Written by: Koby & Terilyn Brown – Archetype Studio

Romantic. Ethereal. Timeless. These are the words we want brides to think of when they look through our boudoir portfolio. As artists, we are always striving to define our style and break away from the pack. After a little more than a year of research and development focused on launching our boudoir line, a clear direction began to emerge and we have been refining it ever since.

Walk with me and I’ll take you down our little path along the process.

Koby and I had photographed a few boudoir sessions by request over the years, but until we re-branded in 2011 it was never something we advertised, or put extensive research into. But the destination wedding market became our specific target and this put us in front of a new (to us) breed of clientele. About half the brides we booked requested boudoir sessions, and Koby and I agreed this was an area worth our time and effort.

The glamour style bed sheets and risqué lingerie boudoir photography we are all familiar with is widely available to brides, and at a price point below where we needed to be. Our research made it clear that we had to be different, and offer something special. After extensive brainstorming sessions, discussions with select clients, and with a new appreciation for the power of a triple espresso, we decided to start by styling some test shoots in a setting that was as far away from the idea of a hotel room bed as we could think of … outdoors.

Our first few test shoots were well received so we began further refinement to offer an all-inclusive session – most significantly including wardrobe. We found two things that the brides appreciated:

1.They were busy, and grateful not having to shop for the session. 

2.They didn’t know where to shop for the style of wardrobe we wanted them to wear.

The advantage to us, beyond the service it provided the bride, was that including wardrobe allowed us to control the overall style and feel of the final photographs.

We also discovered how much that natural lighting contributed to our focus of standing apart from glamour style boudoir.

We need the soft airiness it provides to complement our style. Best place to find natural light? Outdoors! I’ll admit that finding secluded places to work is a constant challenge. Add the complications of hair and makeup on site, rain, and sometimes no access to a bathroom, and every session is a bit of an adventure.

Ultimately, our goal is to provide each bride with an exceptional, personalized experience. The final product is foremost in our minds throughout the process. We put great effort into creating the photographs, and we need an exciting, tangible presentation to match the client’s investment. From the quality of the wardrobe and styling to the final album, only the very best will do. We quickly found that offering elegant choices, and keeping the selection process simple, was most effective, and Queensberry is a perfect fit.

It’s exciting to see current trends in boudoir photography leaning more and more into unique styles that branch away from traditional glamour looks. We very much look forward to the continual refinement of our own brand of work and a whole new season of brides this year!

Terilyn Brown