You Have 3,000 Photos of Your Dog and Zero of Each Other: couples boudoir Kansas City
Couples boudoir at Stag & Bird in Kansas City's West Bottoms. Intimate, cinematic sessions for partners who have lived some life together and want proof of it.
Picture it. Tuesday night, you're both on the couch, and one of you says "we should post something for our anniversary." So you start scrolling.
The dog. The dog in a sweater. A blurry Royals game where he's half out of frame. A screenshot of a recipe neither of you ever made. A photo of a weird rash you sent your sister for a second opinion. Forty-one pictures of the backyard fence because somebody was "getting quotes."
Keep scrolling. The last real picture of the two of you is from your cousin's wedding in 2019, and you're mid-bite.
That's the whole relationship, apparently. The house, the move, the job you both hated, the night you almost called it and didn't. And the only evidence is two people in the background of a buffet line.
So what the hell is couples boudoir?
A session for the two of you, at our studio in the West Bottoms, wearing as much or as little as you want. Lingerie. His old band tee. A bedsheet. Your wedding rings and nothing else. You pick the comfort level and we build from there.
The photos are intimate and cinematic. Dark rooms, good light, skin, hands, the way you actually look at each other when nobody's watching. Some of these could go on the mantel. Some of these are for the nightstand drawer. We'll make both.
What we don't do is cheesy. No rose petals spelling out your initials. Nobody is getting oiled up like a calendar firefighter. (Unless you really want that, in which case call me, I have questions.)
Who books this? Probably you.
The couples who come through our green door have lived some life. Long-term partners. Second marriages. People who already did the mortgage, the kids, the funerals, the colonoscopy reminders, and came out the other side still liking each other. Most days.
Some are marking an anniversary. Some are renewing vows, or skipping the vow renewal and doing this instead because frankly it's more fun. Some just survived a hard year together and want proof they're still here, still into each other, still hot.
Two husbands, two wives, whatever your house looks like. Every body, every size, every scar, every tattoo you regret and every one you don't.
What you all have in common is that you're done performing for other people. This one is for the two of you.
You're going to feel weird for about eleven minutes. Then you won't.
Here's how it goes. You pull into the gravel lot at the Shepard Building, text me, and I meet you at the green door. If you booked hair and makeup with Kalsie Jo, she gets started while we go through wardrobe and pick music. (Your playlist or mine. Mine is better. Don't fight me on this.)
Then we shoot. I pose you. Every hand, every chin, every "okay, now forget I'm here." You don't need to know how to do any of this, and please don't bring a Pinterest board. Leave the art and creative direction to me. That's the part you're paying for.
The first few frames always feel awkward. Somebody laughs at the wrong time. Somebody forgets what arms are for. Fine, we shoot through it. Somewhere around minute eleven you quit performing for the camera and start performing for each other (wink wink), and that's when the good stuff shows up.
As we go, I'll show you images on the back of the camera so you can see what we're making in real time. Nothing builds confidence faster than watching your partner's face when they see you.
I know how to work with every body. Including yours.
I'm in my 40s. I've been just about every size a person can be. I modeled (not much and not well) in the early 2000s, so I know exactly what it feels like on your side of the lens, wondering what the hell to do with your face. I've also spent years teaching other photographers how to pose their boudoir clients. Nobody is winging it here.
Bring the button ups. Leave the diet in the car.
Bring things that mean something. The workshirt he's had since college. Her grandmother's ring. The record you slow-danced to in the kitchen at 1am. Your tattoos are coming regardless.
Leave in the car: the plan to "lose ten pounds first," the Pinterest board (still no), and the idea that you need to look like anybody other than yourselves.
What it costs
Couples boudoir with Stag & Bird runs $1,500 to $3,500, depending on how big we go. That covers everything from a straightforward studio session up to a full concept set built out just for you, with heavier editing on the back end. Ask about payment options when you reach out.
Boudoir in Kansas City, the short version
Studio | Stag & Bird Curated Photo Experiences |
Location | 1317 W. 13th Terrace, Suite 3B, Kansas City, MO 64102 (the Shepard Building, West Bottoms) |
Second location | Belton, MO (selection and reveal appointments) |
Boudoir offered | Solo women's boudoir, couples boudoir, concept sessions with custom-built sets |
Couples boudoir pricing | $1,500 to $3,500 |
Solo boudoir pricing | Complete Boudoir Collection, $1,850 (where most clients land) |
Who it's for | Every body, every size, every kind of couple, including male and same-sex couples |
Lead photographer | Courtney (Court) Specht, over 25 years as a photographer, internationally published |
Recognition | 12-time Best of KC winner from The Pitch, including Best Boudoir Photography |
Contact |
FAQ: boudoir and couples boudoir in Kansas City
Where can I get boudoir photos taken in Kansas City?
Stag & Bird photographs solo and couples boudoir at our private studio in Kansas City's West Bottoms. We've been named Best of KC by The Pitch 12 times, including Best Boudoir Photography.
What is couples boudoir? Couples boudoir is an intimate, fully directed photo session for two partners together. You wear as much or as little as you're comfortable with, from lingerie to a bedsheet, and we pose you the whole way through.
How much does couples boudoir cost in Kansas City? Couples boudoir at Stag & Bird runs $1,500 to $3,500, depending on the session and products. Solo boudoir clients most often book the Complete Boudoir Collection at $1,850. Ask about payment options when you inquire.
Do you photograph same-sex couples and male couples? Yes. Same-sex couples, male couples, queer couples, married, not married, together two years or twenty. If you're a couple, you're welcome. Hell, thruples and polycules are good with us. Solo boudoir sessions for men are reserved for returning, established clients.
Do I need to lose weight or be in shape first? No. Court has personally been just about every size and has spent years teaching other photographers how to pose every body type. Come as you are.
We're both awkward. Will that ruin it? No. Every session is fully posed and directed, down to where your hands go. Most couples feel weird for the first few minutes and then forget about it.
What should we wear? Whatever feels like you. Lingerie, a favorite old tee, his flannel, a sheet, jewelry that means something. We help with wardrobe decisions before and during the session.
Is hair and makeup available? Yes. Hair and makeup is done by Kalsie Jo of Alter'd Veil.
When do we see our photos? You'll see images on the back of the camera during the session. Final selections happen at an in-person reveal appointment at our Belton, MO office.
Will you post our photos online? Only with your explicit permission, and the two of you decide the level. Nothing at all is always an acceptable answer. You can also choose faceless images, meaning no faces, tattoos, or other identifiable marks, or you can bare it all.
Where is the studio and where do we park? The Shepard Building at 1317 W. 13th Terrace, Suite 3B, Kansas City, MO 64102. Park in the gravel lot on the east side through the black gate, text when you arrive, and Court meets you at the green door near 13th Terrace and Hickory.
Is couples boudoir a good anniversary or wedding gift? It's one of the most common reasons couples book. Anniversaries, vow renewals, second weddings, and "we survived this year" are all on the list.
Do you travel for boudoir? Yes. Court has been flown around the country to photograph clients. Reach out with your location for travel details.
If you've read this far, you already know. Fill out the inquiry form at stagandbirdphotography.com/contact, see more of the work at stagandbirdphotography.com/boudoir. Tell me a little about the two of you and I'll tell you which experience I think fits.
...Then go delete the fence photos.
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