I’m a 90’s kid from the Midwest, so tanning beds were on just about every corner back in the day.

My friends and I would tan before dances or other special occasions, or just because it’s winter, and if we couldn’t afford the tanning salon, we’d spend HOURS outside baking in the sun to see just how dark we could get. And tan lines? They were cool. Especially the little hearts on our hip bone.

Do you remember those days?!

Things have changed a bit since then, and personally, I think fair skin is GORGEOUS.

If you have fair skin and red hair, stop reading and call me ASAP! LOL.

But honestly, your natural skin color is perfect. So, unless you are naturally tan, but have spent an inordinate amount of time inside lately and you’re now unnaturally pale, (like the great quarantine of 2020 has caused so many of us to do), I’d love to see you in all your natural skin color glory.

Here’s why:

My goal is to photograph YOU and ensure the results still look like YOU.

If on the day of your photoshoot, you are 4 shades darker than usual, you may not love the resulting photos because of the drastic change! This is the same reason I don’t recommend major changes in hair color or style prior to your shoot. I want you looking back at these photos years from now and saying, “hot damn, that’s me and I am stunning!” Not, “what was I thinking with that hair color?”

Tan lines suck.

Photoshop is magical and all, but tan lines are not easy to remove from your photos. In fact, I will not do anything to them, except my normal skin retouching procedures, so those tan lines are there to stay, baby! If you don’t want tan lines in your photos, either tan nude a couple times before your shoot, or don’t tan at all.

Now, I’m a cyclist and try as I might, I cannot avoid the dreaded bib short lines and raccoon eyes from sunglasses. I laugh at myself on the daily during the summer. ;) I get that you might have some tan lines from just being outdoors, so in the weeks leading up to your shoot, use sunscreen whenever possible, or consider a professional spray tan to even you out.

If you MUST tan.

I truly want you to feel confident and love your photos. If adding just a touch of bronze to your skin boosts your confidence and makes you feel gorgeous, then I am all for it!

Go for a natural spray tan.

A professional spray tan, done well, can work really well with our photo shoot together! Make sure your artist knows that you’re having a photoshoot done and that you want the spray to be LIGHT and NATURAL. We’re looking for a touch of warmth; a nice glow. This might even be lighter than usual for you if you’re someone who gets spray tans done regularly.

I’ve found the perfect place to have this done is at Healthy Tans in Loomis, CA. They offer organic, custom spray tans and will work with you to get you the tan we’re going for in your boudoir shoot.

Make sure to book your spray tan 2-3 days prior to your shoot.

So, tan or not to tan? That’s ultimately up to you, and I’m here to support you either way.

Now that you’ve got a little more knowledge going into it, I know you’ll make the best decision for you and the amazing photos you’re hoping to create!