Madame Professor | Harrisburg PA Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography
“Madame Professor” had me and my team in tears from laughing so much during her session. During the planning portion of her session, Madame Professor randomly emailed me and asked if she could be photographed with donuts because her boyfriend loves donuts. I wish you could have seen my face as I read THAT email. Like, how in the world do I make donuts look sexy in a boudoir session?! But I think I succeeded and we had a blast making her vision come to light.
Madame Professor is, as the name suggests, a professor, and because of her job we agreed it was best to keep her identity private, but that also means images with her face aren’t shareable, including most of the donut images.
That’s OK! I think you’ll still enjoy the two images I am sharing, as well as I think you’ll enjoy her client interview. Please take a moment to read over her answers and if you find you can relate to her, contact me to schedule your complimentary phone consult to discuss how you want to be photographed.
How long have you been wanting to do a boudoir/contemporary glamour session and what made you decide now was the time to do one?
I, like many women, struggle with not feeling “good enough,” not “pretty enough”… just not “enough” in general. Yet externally, I get validation from others. They tell me I AM pretty enough and good enough. I rarely believed them. I wanted to see what everyone else supposedly sees, and I knew I couldn’t see myself on my own, as strange as that sounds. I needed help. I needed to see myself in the way others see me instead of the lens with which I commonly see myself: my wounded childhood lens. When I was a kid, I had buck teeth and “four eyes.” I believed I was ugly. My beliefs were “confirmed” when I was chosen last for the kickball team in the elementary playground, every time we went out for recess. Those beliefs, while pushed down, are still inside of me. I wanted to heal that wound and see myself through an adult lens.
Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography
What made you decide Shannon Hemauer was the photographer to work with to do your boudoir/contemporary glamour session?
Her writing. I’m an English major and writing professor. Shannon’s words got to me. So eloquent. So thorough. She made me FEEL something—she made me feel like I could trust her. Her writing had power. Her writing and subsequent email communications and further follow ups nailed it for me.
What was your favorite part out of the entire experience? The planning, the session, the reveal?
There isn’t a favorite “part.” The whole experience was my favorite!!!
Did you leave your session worried about your hair/makeup (Maybe you thought the makeup was too dark or your hair didn’t look like you.)?
Nope! I had complete confidence that Shannon and her team had everything under control.
Did you leave your session worried that the posing felt awkward?
Nope! I come from a bodybuilding background and there is nothing in the world that’s more awkward than posing for competition. The posing with Shannon felt ultra-feminine. And I loved that!!!
What were you more nervous about—the session or the reveal?
The reveal. I was afraid I’d hate everything. Turns out I bought more than I can probably afford but I feel like it was worth it. Healing some deeply buried childhood wounds is priceless.
Did you arrive to the reveal worried if you’d like your images?
Yup!
Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography
What did you think when you saw that first image of yourself?
I was truly astonished. I kept saying “that one looks so good.” That one?!? At one point, I realized what I was saying and I replaced “that one” with “I,” as in “OMG, I cannot believe ‘that one’ is me. I AM good enough. Pretty enough.”
If you had been worried about the hair/makeup/posing, did you like what you saw in your portraits?
Yes. I was realllllyyyyy uncertain about that bright pink lipstick. Turned out that the lipstick was amazing!
How did shooting this session with Shannon Hemauer change your outlook on yourself? Are you more confident?
Yessssssss!!!!! By leaps and bounds! On the drive home from the shoot, I’d caught a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror. I’d left my makeup on and when I saw myself, I thought, “Oh! You’re not so bad!”
Before this experience, did you feel you were photogenic? If no, do you feel you are photogenic now?
Hell no! I hate my nose! And Shannon found a way to make it look nice!!!!
Before this experience, what concerns did you have in regards to hiring a photographer?
That the photographer would be creepy or a fraud or would abuse my trust.
Were you surprised at how much fun you had planning your session, shooting your session, and seeing your images?
Yesssss!!!! Planning was a hoot! Finding outfits was stressful but fun! The shoot was a riot. We laughed our asses off. Seeing my images…. I still can’t believe that those images in the reveal movie are of me. I can’t believe that those images are what I look like. I didn’t know. And now I know.
Why should other women do a boudoir/contemporary glamour session with Shannon Hemauer Photography?
Because it is truly an empowering experience. I have so many body issues and trust issues, and yet, I felt so incredibly safe with Shannon and her team.
Is there anything I could have done to improve upon your experience?
Well… maybe if my tits didn’t shoot out the sides of my glamour gown…or if she’ll let me bring glamour donuts to my next shoot…or if maybe she can find me some hot pink footies to wear instead of my acid green ones?!?
I say all of the time I don’t “just” shoot boudoir sessions. I empower women.
And in case you’re wondering how she gave the images to her boyfriend, she picked up an empty donut box from Dunkin’ Donuts and placed 13 of the images in the box—she said she gave him a baker’s dozen of portraits!
A big thank you to my lead stylist, Nath Kreider, for helping Madame Professor step out of her comfort zone and try a bright pink lip color! And to my assistant Dianna, who helped arrange the donuts so beautifully on the silver platter Madame Professor brought to her session.
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Madame Professor | Harrisburg PA Boudoir | Shannon Hemauer Photography
