We were lucky to catch up with Penny Fraser recently and have shared our conversation below.
Penny, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?
One of the biggest trends I see in the portrait photography industry is boudoir portraiture. After the COVID-19 lockdown, women want to be seen and feel sexy/beautiful. Boudoir is becoming mainstream and popular. It promotes body positivity, self acceptance, and self love. Boudoir portraiture is not just implied nude or lingerie. It could be a dress, hat, white cotton button down shirt, a sweater off the shoulder, or a blazer. It is really all about the emotive state behind the pose, wardrobe, and set. Emotions like desire, joy, longing, vulnerability, confidence, and others are one of the essential keys to the perfect boudoir image. Props such as body jewelry, hats, feather fans, angel wings, and mermaid tails can take these boudoir looks to the next level. Specialty sets like beds with satin or cotton sheets, clawfoot bathtubs, Victorian furniture, and faux fur rugs or blankets add another dimension to complete a boudoir specific look. My studio was named one of the top boudoir photographers in the Fort Lauderdale area. I take pride in making my clients feel comfortable, providing them with a fun and unforgettable experience, and creating images and products that they will cherish.
Penny, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My brand is about providing a luxury style photography experience in which women feel empowered, beautiful, and confident. My studio is in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. I provide in studio and beach photoshoot sessions. I connect and design a photoshoot based on each person’s unique personality, aesthetic, and vision. My client couture wardrobe has hundreds of items in all different sizes to fit each individual’s shape, style, and size. The client couture closet has boudoir, glam, beauty, and fantasy looks. I have a wide variety of props from angel wings, mermaid tails, clawfoot bathtub, feather fans, and jewelry. I guide each client through the photoshoot by giving posing guidance, expression coaching, styling and set design. All images are professionally retouched and presented at a gallery reveal session. I love when my clients have an emotional reaction to their images, which they love and treasure. I offer high end products like acrylic cover albums, reveal boxes, and wall art. All items are archival and of suburb quality and craftsmanship.
My studio provides services such as boudoir, glam, beauty, fantasy, maternity, headshots and branding portraiture. I help women capture the “Bombshell” side of themselves to promote their brand, document a milestone moment, or to simply celebrate themselves and get that extra dose of confidence. I am proud of my recent exhibition the “40 over 40 Bombshell Series” which celebrates women aged 40 years old and beyond by displaying their images and empowering messages. These fine art photographs and stories uplift and inspire women in the community while challenging social views on women and aging. I am currently interviewing for the 3rd series of this photography experience and will be exhibiting this series again next year. If you are interested in apply, please visit this link for the application: https://www.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to uplift and inspire women through my photography and art, especially women that are aged 40 and beyond. There are so many myths about women and aging. For many women aged 40 and beyond they may feel invisible in society, when in fact many personally hit their prime and seek an extra dose of confidence or want to be celebrated. In my current photography experience, “40 over 40 Bombshell Series”, I photographed 40 women that are in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond and displayed their images and empowering messages at an exhibition that was held at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Over 100 people attended the opening reception and the press covered the event. In addition, the 40 women shared their heart with the community by sharing their messages and stories in the 40 over 40 Bombshell Series: First Collection magazine and a coffee table book.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had a major shift that changed the trajectory of my life in March 2020. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I was working remotely as an attorney. I had been practicing for nearly 20 years at that point and enjoyed a successful career. My love of photography started me down this path in 2016 and I juggled photography and law for the years following. I found the lockdown very isolating so I picked up my camera to start my “Selfie Sundays”, I would dress up in a glamorous outfit, do my hair and make up, and set up my camera on a tripod with a remote trigger and timer. I found these sessions instantly gave me an extra dose of confidence and made me feel beautiful. I decided once lockdown was over, that I would offer these type of magazine style sessions to my clients. Being in my 50s, I realized life is too short not to follow my passion, so I launched the “40 over 40 Bombshell Series” to empower other women that are feeling the shift or change in their life, too. This passion for photography and uplifting women in the community, led me to retire from my attorney career in September 2021, to become a full time photographer. I am so grateful that I am now able to focus on my art, photography, and helping women in the community.
In addition to my passion project, I photograph women of all ages. After the lockdown, I noticed many women are starting new businesses or want to feel beautiful and sexy. I offer branding sessions and headshots to level up many women’s online presence and brand. A professional photo communicates that one is competent, caring, and confident. Professional, polished images are one of the most important items a professional and entrepreneur could have in their toolkit! Also, boudoir is popular and helps my clients get in touch with their inner Bombshell by feeling beautiful and promoting self love and body positivity. I was recently named one of the top boudoir photographers in the Fort Lauderdale area. I am also known for creative commission art pieces and fantasy photography such as mermaids and angels. My work has won awards, been published, and has been exhibited.
What makes my studio in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida so unique is that I provide a “model for the day” experience where one gets access to a client couture closet of hundreds of items that are in all different sizes. It is so much fun dressing up! I also guide each client by directing their poses from head to toe and coach for expressions. A big part of the experience is getting to know each client and planning their photoshoot. I love when they see their images and tell me they love them and they feel so beautiful.
I created a “Bombshells by Penny Fraser” VIP group on Facebook where many of my clients and women from around the world join to get a lift of empowerment and fun. Many women share their photos and their photoshoot experiences. The VIP Bombshell Facebook group also has inspirational messages, meet ups. contests, flash sales, and/or giveaways. My dream is not just to provide my clients with beautiful images that they will treasure forever. It is important for me to build a community of positive, inspiring women. Every woman is beautiful. I love taking beautiful women to Bombshell status!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pennyfraserphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pennyfraserphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/PennyFraserPhotography
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/penny-fraser-5934b41/
- Other: VIP Facebook group : www.facebook,com/groups/bombshellsbypennyfraserphotography
Image Credits
My headshot was by Stephanie Suarez Boudoir