We know that signing up for an XO experience can feel intimidating at first, so we’ve written out answers to our most asked questions. The more you know, the more prepared and relaxed you will feel on the day of your session. We hope these help!
When we throw out whatever unattainable ideal we have for our body, we can TRUELY embrace and HONOR our GLORIOUS, living, breathing, remarkable selves.
Yes, we will UNDOUBTEDLY create AMAZING photographs of you, and more than that, your photography session will be a PLEASURE all it’s own. We promise you will HAVE FUN and be guided throughout the entire process.
“If I could give you one thing in life, it would be the ability to see yourself through my eyes, then you would realize how special you are.”
What is a Body Beauty Boudoir session and why should I do one?
At PINTO PORTRAIT XO we believe in UNIQUE EXPRESSIONS of UNIVERSAL BEAUTY. We all have INCREDIBLE stories of who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Our bodies have been with us every step of the way and deserve to be CELEBRATED!
One way to tell that story, or even find that story, is through an XO session. Body Beauty Boudoir sessions are designed to be an intimate experience between you and your body. The images you’ll leave with are meant to capture an empowering emotion, a loving connection, and an absolute appreciation for your body. The images can be in any level of undress, however you feel comfortable- in jeans and a long-sleeve tee, or stripped down to your birthday suit!
We define our XO experience as a Body Beauty Boudoir session. Each session can be a combination of these three, or focused more on one area that you feel is right for you. Each session is custom designed to fit the individual.
For BEAUTY, think timeless and defining. A touchstone portrait that you revel in because it reveals your true self.
With BODY, you can celebrate your form with nude or implied nude body scapes. Or, show your dance moves, yoga poses or fitness. We’ll get the angles that show off your hard work!
BOUDOIR usually involves lingerie or a certain level of undress. These embrace sensuality and femininity in a self-possessed way. Raw, real and candid looking - you are guided the entire session.
A friend of mine, Jacky, came in for an XO session. She emailed me right after the session and her testimonial BLEW ME AWAY! Jacky’s Story revealed her concerns about boudoir, the transformation she felt, and the personal growth she gained from her experience. She encourages anyone who’s curious to give it a try!
If you’re unsure about what to expect, or if boudoir is for you, read Jacky’s story. She is a great example of why we do what we do :)
I really want to do a Body Beauty Boudoir session, but I’m no model… Can I do this?
Yes, you absolutely can! The women I work with are everyday women, just like you and me. You don’t have to have any practice or experience, just an open mind and ready to be brave attitude! You don’t need to ‘know how’ to pose at all, I will guide you every step of the way.
Look, as women, we ALL have things about our bodies that we wish we could change, I get it. I promise you, when you see your gallery of images, you may see yourself a little differently. ( :
At Pinto Portrait XO, we believe that our bodies tell a story. Every mark, scar, stretch mark, and wrinkle has a part in that story and we love it all! That being said, I’m a skilled photographer that knows how to pose women to the most flattering position for their unique bodies. We’ll go over your likes and dislikes before I even pull out my camera. I want you to be totally comfortable in the studio. Rest assured that by the end of the session, you will have an entire gallery of images that obviously look great, but also that make you FEEL stunning!
Hannah has written a few blogs about how we view, appreciate, and love our bodies… we encourage you to give them a read. Click on the titles to read Our Bodies Ourselves, or It’s All Perfect.
What do I need to bring? How do I come prepared?
Hannah’s answer:
I think this is the MOST commonly asked question. I know that for me, if I don’t know exactly what to bring, exactly where to go, and know exactly who I’m working with, then my anxiety goes through the roof! The last thing we want is for you to feel any added anxiety over your session, so once you book a date, we’ll send you a COMPLETE Getting Ready Guide. Our guide will walk you through what outfits to bring, what self-care routines to start and when to start them, and how to prepare for your time with me in hair and makeup!
How much should I plan to spend?
While I understand that money can be an issue, I want you to remember that you’re paying for not only your images, but for the experience and all the wonderful feelings of empowerment that come from a Body Beauty Boudoir session. Our session fee to book your date is $295. That deposit holds your spot on the calendar. After that, we offer different packages and a la carte options that start at $500. Most women spend anywhere from $795 (smallest package) up to $2500.
While I shoot a variety of images that will work for any product (wall art, gifts, prints, etc.), my favorite product to shoot for is an album. Because we are photographing a story and an experience, the images I capture work well together. An album allows you to not only leave with a larger collection of images printed on a product, but it also shows the story your images tell. It’s our favorite way to create a collection from your experience.
Where are you located and what’s the parking situation?
Our studio is located in Issaquah’s Historic Gilman Village at:
317 Northwest Gilman Boulevard, Suite 29, Issaquah, WA, 98027.
*Hannah here again!* As establishes in Q3, we know that I get anxious if I don’t know EXACTLY where to go… that includes where to leave my car once I get to where I’m going (I hate street parking haha). Getting to the studio and parking here is super easy. The studio is a cute, one story space above the Flat Iron Grill with signage out front that you can’t miss! There’s plenty of parking behind the village off NW Juniper Street, The lot is only a few feet away from our door on the boardwalk!Traffic in the area can get a little congested around rush hour since we’re right off the 90, so if your session time is early morning, or early evening, plan to add about 10 extra minutes to your drive.
I want to have the Body Beauty Boudoir experience but I’m worried about who will see my images… Will you post them?
I completely understand that for a lot of women, whether boudoir is in or out of their comfort zones, want to keep their images private. Aside from you, me, and Hannah (my hair and makeup artist/assistant), NO ONE will see your images unless you give permission. Obviously, Hannah and I will be there during the shoot (we gotta participate to make it happen ;P), but we also do all of the editing in house. Either Hannah or I will will be the only ones to see and work on your gallery before your viewing session.
Once your gallery is ready, you will be scheduled to come back to the studio for an in-person viewing session. Once you’ve seen your images, you’ll sign a release form either granting us the permission to share your images on our website and social media, or strictly keeping your gallery private. If you have individual images you’d like for us to share, we can go through your gallery one image at a time and choose which images you want us to share and which ones stay private.
We always have amazing image from every session we shoot, and we’d love to be able to share those. The whole goal for us is to capture your story through your images and we are so excited to have women book a session who want to have their story told! If you love your gallery and awesome enough to let us use them, we will never post with your name attached or tag you (unless you want us to, then we will definitely keep you posted!).
Ultimately, it’s 100% your decision who gets to see your images. Period.
You can take 10 years off in photoshop, right?
Technically, yes…but even better is taking it off with attitude! Our philosophy with retouching is to keep it natural…mostly…hey, we’re not totally against technology! We will lightly smooth the skin, and remove anything temporary (bruises and blemishes), but we like to keep the parts of you that are you! That being said, we can cater to your liking, so if you have a scar or tattoo that you want removed, or a specific request with your images, we can edit as much or as little as you like.
When shooting your session, I’m good at knowing which poses will be flattering and help hide any “problem areas” that you may feel you have. If the images are shot well (and they will be, I promise), we won’t need to body morph or “shape” anything differently in photoshop.
I do want to remind you though, that when you book your session, we hope that you have an open mind about your relationship with your body. Whether you’re in love with your body now, or you want this session to help you fall more in love with your body, we want to bring out the best of the best in you! We want to share your story by capturing images that enhance your appreciation for the body that has carried you through life.
We had an AMAZING woman, Kris, come to us for a Body Beauty Boudoir session. Kris and Hannah together wrote an amazing blog, Sexy At Sixty, about her experience and how she feels in her own skin. She embodies the attitude that we hope to see in every one that walks into our studio.
Hannah has also written a few blogs, It’s All Perfect and Our Bodies Ourselves, that talk about loving yourself in your own skin. That can be quite a task in todays digital age. We live in a world where there are so many unrealistic body standards and expectations. These blogs will go in depth with our views at XO on “the perfect body”… or more accurately, the beauty of an imperfect body.
I want to book a Body Beauty Boudoir Session! When and how should I do that?
YAY! We are so excited to hear that! We can’t wait to get started with you! When you feel like you are ready to book your session, you can either call me, email me, or just book a date here on our website! Click here to be directed to the contact page.
As for “when”, whenever you’re ready, we can be ready too! If you want to book right away, we can find a date for you. However, because we want you to have the best possible experience, we recommend booking at least 1 month in advance. That gives you time if you want to order new outfits, get your nails done, etc.
I see you have some LGBTQ+ work on your site. How is XO inclusive to the community?
We want to celebrate the story in YOU, whoever you are or are becoming. Pinto Portrait XO’s Body Beauty Boudoir experience is for anyone who wants to celebrate their body and the life that body has carried them through. Our studio is a safe place.
Boudoir has generally been catered to women, and we do work with women most of the time, and we’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing non-binary and transitioning individuals. Every person that walks into our studio will be treated to their own individual experience in a safe and relaxed environment.
Earlier this year, we worked with an incredible person, Lex. They allowed us to write about their experience and share it with you. Lex’s blog post is all about their XO experience as a non-binary individual.