Liana in Milan | Destination Editorial Boudoir

SHOOTING IN MILAN WITH A LATVIAN BOMBSHELL.

Ohhhh it sounds so glamorous, doesn’t it!? I’m not going to pretend like it wasn’t.

While in Milan, I was booked for a shoot with a fantastic photographer, Liana from Latvia, who had followed my work for years and had to take advantage of me being way closer to her than a Latvia > United States trip would be. She booked a little getaway to Milan for herself and her husband, and we had an absolutely incredible shoot.

Listening to Liana tell me why she selected me to photograph her, gave me a reaffirming grasp for what my work says about the women featured in it. She told me that she didn’t want some distorted view of herself, or an overly glamorous one. She loved my black and white work, and that the women weren’t overly retouched. She loved the editorial/fashion style of my work and was so enthusiastic about the entire process. So we rocked out ALL those different facets and created magic together.

We laughed a TON, flowed like crazy, took what felt like 3 million images, ran way over on time, and shot until the sun would no longer let us. Then we hit the hotel bar for a little libation and a chat between now-friends as I was in NO hurry whatsoever to navigate my navigationally-challenged self back to my house .

"I knew it would be an amazing experience, but it actually far exceeded that. The easiness of feeling completely free in your bare skin- it is life changing! And then, when the images do come in and you get to see all your badassness - well, not many things in life can make you feel like that."

"The good old term “self love” has gotten materialized. Subtle and not so subtle changes in all levels of self awareness, which was not the goal, however turned out to be a major bonus. The best money ever spent (way above shoes and bags and other feminine treats 😁)!"

"It all came together in a best possible way." -Liana

I ADORE my studio, I do. I love it love it love it. I know every nook and cranny, I can photograph a woman there in 3 zillion ways, and because I know all of those ways so well, I can do it in record time. But there’s something to be said about a shoot in a new place. New inspiration, new light, new shapes, new lines, new shadows. It’s all the reason why I will ALWAYS opt to schedule “work” any place I travel to, because I ALWAYS adore the outcome so much.

Thank you so very much, Liana, for choosing me, for traveling for me, for trusting me, for laughing with me and not at me when I made a fool of myself (how many times did I fall???), and for allowing me to share your images and your experience with the world.

Until next time!

ALL SMILES | CLIENT FEATURE MISS A | AUSTIN BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER

The literal SECOND that Miss A walked into my studio, her energy was 100000% apparent to me. She sported the most incredible smile throughout our entire shoot. Anytime we attempted a "serious" shot, it only resulted in a subsequent shot that was exuberant with laughter.  She was DAMN excited for her session, damn excited about her badass finger waves that she got special for the occasion, and she had a great reason to be doing it all (for.her.DAMN.self!).

Just TRY to scroll through these images without a big smile on your face.  I dare you. What an incredibly beautiful soul. 

“It was AMAZING! Kara and her staff went above and beyond and I would most definitely do it again.”

— Miss A

“It made me feel even more comfortable in the skin that I’m in. I LOVED it, keep doing what you’re gifted to do!”

— Miss A

Miss A!!! A MILLION "THANKS" for bringing your positive energy into my studio that day, and leaving me with these incredibly happy ages to remember you by!! You are a FORCE and I hope to see you again in the future!

Kara Marie Boudoir | PUBLISHED | Zero is a Size.

I am pretty much the worst at keeping amazing things under wraps. So when I found out that, #1-I was getting a big spread in PHILOSOPHIE magazine and #2- The images and story I used weren't allowed to be shared until the magazine was published, a little piece of me died. 

And then every time I was scrolling through my "to blog" images and saw the ones that I used for the article and knew I couldn't share them, I died again. 

Carly. 

This woman...I call her my "serial shooter". And I mean that in the best way possible. She has booked me...geez...I don't know...a dozen times or so? She truly values the photographic experience and we get new and exciting stuff each and every time we shoot. 

Our last shoot was on my last trip to my hometown earlier this year. We have ongoing conversation about society's harsh judgements against just about every body type. If you're too large, you're fat and disgusting and need to stop eating. If you're too thin, you're anorexic and disgusting and need to eat a cheeseburger. It's absurd. 

To add to that slap in the face, "skinny" women aren't "allowed" to have insecurities. If they express any sort of dissatisfaction with their bodies in any way, they are met with harsh criticisms and eye rolls. 

I've noticed an ongoing trend amongst my clients...they come to me, tails between their legs, and say things like "I don't have ANY curves. Can you still make me look sexy?!". Uhh. yes. 

It makes me so sad to know that so many women are ashamed of their figures because of body shamers or what society expresses to be acceptable. 

I feel very passionately about how society condemns those size zeroes. And I know Carly does, too, as she has to live it every single day. 

Carly wearing a crystal ensemble...that she MADE!

SO I wrote an article about it. And used some of Carly's testimony. And threw in some amazing (if I do say so myself. TOOT TOOT!) images of her from our past few shoots. And it was selected and published in Philosophie Magazine. An EIGHT PAGE SPREAD, might I add! 

This magazine has come a long way from it's first few publications. I was so pleasantly surprised with not only the outstanding design work, but the phenomenal quality of the content. It's been an amazing ride watching the boudoir industry elevate year after year. 

I'm truly grateful to have been included amongst some of my favorite industry photographers in this issue, and to help spread the word that skinny shaming is no more appropriate than fat shaming is. 

ZERO IS A SIZE. 

xo

To purchase the digital or print version of PHILOSOPHIE magazine, click HERE.

Subject: Carly Gillis

Makeup: Lindsey Allen

Photographer + Author: Kara Trombetta