All About Me!

My goal as a Boudoir Photographer is to make EVERY woman feel beautiful! In the end the pictures may be a gift for their significant other but it also allows me to give women the gift of feeling confident! I know most women think they could never do boudoir photos because of their size, skin tone, stretch marks, etc.. Well I'm here to tell them and show them that those things make us who we are! We are BEAUTIFUL!

Do you want to know more about your photographer? Well here you are so that’s a good assumption the answer is yes and here you will learn! I’m pretty much an open book so feel free to ask me anything, within reason that is! If you have read my “All about Me” blog post on my Kirsten Ray Photography blog, this is somewhat like it but I have edited to it fit this blog.  

My personality is pretty laid back. I’m a professional when it comes to business but once I get to know you I’m a fun professional. I like to joke around, I’m not up tight, and I’m definitely not all serious all the time. Every client I have had says in the end they feel like we have been friends for years and a majority of my boudoir clients and I do end up becoming friends.

Now on to the typical about me stuff. I’m 31, I have a 11 year old son who is in the 5th grade at Barr-Reeve. I’ve been married to my awesome husband since September 10, 2011. I graduated from Barr-Reeve in 2003. I didn’t play any sports or anything like that. My Junior and Senior year of High School I attended Twin Rivers Health Careers and became a CNA(certified nursing assistant) in 2002, when I was Junior. I started working in a nursing home at the age of 16. I just left the medical field at the end of 2016. I have worked in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care for 17 years. I truly enjoy helping people and taking care of them.
My parents have been together for 37 years. I have a sister who is 24. She is engaged to the love of her life and has been w/ him for 5 or 6 years, I can’t keep up. I’ve had many experiences in my life and I thank God that I have family who is always there for me. Life should never be taken for granted! I have been taught that lesson many times over my lifetime.
I’ve loved photography since I was little and had a toy camera. When I actually started doing real photography I was in the 4th grade and I was in 4-H and did photography. I entered my project and won honorable mention and 1st place. I started my own photography business in 2014. I had been a second shooter/assistant for nearly 3 years prior to starting my own business. Even before I was a second shooter I did photography as a hobby and photographed just nature and landscape scenery.  

So that’s mostly all there is to tell. You can sign up for my newsletter where you will find out about deals, specials, contests, and exclusive discounts only available for newsletter subscribers. Just click here and you will be added.  Become a fan of my Facebook page at Boudoir by Kirsten Ray.

Erika's Boudoir Shoot/Questionnaire

Erika is my assistant and has been a second shooter for me at a wedding. She is also one of my best friends. We met when she booked me for her maternity session. I'll never forget that session/day. From that day on we talked and became friends then eventually best friends. She's always been there for me when I call on her. At the time she was to have her daughter we weren't close yet but I was supposed to photograph the birth of her beautiful daughter but they had to do a emergency c-section but I was still there waiting till she got to her room and was ready with my camera to get pictures of her daughter as soon as I could. I've been honored to take so many pictures for her and her family. And more importantly I've literally seen her daughter grow as she is now 18 months old. Some of her pictures are below. She also modeled for me for a pin up shoot so some of those are on here also.

 

1.‭ ‬What inspired you to do a boudoir shoot‭?
I had seen Kirsten's previous work in boudoir and it was very tasteful.‭ ‬The fact that she let's you decide how‭ "‬revealing‭" ‬you want your shoot to be is also a great thing.

2.‭ ‬What did you do to prepare for your photo shoot‭?
I did an exfoliating scrub and gave myself a light at home spray tan.‭ ‬I also looked up different types of boudoir photos online to decide what type of shoot I'd feel more comfortable doing.

3.‭ ‬What was your boudoir session like‭?
It was really fun‭! ‬Kirsten made me feel at ease and comfortable.‭ ‬Even her team‭ (‬makeup artist‭ & ‬hair stylist‭) ‬helped me relax and have fun with the shoot.

4.‭ ‬What did you enjoy the most about your session‭?
By the end of the session I felt like I had spent a day with friends rather than a stiff photo session.‭ ‬Also,‭ ‬the end result of my photos were amazing‭!

5.‭ ‬Who were your photos for‭?
My husband and also myself.‭ ‬We both loved them‭!

6.‭ ‬How do you feel about your photos‭?
They make me look amazing and feel great that I can look that beautiful.

7.‭ ‬Why should other women do a shoot for themselves‭?
It reminds that you are beautiful‭ & ‬sexy no matter your age or size.

8.‭ ‬If you were to recommend us to your best friend,‭ ‬what would you say‭?
Look no further‭! ‬Kirsten Ray Photography does it all‭!

9.‭ ‬How was your overall boudoir experience‭?
‭ ‬10/10,‭ ‬no doubt‭!

 

Mikeala’s Themed Shoot & Questionnaire

I had a lot of fun shooting this beautiful girl! She was such a natural! She is so beautiful! This was a fun themed shoot. One of my makeup artists did her makeup as a “mermaid” look. She was open to anything and was just simply so much fun! She was a bit nervous, as most ladies are but she really came to life!

1. What inspired you to do a boudoir shoot? My inspiration to do the shoot came from everyone around me telling me that it was something I would be good at. I never believed them, but I figured I could try it and see.

2. What did you do to prepare for your photo shoot? To prepare for my shoot, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest looking at similar shoots/poses. I wanted to have an idea of what looks best and things I wanted to try. I planned out my outfits and the way I wanted to look overall. Mainly, I just spent time building my own confidence.

3. What was your boudoir session like? My session was fun and adventurous. I was nervous starting out, but I became more comfortable with myself, Kirsten and everyone around me as the shoot went on.

4. What did you enjoy the most about your session? What I enjoyed most about my session was the improvising. I loved being able to go with the flow and doing what felt right.

5. How do you feel about your photos? I feel really good about my photos! I’m very proud of them. I saw every flaw and imperfection but I realized they didn’t matter because everything else in the photo was so great.

6. Why should other women do a shoot for themselves? I feel that other woman should do a shoot because it shows you how beautiful you are to other people. The preparation for the shoot, doing your hair, getting your make up done, picking the perfect outfits; those are all things every woman loves doing. Stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to experience things that you’re letting hold you back. Finally, the aftermath, seeing your photos and everyone else complimenting you, raises your confidence and how you feel about yourself.

7. If you were to recommend Boudoir by Kirsten Ray to your best friend, what would you say? I would say that being nervous is completely normal. Kirsten is great at telling you how great you look, and giving you advice on the poses she thinks would be best for you. I would recommend her because she lets you be yourself and lets you open up on your own time and own comfort level.

8. How was your overall boudoir experience? Overall my boudoir experience was great. This shoot being my first time, I didn’t know what to expect or what I was doing; I went with the flow and let it come natural. It was a lot of fun and something I would consider doing again!

Below are just a few of her awesome photos! To see more go to https://www.facebook.com/boudoirbykirstenray03/.

Ashley’s Boudoir Session/Questionnaire

Here are a few pictures from Ashley’s Boudoir Session and her post interview. Ashley and I have known each other since 2002 I think it was. We worked together as CNA’s. I had such a fun time photographing her. Her personality is so fun and perky!

1. What inspired you to do a boudoir shoot? Ashley Graham inspired me to be honest. I watched her become who she is and it made me realize that anyone can be beautiful no matter what. Also, I have always wanted people to know I don’t care what people think of my size. I love me for me. Seeing pictures that had been posted on Kirsten’s page kept making me want to do it more and more.

2. What did you do to prepare for your photo shoot? I picked out outfits that I felt comfortable in. I found things that suited me for the type of shoot. I wanted to do things that covered or showed off just enough of what I wanted it to show or not show. I also picked jewelry I thought would match well with outfits I was going to wear and that I could play with and have fun with. I researched poses and styles so I could better prepare myself on how I wanted to position myself. It’s not all up to the photographer to tell you what to do. Kirsten did send me some do’s and do not’s before a shoot which helped out a lot to prepare.

3. What was your boudoir session like? It was very fun and comfortable. It was exciting! I felt beautiful which made it easier to feel pretty when I was posing. Kirsten did a great job at helping make you feel great about yourself just by talking with you and telling you ways to pose and help you out too.

4. What did you enjoy the most about your session? Being able to let loose and being myself and not feeling like I’m being judged. You should be able to feel sexy and beautiful behind closed doors no matter the situation. Empower your beauty! The girls that were on set helping out as well as Kirsten helped make sure you were comfortable and that things you needed were where u needed and wanted it.

5. Who were your photos for? First they were for my husband. But then I realized there was a big part that was a lot for me. I wanted to boost my confidence, and feel better about myself. There is nothing wrong with that, it helps you look at things in such a different way.

6. How do you feel about your photos? I love my photos; each and every one captures me in a different way, and shows my true beauty. Kirsten did a great job at capturing the true me and making me feel comfortable and beautiful in my own skin.

7. Why should other women do a shoot for themselves? At first you are nervous and scared, but once she starts posing you and shooting you, you really start to feel so beautiful and confident. It makes you not care what others think about you. You can be any size and be beautiful. It’s about what’s on the inside!

8. If you were to recommend Kirsten Ray Photography to your best friend, what would you say? Don’t knock it until you try it. Give yourself a chance to feel free and beautiful! Kirsten is always trying to grow in her work and she gets better and better. I can’t wait to work with her again!

9. How was your overall boudoir experience? Great and I’m looking forward to my next.