Diary

Madison came to Voulez Vous for her bridal boudoir photoshoot (doubling as a gift to herself). She was bubbly and confident in front of my lens— making my job oh so fun! Her striking presence shined through in every image. It was a complete delight to photograph the glowing bride-to-be.

While Valentine's Day is a day dedicated to love, it isn't a holiday solely for the lovebirds. The most valuable love you can nurture and celebrate is the love you hold for yourself. Time and time again, we hear that it's not what you wear that makes you sexy, it's how you wear it! It's the confidence you carry. Or more famously, "Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful." — SOPHIA LOREN

2020 was an ugly year in history. I think everyone in the world would agree that is a fair statement. Little did I know that 2021 would be personally worse for me. After a very long, heart wrenching and drawn-out battle, my sweet father passed away July 26th. I spent every single day (sometimes twice a day) from April to July at the hospital caring for and visiting him. I witnessed him in pain, turmoil, and worst of all, I witnessed him lose all dignity. Unfortunately, I will never be capable of erasing this from my mind. I don’t think anyone can ever really appreciate what it’s like to lose a parent until they do. Although I knew it would happen someday, I certainly was not prepared for the heartbreak I endured and continue to do so.

Her contradicting love for lace & flowers vs. leather & fur sheds light on the opposing energies we captured in her photoshoot. While some images are dark, sensual, and moody, others give off a more playful, airy glow...

Boudoir Is A Radicle, Outward Expression of Love.‍ Sometimes photoshoots express a love for others, but they always symbolize an act of deep love for self. When I read Sherri's questionnaire, I got the sense that she didn't see just how brave and confident she truly is. Sherri's story struck me as a tale of resilience and compassion. She was on her own at a young age, built a full life for herself, started her own family, and now supports her children with grace.

I am thrilled to share Alani Taylor's powerful & symbolic photoshoot. This is Alani's third photoshoot with Voulez Vous— and a very special shoot at that. Alani planned this session as a celebration of life and growth. She underwent brain surgery earlier this year and has experienced a deep sense of growth and acceptance over the years that she wished to capture in portraits.The overarching theme for Alani's shoot was finding the joy of maturing and body changes. "I'm now in my 40's and I want to embrace my beauty in it's current state, and to not feel compelled to look like I did in my 20's.""I am delighted with the body, mind, and spirit healing that I have experienced since the surgery. That may very well be on display anyway in my vibe!"

Nicole's journey with Voulez Vous began in 2016 through Lindsey House, an organization dedicated to empowering families on their journey to independence. I was working on a project there, photographing women as they reached important milestones in their journey towards a better life. Nicole was working with the women of Lindsey House and we quickly bonded over a mutual love for helping others rediscover their own light.

More and more often, women come to me simply because they wish to invest in their personal journey to self. That was the case with Caroline; She did this photoshoot as a gift to herself. Caroline's photoshoot is full of deep shadows and striking silhouettes. She described her style as casual yet chic, making for a collection of timelessly elegant portraits.

"There are not many times I can get Mr. dressed up just. for. photographs. He’s shy and reserved and not a fan of attention. However, getting engaged is a big deal and like everyone else we wanted to document the beginning of what would be our marriage story. We loosened up with a bourbon and champagne and then the clicking started, it was so easy. Lana captured our authentic laughter and love, Mark’s stoic nature and my silliness. Neither of us is a big fan of the lovey-dovey photos so Voulez Vous is the obvious choice. No cheesy hand hearts, just beautiful portraits documenting our next chapter. I’ll cherish our best dressed photos for the rest of our life. It’ll be fun to say in 60 years, see Nana and Pop were sexy once too."

Libbie came to Voulez Vous on an especially inspiring journey to self-love. She has lost over 150 pounds and wanted to document her transformation through a healing, celebratory photoshoot experience. The photos we created serve as a true reminder of how far she's come...