Connecticut boudoir and pinup photography studio

February 7, 2018

Boudoir and Chronic Illness – An Interview with Darcy

Darcy was one of those people that you meet and instantly feel like you’ve known forever. It’s not something I talk about much, but I have social anxiety and panic attacks and I often feel just as nervous as my clients do before they arrive. Darcy and I had messaged back and forth for quite a while before her shoot and I knew she was battling with severe chronic Lyme Disease. I reassured her that we would go at her pace and that we’d get beautiful shots, even if it took all day. She had a rough night and wasn’t feeling well and I know she even considered canceling… but here’s the thing about boudoir… when you don’t feel like you can possibly do it is when you need it the most! I felt like I knew her before she even arrived but, once she got to the studio, we were like old friends. Her smile lights up a room and she has a wicked sense of humor. We were laughing like fools before she’d even gotten into the makeup chair. Our mutual passion for animals (especially our dogs) gave us a starting point but there was so much more once we got talking. I think she forgot to be nervous before we even got as far as setting her hot rollers… and so did I! One of the greatest things about Darcy is that she trusted me completely the minute we started shooting. She totally let go and let me lead, which is crucial! No matter what pose I coached her into, she trusted it. She arched and pointed and stretched her heart out and it shows in her gorgeous photos!!

Chronic illness is something I am familiar with, both personally and professionally. I understand that sometimes it may take much longer from someone battling an illness to do things that others might take for granted. One of the reasons that I only accept one client per day is because I don’t want anyone, especially those who might need to move slower, to feel rushed. I want everyone’s experience at my Connecticut boudoir photography studio to be transformative, healing, fun and empowering beyond their wildest dreams! I want time with every client to connect to them, to get to know them and to let them relax and let their guard down. We live such rushed lives and I want an escape from that constant pressure. My studio doesn’t even have a clock. My favorite thing about my job is getting lost in the creative process and watching my clients blossom. And, in many (many, many) cases, watching them grow into their own power and forget their chronic illness and daily battles. Watching Darcy let go of what usually holds her back nearly brought me to tears because when she walked out of my studio she was on a tremendous high! Her posture had changed, she had a huge smile on her face and her eyes were lit up like a kid on Christmas morning… despite the sore muscles! I’m so thrilled that she decided to share her story, and her beautiful photos, with us here!

LHI: What initially made you decide to book a boudoir shoot?

Darcy: I was in a deadlocked battle against Lyme Disease. My symptoms were overwhelming- my skin tingled constantly, I had intense pain in my hands, arms, hips and feet, I was light and sound sensitive, I couldn’t concentrate, my speech changed, my heart raced and my memory was disintegrating. These are a few of the things that riddled my body and mind on a daily basis and had been for a year. I hated the body I was living in. I had been following you and Lost Highway on social media sites because friends recommended you and was enchanted. Everyone was so beautiful and so strong in your photos. I wanted that. I needed that. So when I was in between rounds of antibiotic treatments I contacted you. Absolutely terrified and excited at the same time. Because I live in Maine and I needed a Saturday appointment we scheduled for three months away. I was grateful for the time. I had something to push for and look forward to. I was going to be doing something just for me.

LHI: What was your biggest fear before you booked your shoot? Did it come true and, if not, what happened instead?

Darcy: I have to admit that I had a full on panic attack the night before. My Lyme symptoms had surged again and I wasn’t feeling as good as I hoped. I arrived at my friends the night before and was trying on outfits for her when everything seemed heightened. The tingling, the pain and my temperature was all kinds of out of whack. I even messaged you to see if you had AC or fans in your studio! On top of that, I have always been just a little outside of what people’s expectations are. My clothes are what I like but not quite on trend. I don’t generally indulge in dying my hair or getting my nails done even though I like to. Most of my life I have felt like an odd duck in comparison to other women. I have always struggled with the idea of my beauty and what my perception of the truth is in regard to that. I think I was mostly terrified that the camera would capture my discomfort with myself.
It absolutely did NOT come true. After chatting with you during hair and makeup I put on the first outfit, took as deep of a breath as I could in a corset and went for it. I listened to you and your voice and it all seemed easy. When you showed me one of the pictures you had just taken on your camera, I was emboldened. There I was- so beautiful and so strong.

LHI: What was your favorite part of your photo shoot?

Darcy: You. You listened, you shared and you rescued the me that I wasn’t really sure had ever even existed.

LHI: Why should women treat themselves to this experience? Did you see yourself in a different light after your shoot?

Darcy: You deserve it. You deserve to pamper yourself. You deserve to see yourself in the light that Beth does. There is none of the everyday judgement and bullshit that women put each other through with this experience. It is about empowerment and self perception. My perception changed. I saw a me I had never seen before. I know that she is in there now and give her the time and attention she deserves.

LHI: If you were going to tell your best friend about your experience with Lost Highway Imaging, what would you tell her?

Darcy: Just do it. Take the leap even if you are scared. All of it was amazing! Even when my muscles were saying, “You want me to do what now?!” I never regretted it. When we were done I was exhausted and HUNGRY and so very proud of myself…and after a year of being sick I was happy with myself.

Thank you, Darcy, for sharing something so beautiful and personal with us. Thank you for trusting me with your photos and thank you for just being you.

Interested in booking your own boudoir photo shoot? Want a makeover transformation in our studio? We are located in Preston, Connecticut and serve clients all over New England, from Maine and New Hampshire to Rhode Island, Massachusetts and beyond! Our CT boudoir photography studio is staffed by an all-female team of makeup artists, hairstylists, wardrobe designers and our photographer, Beth Claire. If you’ve ever dreamed of doing a glamour, pinup, boudoir or beauty shoot send us a message for more information! Email Beth at beth@losthighwayimaging.com

October 18, 2017

Pinup Fashion Part II – Guest Blog with Pinup Model Sadie Century

So now that we’ve talked history, let’s talk pinup! This is a shortlist of some of the most popular American brands.

PINUP GIRL CLOTHING: If you’ve seen 10 vintage-inspired swing dresses you love, I’d bet at least half of them were made by this company. Pinup Girl Clothing began as a small-business venture, and is now the biggest retro clothing retailer around. Pinup Girl Clothing—called “PUG” by its customers and staff—has also been noted for practicing what is all too often only preached in the fashion community: clothing for every size. PUG’s four in-house brands range from XS to 4X. If you’re starting off your pinup wardrobe with PUG, I recommend the Heidi dress—a sweet, breathable, cap-sleeve swing that sashayed straight out of Pleasantville—or a Jenny dress—a charming early 60s day-dress design with adjustable straps, a structured bodice, and a big swing skirt full of gathers.

VIXEN: Vixen was established by artist, designer, and model Micheline Pitt, formerly of Pinup Girl Clothing. Micheline’s goal for the Vixen line was sleek, high-quality, comfortable pinup basics, and she achieved it and then some with Vixen. For comfy, everyday glam, her styles of knit pullover tops and upcoming Bad Girl Denim are a perfect fit, and her dresses all look break-the-internet fantastic. If you’re in a Gothic mood, her La Femme Noir line launches soon, and it is lacey and dark and divine. In addition, Micheline takes preorders! (With the recent increased interest in pinup fashion, a Black-Fridayesque online culture has begun with pressure to buy immediately or miss out, and I personally hate it! Preorders eliminate this issue.) Micheline also insists on clothing for every figure and stocks XS to 4X in her Etsy shop, and she personally responds to inquiries via Etsy and her Facebook page, The Vixen’s Salon.

TRASHY DIVA: Just past the swaying crowds, some blocks down from a big, blue house selling New Orleans’ best oysters, you’ll find Trashy Diva. Trashy Diva’s dresses are of supreme quality, with sizes ranging from 00 to 24, and unique prints as vibrant and captivating as the Mardi Gras parade. Some are all about storybook Southern charm—seersucker, gingham, and polka dots; others are bolder, like their Venice Nights and Psychedelic Ferns prints. Being based in the bayou, Trashy Diva always keeps it summer-friendly with flirty hemlines, airy cuts, and lightweight, high-quality fabrics. When I walked into Trashy Diva’s Magazine Street store in New Orleans, I was overcome by the relaxed attentiveness of the staff and the gorgeous selection—they even have a whole adjoining store for vintage-style shoes! And I have never tried on two dresses in one place that fit with such exact precision. If you told me you could only treat yourself to one full-priced pinup dress this year, I’d send you to Trashy Diva. It’s an investment, but it’s worth it. Trashy Diva is based out of Louisiana, but can be bought online.

There are many pinup-acclaimed brands abroad, too! London-based Collectif and Voodoo Vixen are mainstays, as are Top Vintage and Miss Candyfloss, which are both based in Europe. These sell quality pinup clothing at varying costs, but pay attention to international shipping charges and longer delivery times!

Now, about cost. If you’re accustomed to buying $5 sweaters at H&M, you’re in for some culture shock. The average pinup dress usually ranges from $98 to $160 in cost. While all the vendors listed here often offer discount codes and the occasional site-wide sale, a true-to-style reproduction should always be considered an investment piece. This will help you spend your money wisely by committing yourself to only buy what you absolutely love. Live by these words: shop sales, and shop wise.

No matter which brands you explore, adhere to the cardinal rule: MEASURE YOURSELF (PROPERLY). Vintage clothing is about flattering fit. It’s all too easy to give in to wishful thinking and distort your measurements—DON’T. Because you’re perfect as you actually are, of course! Pinup should be a self-celebratory experience, so start off right and buy for you—not for the size they tell you to be, or for the last size leftover. If it’s a hassle or it’s uncomfortable, you won’t wear it. As much as you may daydream of wearing it, you’ll probably reach past it time and again because the actual experience of wearing it won’t feel good. And that’s a waste of your money and yourself, because you should feel amazing in what you wear.

More importantly, you should feel amazing in the choices you make to express yourself, which is what dressing up is, deep down. I believe 100% that our wardrobe is a means to self-expression; it allows us to create, undo, reinvent, daydream of that thing adulthood seems to rob us of: enchantment, with colors, textures, ideas. It enables us to explore ourselves more fully.

Connecticut boudoir photographer, Beth Claire from Lost Highway Imaging, captures vintage Fall Fashion images.

Ready for your own pinup photoshoot? Want to be a vintage vixen? Get in touch! beth@losthighwayimaging.com

October 1, 2017

I’m Not Photogenic! – Common Boudoir Misconceptions

“But I’m not a model!”

“I’m not photogenic!”

“I have no experience!”

“I’m so bad at having my picture taken!”

“I don’t know how to pose!”

“What do I do with my face??”

Continuing the list of common misconceptions, here’s another favorite of mine! “I haven’t had my photo taken since my senior yearbook photo! I have no idea how to look good in pictures!” When women contact me to book a boudoir session of their own, one of the most common worries is that they won’t know what to do in front of the camera. Some are worried they won’t look good, some are worried they will be awkward and MANY worry that they aren’t photogenic.

Here’s a fun secret: I have NEVER met a woman who wasn’t photogenic. Being photogenic isn’t in your DNA… it’s a SKILL. And skills can be learned!

Being photogenic is actually a combination of skills that has very little to do with your actual features and more to do with learning to best flatter those features! Models are trained in how to flatter their own body type, shape and facial features. They learn posing that highlights their strongest assets and they practice expressions and emoting until their faces hurt! Take a second and look through some of your favorite Pinterest images or pick up a beauty magazine. One thing you will notice about all the models you see is that they all have a distinct “look.” They aren’t wide-eyed staring at the camera (unless you are looking at a fashion magazine, like Vogue), they are emoting. You can see emotion, expression and intention on their faces. This is a learned skill that ANYONE can master. Sometimes it’s a slight squint that intensifies their gaze. Sometimes it’s just that hint of a mischievous smile that lights up their eyes without a full on “say cheese” grin. Sometimes it’s a full on belly laugh that makes you smile just looking at them. And then, of course, there is that unmistakable come-hither stare. You get where I’m going with this. You do not have to know how to do any of these things when you walk into my studio, you only have to be willing to trust me and to take direction. During your shoot I will coach you through a wide variety of poses and expression to give you the most beautiful, unique, varied series of images possible. I coach clients through their poses in a very specific way, which I’ve honed down to a science in my decade of working with women who have never been in front of a camera before.

We start by getting you into position where you need to be (on the floor, on the bed, on a chair). Being in the right spot is the first (and easiest) step.
I show you the pose and you mirror me to get the overall shape/pose we are shooting for.
I tell you how to move, starting at your feet and working our way up, showing you as we go.
Arms and hands are posed last, as they are more challenging and harder to hold still for long periods of time.
Once the pose is set I’ll have you take a deep breath with me and then I coach your expression, reminding you to take breaths and look deep into the camera.

Clients laugh that I pose them down to their pinky fingers… and it’s true! There are a few key points to remember when posing.

I will make SURE you look great. If something doesn’t look great, we fix it.
If it bends, bend it. Curves look great on camera!
If it hurts, you are doing it right.
If it feels awkward, you are doing it right.
If you are sore afterwards, you were doing it right. Lol!
Trust me. Posing is one of my strongest skills as a photographer, coming from my background as a professional model. Be open to trying new things and trust me. That’s why you hired me!

I’m going to light you, pose you, style you and coach you to create the most beautiful images possible. Be patient with yourself. The first 10-15 minutes are the hardest because you can’t help but overthink it all! But after that warmup, you’ll be shocked at how comfortable you get as you get into the flow. This is also one reason I only accept one client per day and I never rush. Some people take a little longer to warm up than others and that is TOTALLY OK! I want to show you the most beautiful photographs of yourself that you have ever seen.

You do NOT need to be a model to do a boudoir shoot. You don’t need any experience in front of the camera at all ! In fact, often it is EASIER if you aren’t experienced because it will be even easier for me to coach you through the poses if you aren’t trying to pose yourself. Let me show you how wrong you are when you think you aren’t photogenic, because I guarantee you that you are!

Ready for your own shoot at our Preston, CT boudoir studio? Have more questions? We serve the entire New England region, as well as New York, NYC and New Jersey. Many of our clients fly in for their shoots as well, or visit us while staying at Foxwoods Casino or Mohegan Sun. Want more info? Get in touch! beth@losthighwayimaging.com

September 15, 2017

I’m Too Old! – Common Boudoir Misconceptions

So last week I talked about weight and how having to be thin to do a boudoir shoot is a common misconception. This week I’m going to talk about another common objection I hear from women. It usually goes something like this…

“Man, I wish I knew about this when I was 20!”

“I wish boudoir existed when I was younger!”

“Your photos are so cool! I wish I was 20 years younger so I could do some!”

“I’m too old for lingerie and all that nonsense.”

“These kinds of photos are for young women, not old women like me!” (Legit said to me by a 42 year old woman… C’MON! OLD?!?! WTF?!?! Side note: she went on to have TWO SPECTACULAR shoots!)

Here are my replies…

“I wish you did too! But you didn’t… so do it now!”

“It did! But it wasn’t mainstream like it is now.”

“Thank you! Why do you think you need to be 20 years younger??”

“No one is too old for lingerie. And you don’t have to wear lingerie for your shoot anyway.”

Well… for this one I laughed out loud and asked if she thought I was old too because we aren’t that far apart in age, lol! Then I told her that my oldest client was 73 and that she was going to have to give me a better objection… and she booked on the spot!

So let me start by saying there is NO age limit on boudoir. In fact, the only age restriction at all is that you must be 18 or over. I do shoot teen/tween beauty and fashion sessions but those are fully clothed and totally different than boudoir. If you are over 18, we are good to go because there is no age limit on any of these things:

Beauty
Sexuality
Sensuality
Lingerie
Seduction
Passion
Confidence
Intelligence

Many times, women ask if I shoot more mature women or they just assume that I don’t. Sometimes they outright accuse me of not showcasing a variety of ages, lol! There are a few reasons people might think this.

With proper lighting, most mature skin glows and looks incredibly youthful and healthy on camera.
Good, age-appropriate makeup is the foundation of our boudoir process and matching skin type and maturity to the right makeup makes skin appear younger.
There are particular lighting styles that compliment mature skin and fill fine lines and wrinkles with light, causing them to essentially disappear.
Retouching is done to all images that are presented to clients. Editing is always based on what a client requests and most mature clients ask for natural editing that isn’t over the top but that removes the most prominent signs of aging.
I don’t, obviously, intentionally point out or identify the more mature clients in my galleries, portfolio or on social media unless that client has specifically requested that I do so, which is why there won’t be a ton of photos accompanying this post.
Privacy is a big part of why I don’t show as much of my work with more mature clients. My mature clients are often more conservative than my younger ones. This happens for many reasons, from professional considerations and the preferences of their spouse to being more conservative in general or having more traditional values. I NEVER push a client to sign a model release or share their images. If anything, I push for the opposite, asking that they really consider their choice to share (and the possible consequences of doing so) and be completely certain before they do. I take privacy very seriously in my studio and the women who have generously agreed to share their photos have done so in writing after a face-to-face conversation with me about it.

This beautiful client graciously agreed to be showcased as an example of a gorgeous, mature woman! She wanted to inspire other mature women to book their own shoot and was so proud to have taken a step out of her comfort zone and done something new and exciting! Thank you!

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September 8, 2017

But I’m Not Skinny! – Common Boudoir Misconceptions

Here are some things I hear a lot when it comes to women hesitating on booking their own boudoir shoot:

“But I’m not skinny like those models!”

“Boudoir is for thin women!”

“Only models wants to get pictures taken in their underwear!”

“I’ll do it as soon as I lose 10 (or 20, or 30, or 40…) pounds!”

“Where will I even find lingerie that fits me??”

I’m not going to lie… these comments, objections and thoughts make me sad. I can’t help it. As a woman who has struggled with her weight her whole life… I get it. I get it in a seriously deep kind of way, which is probably why it makes me sad. I have, from the very first day that I opened my doors, believed that every single woman is beautiful. Every single one. Did you hear me say skinny ones? No. Boudoir is for EVERY SINGLE WOMAN. Should I say it louder for the ones in the back. EVERYSINGLEONE! Over half of my clients are what the mainstream media would consider “plus size” or “curvy.” I have (an apparently shocking) fact for the media… the average size of an American woman is a 16. Yes, a size 16 is average. See Article About Recent Study Here And it is BEAUTIFUL! Just like every other size. I feel the same frustration that every other woman in the country feels when I flip through the latest clothing catalog that winds up in my mailbox. Every woman featured is a 0 or 2 with the occasional 4 thrown in as a gesture of goodwill by the company. This doesn’t help us decide what the clothes REALLY look like! Not to mention the photos are usually edited beyond recognition and the clothes are tucked and smoothed just as much as the model is!

My studio is welcoming and encouraging to women of every single size. No exceptions. Whether you are a 00, 4, 8, 14, 18, 22, 28 or any other number on the spectrum, you are beautiful, powerful, strong and you DESERVE to be confident and look sexy! I have had clients contact me after other studios have turned them down based on their age, weight, mobility or medical condition. Often, they are very reluctant to even contact another studio because of how badly that made them feel. This will NEVER happen with me or in my studio. Ever. All women are welcome (yes, this includes transgender women).

I adore photographing curvy women and helping women who may struggle with seeing themselves as beautiful. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of my job because I love showing women how I see them. I don’t see what you see when you look at yourself. I don’t see the flaws or the things you give yourself such grief about. I see what makes you beautiful. In 10 years I have not once met a woman I didn’t see as beautiful. I find the things that make YOU unique and play up all of your best and favorite features. I ask that the studio stay a safe, body-positive place. If you start to talk down about yourself or fault find, I’m going to remind you to tell yourself positive things. I’m not unrealistic. I know that almost all women have things they would rather conceal about themselves or parts that aren’t their favorite. Don’t worry! We’ll talk about those too, particularly in your pre-session consult and in your questionnaire. I can’t help you disguise those areas if I don’t know what they are. But once we start shooting I’m going to ask that you keep an open mind and tell yourself that you are just as gorgeous as any other woman on this planet and just as worthy of a spectacular boudoir experience. I’m also going to help you pose and teach you how to rock those curves so you can look your absolute best!

Here are some gorgeous examples of a few of our curvy clients! Some came in nervous about looking their best, some walked in embracing every inch of themselves and some fell somewhere in the middle of the two… but they all walked out with a newfound confidence and a bounce in their step! Never let a number on a scale determine how you feel about yourself, and never let it stop you from booking a boudoir shoot of your own! I’ll help you decide what to wear and teach you how to play up every one of your favorite assets! I can also coach you in the best way to camouflage areas you may not love so much. But, in the end, what I really want is for you to embrace who you are in the moment. Love yourself.

Need lingerie in an expanded selection of sizes? Have trouble finding pretty bras or sexy panties that fit great? Here are some of my favorite retailers for curves!

Ready for your own boudoir shoot with Lost Highway Imaging? Have more questions? Reach out to me! beth@losthighwayimaging.com

Lost Highway Imaging is Connecticut’s premiere boudoir photography studio, located in Preston, CT. We specialize in beauty, glamour, pinup, fashion, boudoir and intimate portraits of women, by women. Our all female staff knows just how to help you look your best and have a blast doing it! You’ll walk away with so much more than just photos. We serve the entire New England area, including Hartford, Greenwich, Fairfield, NYC suburbs, New Haven, Cheshire, Clinton, Hamden, Westerly, Mystic, Stonington, Boston, Providence and beyond.

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