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

Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I have always had a passion for photography and took courses in school, but what helped me learn the craft the best was playing around with different poses, understanding composition, and the correct lighting for the shot. I have taken a ton of courses and read a ton of guides to help with learning the way of boudoir. To speed up the process, I would say knowing the poses would have sped up my learning process! Poses that can make all sizes look great are really important as well! The skills that were essential were understanding composition & lighting.
Overall, I think natural light was an obstacle because of my basement in-home studio. I had to work with external flashes, lighting, and ring lights to create a visual.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Hey! My name is Nikki & I am a boudoir & portrait photographer located in Grandview, MO. I own a cute in-home basement studio with a VAST client closet of clothes ranging from 6XS to 6XL along with shoes ranging from size 5 to size 11! While I have concentrated on floral backdrops, I have started to integrate solid colors & darker colors for some of my sets. I decided that I wanted to become a boudoir photographer because of the way it made me feel when I had my own session. Prior to boudoir (And still actively), I concentrated on portraits, travel, nature & landscapes. I wanted others to feel like I did & so I decided to get into the business to make that possible! I offer a ton of different backdrops and sets to try out, lingerie, clothing, shoes, props, wigs, jewelry, etc to wear & create a look that is specific to you! I offer collections, Al La Carte items, & mini sessions. While I may not be the most affordable, I do offer amazing payment plans, bonuses + freebies if you pay in full prior to your session date & a great referral program unlike any other! I think what sets me apart from other businesses is the options that I offer my clients are vast. I offer sessions in my studio, hotel room, outside, or even at the client’s home. I also love to do cosplay boudoir as well!
I think I am most proud of my progress in the past 2 years. I have learned a lot of different things to make my images stand out.
I want potential clients/followers/fans to know that I offer great payment plans, I have a unique look to my portraits & can design them in the way you want them! I am also a nerdy geeky girl that can make you feel comfortable before posing that we have a blast! I love doing cosplay sessions and themed sessions!

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is seeing the client’s face when they see their final images. They truly see themselves in an entirely different light & they love how they look, thus loving themselves on a new level. Boudoir is empowering when we invest in ourselves!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started my business in Dec 2020. I also worked full-time at a call center remotely. I’m a wife & mom too. It was a challenge to get people aware of my brand at first because I didn’t know what I was doing. I have never been very active in posting content & that is very important to keep up! I first started with Facebook. I created a ‘VIP group’ & invited every lady I knew. I offered incentives for them to invite their friends. One client won a free session with a metal print! I then started to branch out to other social media platforms but even with everything I do, I am still waiting on my flow of clients. I work full-time at a call center and so my breaks are when I can interact with social media, answer questions, schedule posts & create content. After work, I spend time with my husband and daughter until she goes to bed.
Another challenge was when Facebook disabled my account without even telling me why. I had to start over with my friend lists, getting all of my accounts re-connected & starting over with my Facebook pages. (The originals are still stuck with my original disabled account.)
Not being a full-time photographer has definitely limited my ability to work in the business too. I hope to someday become a full-time boudoir photographer, but I have to start getting those clients! Regardless of my lack of clients, I don’t stop. I grind, & I grind because I know I will get there!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mydarlingboudoirkc.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mydarlingboudoirkc
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darlingboudoirkc
• Other: Links at: https://linktr.ee/mydarlingkc TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@mydarlingboudoir.kc PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/mydarlingboudoirkc PATREON: www.patreon.com/mydarlingboudoirkc TUMBLR: mydarlingboudoirkc.tumblr.com

Image Credits
self portrait, 2022