You see photographs of other women looking completely at ease in their bodies and think:
I could never look like that.
You usually hate photographs of yourself or don't know what to do with your hands
You worry you'll walk into the studio, become painfully aware of your body, and spend the entire session wondering whether you look awkward.
Or maybe there's still a lingering voice telling you that your body needs to change before it deserves to be photographed like this.
I also know something that niggling voice doesn't.
You are not the exception.
Your body is not the reason you've disliked photographs of yourself.
And you do not need to arrive at ELI Boudoir already knowing how to see yourself beautifully.
That's my job.
Maybe you've wondered if boudoir is really meant for you.
Perhaps the people who love you have told you, you're beautiful a hundred times. Probably at least a thousand times.
And maybe you've smiled, said thank you...and never truly believed them.
Because hearing it and seeing it for yourself are two extremely different things.
This experience is all about the latter.
I want to create photographs that make you stop and ask:
Wait. Is that really me?
Photographs that feel sensual without trying to turn you into someone you don't recognize.
Photographs filled with your personality, your softness, your strength, your humor, and your power.
Photographs that make you feel like art.
Because you are worthy of being photographed beautifully. Not once you change your body, but in the body carrying you through your life right now.
What if you could finally see what everyone else sees?
Seriously.
You can leave that part to me.
One of the biggest fears my clients have before their boudoir sessions is that they will look awkward simply because they do not know what to do.
So, I don't simply shout posing instructions across the room and hope you understand them.
I show you.
I demonstrate poses for you to mirror. I guide your hands, your expression, your movement, and all the tiny details you wouldn't naturally know. I don't expect you to know anything.
I check in with you periodically.
If I ever need to physically adjust something, I ask before touching you.
And we will be talking, laughing and getting distracted. That is what creates the magic.
You stop fixating on the camera and the fact you are being photographed. It feels more like hanging out with a friend and creating something incredible together.
That is when you start to relax. Your shoulders drop.
Your real smile comes out.
Your confidence starts to feel a little more natural.
And no, you don't need to know how to pose.
My approach to plus-size boudoir is actually extremely simple:
I am not trying to make you look like someone else.
I will never ask you to suck in your stomach.
I will never strategically hide every soft part of you.
I will never photoshop your waist, flatten your stomach, reduce your arms, or reshape your body afterwards. In any way.
If you have a temporary blemish, like a bruise, I will happily remove it.
Your photographs will be edited with my signature look and feel dreamy.
But a different body?
Absolutely not.
Because the photographs aren't supposed to convince you that an imaginary version of you is beautiful.
They're supposed to help you see the beauty that is already here.
Boudoir shouldn't be about making your body look smaller.
There is not a secret repertoire of "plus-size poses" designed to disguise your body.
There is simply good posing.
Thoughtful posing is intuitive and responds to the person in front of my camera - her body, her mobility, her favorite features, her comfort level, personality, and her natural movements.
That is true regardless of whether she wears a size 2, 12, 22, or 32.
We are not photographing a category.
We are photographing you.
Your curves aren't a problem we're trying to solve.
They are part of the art we're creating.
Every body deserves thoughtful posing. Including yours.
I will communicate with you throughout your entire session and ask before making any physical adjustments.
You should feel cared for, respected, and in charge of your own experience from the start to end of your session.
Consent matters.
Lingerie and nudity are not requirements for creating intimate, powerful photographs.
No pressure to wear anything more revealing than you are comfortable with.
Nerves are welcome here.
So is excitement.
So is "I cannot believe I actually booked this.'
No expectation that you arrive confident.
Your final photographs will still showcase your body.
Because they're supposed to.
No shrinking or modifying your body in Photoshop.
I don't want "body positive" to be something I put on my website and forget the minute you arrive in my studio.
It changes the way I run your entire experience.
What "body positive" actually means here
I will never talk about your stomach, thighs, arms, breasts, or any other part of you like they need to be corrected
No body-shaming language
If you're considering a session with her and feeling nervous about it, Elili is exactly the kind of photographer you want. She creates a safe, empowering space where you can truly be yourself and feel your best. I can't recommend her enough!
She is incredibly fun, encouraging, and has a way of making you feel completely comfortable and confident in front of the camera without ever feeling awkward or self-conscious. Her energy is so warm and positive that it feels like spending time with a friend rather than being in a photoshoot.
TRIV, Los Angeles
That is normal.
You don't have to figure that out by yourself.
Before your session, you will receive an extensive preparation and wardrobe guide so you know exactly how to prepare and what to bring to your experience.
I always encourage you to bring at least one outfit that feels a little safer and one outfit that feels completely out of your comfort zone.
Maybe the safer outfit is an oversized button-down.
Or a beautiful dress.
Or jeans with a bralette.
Or a bodysuit.
Or a sweater slipping off one shoulder.
Start with an outfit that doesn't immediately push you out of your comfort zone. This gives you time to relax and get comfortable around me.
We can build from there.
There are infinite options for what to wear from silk to lace to your favorite lingerie to being naked.
Your wardrobe should help us tell your story; it does not have to be like every other boudoir photograph you've seen online.
"But I have absolutely no idea what I would wear"
Sexy isn't one expression.
Femininity isn't one outfit or style.
Confidence isn't one body type.
And most importantly, boudoir isn't meant to erase your personality.
I want to know who you are.
Maybe you're loud and ridiculous.
Maybe you're more reserved at first.
Maybe you are nerdy, or adventurous, or sarcastic, or romantic, or sensual, or soft, or intense, or a mixture of all of them.
I want your photographs to capture that.
Because looking beautiful is wonderful.
Feeling seen is something else entirely.
Your boudoir photographs should feel like you.
They are women who show up anyways.
Women who have dreamt about doing this for years.
Women who usually dislike photographs of themselves.
Women who aren't entirely sure what they are doing when they arrive.
Women who are still learning how to appreciate their bodies.
And throughout the session, I am lucky and get to watch the shift.
The session that was daunting, starts to become fun.
They start laughing.
They start moving freely.
They get excited to put on the outfit that terrified them walking into the studio.
When they finally see their photographs, they are captivated.
The woman looking back at them, is still themselves.
But for a moment, the hyper-critical lens is gone, and they are able to fully see themselves.
From "I am going to be so awkward" to "I cannot believe that's me."
I’m going to say with my full chest that Elili is somebody you can trust. If you have ever thought about doing Boudoir and you are a little nervous for any reason, just know that even if it is just for a couple hours, Elili is going to make you feel celebrated and beautiful.
As a plus sized baddie who used to absolutely hate her body and now loves and adores it, working with ELI Boudoir Studios was an absolute dream. When you exist in a larger body, you are very aware of who you surround yourself with and whether those spaces that you are in feel safe. Elili has this incredibly grounded energy, she was so sweet and so easy to get along with. I felt so safe, to the point that I got in the studio and within seconds was like okay stripping down to the lingerie, let’s go.
Anna, Los Angeles
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel any of the anxiety that I thought I would have throughout the whole session. I just felt really comfortable walking around in lingerie and getting photographed by Elili.
Jas, Los Angeles
This is often the hardest part for my clients to believe.
You don't need a promotion first.
You don't need to lose ten pounds.
You don't need to reach some random, imaginary level of self-love.
You don't need to wait until your birthday, or an anniversary, or your wedding, divorce, or a partner to justify doing it.
You don't even need to feel completely ready.
This can simply be something you choose to do because you want to know what it feels like to see yourself differently.
I think that's enough of a reason.
You don't have to earn this.
05
Albums and fine-art products turn your feelings from experience into something tangible.
Something you can hold.
Something you can hang on your wall.
Something you can return to on the days when your inner critic gets too loud again.
Keep the evidence
04
At your private reveal and ordering appointment, you'll see your gorgeous photographs that we've created together.
This is the moment it all comes together; most of my clients remember this the most.
See Yourself
03
Your session will last approximately 2-3 hours.
I will demonstrate every pose, direct you through each and you throughout the entire experience.
You will never be questioning what you're supposed to do.
Create
02
Simple, you arrive wearing regular clothing.
For studio sessions, professional make-up is included so you can settle in and enjoy being pampered from the beginning to end of your experience.
Arrive
01
Once you've booked your experience, I'll help you prepare for your experience with detailed guidance about your wardrobe, preparation, and what to expect.
There will be no frantic Googling "what do i wear for a boudoir photoshoot?" the night before.
Plan
Your Plus Size Boudoir Experience at ELI Boudoir
Your boudoir experience does not have to take place inside a studio.
The options are endless. We can create something intimate and moody in my Los Angeles studio on the Westside, or have your session in one of the beautiful landscapes LA has to offer. LA has it all, from beautiful cliffs to Malibu shorelines to expansive nature sprinkled throughout Los Angeles.
You can even create a personal package that combines environments.
The question is not "Will I make someone else uncomfortable?"
It doesn't matter.
The question is:
Where would you feel most alive?
Studio. Beach. Mountains. Your experience can resemble you, too.
Never.
Your session can include a variety of outfits, none of which have to be revealing. Lingerie, dresses, button-down shirts, bodysuits, jeans, silk sheets, oversized clothing, or something completely different can all create beautiful boudoir imagery.
Absolutely not.
I will remove temporary blemishes and apply my signature editing style, but I do not reshape or shrink your body.
You don't need to know a single pose. I demonstrate everything.
You will be guided down to what to do with your fingertips, expression, body position and through minor adjustments. You will never be left to try and interpret vague instructions.
Then you are in very good company.
For years I did not either. Lots of my clients arrive believing they're "not photogenic." My job is to showcase your best features, utilizing light, direction, dynamic posing and angles to do so.
You are not expected to know how to photograph yourself. That is why you're hiring me.
No.
You do not have to change your body before it deserves to be photographed beautifully. You are welcome to book your session at the size you are today.
You probably will for a minute.
You are standing in front of someone you've just met, doing something you've probably never done before. I don't think pretending that is not vulnerable or intimidating helps anyone. Especially not you.
What I can tell you is that I know how to help you through those feelings at the beginning.
We talk like normal people, about our lives.
I demonstrate everything.
I gently guide you.
We laugh.
We listen to music.
And little by little, the nerves start to dissipate.
What if I feel awkward?
Do I have to wear lingerie?
Will you make me look thinner in the final photographs?
What if I have no idea how to pose?
What if I've never liked photographs of myself?
Do I need to lose weight before my boudoir session?
Plus Size Boudoir Photography FAQ
Yes. I love photographing boudoir both in my Westside studio in Los Angeles and at outdoor locations across the Greater Los Angeles area, including stunning beaches and other natural locations.
We will choose the environment that fits you best.
Can my session be outdoors?
You've spent enough time wondering if you could ever look like the women in these photographs.
You can.
Not because I am going to turn you into a different person.
Because I'm going to photograph you.
Your body.
Your personality.
Your softness.
Your strength.
Your weirdness.
Your sensuality.
Your story.
And maybe, you will finally understand what everyone has been trying to tell you.
You really are that beautiful.