We recently connected with Malina Alexander and have shared our conversation below.

Malina, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

With photography, there’s definitely a visual “standard” that we are used to seeing on a regular basis. Thanks to social media, societal pressures and norms are amplified even more than before. I have a thousand versions of the same person that comes to mind when I think of boudoir photography as seen online: a young, thin, white woman with long, curled hair in a back-breaking pose. Someone who fits that description will see themselves represented over and over again, and would probably feel more inclined to invest in a boudoir experience for themselves. But what does that say to the people who don’t fit that description?

This hit home for me when a couple years ago I noticed my Pinterest inspiration was looking very much repeat of the same kind of person. I typed into the search bar “boudoir photography” and it came up with results similar to what I had already seen. I tried again, but got more specific, thinking there had to be more. “Black woman boudoir photography” I kid you not, 5 photos of black women came up, then more of the norm. I wasn’t surprised but I was disappointed, and it really showed the lack of inclusivity and diversity in the boudoir photography sphere. And it’s not only people of color who are severely underrepresented; disabled folks, queer folks, fat folks, trans women, people over the age of 35. These women also deserve to be seen, represented, and encouraged to honor themselves with a boudoir experience of their own. As women, I believe it’s so important that we have opportunities to feel powerful, vulnerable, and confident. Boudoir photography is one of those opportunities, and it’s an honor to marry that with works of art they can keep as reminders forever.

Creating more inclusion and diversity in photography is easy — show more of it! Create it, share it, talk about it. Hit up a local model group on Facebook, or put out a model call for whoever you’re wanting to photograph. I’ve done many free or discounted photoshoots for women that don’t match the “societal norm” who were willing to model and share photos to help be that representation for women like them. It’s our job as photographers to GIVE the representation, not to assume someone will be comfortable with something as sensitive as boudoir when they’ve never seen themselves in those photographs. Changing someone’s self-image in a positive way is a huge task, but in our world I think it’s one of the most beautiful forms of art to undertake.

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?

A few things about me outside of photography — I’m an introvert, an enneagram 9, an artist, and a crybaby (happy, sad, angry, you name it I’m probably crying.) I’m a cat person, with 3 of my own named Cleocatra, Bing Bong, and Mouse. I love creating with all types of mediums, from drawing and watercolor painting, to block-printing and jewelry making. I’ve always been a creative, and in the new year I’m hoping to learn sewing!

My discovery of photography as an art form began freshman year of high school. Honestly, I picked it because I figured it would be an easy elective. I had no idea that I would love it so much, let alone consider it a career. By senior year, I was obsessed with Jose Villa, and hell-bent on becoming a full-time wedding photographer. I applied to one school and got in, and in 2017 I graduated from Northwest College of Art and Design in Poulsbo, WA. I always joke because in college I claimed that I would never be a boudoir photographer, I’m a wedding photographer through and through. I was eating my words when I fell in love with boudoir a couple years later! One of my brides asked if I would consider doing a boudoir session for her, I warned her I hadn’t done it before but I was willing to try. I loved every bit of it. The poses, the lighting, the new challenge, the editing, and the vulnerability she allowed to be photographed in that way. It changed my mind completely after that, and I dove into boudoir seriously just a few months later.

I’ve been photographing people for over 10 years, but have always had a special love for portraiture. Boudoir checked all
my boxes for the perfect career – women, photography, creativity, and lifting people up. I’m here to walk with each client every step to make sure they feel supported and seen through the experience, from the very first phone call to delivering their products and images. I like to approach boudoir photography from an artistic approach, and having photographs in physical print is the peak experience. Photographs in the digital age are often quick, temporary, replaceable, mass produced. That’s why having printed products for my clients is incredibly important to me. Touching a printed photograph, holding a book of your favorites, or seeing yourself framed on the wall like a piece of fine art — these are all physical sensations, things that can’t be replicated digitally. It’s nostalgic, and makes the photographs that much more special. Out of all the photographs of you, that one is made permanent. My clients value this feeling, and while they do receive digital copies as well, there’s nothing like seeing them light up once they hold their photos in their hands. My goal is to give women pieces of art that remind them of their power, and can be held in this high regard to deserve a permanent, physical place in their life.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Google! Which translates to the power of SEO (search engine optimization.) I did a ton of research, a class, and put in hours of work on my website’s SEO, and it has been such a game changer. Social media of course is great for short term reward and a sort of instant gratification, but the hard truth about social media is that you don’t control it, and it can change or disappear at the drop of a hat. I don’t think anyone in business is a stranger to the ever-changing algorithms on Instagram or Tiktok. Social media is the introduction, or the top of the funnel for my business, because I’m always trying to lead potential clients to my website, and get them to send in an inquiry. So putting hours into the place I want to actually convert a lurker into a lead made sense, and so far it has paid off.

I’ve noticed that leads from Google are typically more prepared, more responsive, and way more likely to book than a lead that came from social media. I totally give credit to my website designer Karen Khoun and the work I put into that SEO. And the best part is, once I nailed those keywords across the main pages of my site, the only effort I put into my website is a weekly blog post. This has kept me on the front page of Google for over a year since I did a website overhaul, without paying for ads. I learned a lot about SEO from Catalina Jean, she has a course on it and is such a knowledgable educator!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think for a lot of artists, we truly create for ourselves first. It’s our language, how we communicate with the world, how we share our ideas and thoughts and emotions. We share it with others hoping to tell a story, whether it’s our own or someone else’s, or a mix of the two. It’s incredibly rewarding when I can connect with another person through my art. With portrait photography, and especially with boudoir, the main story I’m telling is someone else’s. But I also get to tell a grander story of women, of sensuality, strength, and vulnerability. This is how I personally connect to my photography, and it’s how I can connect it to other women too. They’re seeing a complete stranger in the photograph, and yet they’re also seeing themselves.

Storytelling is an ancient art, it’s a connection to the past, to places and people and experiences. Photography is one of many ways to do that visually. It’s an honor to be trusted with illustrating a woman’s story with them. Women were excluded, ignored, and silenced throughout history, so giving them the space and tools to be loud and author their story is a gift I never take for granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.malinarosephotography.com
• Instagram: @bloomboudoirbymalinarose
• Other: tiktok @malinarosephotography