In the name of sex, art, and Valentine’s Day gift giving, I visited photographer Jeremy Igo of charlotteboudoir.com to take part in the growing trend of boudoir photography (read: slutty, for-his-eyes-only photos, justifiable by the everyday lady for their artistic nature). While this type of photo shoot had always sounded like a fun idea, I never really understood what motivated women to take the leap and have such photos taken of themselves. I maintained the standard concerns: What if the recipient doesn’t react well to them? What if I look utterly horrifying and/or learn of cellulite I never knew existed? What if the photographer is a complete sleaze ball and/or publishes my photos on some seedy Internet site?

Despite arriving at Jeremy’s NoDa studio at 11 a.m. on a Monday, I was offered a cocktail after only a few minutes in hair and make-up artist Kymm’s chair. The mere offer, of which I readily accepted, made me relax and trust him immediately. The Zach Braff lookalike sat and chatted with me while I sipped wine and had my hair and make-up done, helping to make me comfortable so that an hour later when he told me to arch my back and put my ass in the air, I didn’t turn red.

I went in with strict guidelines of what I was and was not comfortable with. After all, I’m a girl who feels as if my eyeballs are being doused with rubbing alcohol when I have to get a headshot taken, never mind standing around in my underwear. Once we got started, Jeremy eased my self-conscious trepidations with his charming direction, kind authenticity, and a little Dave Matthews pumped through the studio sound system. By the end of the shoot I was practically dancing around the studio naked – third glass of wine in hand, of course.

I learned that many women have one of these photography sessions for no one but themselves. It seemed a little self-indulgent to me prior to my shoot, but afterward, I could understand why. I left feeling giddy, playful, and a bit naughty – a frame of mind my boyfriend later told me was his favorite part of the whole gift. And even if I didn’t have anyone to give the photos to, they would serve as excellent motivations to keep my ass on a Stairmaster for the rest of my life.

But I did have someone to give my photos to. My photographer and new BFF sent me his two favorite shots later that same afternoon. I forwarded them to my boyfriend at work at 4:45. He was home by 5:03. And from 5:04 on, it was Happy Valentine’s Day to me.

To contact Jeremy Igo, click here. Find hair and makeup artist Kymm here.

~ Amanda Pagliarini