JOURNAL
I AM JESSICA RAE
Boudoir session - Fraser Valley
I think when most people think about booking a boudoir session they plan on making it a gift for the special someone, or to celebrate a milestone of some sort. I often tell people to Celebrate Yourself. When S came in this is exactly what she was doing. Our time together was a lot of fun and there was a lot of shared laughs. We captured some beautiful images she will be able to look back on for years to come as a constant reminder of how sensual she is.
When asked what her biggest fear, going into the boudoir session, was her reply made me smile. “That I wouldn’t get any “sexy” photos. And boy, did we not only overcome my fears, but I got photos and an experience I will cherish for a lifetime!!!”
Celebrate Yourself
I think when most people think about booking a boudoir session they plan on making it a gift for the special someone, or to celebrate a milestone of some sort. I often tell people to Celebrate Yourself. When S came in this is exactly what she was doing. Our time together was a lot of fun and there was a lot of shared laughs. We captured some beautiful images she will be able to look back on for years to come as a constant reminder of how sensual she is.
When asked what her biggest fear, going into the boudoir session, was her reply made me smile. “That I wouldn’t get any “sexy” photos. And boy, did we not only overcome my fears, but I got photos and an experience I will cherish for a lifetime!!!”
When a person comes into my studio my goal is always to create the best environment possible so that they not only take away images they will cherish for a lifetime, but memories of our time together that they will hold onto as well. So when someone leaves a review I take it all in so that I can make the next person’s experience that much better. This is what S. had to say about her time with me. “Jessica makes the experience so fun. She is passionate and has a natural eye and ability to capture the moment, even if you think you’re not living it. Jessica also makes you feel at ease, provides amazing guidance and gets you to believe in your beauty and abilities.”
When a client embraces the concept of Celebrate Yourself it almost always leads to them also loving themselves a little more in the end. This is and always has been my goal as a Boudoir photographer. To love yourself you must Celebrate Yourself any chance you get. How you do that is up to you, but might I suggest you start with your own boudoir session
SCROLL to the BOTTOM to see the beautiful
printed product
she received from her session.
Boudoir session - Fraser Valley
I think when most people think about booking a boudoir session they plan on making it a gift for the special someone, or to celebrate a milestone of some sort. I often tell people to Celebrate Yourself. When S came in this is exactly what she was doing. Our time together was a lot of fun and there was a lot of shared laughs. We captured some sexy images she will be able to look back on for years to come as a constant reminder of how sexy she is. When asked what her biggest fear, going into the boudoir session, was her reply made me smile. "That I wouldn't get any "sexy" photos. And boy, did we not only overcome my fears, but I got photos and an experience I will cherish for a lifetime!!!" When a person comes into my studio my goal is always to create the best environment possible so that they not only take away images they will cherish for a lifetime, but memories of our time together that they will hold onto as well. So when someone leaves a review I take it all in so that I can make the next person's experience that much better. This is what S. had to say about her time with me. "Jessica makes the experience so fun. She is passionate and has a natural eye and ability to capture the moment, even if you think you're not living it. Jessica also makes you feel at ease, provides amazing guidance and gets you to believe in your beauty and abilities." When a client embraces the concept of Celebrate Yourself it almost always leads to them also loving themselves a little more in the end. This is and always has been my goal as a Boudoir photographer. To love yourself you must Celebrate Yourself any chance you get. How you do that is up to you, but might I suggest you start with your own boudoir session
S ordered herself a custom 10x8 Hand Crafted Album
to SHOWCASE her stunning photographs
Boudoir is for Every Woman
Boudoir is for every human.
From the time you walk into the studio until the moment you leave this experience is all about you. Your time will begin with professional hair and make up while we sit and get to know each other. You'll be pampered by the professional hair and make up artist while you sip on a Mimosa and relax.
When it’s all said and done you will agree boudoir is for everyone.
Boudoir is for Every Woman
Everyone comes with their own reasons why they want to do a Intimate lifestyle boudoir session. T wasn't much different from a lot of the reasons I hear. It was initially just a gift for her husband, but as the session progressed she realized it was really more for her. My time with T was a lot of fun. We laughed and talked as the session went on and I watched what little nerves she had at the beginning melt away. In her own words she is a Zero F's kind of person. I'm a firm believer that boudoir is for every woman and T was no exception.
I asked her a few questions after her boudoir session, about her time in my studio, and will share a couple of her responses with you.
Q: Did anything change about the way you see your own beauty / sexuality / sensuality / body confidence as a result of this session?
A: You know what, yes. I think we are all our own worst critics. To see examples in studio of past sessions I realized it's a lot easier to appreciate the beauty in other people flaws and all. I need to look at myself with the same appreciation.
Q: How did the session make you feel?
A: Like a pretty pretty princess just kidding, hot AF. (This made me laugh)
Boudoir isn't just taking pretty pictures. It's about the entire experience, connecting with each person, and creating an environment where they can open up and see themselves for the amazing person they are. Every individual has a different motivation for booking a boudoir session. Whether it's a gift for a partner, a celebration of a milestone, or even just because they want to do something for themselves. If it's this or something else the goal is to make it the most empowering experience possible.
Just remember Boudoir is for every human. From the time you walk into the studio until the moment you leave this experience is all about you. Your time will begin with professional hair and make up while we sit and get to know each other. You'll be pampered by the professional hair and make up artist while you sip on a Mimosa and relax. During the actual shoot you will move around the studio as you are guided through different sets and poses and you will be coached to make it look just right. It's expected that most people will feel unsure in the beginning, as this is normal for almost everyone, but rest assured it gets easier as you go. A couple weeks later you will return to view all of your images and make your product selections. You will again get to sit and relax with a drink and some treats as you relive your experience through viewing the images. When you leave you will agree boudoir is for everyone. Hair and Make Up provided by Ashley Paints faces
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Intimate Couple's Boudoir.
I experience a lot of emotion when I look at the images she created of us and feel like they accurately show my love for her. Together we are perfectly imperfect and in the end it’s not about looking like a model.
I trusted her with my biggest insecurities and she did not break that trust. I feel closer to her now because of the experience and even love the photographs so much…
Intimate Couples Boudoir
Jessica and I have been together for almost 5 years now. In that time I have become a feminist. I’ve learned that feminism isn’t women against men, that is misandry. (Thank you to Jessica for educating me on this) It’s about realizing that gender does not dictate what you are or are not qualified to do.
I realize that as a man, I personally, am not inherently bad or oppress women. Being a feminist, for me, means realizing that those jokes you don’t mean and are just supposed to be funny are not funny. It’s not funny to break another person down in the name of “just a joke”. Feminism is about equality, plain and simple. To me it’s about treating women with dignity and respect. Jessica is my best friend and partner and I mean that in every sense of the word.
I also learned I have more in common with many of her female clients than I realized. For several years I have watched women come to her studio while I’m outside working in my shop. In almost every case I see the same thing. They show up, usually bundled up in more clothes than necessary for the weather, and kind of hunched in on themselves. It appears that what they are doing is just an experiment and they don’t expect to like and enjoy what’s about to happen because they think they could never look as good as the women they see in Jessica's photographs. In every case, where I have been around to see them come back out, I’ve seen a woman transformed. They have their shoulders back, they are smiling and they radiate confidence. It’s amazing to watch this experience from the outside and to see how, in just a couple hours, they learn to see themselves in a way they didn't before.
When I met Jessica I was in the best shape of my life. I struggled with obesity, most of my life, and had worked hard to shed 100 lbs. But even at that point I would not take my shirt off in public. Like a lot of women I had been shamed into believing I was unattractive and fully believed it. Due to an injury I had to leave the gym and slowly I put the weight back on. I never gained it all back but I have gained enough that my insecurities were now mixed with a sense of shame. In Jessica's eyes the weight didn’t matter and she has asked me, more than once, to do a couples session with her. I have flat out refused for a long time but she has gently persisted.
Yesterday after denying her again, she opened up a dialog about how I’m really no different from those women that walk by me overdressed and huddled in on themselves. She assured me she wanted the photographs for us and wouldn’t share if I wasn’t comfortable. It occurred to me that I expect all these women, who walk passed me, to come out with a new outlook and that they all trust Jessica with something more personal than words can describe.
Jessica is my best friend and the love of my life so why couldn't I give her that same trust. I reluctantly agreed.I can honestly say that at first I felt very uncomfortable displaying my flaws for even just Jessica to see but it quickly became something else. The camera disappeared from my mind and it became about sharing something intimate and freeing with the woman I love.
I experience a lot of emotion when I look at the images she created of us and feel like they accurately show my love for her. Together we are perfectly imperfect and in the end it’s not about looking like a model. I trusted her with my biggest insecurities and she did not break that trust. I feel closer to her now because of the experience and even love the photographs so much that I want to share them with the world. I could believe I could be Overcoming self doubt with Intimate Couple's Boudoir. I would recommend that everyone should try this at least once. It’s not just for women or for men, it’s about celebrating yourself, or in my case my love. -C
Intimate Couple's Boudoir
Photography Mentoring
“She knows her shit!
You can tell she absolutely adores what she does and she has a love for showing women how beautiful they are. Being a photographer myself, I should know how to pose - but being in front of the camera is completely different and nerve wracking to be honest. But Jessica was a rock star in helping me feel comfortable and relaxed and she made me feel so good in my skin. “
Photography Mentoring
I first met Michelle back in 2010 when I joined Helping Hearts, a non-profit photography program she co-founded. We lost touch over the years but she recently reached out to me on facebook and asked if I would be open to Photography Mentoring, as she had recently taken up interest in photographing boudoir. Quite the divergence from the newborn photographer I had known her for over the years!
When I found out she was staying in town for a few days I invited her to come by my studio for a quick in-person mentoring session. Well this quickly unfolded into an impromptu photo session! haha It is always such a pleasure and a honour to get to work with other photographers. Below is what Michelle had to say about her experience with me and her Photography Mentoring :
"Let me start off by saying Jessica is amazing. She knows her shit! You can tell she absolutely adores what she does and she has a love for showing women how beautiful they are. Being a photographer myself, I should know how to pose - but being in front of the camera is completely different and nerve wracking to be honest. But Jessica was a rock star in helping me feel comfortable and relaxed and she made me feel so good in my skin. I’ve had two children and like most women, I am uncomfortable in the skin I’ve been left with. But Jessica helped me to embrace my body and love it for what it is. To feel sexy and empowered in my skin. She took the time to talk to me throughout the session, reminding me what to do with my arms, how to pose my legs, where to look and what to do with my body. I walked away from our session with such confidence - I was on a total high! Thank you Jessica! My experience with you was so fantastic!!! " - Michelle
"She took the time to talk to me throughout the session, reminding me what to do with my arms, how to pose my legs, where to look and what to do with my body. "
"I’ve had two children and like most women, I am uncomfortable in the skin I’ve been left with. But Jessica helped me to embrace my body and love it for what it is."
Voyage through aging, motherhood and immigration.
Voyage through aging, motherhood and immigration
The most rewarding aspect of my job is creating a safe place for women to celebrate themselves - to find themselves - to reconnect with themselvesxoxox Jessica Rae. Let's explore a Voyage through aging, motherhood and immigration"For me, taking self-portraits are not and have never been about vanity; they signify exploration, questioning and discovery. They take me on voyage through aging, through motherhood, through life as an immigrant, giving back some of the support and respect we all crave.
Taking self-portraits is often seen as vanity, but for me they’ve become a moment to stop and think.
It all started with a bunch of Etsy sellers on Self Portrait Thursdays; we’d snap a selfie, post it on Flickr, and catch up with online friends. Around this time, I was adjusting to being both an older stay-at-home mum and a career-less trailing spouse far away from family and friends. In all the bustle and immersion of parenting, with zero feedback or inspiration from outside work, and days spent in and around family—I lost sight of me until I started putting myself in the picture.
Looking at the portraits made me pause and take a long, hard look at what was happening in my life. I was sad, depressed even; with little external support, it was difficult to imagine how to go forward. The first selfies reflected this, showing how much my body was changing with age, pregnancy and nursing, and how little confidence I had in myself. Frumpy clothes, straggly hair, no individualism, whatever was easiest to pull out of the closet… Little by little I learned what reflected ‘me’ and also how it made me feel –happy, confident, graceful? Rather than just surrendering to it, I started to question what was going well and what was not so good with life.
In addition to the changes in outward appearance, I was also changing inside. Connecting each image with how I felt inspired me to really explore my life, values, ambitions and inspirations, connecting somehow with who I am as an individual and giving me permission to move forward. Gently but critically I took notice. True goofy happiness in photos with my son; sharp confidence in snappy dressing; graceful in celebration of curves, wrinkles and grey; definition and presence with a little mascara and lipstick. Never the pretty child, I found beautiful moments in myself and also in others." - Amanda
Voyage through aging, motherhood and immigration
Voyage through aging, motherhood and immigration
These sessions are about discovering a little more about who you are and seeking your truth.
Are you ready? Contact me today!
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Kate emailed me about doing a boudoir session for herself a few months ago. She is still relatively new to Canada, originally from Germany, and she was feeling a little down and needed a pick me up. A little self confidence boost. I am so glad that she choose an intimate lifestyle photo session with me in order to accomplish this!Here what Kate had to say:"I loved everything! From the make up to the shoot. I loved how friendly Jessica is. We spent a lot of time chatting, she really took the time to get to know me. Her studio is lovely and I really love my pictures."It was a such a pleasure to photograph you, Kate. Thank you for trusting me and for being so open. You are a courageous and beautiful soul ( Schöne Seele )xoxox Jessica RaeThank you to Ashley Paints Makeup Artistry
Smile Pretty or...?!! - Greater Vancouver Boudoir Photography - Daily Inspiration
I often get asked: "What should I do, should I smile? Am I suppose to keep a serious face?"An intimate portrait session is all about YOU. I want to capture your personality. I want you to feel comfortable being yourself, whatever that might be!Are you serious? Are you bubbly? Are you conservative? Do you like to push boundaries?It's all about you, so BRING IT!
Daily Inspiration - Williams Lake Intimate Portrait Photography
"As women, we're nurturers by nature. We want to make sure everyone is happy. That's a good thing, but we also have to put ourselves on that happiness list." - Victoria Osteen 
Giving Thanks - Empowered Photography - Daily Inspiration
“Gratitude means to recognize the good in your life, be thankful for whatever you have, some people may not even have one of those things you consider precious to you (love, family, friends etc). Each day give thanks for the gift of life.You are blessed”― Pablo I have much to be thankful for myself. Family - Friends - amazing clients<3 Beauties like Teri Hofford Photography that grace my studio and my life with their amazing spirit <3
Birthday Surprise - Abbotsford Boudoir Photographer
Ms. N came in to create an unforgettable birthday gift for her husband, but I think she would agree it was just as much a gift for herself.Ms. N had this to say about her session:I didn't know what to expect in the full scale of things. But I think it went perfect for what I was looking for. It made me feel beautiful.My favourite part of the experience was seeing the images, to see what I looked like in that element was pretty amazing.Jessica!! You are an amazing woman, your work is fantastic. I am so happy that I got to spend that time with you.Any words of advice for women who are thinking about booking a boudoir session?Breath and enjoy every moment. 
Anniversary Boudoir Gift - Fraser Valley Photographer
Here is what Ms. C had to say about her experience:" I had a fantastic experience with Jessica. This was my first Boudoir photoshoot and I was nervous at first. I didn't know what to do with my arms. Jessica put me at ease and offered great direction. I ended up having a lot of fun, from make up, to wardrobe changes, to the very last shot. I walked away from the shoot feeling more confident, refreshed and as though I had just done a really good work out. (Without the cleanup)The pictures are beautiful and Jessica was very accommodating with the layout of the album. The final product is an anniversary gift for my husband, but I know that I will cherish the experience and gorgeous shots of myself. Thank you"
xoxox Jessica RaeMakeup and Hair services provided by Dames and Dolls Makeup 
Body Form - Vancouver Fine Art Photographer
High heels, lingerie, pearl necklaces, men's shirts. What are some of the stereo types when you think of boudoir photography?When women contact me to book their sessions, these are some of their top concerns - what to wear and what about those accessories!Why not forget them all. Forget your preconceived ideas of what boudoir is.Strip it down to its core - literally. Go nude!Simple - Minimalist - Sexy - Real - Raw, Authentic - Intimate - Bold - Shameless **this post contains nudity 
Celebrating Love - Couples Photo Session - Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Photographer
I think it’s rather important to celebrate your relationship with one another throughout all the stages your relationship may end up going through. Finding someone who makes your life more fulfilling is the best thing in life. I used to think finding someone to complete you was the right mindset. When really it’s about finding someone you can call your best friend, someone who improves the quality of your life by supporting your dreams and aspirations. Someone who will push you to achieve things you didn’t know you were capable of because of self-doubt. You should complete yourself on your own but your partner should bring out the part of you deep down you didn’t know was there. When you find that person you start to understand really what “Home is where the heart is” means. When you are around the person you love dearly, you are home. So, why is it that we only get photos done together with our partners when we are getting engaged or married? Life is precious and that fact alone should be acknowledged. I think getting photos done to celebrate your relationship together is an amazing thing. I now have physical, beautiful, and meaningful pictures I can look at that matches how I feel inside. Working with Jessica Rae was comfortable and overall fun. Jessica was even was able to coach us through the jitters of expressing our love for each other and it not come off as we were aware there was a camera there with us. She made us both feel comfortable in front of the lens and produced amazing images that both of us can and will enjoy for years to come.- Jessica Dawn.Hair and Makeup: Ashley Paints Faces
Because TuTu's - Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Boudoir Photographer - Daily Inspiration
Because Tutu's...I love getting my hair and makeup artist in front of my lens. It helps them to understand and empathize with my clients what their experience is like. Ashley Paints Faces was so much fun to work with, I just LOVE her tutu!!!
Curvaceous Plus Size Boudoir Photography - Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley Photographer - Daily Inspiration
"There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologeticlly herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty." - Steve Marabolixoxox Artist Jessica Rae
Intimate Portrait - Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Fine Art Nude Photographer
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face.”– Helen Keller
Hair and Makeup by Amaris Beauty
Maple Ridge Boudoir Photographer
Hair & Makeup Artist - Vancouver and Maple Ridge Boudoir Photographer - Daily Inspiration
I'm pretty spoiled having such a beautiful and willing hair and make up artist that will step in front of my lens.
Plus size Boudoir - Fraser Valley Photographer - Daily Inspiration
"I didn't discover curves; I only uncovered them." - Mae West
The other side of the lens - My Personal Session with Jana Roller Boudoir
Last summer I took a road trip to visit fellow boudoir photographer Jana Roller up in Williams, BC. I found in her in a local photography group on Facebook and sent her a message about her amazing red hair and we have have been online friends ever since, haha. I was so excited to meet her! She was just a lovely and genuine in person as she was online.We hung out at her studio for the day and photographed each other, it was sooo much! She even did my makeup for the session, talk about multi-talented! She submitted the images she took of me to Philosophie Boudoir Magazine (put out by AIBP - Association of International Boudoir Photographers) and they were accepted. She wrote a beautiful article which you can read below as well.This was my 2nd time having a boudoir session done for myself. The first time was almost 3 years ago, and was a very different experience than I had with Jana. The images she captured I felt were a better reflection of me, not just a pretty pose and picture. She broke down some of my own mental walls and barriers and even got to me to show a little vulnerability, which is quite the feat! I have been sitting on these images for a few months because I had so much I wanted to say but I always seem to be at a loss for words. and yesterday I had another personal boudoir session done (blog post to come in the near future haha) so I knew it was time to share these with all of you now, even if I don't have all the words in mind.Honestly, the article Jana wrote pretty much sums up the day for me as well. I am proud to call Jana my friend and thank her immensely for this amazing opportunity. When I started 2015 one of my goals was to get published as a photographer, I never imaged I would be published, as well, as the subject matter! I do want to say this though... I am 35 years old, I have carried and given birth to three amazing little boys, and my body foreign to me. I was petite most of my life and the last couple of years I have put on a significant amount of body weight. I don't recognize this shell but I decided it was time to embrace it, love it and reclaim it. You are always going to find an excuse not to do something so amazing, as an intimate portrait session for yourself. But in 5 - 10 - 20 years, you are going to look back on these images and pat yourself on the back and say, I did it! Look at me, I am an amazing human being! There is no perfect time like the present. Do your research and find a photographer that resonates with you and that you trust. You won't regret it! 
You can purchase a digital or pint copy of Philosophie Boudoir Volume VI here
Victorian Boudoir : Gilded Magazine : Vancouver Published Editorial Boudoir Photographer
At the beginning of December I was playing around with new studio setups and fell in love with this one so much that I put together a team right away and the next day this session happened. Sometimes the best laid plans aren't plans at all but whims of fancy! I partner up with one my of my favourite designers Charlene Rowley of Faye Tality Couture, she had the most amazing pieces to pull off the look I was aiming for. Fellow Maple Ridge photographer, Tanzyn Ambrose graciously agreed to be my muse for this set and she got all glammed up by the talented Makeup in Session's, Sana Nurani. I am so blessed to call all of these amazing women friends, and that they go along with my mad ideas <3These images have been featured in Gilded Magazines issue 7 vol 2 edition. 
You can purchase a digital or hard copy HERE
