Lena in Prague : Virtual Boudoir Session
Lena and I have known each other since college, and though we’ve gone our separate paths, we reconnected last winter. Of course, with the pandemic we’re all cooped up, with nothing to do but read books, tend to our plants, and drink coffee. Well, almost…
Lena and I are both big fans of big plants (check out her Monsteras! And cacti! You know how rare that is in the Czech Republic?!), so I definitely wanted to incorporate those into the session, but at the same time I believe that boudoir photography is about creating a space in which we can simply be present and explore sensuality. Maybe that’s what makes virtual sessions so amazing, is the fact that since I’m not in the room, in a way it is a more pure reflection of the playful, sensual woman you see in the photographs. Before 2020, I’d only ever taken photographs in rooms in which I was present… but here, she is by herself, being herself in all her vulnerability and strength.
I usually don’t pre-plan my sessions very much, at least compared to some of my photographer friends, because I have found that for me, it is easy to over-think and become paralyzed creatively. On the other hand, thinking about these kind of things are what made me fall head over heels for this art, the way light and shadow and sensuality can come together as a poem. The more I sessions I do, the more I learn about others, and see things I didn’t notice before. Writing too, also gives me insights— sometimes you don’t really know what you think until the words spill out. (I highly recommend a journal or blog practice for all developing artists)
Anyway, let’s get back to some concrete details, shall we?
This session was a little bit challenging, because our video call suffered from somewhat spotty internet connection which became an issue towards the end of the session. Things like that happen sometimes, like getting caught in the rain. It’s up to you to decide whether to get angry that your socks are wet, or to enjoy the frantic run for shelter. In this case, I rather enjoy the slightly pixelated look in some photographs, especially towards the end. I think that in ten or twenty years, those pixels will be a humorous reminder of that lost year of 2020.
There I go again, getting all philosophical again. Tell you what, I’ll make my way over to the kitchen, and start up another round of coffee, while you take your time and enjoy this virtual boudoir session I shot with Lena.
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to chime in in the comments.
