With my wedding anniversary fast approaching, I found myself struggling to find the perfect gift for my husband. Being married to me for 11 years should earn him a gold medal but I wanted give him something a bit more intimate.
My friend Kelly suggested a "bedroom session" photo shoot with Amber Procaccini.
My first thought was "Why would my husband want photos of our bedroom?" As soon as I saw photos from other "bedroom sessions" I realized it wasn't about furniture or bed spreads.
Amber Procaccini is a Twin Cities photographer who is at the cutting edge of this latest craze known as the bedroom session photo shoot.
She will come to your home (you can also go to her studio) with makeup artist Julie Swenson to capture your inner diva on film.
It sounded like fun but I wondered if I had a sexy diva waiting to come out. There are times when I can barely pull off semi-decently dressed suburban mother, let alone sexy diva.
Just last Sunday I was in the church bathroom when I discovered that my underwear was not only on inside out but also backwards.
The sample photos of other bedroom sessions were of young, soon-to-be brides in beautiful lingerie, tastefully posed.
I tried to imagine myself in nothing but a bra and panties posing for the camera. Last month's root canal sounded more appealing to me than the idea of doing this.
I had a fear that I would show up for the photo shoot, strip down to my lingerie and the photographer would sternly say, "I'm sorry you misunderstood, but this is for young, skinny women whose bodies haven't been distorted by multiple pregnancies. Please put your clothes back on."
Interestingly my mind went right to what I felt was wrong with my body and why I couldn't do such a photo shoot.
This bothered me. Yes, I'm flirting with 40 and yes, I've had three kids, but I have just as much a right to do a bedroom session photo shoot as any young, hard- bodied bride. Suddenly I felt empowered.
The day of the photo shoot arrived, and I was nervous but ready to discover my inner diva.
Julie and Amber asked me what I had in mind for a theme or what I wanted to highlight. I'd given this much thought and decided that my focus should be my chest and hair since those are the physical traits my husband appreciates most about me.
I showed up in sweat pants, makeup-less and apprehensive. Within minutes I was transformed into a sultry, confident diva.
Julie styled my hair like it had never been styled before. I was thrilled to receive makeup tips on how to do the elusive "smoky eyes" that I have not been able to do myself. Mine often come out like raccoon eyes - again not sexy.
For the first part of the photo shoot I wore my husband's white dress shirt over a red bra. Little by little the shirt would slide off my shoulder or one more button would be undone.
About 30 minutes into it I had hit my sexy diva stride and was working those poses.
What I loved was that I was wearing more than I do to the beach but I still felt sensual. Much laughter, two hours and two outfits later we were done.
A few days later Amber sent me the first of the photos and my jaw dropped. Amber said that every woman should have a beautiful photo of herself and I see why now. Sometimes someone has to show you what they see before you see it yourself.
I'm proud of these photos. It took courage to strip down to my vulnerabilities. I faced my insecurities on my terms and won. The photos are a little racy but still tasteful.
Most of all I realized I don't just have an inner sexy diva, I am that sexy diva.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, April 13, 2009
Article comment by:
Megan
Heya!
I agree with the fact that every woman needs a beautiful photo of herself.
I think that in our day and age, we miss this. The opportunity for photos becomes an en mass, "Oh my god, don't show that to anyone". Camera phones, digital cameras, disposable cameras, photo discs, online printing, etc, etc. We take for granted that a "photo op" was once a very valuable moment. It's like technology in our fast paced world has set the art factor on the back burner.
I look at old pictures of the women in my family. They weren't the Walmart, Proex, graduation pictures. They were real pictures and expressed so much feminine history, power, tragedy, beauty - they told a story in that moment.
I want a picture like that. I want to see myself - as I WANT to be seen - and be able to look back on it years later and say, "Now that is a picture, that's me".
I think it's very important to have the right set up for this and it sounds like your team made that happen. Very cool!
Posted: Monday, April 13, 2009
Article comment by:
Sonja fisher
Wow that is daring and cool Natalie. Sonja
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Wendi Russo
You mean we're not hard-bodies after 40? ha! I loved the part where your underwear was inside out and backwards! But...where are the photos!!! I want to see!
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Kathy
Love it Natalie...You always make me want to get outside the box as well!
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Jim Gaskins
This article was fantastic! It was hilarious, and being near 40 myself, I can understand, at least somewhat, how someone feels a bit apprehensive about something like this. But I also think it's a good idea, a terrific present for a husband. More women should have the guts to do this to add some spark back into things! Natalie really puts herself out there and takes us along for the ride. Terrific!
