What to Wear Not Your Typical Looks

What To Wear For Your Boudoir Shoot– Top 10 ‘Not Your Typical’ Looks

I get asked this question a lot, …

What should I wear at my boudoir photo shoot?

A lot of people are familiar with some of the typical lingerie options and accessories (underwear, bra, corset, stilettos, etc.) or possibly simply your birthday suit. But what about if typical isn’t your thing? What if you want to wear something that reflect more your personal style? Maybe one of our Top Ten ‘Not Your Typical’ Looks ‘ for your Boudoir Session will give you a place to get started.

  1. Button Up Shirt with a Twist— you’ve seen it everywhere –the classic white button up shirt. But what if the shirt has a different texture or possibly see thru? I really like this idea because it’s versatile, comes in a variety of sizes, and pairs well with other looks at your shoot or at home. Here’s an example I found on Amazon:
  2. Swimsuit Cover Up— Look at these sheer pants I found on Amazon! There’s options with and without ruffles. Almost any swimsuit cover up is great… don’t be afraid of bold colors too!
    black sheer pants with ruffles on the sides
  3. Footie Pajamas– Seriously, why not? Plus, these rubber ducky pjs are the best!
    rainbow rubber ducky footie pajamas
  4. Favorite Fabric– What type of fabrics do you love? Color? Texture? Pattern? Go down to your local craft store and get at least 3 yards of a fabric that makes you happy. We have some options in our mellBella Client Closet too! From there, we can decorate you or your set with the fabric of your choice.
    pearls and moody purple
  5. Halloween Costume–  You needed an excuse to wear it again, and I LOVE HALLOWEEN! The studio always has a little bit of Halloween decor up all year long.
    halloween baroque costume
  6. Coveralls/Jumpsuits/Rompers Oh My!– Really there’s no wrong answer here.
    coveralls and chuck taylor shoes
  7. Body Harness– From leather to elastic… and they come in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors.
    red wall, black leather body harness, and jeans
  8. Sweatpants/Yoga Pants/Workout Clothing– Yes, you read that correctly… comfy clothing for the win!
    teal sports bra and black capri exercise pants
  9. Go Retro– Just pick a fashion era that you love  and commit…whether it’s 90s Goth, 50s pinup, Rococo style, etc. 
    black and white crop top with pleather pants
  10. Thrift Store Finds— You never know what you’ll find, AND it’s a great way to recycle too. So look for your favorite color, unusual, weird, wild, silly, etc. It can be anything from a dress, pants, t-shirt, hat, shoes, belt, and the list goes on. Two of my favorite Charleston Thrift Stores are:  Closet Case Thrift and The Exchange Factor   
    thrift store find flowy orange halter dress

 

Introducing Mell Bell

Meet Mell Bell

It’s been a while since I introduced myself. I’m Mell Bell… yes THE Mell Bell of mellBella Photography. I’m the photographer, artist, creative, designer, ride or die, never gonna give you up, cheerleader, etc. kind of person. My pronouns are she/her.

I’ve been a photographer with Richard Bell Photography since 2005. So I got my start in wedding and family portrait photography with my husband, Nathan, son of Richard Bell. I’m so thankful to be a part of the family business, but something was missing. In 2010, I photographed my first boudoir session, and after that, I knew THIS was the missing piece. So, with a lot of planning, long hours, and hard work, I founded the mellBella Brand with my dear friend. (Naming the company, Richard Bell Boudoir wasn’t going work. Totally not sexy at all!) Over the years, we’ve added pinup, styled, sets, a client closet, and so many things. Every year, I introduce a few new things that help make the mellBella Experience even better. Always thinking and growing!

many faces of mell bell

Because I feel it’s important to have a great relationship with my clients, we should get to know each other a little bit. So here goes…

  • One of my favorite local organizations is the YWCA Greater Charleston. Their mission of eliminating racism and empowering women is very important to me.
  • I have 2 daughters that are 8 years apart in age. What a BIG surprise indeed!
  • I’m awkward and empathetic, but my super power is embracing the awkward and making people feel comfortable.
  • I love my freckles, and I call them angel kisses.
  • Flip flops are my shoe of choice, but  I’ll rock a pair of heels for the right occasion.
  • I wish I could do hair and makeup, but I leave that to the professionals.
  • I pay homage to Lucille Ball with all my facial expressions.
  • My favorite drinks are Coke Zero, Jack Daniels, Espolòn Tequila, Diet Dr Pepper, and of course water.
  • I can eat ALL the pasta, pizza, and ice cream any time.
  • I celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions with an impromptu dance party.
  • Some of my favorite TV Shows are:  POSE, Grey’s Anatomy, Schitt’s Creek, Supernatural, Queen Sugar, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,  Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Steven Universe, and more!
  • I have too many movies to narrow down, but we’ll start with Crazy Rich Asians, Black Panther, Spider Man: Into the Spider-verse, and COCO are my more recent favs.
  • My musical preference depends on the day or mood.

And finally I’ll end with a non Photoshopped boudoir photo of me, taken by me, and quote that is a mantra of mine.

“You are a very special person. There is only one like you in the whole world. There’s never been anyone exactly like you before, and there will never be again. Only you. And people can like you exactly as you are.”  — Fred Rogers

professional boudoir selfie by mell bell

 

One Image Wednesday

One Image Wednesday- Over the Bed

For this One Image Wednesday, I wanted to share one portrait from our Over-the-Bed camera. We love dressing up the bed with complimentary colors to really set the mood. We love a messy bed! Whether you want go bold or more natural, we customize the look on the bed for you. For the Bella, we used black, gold, pink, and just for fun a rose gold necklace from our mellBella Closet. Her black lace shoes are also available from our mellBella Closet. What are your favorite colors?

mellbella over the bed camera
Boudoir FAQ

Boudoir Q & A Podcast

Mell Bell and Wanda and I were recently on a Podcast. And not just any old Podcast but it was Weddings from the Pros!!! A local and amazing Podcast filled with lots of great info for wedding planning, but of course, we put on our spin on it. On the pod, we chatted with Nathan Whitworth of Angled Light Photography and Kendall Kapanzhi of Wedding Festivals.

While we did talk about boudoir photography as it relates to a wedding gift, there’s soooo much more about one core beliefs, our process, our experience, and lots of answers to common boudoir questions. Like, why do a boudoir session? And, how do you choose a boudoir photographer? So check it out and let us know what you think.

Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bridal-boudoir-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving/id1486145197?i=1000463421261

Or Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SlXzHwuqonUl6ArBtWUwR

Let’s do this!

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    Phone #

    Best time to call

    How did you hear about us?

    What are you interested in?

    BoudiorPinupStyled

    Why is doing this important to you, and what draws you to our studio?

    If you have any questions, great! If you are ready to book, even better.


    mellbella boudoir man's shirt and tie

    One Image Wednesday- Jewelry

    Happy Wednesday! Details like jewelry as so important. Don’t forget to bring your ring(s),  necklace, or other jewelry that your significant other gave you. It’s the perfect to your session to make it even more personal. If you forget to bring any jewelry, don’t worry. We have plenty of gorgeous necklaces and a few bracelets from the mellBella Closet to add to your look. Go with a classic long strand pearls for one outfit then change it up to glam with an extra sparkly statement necklace.mellbella boudoir man's shirt and tie

    mellbella bridal boudoir veil and bow

    Bridal Boudoir on Lowcountry Live from Wedding Week

    We always love appearing on Lowcountry Live, and wedding week was the perfect time to talk about bridal boudoir photography. Brides, this is THE. BEST. GIFT. EVER! Bring your veil, and we guarantee that he’ll never look at it the same way again. Be sure to watch the video below to see a few of the items from the mellBella Closet and our popular Amore Book. Although the contest and event in the video have passed, be sure to look for our next event this summer! Book now.