Last week we posted a series of fine art nude photos from Real Woman of Revealed, Sherhara’s early morning shoot along Lake Michigan. This week, we’re featuring her again along with her second set of images from the morning.
Finding Confidence Within
Sherhara is a great example of a Real Woman of Revealed because her confidence comes from much more than her outward beauty. She is a motivational speaker, host, and philanthropist–helping individuals and brands recognize and communicate their message. Her success in this work comes from her own ability to be truthful with herself. When asked about this work, she said, “be honest with yourself, about who you are… your flaws, vices, weaknesses, challenges, imperfections, and mess ups. It’s easy to be honest about your strengths and positive attributes, but you’ll liberate yourself by having the courage to be your full self–flaws and all.”
We did a post-shoot interview with Sherhara to find out what it was like to strip down for the camera, and much more.
1. Describe the day of shoot in your own words:
The shoot was peaceful! Yet I knew something awesome was happening. I felt valued from the beginning to the end. Time went by quickly, but it’s probably because I felt I was being catered to. Without the photos I felt beautiful.
2. What do you attribute to your confidence in not only modeling for these images but also sharing them?
Everyone has titties!! I’m not showing anything that someone hasn’t gotten up in the morning and seen for themselves! Whether those boobs are someone else’s or their own. I’m not bashful about my body because everyone has one, just a different one. And the only way people can get over the taboo of being naked is to be naked. Who makes it a big deal? It’s not, if you don’t.
3. What inspired you to do this shoot?
My husband inspire me to do the shoot! He already wanted me to do some type of sexy photo shoot and it was perfect timing when I met the lovely ladies of Revealed!
4. How did you feel during and after?
I felt confident before the shoot and I felt accomplished afterwards. I was proud that I did something few have the courage to do. It’s great to know I knocked something off of my bucket list (even though it wasn’t on the list to begin with! Lol)
5. Any significance in your tattoos?
My tattoos are a symbol of a moment in time. I can reflect on each one and it takes me back to where I was in life. A photo album on my body instead of on my coffee table.
6. Can you talk about your dance/movement background?
I haven’t practiced dance in forever! It’s been enough time for me to say, “I’m a former dancer.” But movement comes naturally for me and the photo shoot is where I could use it again.
7. What advice do you have for our audience?
I ask that everyone challenge themselves to step outside of their comfort zone. Do something as least weekly that you wouldn’t normally have done! Surprise yourself with your own courage!
8.What lesson have you learned in your adult life that you value most?
Be honest with yourself about who you are i.e. your flaws, vices, weaknesses, challenges, imperfections, and mess ups. It’s easy to be honest about your strengths and positive attributes, but you’ll liberate yourself by having the courage to be your full self, flaws and all!
9. What advice to you have for other clients struggling with image confidence?
So many people have left this earth without truly loving and embracing themselves. Don’t be that person that dies without ever loving yourself. You have a body that’s a vessel for your life! To celebrate that vessel is to celebrate life!
With all our lovely clients, we start things off with a phone consultation to chat through a boudoir session. Not only does this call serve to talk through what a session entails, but it also is the first step to feeling comfortable. It can be unnerving to walk into any situation without having spoken with someone on the other end–especially boudoir. This gives our clients a chance to hear our voices and know we’re all about making people feel comfortable.
One thing we learned while talking with cutiepie, Ms. L, was that she expected to like only three or four pictures from her session. “Three or four pictures?!” we thought, “we have a feeling you’re going to be surprised.” Sure, we hadn’t met her yet, but we make it our studio mission to help each client see the best in themselves by capturing it on camera.
When it came time for her to view the take of images, instead of only liking three or four pictures, the opposite happened. She loved nearly all of them!
She was blown away. She said she never liked pictures of herself and didn’t feel photogenic. She couldn’t believe it was her in the photos.
It’s the best feeling to exceed clients expectations. When they’re happy like Ms. L, it means we’ve done it, we nailed our goal of helping them to relax and trust us. When we can come from a place of confidence and acceptance–that’s when the magic happens.
“Thank you again for an awesome experience, I wish I could do it again!!! –From Ms. L post shoot.
Chicago portrait photography with GlowOut Chicago (previously Golden Girl)
We are ultra excited to celebrate another female owned business, Golden Girl Chicago, started by the lovely Jenn Dies in 2007. This salon brings a natural golden tan to the ladies of Chicago, without the harmful damage of the sun’s rays. We’re not only in love with their services, which include much more than sunless tanning, but also their shared commitment to treat every client like a million bucks! It’s a vendor match made in heaven!
We’re happy to announce Golden Girl Chicago is a preferred partner of Revealed Studios. Mention us when calling to book your appointment for a sweet treat for your first visit! For those out there looking for a natural, sun-kissed skin before their shoot, skip the tanning beds and call these gals. You’ll leave looking and feeling fabulous!
These girls are not only gorgeous, they’re also super talented! They all have a skill they specialize in at the Salon–custom spray tanning, hair, makeup, and a variety of other services.
Quite often, Laurie and I have clients say to us, “I’m so awkward on camera!” To them we answer, “that’s totally normal!” We are real women, our clients are real women, not professional models. Laurie and I have totally been there. In fact, we pose for each other often enough to remember what it feels like to be on that side of the camera. We want to connect and relate to our clients, and know the right tips to help bring about a natural unfolding. Like pie crust, it takes a certain touch to create a sense of complete confidence and comfort on camera. Eventually there is a change that happens, when tension is released and a spirit shines through.
We have 10 tips that help our clients look their best on camera, and we want to share them with you. These tips don’t just apply during a professional photo shoot, they’re get guidelines for selfies or party pics during a night out with your girlfriends. Each day we’ll release a new tip on our twitter and facebook page. Follow us to have special, daily access to these tips, before we release the full list, right here on our blog, in two weeks.
So back to Tip #1: Breathe through your mouth
So we all have vicemouth syndrome. Our lips are press together so firmly, there’s no way a single sliver of air can escape. It happens when were nervous, stressed, or focused. We want to hold in our stress, swallow it down, so it doesn’t overcome us. Just as every yoga instructor would tell you, breathing helps release that tension.
At the start of each session, this is one of the first tips we share. breathe through your mouth. The whole time. Not only will it naturally help you relax, but it looks great on camera by curing vicemouth syndrome. Suddenly your mouth is free to smile, tease, pucker. Try it out! Let us know if it works for you. Here are a few examples from our shoots showing, beautiful, relaxed lips.
Earlier this week we featured boudoir photos of Jaycee Gossett from her modeling portfolio session. During that same shoot, we set up the studio lights and let Jaycee’s million dollar smile shine!
For Jaycee, her past modeling, dance, and teaching experience help her feel confident on camera. But even she asked for a little Beyonce to help loosen her up.
If you’re feeling nervous, music helps to relax and even bring you out of your shell. We love when clients tell us their favorite artist — our musical inspirations can instantly change our energy. And even if you need a little extra boost, just make like Beyonce and adopt an alter ego. We all have a little Sasha Fierce in us.
As a special surprise for her husband-to-be, Ms. J signed up for a boudoir session last month. The morning was full of shared words about her lovely husband to be, and the details on their Chicago nuptials this summer. We loved working with Ms. J! It felt like we were photographing an old friend! After her album arrived in the mail, we received this review of her boudoir experience.
Ms. J shares her thoughts on the experience
“My experience with Revealed Studios is one I will never forget! I decided to take boudoir photos as a wedding gift for my future husband. I knew he would love it and be very surprised! I searched to find the perfect photographers to make the experience enjoyable and to make sure I got beautiful photos we would both love forever! I definitely found two awesome ladies! Laurie is the photographer for my wedding and I already knew she was an amazing photographer and after working with Maggie, I found out how much they complement one another! They are not afraid to be goofy to help you relax in photos and at the same time very sweet and encouraging throughout the process.
Getting Ready:
They organized a wonderful hair stylist/makeup artist to make me look fabulous and gain the confidence I needed for the photo shoot! Jen was great and I absolutely LOVED my hair and makeup. Maggie and Laurie were cheering me on as I got more and more beauti-fied!
Outfits:
They were so patient with me as I brought a bag full of items including lingerie, heels, a pile of necklaces, etc. They helped me pick out the best outfits as I was a bit confused on which ones to wear. They knew which ones would look awesome and so I got dressed…
The Shoot:
Oh man, was I new at this whole thing. They were so sweet, encouraging and helpful the entire shoot. They helped pose me in the most flattering poses without making me feel silly! I felt so beautiful the entire shoot. Changing into different outfits was so much fun and brought out a new attitude with each one. There were definitely moments to laugh at and they of course laughed along with me which helped me relax. They showed me a couple of photos right off the bat so I could see how wonderful they were going to be!
The Book:
The album I received is stunning! The layout is beautiful and so are the photos! They turned out awesome! A wonderful mix between sultry, romantic, and playful (some of my favorites)!
Thank you Laurie & Maggie for helping me to feel like a strong beautiful woman right before I walk down the aisle to spend the rest of my life with my husband. I knew he would love it as a wedding present but I wasn’t expecting to love the experience so much myself!”
One of our go-to makeup artists is not only talented making our client’s camera ready, but she also can work it behind the camera! We love Jen’s red hair (not a surprise, she’s Laurie’s doppelganger!) and stunning blue eyes. She’s a retro throwback, channeling vintage chic in this glamour shoot. She even brought pieces from her travels to Paris and her grandmother’s white, leather gloves! These accessories paired with her loose curls and lipstick choices made our hearts go pitter patter.
Thank you Jen for all your amazing work both on and off camera! http://www.jenniferleejohnson.com/