually begin the shooting process and we went through the session very relaxed and with ease and even worked longer than either of us anticipated.

The Reveal Session is where people really take it in. It’s the moment when you’re no longer in the experience of being photographed, and you’re seeing it from the outside. For many, it’s their first time ever seeing themselves this way. This part of the boudoir experience is often overlooked, but it’s one of the most important pieces of creating images that actually feel like you.

This was the moment we had both been working toward — finally seeing the finished images and selecting what would become her final gallery. We sat down together and viewed the entire body of work but something was a bit… quieter than usual.

What I didn’t know until then was how Adrienne suffered with body dysmorphia leaving her to see herself differently than most would. You can listen to us discuss this as well in her podcast. Now, I have to be honest, this was a new experience for me during a session reveal! What happened next was very important:

I listened to her and did not push her to choose, holding space for her to express herself.

It’s so important to hold this kind of space for others to process and feel their true emotions. They were very real feelings for her and even though I could see her as confident and beautiful in her images, what I felt in that moment was very different to her experience in that moment.

I listened to her and took notes of my own to retouch particular images later on to help ease her mind. She did not make any decisions that day, which was a first for me.

Taking Time to Come Back to it, And What Happens When You’re Ready

The solution for this was to meet again in a few days to try again. This is something I offer to all of my clients across Vernon and the Okanagan if they need more time to sit with their images.

I drove out to her house and we set up after a little chat to look through the gallery again. She started to talk about which ones she liked and why, and asked me my favourites. I sat with her as she took it all in for the second time and let her come to her feelings and decisions in her own time without the need to hurry.

Our chats this time around were more affirming and she had been able to take the time to process the hard things that came up during the first reveal. Her lovely partner was present for the whole shoot too and I imagine he reassured her just how stunning she in and was in those moments!

In the end this was the best decision — Adrienne ended up keeping her entire gallery (and she loves them to this day!).

I really loved this for her too because she did a very hard thing. She overcame something and saw herself in a way that felt different. We all have a voice in our heads, and it’s the voice that tells you that “you can’t” or you’re “not good enough.” Women have this outrageous ability to pick themselves to shreds, myself included (it took me DECADES to become okay with the fact that I just genetically have several chins whenever I smile, laugh, or speak).

Why This Process Matters

I think Adrienne felt empowered during the shoot but this moment of overcoming that really big hurdle was a crucial part of the experience. She rewired her pattern and found acceptance and love for herself. That was her stepping into that Divine Feminine energy she wanted to channel into the session from the get-go!

These images she will have forever are now hanging on the wall in her home to remind her of this every single day. She sees them and knows she is beautiful, and that she can also overcome hard moments however they may manifest.

If You Have Been Thinking About This

If you have been thinking about booking a boudoir or branding photography session in Vernon, Kelowna, or the Okanagan, this is what the experience could look like.

You don’t have to rush to have everything figured out. A conversation is the perfect place to start.

Get in Touch Today