We’ve been featured on Richmond Times Dispatch

Posted in Boudoir

Richmond Boudoir is featured in RTD

Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min/RTD

A while back Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Colleen Curren and staff photographer Daniel Sangjib Min came to my studio to do a feature for the paper on boudoir photography and my studio. I really enjoyed having them in the studio for the day, despite the fact that I feel so awkward on the other side of the camera. I’m so very grateful to be featured and even more grateful to have RTD spreading the word about the value of boudoir photography for women today. I also want to thank Miss A for being our model for the day and thank you to Kelsea Dayberry of Radiant Reflection  for the wonderful job she did (and always does) on makeup and hair styling for the day. What follows is the article copied over from the Richmond Times Dispatch website.

_______________________

It’s 10 a.m. on a sunny day. Ann-Marie McCormick, 36, mother of three small children, is wearing a black lace body suit, a long silver necklace, heels and nothing else.

She’s getting ready for a boudoir photo session at Richmond Boudoir, where women, and sometimes couples, strip down for sexy professional photos in lingerie — or nothing at all.

“Boudoir photos are a lot more common now,” Ginger Jones, the photographer who runs Richmond Boudoir, said. “The bulk of my clients are women in their 30s and 40s who are doing this to feel good again. They say, ‘I haven’t felt this good in years.’ It’s more of a self-esteem boosting experience than just a photo session.”

In the age of #MeToo, women are turning to boudoir photos as one of the many ways to take control of their sexuality and feel empowered.

“Normally, I’m very reserved about my body,” McCormick said. A friend had a boudoir photo session and posted photos to Facebook. McCormick became intrigued.

McCormick is a working mom with children ages 9, 4 and 1. “I’m so busy with the kids and work, I was feeling like there’s no time for myself,” she said. “I wanted to do this for me.”

She works at a veterinary hospital where she normally wears scrubs every day and puts her hair in a ponytail.

But not today. For her photo session, she’s having her hair and makeup professionally done. Her long blond hair falls in full, wavy curls. Her skin is flawless, her eye lashes black and lacquered, her lips just the palest hint of pink.

“Are you ready, my dear?” Jones asks.

McCormick takes a deep breath, centers herself and says “Yes.”

***

Jones, 45, has a warm, welcoming, earth-mother type of personality. She puts her clients at ease, quickly, by talking about everything: kids, work, marriage.

“It ends up being half therapy session, half photo session,” Jones joked about a typical boudoir session. But being a confidant and a photographer is a role she enjoys.

She was a wedding photographer for many years, but she said the schedule took a toll. With three biological children and four step-children, she found herself missing out on baseball games and other family activities.

“Weddings were super stressful. You never got a weekend off,” she said.

When she moved to Richmond from Minneapolis, she decided she didn’t want to do weddings anymore.

She said she sort of stumbled into the boudoir business when a friend wanted glamour “pin-up” shots of herself. They spent the day “playing dress up,” doing hair and makeup, and taking tons of photos.

The style has now become a main part of her business. The schedule suits her lifestyle and now she gets to spend her weekends with her family.

She maintains a photo studio, called 422 Studio, where she does head shots and high school portraits.

But Richmond Boudoir is the biggest part. The studio has several sets with different backdrops: there’s a bed with silk sheets, a vintage tub with claw feet and an empire-tufted sofa.

 

READ MORE

Ginger Jones owner Richmond Boudoir Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min/RTD

Kelsea Dayberry styling makeup on Ann Marie McCormick Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min/RTD

Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min/RTD

Ginger adjusting Ann Marie’s hair Photo by Daniel Sangjib Min/RTD

(more…)

Richmond Boudoir

Posted in Boudoir

Richmond Boudoir Photography

Hey guys! There has been a bit of a gap in my blogging. I have been so busy traveling and doing sessions that the blog has fallen behind. I’ll be back at it in December. I have so many amazing sessions to share with you all and I just can’t wait for you to see them. In the mean time here are just a few shots from recent Model For A Day sessions. Stay tuned for more!

See Your Beauty

Posted in Boudoir

Richmond, Virginia

Beauty Portrait Photography

I love it when my clients come in for their boudoir photography session and we are able to catch such a wide range of emotion and expressions in their portraits. We try to capture everything from joyous laughter, a soft feminine smile, to the powerful, passionate expression of her sensual self. My job is so gratifying, in part because I get to help women pull this sensual side of their being up to the surface and then to capture that for them. Most of my clients are doing this session for themselves first. The resulting album full of their gorgeous images are typically a gift for their husband, fiance or romantic partner. The experience of connecting with her beauty and sensuality though, that’s for her. That’s what each of the wonderful women I have photographed have walked away from their session with. They have a renewed sense of confidence and self. The feeling of power gained from this kind of self expression sticks with you. It’s not something that rapidly fades away. When you have a boudoir session with me, and you have your very own images to keep and look at every day, it’s a quick way to pull yourself back to that feeling of being empowered and confident. That feeling that was in you all along. You may have just needed a little nudge to bring it out. I’m so happy that I get to be a part of that process.

This beautiful woman gave me permission to share her session well after we had shot it. It always makes me smile when a woman comes back later and says you know what, go ahead and share these so that other women can see themselves here and know they are welcome to have this experience for themselves too. Thank you Miss B for not only being an amazing client but for allowing me to share your gorgeous session with other women.

Want to be a part of my growing boudoir community and see if boudoir is for you? Join us in the Facebook VIP group.

My photography studio is located in Richmond Virginia but I serve women from all over the state and beyond. Whether you live in DC, Northern VA, Tidewater or Virginia Beach and Hampton areas, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg where ever you are my studio is easily reached here in RVA. Email me today to talk about what you want from your intimate portrait experience.

Ginger

Richmond Boudoir

Bathtub and Shower Sets

Posted in Boudoir, Monday Muse, Richmond Boudoir

Beauty Portrait Photographer

Richmond, Virginia

I have photographed this beautiful babe many times over the last several years. When I put the bathtub set in the studio I knew she was who I wanted to test it out with. Of course I love everything we’ve come up with working together over the years and this is no exception. She selected a seriously gorgeous outfit for the tub set. I am so in love with this green velvet that I want everyone to bring velvet to their session, yes I know it’s summer and velvet isn’t a summer fabric. I don’t care! I love how it looks. Hell I’d put you in a sweater in the summer if we thought it would communicate a look you feel sexy and confident in. Wardrobe selection is all about what speaks to you.

I had this set in my brain from the moment we put the wood wall in the studio. It took nearly a year to bring it to life and I couldn’t be happier with it. Now I need to figure out a way to fill and drain it so we can do really wet sets. Not to worry ladies! I’m working on it. This set is an exciting addition to my boudoir studio and I am so ready to get people in it. Hopefully I’ll get more sessions in there that I can share. I also added the shower set so be sure to scroll down to see those too. The shower set is just fucking hot and will be a great set for anyone looking to add that extra bit of drama to their session. No need for an outfit with that one. You’ve already got the best thing you can wear in the shower so no need to buy any lingerie for that. I Love both of these sets and I can’t wait to get you in them too!! Email me today and let’s get planning your dream session.

Green velvet outfit is from Amazon. Can you believe that?? Me either!

Shower outfit well she had that one already 😉

My studio is located in Richmond, VA but I serve women from all corners of Virginia and beyond. If you are in Fredericksburg, Williamsburg or Charlottesville you’re about 45 minutes to an hour from me. DC, Northern VA and the Tidewater, Hampton, Newport News, VA Beach area well ya’ll have traffic so anywhere from an hour and a half to 3 hours depending on the day. Be sure to check out the “Learn More” or “Investment” links for info on session pricing.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Ginger

Feel Empowered

Posted in Boudoir, Richmond Boudoir

 Boudoir, Beauty and Fitness Photography

Richmond Virginia

The lovely Miss J is one of my kick ass studio ambassadors for the year. This busy mama has found a way to put in the hard work to get her physique tip top and that hard work shows.  I’m always inspired when I see moms take the time to put self care at the top of their to do list. When you have a goal in mind and you set to work toward it whether its’ fitness, progressing in your career path, or mastering a new skill, having the strength to stick to it and the motivation to keep going takes serious effort and commitment. I applaud any of you who are working hard to reach your goals.

 

Q: What would you say to another women who was considering doing a session with me?
A: DO it!  It makes you feel empowered, confident, sexy, etc.  Every woman should deserve to feel great about themselves, especially in a society where we are constantly told we aren’t enough, for whatever reason.

Q: How did you feel when you left the studio the day of your session?
A: Good!  I was proud of myself for doing the photo shoot.  It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m so happy I got to do it (and looking forward to the next shoot!).

Q: Favorite piece of lingerie you brought for your session?
A: The dominatrix-esque panties that bare all in the back.

Q: What is the best thing you took away from your session?
A: My husband’s reaction : ).

Ready to schedule your own boudoir, beauty  or fitness photography session? Email me today to start talking with me about what you need and how I can help. My studio is located in RVA and I serve clients from all over VA, Fredericksburg, DC, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Norfolk you name it. I’ve worked with women from all over the state.

 

Feel Sexy

Posted in Boudoir, Richmond Boudoir

Richmond Virginia Boudoir Photographer

Confidence building photography for women, by women.

Q: What is the best thing you took away from your session?
A: I just feel empowered about having a healthy self image and then feeling passionate that every woman should feel sexy and ignore everything mainstream media fills our pretty heads with!-Studio Ambassador Miss N.
I talk a lot with my clients about shutting down negativity before they come in for their session. This includes things you hear and see in the media and online as well as the thoughts that creep into our own heads. You can’t love something you spend all of your time criticizing and speaking negatively about. How on earth are we to be expected to learn to love our own bodies if we can’t first accept them as they are and love them for all of they have gotten us through to this point? I don’t really think we can. I think we have to take a kinder, gentler approach to self love. I feel it starts with you forgiving yourself for being so self critical.  Then let that negativity go. Shut that negativity down in your own head before it gets out of hand. Don’t allow negative thoughts to turn into negative words. Stop it at the source. I work with you to help you get your head in the right space before and during your boudoir session. We focus our energy on being present, accepting of our bodies, and gentle with ourselves. During the session we work on breathing and relaxing into the process of being photographed. It’s really an enjoyable process and by the end of the day you’ll feel ready to take on the world. A boudoir session with me isn’t just making pretty pictures. It’s a jump start toward learning to love and care for yourself.
This was Miss N’s second session with me and she totally rocked it. I always love when someone comes back for more. The second session is even more magical than the first. Scroll down to see more of her set. We can do this for you too!

To read the rest of Miss N’s Ambassador Interview keep scrolling past her amazing images.

Q: Favorite piece of lingerie you brought for your session?
A: I really enjoyed my bodysuit. It was a rich color and very pretty details
Q: Why did you pick me for to be your photographer?
A: Ever since we met at mom prom I knew you loved what you do and also had amazing talent.
Q: What prompted you to do an Ambassador session rather than a private session?
A: When you announced your ambassador program I was intrigued because of how well our first session went. Ever since then I talk about your talent whenever I can because I truly enjoyed it! To be able to have to opportunity to share why other women should make you their choice already seems to come natural to me.
Q: What were you nervous about coming into the session?
A: Feeling confident in the outfits is always what makes me the most nervous.
Q: What was something you did to calm your nerves before your big day?
A: I got my rest and had my morning cup of coffee. There really isn’t more I can do to prepare.
Q: What would you say to another women who was considering doing a session with me?
A: No matter what your vision is for the session Ginger will help you make it turn out better then you thought. She has a way of making you feel comfortable and not worrying about looking or feeling awkward. She always gives great advice and direction throughout the entire process.
Q: What did I do for/with you that was most helpful?
A: All of your directions, I couldn’t make it work without knowing how to keep my hands from looking awkward in some poses. And whenever you remind me to take a breath!
Q: How did you feel when you left the studio the day of your session?
A: I felt great and excited about all the fun we had.
Q: What is the best thing you took away from your session?
A: I just feel empowered about having a healthy self image and then feeling passionate that every woman should feel sexy and ignore everything mainstream media fills our pretty heads with!
Reach out to me today and let’s start planning your very own confidence building boudoir session.

Exposed

Posted in Boudoir
 Richmond, Virginia Boudoir Photographer
Q: What were you nervous about coming into the session?
A: Being exposed and showing the body that the three children I have helped create.
I work with a LOT of mothers and this part of Miss A’s interview rings true for so many of us. Being exposed in front of the camera can be anxiety inducing for us because we just don’t know what to expect. What if we look worse than we do in our heads? What if we look short, fat, old (insert fear here)..? Often our bodies change so much post baby that many of us don’t recognize ourselves. Especially if we don’t regularly practice showing up in pictures. I know you know what I mean!!! Mom is the one always taking but never IN the pictures. We need to see ourselves. We need to show up in pictures. We need to be exposed. I think the more we expose ourselves to our image the more comfortable we are accepting ourselves as we are at this, and every other, stage of life. We see our image often enough to not be surprised by changes. To have time to embrace our new looks and run with it.
For your session I will work with you to make sure you aren’t surprised, well you’ll be surprised but in a good way. I talk with you about styling before your session so you know what to bring that will work for your body and the vision you have for the images. I pose you from your hair to your toes so don’t worry about not knowing what to do with your body. You don’t have to know, that’s my job!! I even guide you through making sensual expressions. When you come to me I’ll help you every step of the way to get you prepared and relaxed. You have to participate too by being willing to surrender to the process. Let me help you get exposed in a big way. Let’s schedule a consultation and start talking about how I can help you regain a sense of who you are and get back that confidence you’ve been missing. Email me today!
Want to read the rest of Miss A’s interview? Keep scrolling!!
Miss A’s Ambassador Interview:
Q: Why did you pick me for to be your photographer?
A: I had heard wonderful things about you and it’s seen a lot of your photography on multiple friends pages and have wanted to do a Boudoir session and just thought that this would be the greatest opportunity possible for me to do it and to do it with you.
Q: Favorite piece of lingerie you brought for your session?
A: My birthday suit!
Q: What prompted you to do an Ambassador session rather than a private session?
A: Of course the free aspect caught my eye but also being able to promote the beautifulness of being a mother of three and still having the balls to get up and do something like this.
Q: What were you nervous about coming into the session?
A: Being exposed and showing the body that the three children I have helped create
Q: What was something you did to calm your nerves before your big day?
A: Kept telling myself over and over that I am beautiful… stretch marks and all
Q: What would you say to another women who was considering doing a session with me?
A: Do it go for it don’t even hesitate
Q: What did I do for/with you that was most helpful?
A: You were so down-to-earth and calm and just you and that made me very comfortable in my own skin and just let me let loose and have fun
Q: How did you feel when you left the studio the day of your session?
A: I felt completely beautiful I didn’t want to leave I wanted to stay and take more pictures and just bask in that feeling all day when I got home I didn’t even want to wash my face to remove that makeup because I just felt so incredibly beautiful and it’s been a long time since I felt that way
Q: What is the best thing you took away from your session?
A: In every woman there is a beautiful sexual being and we all need to find it and own it
Q: What could I have done better?
A: You were perfect everything you did was above and beyond what I had expected out of a Boudoir photographer

Hot mamas

Posted in Boudoir

On this mothers day let’s pay tribute to all the hot ass moms out there. Ladies I love you! Thanks for letting us know that being a mom doesn’t require us to hand in our “sexyAF” card. We had it, we still got it, gonna keep it!

Hot mom!

Yup another hot mom!! 

You guessed it, hot!!!

Hot hot hot!!!

What’s that? Being a mom is still hot? Got it! 

See all the hotness? 

Yes ALL the hotness. 

Mom’s still got her sexy. 

That’s right!! We can be moms and still be seductive. 

Still sensual!!!

Still totally hot as hell. 

Being a mom does not mean you give up on being a woman first. 

It doesn’t mean you trade in the hot lingerie for granny panties. 

It doesn’t mean you stop wanting to have someone caress you over every inch of your hot mom body. 

Being a mom doesn’t have to be the end of feeling attractive. 

Feeling stunning. 

Feeling wanted

Feeling desired

Feeling valued. 

Nope. Being a mom is not the end of your sensuality. 

Sure as hell doesn’t stop your beauty cold. 

And it doesn’t mean you give up on  your sexual desires. 

It might take a minute to remember that before you were mama,

You were YOU!!!! 

That same woman is in there still. 

This mothers day celebrate her. 

Embrace her. 

Tell her she is the most important woman in the world. 

And remind her that tuning in to her sensual self is an act of self love. 

Own your hotness mama!!! 

Happy Mothers Day guys!!!

 

What’s my name?

Posted in Personal

Richmond, VA Boudoir Photographer

Oh hey Richmond! How ya been? I figured it’s been a minute since I’ve properly introduced myself  here so Hello!! I’m Ginger, your boudoir photographer, sexiness guide, confidence groomer. Now you know my name so let’s dive in a little deeper so you can get to know know more about me before you let me photograph you in your lingerie. Where to start? How about I just throw out little random details about who I am and where I’m coming from? Ok, here goes!!

I’m going to be 45 this year and that is both scary and exciting. Not everyone gets to roam the Earth that long so I’m going with 45’s a good thing! That and I feel so much more at peace in my world than I have in the past so yeah 45 is gonna be big.

I’m a mother of 3 and a step mom to 4. I got my first step kid with my second marriage and my other 3 with my current marriage. When people ask me how many kids I have and I say 7 they look at me like I’m nuts. It’s a lot to keep track of, even for me. It’s gotten to the point where the kids all know if I’m looking at them I’m talking to them and no it doesn’t matter who’s name I just called you. Small army chaos for the win!!! Being a good mom is honestly one of my proudest accomplishments. I made people!!! 3 times! My kids know I adore them. They are my reason for doing anything worth a shit with my life. Really! Without them I’d live in a tent on the beach….wait that doesn’t sound so bad either haha.

Oh yeah I’ve been married 3 times and yes third time is a charm!!! It took me this long to figure out who I am well enough to be able to find a partner who can roll with me.  We have a lot to keep up with and that’s ok! He does a fantastic job of walking by my side through all of the crazy and all of the joy that comes into our lives. I’m pretty dam lucky and so is he. It’s amazing to me that two people can be so well suited for each other. He brings out the best in me, even when I’m feeling at my worst. All the mushy, lovey, gooey, feels.

I love being on the ocean, in the ocean and on the beach. The more blue the water the happier I am! My retirement plan involves ocean views and sea turtles.

I also love getting outside camping and hiking and Virginia has so much to offer in this department. I love living here!

And did I mention waterfalls? I’m on a mission to see all of the waterfalls in VA. We hike any weekend that the weather allows it. No I am not hearty enough to hike in the rain or snow.

I occasionally get on the other side of the lens so I can see just how much work I make you guys do for your session. I try to behave and do what my photographer says but mostly I’m a sassy brat. Then again, it wouldn’t be me if I took myself to seriously. But really I do try to have my own portraits made at least every couple of years so I can remember what I’m asking of you guys. It’s funny how nervous I get. You’d think I’d know exactly what to do on the other side but alas I’m human too. I still get insecure and I still worry that I’m not going to like how I look in pictures. PS my friend Linda at Awesome Sauce Photography did these and I LOVE THEM. Even the ones of me being….well being me.

I get asked quite often why I shoot boudoir and not much else (really I do high school senior portraits and head shots too but boudoir is my primary focus). Honestly I do it to feel good. I get such a boost out of taking another woman from a place where she is trying to gain back some of her self esteem and pushing her past her limiting thoughts. I gain from it too. Maybe even just as much as she does. I spend a lot of time looking at pictures online and in magazines. I’ll be honest, though we’ve made some progress in the body diversity shown in advertising, TV  and movies, it’s not enough. We are still having a one size fits all approach to beauty shoved down our throats and people digest that. We are fed it so often we believe it’s still true. We believe we aren’t worthy of love if we don’t fit the mold.  I work with my clients to help them see that they, in point of fact, are just fine, right now. Right as you are today. When I get to help another woman make that break through it helps me look in the mirror and say, hey guess what, all that shit you’ve shared with your clients, those nuggets of wisdom, bits of love, encouragement and boosting her up, that shit applies to you too self. So I guess at the end of the day I do it because I selfishly want to feel beautiful too and when I see you all owning your beauty then I’m allowed to own mine too. Now I know full well I don’t need your permission or approval to see myself as gorgeous but man there is safety in numbers and knowing you are not alone feels so dam good. When you rise, I rise and we are stronger together. We are living in an amazing time I think. We are on the brink of allowing people to just fucking be. It’s exciting to me. So yeah, that’s why I do what I do.

Let’s not be strangers go request to join the studio’s Facebook VIP group and join in the conversations over there.

Want more info on how a boudoir photography session works? Email me through the contact page and let’s chat!

 

5 things to do before your boudoir session

Posted in Boudoir, Richmond Boudoir

Richmond, Virginia Boudoir and Beauty Photographer

These are the 5 things I suggest every woman do before her boudoir photo session.

1. Relax! For real!! You’re in good hands here and it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’re going to laugh and talk and probably lose track of time because we’re having such a good time. It’s not going to be as hard as you might be building it up to be. So breathe deeply and relax.

 

2. Get a good bra fitting. This one is especially important if you haven’t had a fitting in the last 2 years. If you have recently gained or lost weight, or built muscle, or if you just don’t know what looks good on you anymore. Tell the fitter what you’re doing and what you’re hoping to achieve with your wardrobe looks. Most of the local lingerie shops know who I am so tell them about it. It’s exciting for them to help you shop for this occasion too. Try more than one store and don’t give up until you find a bra that makes you say “Hell yeah, this is the one”. Oh and don’t forget to get the matching pantie while you’re there.

 

3. Treat yourself to a mani/pedi. Go to your favorite salon and treat yourself to a relaxing day of pampering a few days before your session. This will help get your nails and toes looking fabulous for your photos, yes we’ll see your nails quite a bit. It’ll also help with tip #1.

4.  Shop early. A lot of my clients tell me that shopping for lingerie is one of the most intimidating parts of this process. I suggest you start early. Try on new styles. Go to several local shops. Even places you wouldn’t normally think of for lingerie can have hidden gems. Remember too that your bra and pantie set is really more of a foundation piece and not so much a lingerie item so only bring 1 knock out set. Try to order some more unique, fun, pieces online. If you start early you’ll have plenty of time to return items you didn’t love or to get things in another size. We also do a style consultation before your boudoir session so you’ll have a pretty good idea of where to shop and what to look for before you even set out on your shopping adventure.

 

5. Become mindful of your inner dialogue. I’m talking about they way you talk to yourself. Do you say things like “I’m to fat to try that kind of outfit” “I don’t have big enough boobs to pull that look off” “My stomach is gross””My butt isn’t big enough/to big”. Those “I’m to much” or “I’m not enough” messages can kill your self esteem and stress you out before your session. My suggestion, stop. Stop saying mean shit to yourself. Stop it today!!! If you wouldn’t say it to your daughter, sister, or BFF, then you need not say it to yourself either. Turn those thoughts around. It’s inevitable that we’re going to think negatively from time to time but we can stop those thoughts from becoming our words. If you utter a hateful thought to yourself, apologize to yourself, and replace that negative thought with 3 kind statements, say them out loud too. When you work toward speaking more kindly to yourself it will help you start to treat yourself more gently and forgive your “imperfections”.  Work on loving yourself better and eventually it’ll become your regular way of thinking.

Richmond boudoir is the sexy side of 422 Studio. Located in Richmond VA and serving up boudoir, aka beauty, glamour, intimate portraits, lingerie photos, what ever you’d like to call it since 2007. Let’s get you into the studio for your very own confidence boosting photo session.

 

 

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