Jenn talks about her Silk + Salt experience.

My Why

So what made me take the leap to get boudoir pictures done? I have gone through a lot of changes in the last few years. I’ve embraced who I am (both physically and spiritually) and what I am passionate about. I really wanted to take a moment to capture the woman I have become. I also wanted to show the more sensual side of myself that often gets hidden with my busy life of working full-time, being a mom, and adventuring in the outdoors. I felt that capturing this moment would help me to remember all that I went through to get to where I am now. It will also be a physical reminder to stay confident in who I am regardless of what outside influences may tell me.

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Choosing Silk + Salt

I spent a lot of time deciding who I trusted to take these pictures. A few years ago, I had done a more “mild” boudoir shoot that was fun, but also didn’t capture the sensual part of myself I wanted to show this time. I had a friend who had followed Silk + Salt on Instagram. I was drawn to Mat’s style and his ability to capture beauty with every age, body type, and ethnicity. I knew I would be making a bigger investment this time around and felt it would be worth it if I had artwork I could use in the future.

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Initial Meeting

Before booking a photoshoot, Pamela and Mat met with me to go over what to expect. We met up at a coffee shop in SLC since it was middle ground from where I live in Utah County and where their home studio is located in Ogden. Both of them were warm and friendly. I felt comfortable talking with them right away and like I’d made new friends in a short amount of time. They asked me quite a few questions about why I wanted to do a session, what I was looking for in my photos, and why I chose them. Pamela brought examples of the physical products that I would be able to select from after the shoot. (All of them were beautiful and while there I committed to myself to buy artwork from my shoot.) We ended by picking a time for my shoot.

Shopping

A day or two before my shoot I headed out to some stores to pick what I wanted to wear. Luckily for me Pamela had also sent me an amazing lingerie guide of what to wear or not wear for boudoir photos. I followed the guide she sent and ended up picking up some items like a bodysuit that I wouldn’t have even considered without her guide. The guide did not lead me wrong. I was happy with how all the items I purchased turned out. A few of the pieces I bought were really cheap (less than 10 dollars) and then I splurged on a few that cost a bit more from Victoria Secret. Looking back, I was just as happy with my photos of my cheap lingerie as I was my more expensive ones, so my advice is to make sure you get something that fits well and there is no reason to spend an arm and a leg if you don’t want to.

Getting “Dolled” Up

The morning of the shoot I rolled out of bed, put on comfortable clothes, didn’t do my make-up or hair, grabbed something to eat, and drove a couple hours to Ogden. I felt a bit frumpy (from not getting ready) and excited as I made my way up to the studio. I knocked on the door and Pamela let me in. She had a sign welcoming me into the house along with my favorite snacks. I had chosen cheese and crackers and she didn’t disappoint in the options. She also offered me one of many drinks to have while getting ready. I was introduced to EJ, who was my make-up and hair stylist for the day. She asked me what I was looking for and got to work. While doing my make-up and hair they played music I had selected. I was told I had a unique assortment of music (mostly rap and hip-hop) compared to other clients. We talked and laughed while EJ brought out my best features. When she finished, she made sure I was happy with how everything looked. I was delighted to see that she was able to emphasize my best features without making me look like someone else.

The Client Closet

Even though I had chosen lingerie of my own I still looked in the closet that Silk + Salt provides for their clients. I fell in love with a new dragon lingerie set and a lacey robe, so I added them to what I had brought. Pamela helped me mix and match outfits from what I had brought and what I had chosen from their closet. She also helped me get into and get out of a few of the items I wore.

The Shoot

Just like when I met them at the coffee shop, Mat and Pamela put any insecurities I was having at ease instantly. Which, considering how much I was wearing in comparison to how much they were wearing was impressive. Mat let me know he was going to show me how to do poses that would look stupid when he did them, but great when I did them. This remained true the entire shoot and added some humor throughout the experience. I especially laughed when Pamela took a few candid photos of him doing poses for what I can only assume will be future blackmail.

Mat did a great job making sure that we used the time efficiently to capture the vision we had discussed in our initial meeting. (On a side note, taking boudoir photos can feel like a workout with all the different positions you do.) Pamela made sure that lingerie, hair, and make-up remained how it should. She also added and reminded us of some ideas for poses based on what I had wanted. Mat and Pamela complemented each other to make for the perfect experience. I had a great time laughing, talking, and creating beautiful artwork during the shoot. I left feeling more empowered, confident, and hopeful that I could see my images sooner than later.

The Reveal

Luckily for me, Mat was able to get my photos edited in less than two weeks. I met with Pamela for my reveal. She started by showing me a wonderful slideshow of all my pictures that was set to my favorite music. We spent about an hour going through the photos and selecting the images I wanted. I’m pleased to say that I have two beautiful pieces of artwork hanging on my bathroom wall and don’t just have images digitally or hidden in a drawer. Mat’s work is artistic and perfectly captured my sensual side.

Looking Back

Working with Mat and Pamela was an incredible experience. I look forward to working with them again. Mat’s eye for capturing individual beauty is superb. Pamela’s energy made the whole experience feel comfortable and safe. Every time I look at the photos hanging on my wall I’m reminded that I am a strong, beautiful and sensual woman just the way I am.