Meet Lauren Champion | Boudoir Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Champion and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
When people think about boudoir photography, their minds may quickly envision a woman in lingerie, with words like “scandalous”, “risqué”, or even “provocative” beginning to echo small whispers between their ears. And while these thoughts are easily understandable, what the public often fails to notice is the motivation and intention behind the woman baring herself so fearlessly. They may sometimes make assumptions that the woman they see is seeking attention or may formulate other associations such as promiscuity. Yet what they lack is the understanding to comprehend what inspired her to do such a photoshoot in the first place, nor notice the impactful difference it’s making on her life.

Being a boudoir photographer, I often get the probing question of how I got into shooting this unique type of genre. Although I’m always happy to share my journey with others, what I feel is the more important question is, WHY? Why boudoir? Why out of everything else to photograph, did I choose this one as my specialty? As a woman in today’s society, I was tired of falling witness to the damaging effects of unrealistic expectations and false realities that are placed upon us. Our culture has instilled in our minds that if we don’t meet certain standards, our beauty is disqualified and our sense of worth and value is diminished. It’s as though it’s now normal to have an underlying unacceptance about ourselves that has taken over our ability to love who we truly are; flaws, blemishes, stretch marks and all.

After I photographed my first boudoir shoot in 2018, a realization came to me that this was my answer to combat all that negativity and the approach I could use to make an impactful difference amongst my fellow community of women. It’s funny to think that boudoir would hold such strength and would be my shield of force against the mental attacks that us women undergo each day, but there really isn’t anything that’s as empowering for a woman as a boudoir experience. Shooting boudoir reinstates a woman’s confidence. It allows her to be welcomed into an environment of acceptance, no matter her shape or size. It sends her on a transcending journey of self-discovery and is the catalyst to an assortment of positive psychological benefits. It helps reinstate her individual identity and transforms her entire perspective of herself.

I’m not just in the business of boudoir, but I’m in the business of creating a revival amongst the community of women who deserve to let their radiance shine through in their own unique and personable way. My business is here to support, encourage, and promote women empowerment, positivity, and acceptance. I will forever advocate about the power of boudoir and stand with gratitude knowing that my business is helping make a difference amongst my community of fellow women, far and wide.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One thing I want to be sure of about my time on this earth, is that it serves a purpose and makes a difference in someone’s life. When I discovered boudoir photography, it instantly lit a fire of passion in my soul because I quickly realized that this art form is how I could achieve exactly that. Being a boudoir photographer isn’t just a job to me, there is a much bigger importance to it than taking a photo of someone displaying their body. Instead, it’s an opportunity to connect with people from all walks of life to help them rediscover their confidence, unique beauty, and develop a deeper love for themselves. When a client is shooting with me, I take time to hear their story, their motivation, and their reasoning behind what brought them to me. My brand is not just focused on running a successful business, but rather making meaningful and impactful relationships with each client I meet! It is vital that my clients understand that I’m not just there as their photographer, but also a mentor, friend, confidant, and cheerleader! I believe that my ability to form these deep connections sets me apart from others, as I truly hold so much value in my ability to empower them not only with my art, but my words too.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has so much to offer! In terms of places to eat, a stop at Ponce City Market is a must for any new visitor! There are so many great options with a variety of food vendors to choose from and a neat atmosphere. We’d grab a drink on the rooftop to see the awesome skyline, and then make our way over to the Beltline for a stroll and pop into another cute bar/restaurant if we felt like it. A stop at the Vortex for a beer would definitely be on the itinerary before catching a comedy show. Depending on the weekend, we’d catch a concert, a braves game, hit the aquarium, visit the sun dial, or many of the other amazing spots this city has to offer. If they fancied a night out, my personal favorite is Havana or I’d take them to Johnny’s Hideaway, my newfound favorite hole in the wall joint. To wind down the week, we’d take a picnic and lounge around Piedmont Park to soak in some nature!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to my parents, Bill and Karen! You both have always been so supportive and encouraging of me and my journey with photography- from buying me my first camera in middle school, letting me turn my old bedroom into my first makeshift studio, and supporting me fully when I approached you guys with the idea of turning photography into my full time career. The efforts you both have put in to help me be successful have never gone unnoticed, and I will forever be grateful for your guidance, acceptance, and motivation. Without your help I wouldn’t be where I’m at today and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to be in my corner!

Website: www.laurenchampionboudoir.com

Instagram: @laurenchampionboudoir

Facebook: Lauren Champion Boudoir