I took a peak at my previous sessions while putting together a Vixen Book portfolio album to show to clients, with my favorite images that I’ve taken, and I realized that October 22nd will mark one year since I did my first boudoir shoot  ever. One of my girlfriends, Arielle (who is a model up in Minot, ND where we were stationed at the time) offered to pose for me so I could even see if I liked doing boudoir (notice it says “Ashley Durham Photography” in the logo, jeez!). I was SUCH a nervous wreck before the shoot – I wasn’t really into lingerie and hadn’t even been to a Pure Romance type of party, I was notorious for blushing and kind of being a prude. Yeah – for real. But one of my very good friends Jessica – who also happens to be a kick ass photographer – had started doing these shoots called “boudoir” – and I fell in love with her work. It was seriously a HUGE “a-ha” moment (thank you, Oprah) for me. I thought … these images are nothing to prudish about, or blush about – and they’re beautiful and reading the comments from her clients about how much the shoot helped their self-esteem, made them realize their inner (and outer) beauty, and so many more positive responses … it totally lit a fire under my ass to do the shoot, even if it was just a trial and a one-time thing.

I did the shoot, and Arielle’s husband Casey came along to watch. We did it in my little studio in my house, and I am pretty sure it was Arielle’s first time doing any shoot in lingerie and it was for sure my first time – so we were both pretty nervous. I will admit – I had NO flipping idea what I was doing. I’d done some research, looked up poses and angles … at the time, I wasn’t even a novice at using PhotoShop CS5! But we did it, and we had a GREAT time despite the nervousness!

Psh, “one-time thing” – HAHAHA! I was hooked. I got SO many positive responses to Arielle’s shoot – even though I didn’t do a great job with editing because I sucked (it’s ok, I can admit it now …). But it totally pumped me up and boosted my own self confidence … and it was like drawing moths to the flame, I couldn’t get enough! A lot of my girlfriends booked sessions with me and before I knew it, I was doing more boudoir than any other kind of session combined. To this day, that trend has continued – for which I am SO grateful. Boudoir photography has become my passion – and I think I feel comfortable enough to say it’s my “niche.”

My expertise as a photographer and re-toucher have improved a hundred-fold since my first shoot with Arielle. Experience, practice (practice, practice, practice), learning from the pros (Boudoir Vixen, Boudoir Divas, my in-real-life photog BF Nelly Hernandez, and many others) and working toward my BFA in Photography from the Academy of Art … they all had a big hand in my growth as an artist. Most importantly, my family, friends, clients and fans have been absolutely instrumental in building my confidence as a boudoir and pin-up photographer.

So, I’d like to take this opportunity to just really thank all of you – for your reviews, feedback, constructive criticism, praise, words of encouragement – all of it. THANK YOU. Keep it coming!

I’m kind of anxious to see how much I grow over the next year (and many more after that) as a photographer and businesswoman. I have a lot of high hopes and aspirations, and I know I can do it. I have so many ideas for photo shoots and poses and ideas, I haven’t even shown the tip of my figurative iceburg of creativity yet!! Here is to this year, next year, and many more after that – and to becoming the premiere boudoir photographer in Colorado Springs!