reviews & testimonials

“Hey Laura!

“A heart break… some people cry, some party, others look for a different love, but what I did was Own My Sexy. I booked my shoot knowing that I had no one to give the pictures to other than myself…. I needed to feel beautiful… My heart was just broken and now I needed to love myself. What better than to see yourself through the eye of a camera lens… the eye of Laura and the magic touch of Sasha. It still feels like a fairytale, my two fairy god mothers really made a difference for me. I owned my sexy! I felt it! I see it! I remember it! And now I can live it! These pictures in which I look and feel beautiful are for MYSELF, I am my own special someone. I wouldn’t be able to feel like this without the help of the wonderful Photographer Laura and the wonderful Makeup Artist Sasha. Now that I “own my sexy” I will most definitely pass the word around so everyone can learn to own it. Thank you girls! For helping make this the begining of a wonderful sexy year. (It’s my birthday and I’m owning it).

“Thank you Laura! Really!! THANK YOU!”

~Alyssa

“One of the best and most memorable parts of my wedding day was opening my wife’s gift to me.  The photo book was an incredibly thoughtful surprise.  Seeing my wife in this way was so unexpected, especially the pictures of her with my wedding tie minutes before getting to see her walk down the aisle.  The pictures were beautiful.  I know this is a gift I will absolutely keep and cherish forever.”

~Chris (Rachael’s husband)

“I always knew that I wanted to do a Boudoir Session as a wedding present to my husband, but I was pretty nervous when it came time to book the session and have the photos taken.  Laura made me feel so comfortable and at ease throughout the whole photo shoot.  It also helped that I had my hair and make-up done by Sasha.  I have never felt so beautiful. I didn’t get to witness my husband opening the gift for the first time, but I’ve seen his reaction dozens of times since then, and I know it’s the exact same reaction that he had the first time!  I can’t wait to do another photo session as an anniversary gift in the future!”

~Rachael

“Hi Laura,

“I just wanted to thank you for the amazing shoot today.  I was a bundle of nerves on my way to you, so concerned with my own body image issues (especially  being on the heavier side for me at the moment), but all the nerves went out the window when I arrived. Your studio is so welcoming & you made me feel comfortable from the start. Sasha did an awesome job on my hair & makeup, and you were so patient & helpful with me in picking out my outfits and choosing from your ridiculous selection of shoes (OMG they are fabulous!!!). Even when I was getting dressed and started hearing the negative voices in my head, your little plaques with positive words kicked me back into gear.  By the time you started shooting, I was amazed at how comfortable you made me feel. Any self consciousness I had flew out the window & I never had one negative thought, I just had fun & literally owned my own sexy.  :) Yay!!!

“The results speak for themselves, I couldn’t believe that I could look like that!! Loving yourself when you have weight issues is a process, but today was a huge milestone for me. You helped me truly  see my own beauty, huge moment! I even sent a few pictures to my friends & their jaws dropped! “stunning”, “AMAZING”, “OMG!!!!”, “Wowsa”, were just some of the responses. You really do an awesome job and I have already recommended, and will continue to recommend you. I think every woman needs to do this for themselves, it is the best gift they can give their self esteem. Thanks again, & I can’t wait to see the album!!

“I was wanting to do a boudoir session as a gift to my husband for some time but cost and body image issues kept me from it.  Also, I just didn’t feel comfortable with any of the photographers I looked at. When I saw Laura’s living social deal I checked out her website and was sold. Her philosophy and the pictures she had taken were exactly what i was looking for; real women, fun and sexy.

I was nervous before my session but from the moment I entered the studio Laura made me feel at ease. I had so much fun with Laura and zelaya, who did my hair and makeup, that I wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable at all during the entire session.  I had no idea how I should pose but Laura walked me through it and I was surprised how natural looking the photos turned out!  I left feeling amazing and sexy and dying to tell my husband about it!

Laura thank you so much! you are amazing and I would love to do another session someday!  And then maybe a maternity session, a newborn session, family photos…”

~Ruth

 

“What an amazing experience!!! Laura [Vanlandingham] is an amazing photographer!!! I got a Boudoir Photo Shoot and it was amazing!

“The studio is super cute and cozy and I felt comfortable immediately! I started with hair and makeup. I opted to get hair and makeup professionally done which I highly recommend!!! Johnny nailed the look that I hoped for! He was also very gentle which is a plus!! Laura is super prepared and even had false lashes on site which completed my look amazingly!”Next was wardrobe. I brought my own lingerie but Laura had an amazing selection of sexy lingerie, shoes, accessories and anything you may possibly need! I ended up using a corset and shoes from her closet which ended up taking my look to another level!! Laura is extremely helpful and helped me suit up.

“Next was the actual photo shoot. I am normally clumsy and very self conscious of my body but Laura made me feel soo comfortable and at ease that she brought out my glam goddess! She gives awesome direction and really helped with my poses. She had some really great ideas about positions, hand placement, lighting and direction. *** I had two different looks with three different scenes.

“45 mins later I was about to see my pictures! When I saw the fist picture my first thought was “OMG is that me!” I could not believe that was me! The pictures where everything that I wanted! She totally captured the look I was going for! They were very sexy, sensual, intimate and tasteful! We went through each picture and made our selections. I ended up getting a Classic Book with about 27 pictures. I can’t wait to see the finalized pictures!

“I would definitely recommend Laura as a photographer for every picture need!!! She is very professional, helpful and extremely talented!”

~Veronica

“Laura,

 

“I just wanted to thank you again for a wonderful experience yesterday. I felt comfortable the minute I walked into your studio. Your direction throughout the shoot just made everything so easy and effortless. I was truly amazed at what I saw when we sat down to look at the photos together. Thank you for capturing what I don’t usually see when I look into the mirror. I will definitely spread the word about you:-) You are awesome at what you do!

 

“I look forward to seeing the finished product, and then of course, the look on my husband’s face when he opens the card and album! I almost wish I had spent a little more money on the last few I couldn’t decide on, but I know I will be happy with what I get.

 

“Thanks again,

Kate”

“Hey Laura! I just wanted to thank you again for the amazing book! My fiancé absolutely LOVED it! The day I gave it to him was his birthday and yet I came home to a bouquet of flowers! LOL! He couldn’t stop talking about it and said it was the best present he had ever been given Thanks again!!!!”

“Hi Laura!

“I LOVE the album and my images!!! Wow! You’re so right—every woman should do this. It really helps you to see yourself in a new light, and to boost your self-confidence that you’re gorgeous just the way you are. Yay! I can’t wait to show the pictures to my friends, but I want [my husband] to see them first, of course. The hard part is waiting to hear people’s reactions—haha! 

“Thanks so much again, Laura—I can’t speak highly enough of your work, and how fun/easy/comfortable you are to work with!!

“All the best,

~Mary”

“I had such a great time during the Boudoir Photo shoot with Laura! She is so warm and made me feel confident and relaxed. I enjoyed every second of the photo shoot. She has a good eye and brings out the best of you. It’s a significant experience which every woman should have.”

~Maya

“In addition to being an exceptional photographer Laura is a wonderful person…she made me feel beautiful and at ease. Laura has an incredible eye for capturing the loveliest moments and making a woman look her very best. I enjoyed every moment of the process and I could not be happier with the results. It was a truly great experience! “

~Jenna

“Being self-conscious and awkward for as long as I can remember, I walked into Laura’s studio nervous and still not 100% sure of what I was doing. Thankfully Laura and Sasha put me at ease immediately!  I loved everything about the shoot that day and still can’t believe how good my pictures turned out!”  

~Lucy

“I am completely blown away at Laura’s editing skills, the photos came out so polished and professional. I mean I wasn’t expecting to look like Boudoir Barbie but I was especially nervous to see how my self-proclaimed flaws would play out in pictures. The end result was impressive, she really goes above and beyond to show the very best of you, and maybe smooth over the not so best of you. Kudos Laura, and thanks for the awesome shoot!!”

~Anna

“When Laura first approached me about doing a boudoir shoot, my first thought was, ‘Oh I don’t know… I hate my stomach pooch, and I hate my hips cuz they’re wide which just makes my butt look wide too, plus my skin is so pasty white… and there’s no way I’ll be comfortable rolling around scantily clad in front of a photographer hearing the clicking of a camera…!!!’ But then, as time went on, I thought about it in a different way, ‘you know what,’ I thought, ‘I’m only going to get uglier as the years march on… so maybe I should just summon my inner vixen and take this as an opportunity to face some of my body issues and celebrate the whole kit and ka-booty!’

“So I did! And can I tell you something?… I. HAD. A. BLAST. — Ladies… DO IT. You will have so much fun. Seriously… Laura is not only an extraordinary photographer, but she’s also an extraordinary woman who will put you at ease immediately. Before you know it, you’ll be rolling around like you’ve been doing boudoir shoots for years! I have never felt so in touch with my feminity. Truly. I finished the shoot feeling beautiful, sexy as hell, and realizing that my body is beautiful… as ALL of ours are. Laura – thank you for that.

“So ladies, jump in! Let yourself play… I promise you’ll have fun, and I promise you’ll finish with a new appreciation for yourself and your body. We are women! Let us bud-ROAR!”

~Kate

“I purchased a promotion for a Mini Shoot.  It was my first boudoir photo session.  A bit nervous at first, but within 5 mins it was so much fun and Laura made it completely easy and comfortable.  She had a ton of accessories for me to play with, her sets are classy and sexy, plus she had my favorite songs playing in the background. “For every girl that never did a boudoir shoot… it’s a must!!”

~Sukie

“I was first introduced to Laura Vanlandingham’s work when I saw the gorgeous boudoir photos of a friend and fellow writer, Rachel Kramer Bussel. The pictures were breathtakingly glamorous and classy, but also had an intimate quality that captured Rachel’s humor and openness as well as her beauty. I immediately wondered what it would be like to do a session myself, but quickly dismissed it as pure fantasy. At 48, I was far beyond the age even to pretend to be worthy of the camera’s attention.

“Coincidentally, a few weeks later an older friend mentioned she was planning to do a light-hearted pin-up-style boudoir session for her husband’s birthday. Her sense of fun–and faith in airbrushing–was infectious, and I figured why not take the leap myself? It also gave me an excuse to indulge my life-long love of Victorian finery by buying a peacock blue made-to-order corset to match my eyes from a local specialty shop.

“Bombarded as we all are by pictures of models of the “perfect” age and size, I think every ordinary woman gets a little nervous before she poses for a photographer, especially dressed in nothing but her underwear. Fortunately, Laura’s website was very helpful, with tips for shopping, practicing poses and deciding just what I wanted out of the session. When I arrived at Laura’s studio, I was even more reassured that this would be an exciting and comfortable collaboration. Although middle-aged women are supposed to be invisible, I knew I felt much sexier, more confident and more me than I was at 25. I certainly felt bold and beautiful as I lounged about on the sets to the sultry sounds of my favorite jazz tunes, responding to Laura’s gentle instructions and encouragement.

“Viewing the results in the slide show that day was a powerful experience. The brilliant colors and composition were as artful as any painting, and yet I truly think these portraits capture the “real” me—on my best days! My husband is crazy about my album, too, although he told me I’m always this beautiful to him. That’s when I realized that Laura’s camera looks at her subjects not with the harsh judgment we often give ourselves, but with the eyes of love. And through her magic, I was able to appreciate my own sexiness in a whole new way. Thanks, Laura, for a marvelous and unforgettable adventure!”

~Donna George Storey

“Laura has helped me OWN my sexy. The flirt session i had with her was really comfortable and easy. And as a result, i have these beautiful captivating images. She has a great eye. I highly recommend her.”

~Jennifer

“Recently, a dear friend of mine offered me a boudoir session with Rue Boudoir. I eagerly accepted, but wasn’t quite sure what I had signed on for! Having had a lifelong struggle with my weight, I was overwhelmed with feelings of excitement and fear. On the inside, I’d always been the Vargas pinup type, but I didn’t know if I’d finally be able to make it happen on the outside. Would I be comfortable enough to really take this plunge?

“All of that dissipated when I was introduced to Ms. Laura Vanlandingham. There is something about her that puts one instantly at ease. Maybe it’s the easy Carolinian drawl. But after our telephone chat, I felt I was in great hands.

“When I arrived, Laura, her assistant Amanda, and Mia, the makeup artist, were gracious and seemed to share my excitement. They offered refreshments, explained what the day would be like, and we set to work and play! Everyone was supportive and relaxed, open to ideas, and made wonderful suggestions. Despite a packed shooting schedule and a rainstorm of biblical proportions, Laura and her staff seemed unruffled. The shoot felt safe and private (any insecurities I had were addressed and dispelled), and the mood was quietly electric.

“I must say I am *so* pleased with the results! This experience has given me a brand of liberation that can’t be found in stores. Or gyms. Or in the surgeon’s chair. Every woman should avail herself of this opportunity. It feels amazing to know that all I have to bring to the table is me, my favorite lingerie, and a little courage, and after Laura works her magic, this is what I get back!

“I had reviewed some of Laura’s wedding shots and was struck by her dazzling use of color. Like Laura herself, the photos were serene and pastel with sassy bursts of brights that bloom forth like a crocus in wintery field. …and that’s the gift that she has given to me. The opportunity to blossom. Thank you, Laura!”

~Jasmin

” ‘Hello, my name is Melanie and I am a full-time student.’

“Most days, I feel like that student title is my identity, and I fight getting lost in the daily grind constantly. No matter what age, we females always have something that keeps us from being the sexy beautiful women that we are. Shooting the boudoir session with Laura was a GREAT way to be reminded of this side of myself. To have a few hours to get dolled up in makeup, jewels, and lace was not only a stress reliever but a total blast!!

“Every woman deserves a time to induldge in themselves and celebrate their femininity. So ladies, whatever your motivations are for considering setting up a session for yourself – make sure you go into it ready to shrug off the cares of the day and find your inner sex kitten.”

~Melanie

“I could not have been happier with the boudoir photos I had done with Laura. I was very hesitant to have boudoir photos done at all, but I had seen a few friends do them as wedding gifts for their husbands and really wanted to do it. Laura was amazing. The entire experience was comfortable and extremely fun. The hair and makeup artist Laura used was wonderful, Laura’s help choosing wardrobes for the shoot was great…and the photos are amazing!! I truly never felt more elegant or more beautiful…and my husband loved the album Laura made as a sexy secret wedding gift! If you are considering budoir photos, look no further.  check out her gallery at http://ownyoursexy.com…you will be so happy you did!”

~Gina