Category Archives: Bunn’s Boudoir

I am a boudoir photographer based in Portland, Oregon, where I’ve been fulfilling my mission of helping women feel beautiful since 2007. Many of the images you see here were taken in the great City of Roses. I primarily shoot indoors— sometimes in my client’s home, but I also shoot in my studio, which is located in Northwest Portland. I shoot occasionally with other backdrops as well. These images form the foundation of how I came to be recognized as one of the best boudoir photographers in Portland. Many of the clients you see here were referred to me by the makeup artist themselves.

Why are your mini sessions so cheap, Bunn?!

Mini Sessions go super quickly (15-20 minutes) and that’s total time for when you show up to when you leave your session with me. Yeah, it’s that quick!

But, a mini session is perfect for those who just want a few good photos and it’s especially great for little ones who don’t want to have to smile for an hour or so.

(Dads love mini sessions as well so they don’t have to smile for an hour or so!)

They’re called mini sessions because it’s basically splitting up a few fully custom designed photo shoots into many short sessions so they’re affordable for everyone who want professional photos, but not at the regular higher price. (These short sessions must be done back to back on the same date though.)

I shoot only a specific number of frames in a mini session and, due to the time constraint, I am limited to poses and combinations of groupings. However, I always do my best and strive to create images that you’ll love. (No pressure though, right!?)

There will be options to upgrade to receive more digital image files than the five files that are included in my Mini Session price. You can upgrade to more files, plus photo albums from 5×5 to 12×12, and canvases from 16×24 to 24×36. (You’re never obligated to upgrade at all.)

girlfriends in swimwear on sandy beach

I have made a commitment to not use models or “strangers.”

When clients hire me for their boudoir photos, I do not share their images without their written consent. Their images are their images. (It’s a very private thing.)

I still have to market my Boudoir Photography work, to show what I can offer. That’s where styled photo shoots come in. But, I don’t like using models for these projects… it sets a very unrealistic visual for women (and men) who are interested to work with me.

My clients are everyday people so I like to use everyday people. This group of women are real-life friends; I believe some are coworkers. They agreed to hang out with me for a few hours on a sandy beach somewhere on Sauvie Island, Oregon. The only rule was: Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Oh, and must have fun!

They brought the fun (aka bottles of yummy!) and I brought my Canon 35mm film camera with 50mm f/1.2L lens; that was all. It was a very good opportunity for me to see what I could do with posing five women in the same frame. Sure, there were lots of trials and errors but that’s also why us photographers do what we call styled shoots. We use this time to practice so that we’re not practicing while on your time that you paid us for.

Of course, I often get inquiries from folks asking if they could be in my next styled shoots… The short answer: No, but thank you for your interest in working with me.

As I piece together everything to restart my photography business in 2020, I have made a commitment to not use models or “strangers” but past clients who have already invested in me. They’re also already familiar with how I work so we can spend more time creating great images while we catch up on each other’s lives.

group of girls in swimsuits on sandy beach in Oregon

Beyoncé. Taylor Swift. Ciara. Shakira. They all wear it onstage at their concerts.

One of the most frequently asked questions my clients ask me before their photo shoot is: “Do I have to wear lingerie?” The short answer: NO.

How about a swimsuit instead?

There seems to be a strange taboo about wearing lingerie in private… like, it makes us feel dirty or it’s associated with pornography? I’m not quite sure what it is. But, famous performers like Beyoncé wear it publicly onstage at their concerts all the time.

Sure, what they wear is considered a costume. But, they look like lingerie/swimsuits to me. Heck, most of them are laced and super sexy, almost see-through, so that’s pretty much lingerie. Right?! To be honest, I don’t even know anymore. With the culture trend of social media, nothing is really private nowadays. Everything goes!

But, wearing a swimsuit out in public is just fine yet there are some that I question— in particular, thong string bikinis. String Bikinis, in general, show way more skin et al than most of the lingerie I’ve seen. There’s really nothing left to the imagination. So, yeah, I’ve got lots of questions why that’s not taboo but lingerie is.

The one thing that never changes for me is this: Wear whatever makes you feel your best. Not for others. For you. Do you love how you look in that swimsuit? Then bring that for your photo shoot with me! Together, we will make some pretty great images and no one is going to think it’s silly to wear a swimsuit for boudoir photos.

Bunn Salarzon - los angeles boudoir photographers

The Weather Gods Rain on My Photo Shoots

This is an actual fact.

At first, it was kinda funny… until it wasn’t. A lot of people thought I was just joking… until they realized that I wasn’t. The fact is the weather gods do not like me and always rain on my photo shoots. Did you book an outdoor photo shoot with me? Sorry, but it might rain. Bring an umbrella.

For this particular photo shoot, I had planned it for weeks and weeks prior to flying out to Los Angeles to shoot. My friend Renée tagged along even though she was just there a fews weeks prior for her own photo shoot. She said on the day of her photo shoot in January it was such a beautiful and sunny day as it is on any given day in Southern California. And according to Tony! Toni! Toné!, it never rains there. Until I came along.

It was raining and high winds of 60 mph, breaking rooftops off homes here and there. It was insane!

As we were getting everything ready, plus hair and makeup by Hikari Murakami, we watched news about the chaos that swept the city within minutes. No warning. I drove out to our shoot location on the beach to see if we could still make it work; checked a bike shop about renting a vintage bike for props. It wasn’t going to work, there was just no way we could safely shoot there.

So we headed away from the crazy weather… to Mission San Juan Capistrano. But, they wouldn’t let us shoot inside. Seriously!?

Time was ticking and the weather was barely holding up. What do I do now?! We traveled all this way to create art, but everything is working against us! So, I decided to drop everything— literally! We put everything down on the sidewalk and just started shooting right along the walls of Mission San Juan Capistrano, with oncoming cars, and we just made it work. These are the images I photographed in this narrow spot in, like, 15 minutes. This is what I mean when I look for SPOTS, not an entire location.

Bunn Salarzon - best nine instagram 2016

I am still accepting bookings to help with our adoption journey.

Happy New Year!! May 2017 be the best year for you yet.

This new year started off a little stressful for me…
Previously, I had planned to retire from my photography business by March 1 because I felt it’s time for me to pursue something else, also the date will be exactly 10 years since I started the business. Of course, as we all know… life happens. Our second journey to start our own family (after a 10-year hiatus to help my husband take care of his mother living with dementia) through adoption or fertility treatments have become more overwhelming than we had thought so I am making 2017 the year we get to [finally] bring home a child or two, one way or another. Well, the legal way! haha!!! So if you are in need of a professional, experienced — and sweet! — photographer for your special event, wedding, family portraits, boudoir pics, etc., then please let me know. I’d love to work with you again. :)

P.S. I am available worldwide. My passport is always ready!