Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Crystal Ferguson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Crystal, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The story behind my mission is simple; I want to help anyone, and everyone feel confident, beautiful, and empowered. As someone who has struggled my whole life with body issues, I know what it feels like to lack confidence and feel “small”. I used to get made of for being too skinny, then I was too fat. There was never a middle ground, and it has affected me for years, moreso after having children. With a society filled with filters and photoshop all over social media, it’s a driving force for so many body issues in girls, women and men, all over the world. My goal is to show everyone that I encounter that they are worthy, that they are someone; no matter what society tells them. That society is wrong, and beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

I want the images I provide to my clients to invoke a sense of empowerment, to evoke emotion. I want a client to walk out of their session with a boost of confidence they’ve never felt before, or at least haven’t felt in a long time. And those that are already confident, I want to ensure that they are able to hold onto the confidence, no matter what life throws at them. I’ve had clients cry during their image reveal, or upon opening their albums because they never thought they could feel so beautiful. I need that to be a feeling that lasts as long as humanly possible.

I find my own healing and fulfillment in helping others recognize and celebrate their confidence, beauty and uniqueness. Being a boudoir photographer allows me to channel my creativity into something purposeful, and by capturing special moments or empowering individuals through my photography, I’d like to think making a difference in people’s lives.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been a photographer since 2016; but I have the typical “photographer backstory” of having an interest in photography my whole life. My mom was an amateur photographer and also has an amazing eye. I got truly into the industry when a friend of mine needed help with her business; after a while, it just wasn’t a good fit anymore and I branched out onto my own. Specializing in families and Seniors, I was happy but not satisfied. I wanted to do more; I wanted to do something that hit a bit more home for me, and so I found boudoir. The idea of helping others gain confidence that I had struggled with for so long (and still struggle with); it found a special place in my heart.

I still offer family and Senior services; but my focus is on Boudoir. I offer full-service sessions that include professional make-up application by a licensed esthetician, access to my every growing client wardrobe and a gorgeous selection of curated artwork and albums to highlight each and every image. One of the biggest things I feel sets me apart from other photographer’s these days is that I pride myself on connecting with each and every client. We meet for coffee and chat about their vision for their session; I take the time to truly get to know them (many of my clients have become close acquaintances or friends) and we work through their hesitations together. My bookings are not done simply by clicking a link and selecting the best time for you; we connect beforehand and move forward, together.

What I’m most proud of is the confidence that I’m able to bring to others. I love seeing them come out of their shells as we work our way through their session time, the fun we have, and the looks on their faces when they see how gorgeous their final images are. Working with me is a full on, fun process. I customize everything as much as I can, and I am beyond flexible in trying pretty much whatever they want! My next biggest theme to work on is couples and male boudoir. I would love to be able to add some couples and male images to my portfolio. Male boudoir is on the rise, and I cannot wait to jump on that train!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Resources? One is the amount of mentor programs and which ones are better for the genre I was working to move towards. The resource I wish I would have known about earlier on the most though, is styled shoots!

These styled shoots, hosted by various photographers and photography groups are amazing and definitely a great opportunity for beginners and advanced photographers alike. By participating, photographers, stylists, and other creatives are given an opportunity to experiment with new ideas, themes, and concepts; allowing them to push the boundaries of their creativity and explore different aesthetics, styles, and techniques.

Participating in styled shoots allows creatives to expand their portfolios with high-quality, professionally styled images. Images that showcase their skills, creativity, and versatility to potential clients, helping them attract new business opportunities. It also gives them a chance to hone their skills and experiment with different lighting setups, compositions, posing techniques, and editing styles in a low-pressure environment.

I attended a boudoir workshop just recently, and the host had 4 different themes set up; so, I was able to get a ton of content to showcase to potential clients without having to worry about the sales side of it. I was also able to connect with other photographers and models that I didn’t know were in my area so we can collaborate further in the future!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that perfection is the goal.

In traditional photography education and industry standards, there’s often a heavy emphasis on technical perfection: achieving perfect exposure, sharpness, composition, etc.

However, in genres like boudoir photography where the focus is on capturing intimate moments and celebrating authenticity, the pursuit of technical perfection can sometimes hinder the ability to capture genuine emotions and connections. Clients aren’t looking for flawless images; they’re seeking photographs that reflect their true selves, vulnerabilities, and beauty in an authentic way.

Therefore, unlearning the idea that every image must be technically perfect and embracing the imperfections can lead to more meaningful and emotive photographs. It’s about capturing the essence of the moment and the individual rather than adhering strictly to technical rules.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deefergusonphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/boudoir.by.dee
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/boudoirbydee