Welcome to the Inner Spirit Photography blog!
The Fire Breathing Dragon, one of my most ambitious projects. I will take you behind the scenes. Sean Avram, an internationally recognized body painter, was in Calgary on a teaching gig. He was fresh off the Skin Wars Reality TV show. He shared how he had been eliminated the day before the multi-model painting challenge.
That was Sunday, Sept 13. (Yes, every 7 years we have a Friday the 13 anniversary, fun, right?) I was 20 when I married Jan. Did not even own a camera then. Three years later, I borrowed hers to start a distracting hobby from my 24/7 job. I started photographing women. In 1980, Inner Spirit…
Can you imagine the rush of a tiger walking between your spiked high heels? Feeling that feline fur slide across your calf? In my Calgary Boudoir Photography Studio was Tasha, a tiger cub, with Chandra, a wonderfully free-spirited woman. Tasha was around two months old, looking fierce in this photograph, but she was really a…
One pose flowed into the next with such ease that I often found myself lowering the camera for a moment just to watch. Some people strike poses. Angie inhabits them. She has never been a model. As a lifetime fitness devotee and trainer, she has been on stage. As a trainer, she demonstrates. She has…
The first ochre-rich pigment brushed onto human skin around 100,000 years ago. This was the raw, basic start of body painting art. Tribal rituals and war paint were the first expressive use. You have probably seen remote tribal cultures still practising painting at this level. Today, in places like Calgary, Canada, it has become part…
Wearing fire is a bold wardrobe choice. It is not your typical boudoir experience; we put the fire right on your skin. We had three women volunteer for our promotional session. It was exciting, daunting and emotionally a breakthrough for them all. First, yes, it is real fire, a very safe process with a pro…
Years ago, we used to get exotic critters in our studio, mainly lions, wolves and tigers. Our Calgary Boudoir Photography studio is known for its unusual and creative sessions. Tasha was a very young tiger who loved our studio and human attention. These sessions were always popular. For Chandra, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. She…
Deb It is always a lot of fun exploring a new idea with a client. Deb had already been in a couple of time for boudoir and nude portraits and wanted something different this time. You never know where you will get inspiration. Mark had seen some interesting images of a fashion shoot in a…
Body Painting is a unique and powerful personal expression. It has been popular in our Boudoir photography mix for several decades. Back in the 1980s I got an accreditation in body painting photography. Showing is always best. Here are some stories to go with some of our more interesting body paint sessions. She loved Steampunk.
As 2025 starts up we are taking a moment to reflect on our highlights of 2024. Boudoir Photography in Calgary was one of our best. Who Were The Women Of 2024Like past years, they were diverse in age, with the youngest 31 and the oldest 70 years old. Body shapes varied too, from super lean…
Lianna enjoys her dark side. Her boudoir nude portrait session revealed that slightly twisted part of her personality. She came to our Calgary studio to indulge her more off-beat personality. Inner Spirit Photography is the perfect place for her to safely explore and express her quirky take on things. Her mischievous smile always gave you…
Boudoir and nude portraits rarely draw inspiration from skyscrapers. Yet, it happened. An architecture photographer was taking me through his technique of turning nice but kinda bland colour photographs of skyscrapers. The transition was stunning, powerful fine art transformations. As I watched each step dramatically altering the images, most were counter-intuitive intuitive, giving a bizarre…
Boudoir Water SessionsJun 4, 2022 Mixing boudoir photography with water is a sensual blend. You can get even bolder with nude photography while you splash. Imagine your mirror reflection in the water. Perhaps the added warmth of floating candles or some rubber duckies encircling you for fun. You can add energy with water splashing off…
Celebrating Body Painting Body Painting Art is a creative add-on to our Boudoir and nude photography sessions. We start off with 2 hours, but most go for the 4 hours. Body painting is a matter of coverage and detail. The more of each, the longer it takes. It is emotional to watch your body disappear,…
The New Bond Women There is nothing like having the badass Bond with his cold, steely gaze and hot gun back in the theatre. It may be an unexpected thought for a studio specializing in boudoir and nude empowerment portraits. Modern women are not girls to be saved. On-screen, they match Bond for firepower and…
Unpacking the creative empowerment behind these unforgettable experiences. Flames race down your legs, sweep across your bum, and rise up to your shoulder blades. You are looking at the camera so you can’t see them—and oddly, the heat is barely felt. The flames leap three to four feet above your body, alive and bright, dancing…
Our Latest Reflections Journal entry is out. You can read at. https://bit.ly/Reflections2026-05-28 Mark shares about Angie’s Boudoir Yoga session. Breaks the “gotta wear. lingerie if it’s Boudoir.) rule. This is a different story about expressing your inner vision. The second story has a hidden heart in the image. Look for it, let us know if…
When Calgary celebrates our western heritage with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, cowgirls show up in cowboy hats, jean jackets, and ridin’ boots. Some even have spurs. I’m not sure you can call these boudoir photo sessions. But they do. There are the girls, women, who ride, rope ‘n race. They are unbridled and…
Award banquets are thrilling, nerve-racking affairs. Especially when you’re a finalist at the Professional Photographers of Canada Image Salon. And this time, more honours were coming than I even knew about. I felt that same electric feeling back in 1986 when I won my first Figure Study award. It was my first awards night and…
Our latest Journal entry is out. You can see it here- https://bit.ly/Reflections2026-05-09 Includes a story about a woman hitting a 50th milestone. Her memory anchor is a milk throw session. powerful images with a delightful story. Mark shares his big awards night, his own anchor. Winning a major trophy and the journey his image took…
Five judges stare at an image that just materialized on the carefully colour calibrated monitor. In the dark room behind them, a silent audience of hopeful photographers watch their backs. Zoom was sharing this image and the faces of the five highly decorated, national print judges. 56% of all the images judged today, would not…
Her wicked grin hovered just above the charged barrel of The Righteous Bison Particle Smasher. Finger on the trigger. Fully powered. Liz was having a blast with my steampunk ray gun—a Dr. Grordbort original—and fully channeling its sci-fi sass. This week, I’m raising a toast to the incredible women cosplayers from last weekend’s Calgary Comics and…
Our Body Fire add on to our boudoir photo shoots and nude photography are popular but soon won’t be available. They are amazing, like a phoenix rising flames race from breasts to toes, across arms and from shoulders to bums. We have had flames dancing on the brims of cowboy hats, traveling down silver chains…
Writer Terry Groves had a problem. He needed a cover image for his book. His inspiration was the 1918 calendar print “The Sky Pilot” by Musselman, based on pilot Harriet Quimby. Little trivia: in 1911, Harriet became the first licensed female airplane pilot in America. In 1912, she crossed the English Channel, a rare thing back…
You can tell it’s Christmas when Santa and the Grinch arrive. While we usually do buoudoir and nude photos, this is a whole new thing. Our body painters create complete characters. These three are a perfect example. Usually, our studio is the home of boudoir photographs and nude photography but we also have body painting…
It was her first boudoir session. It was going to be as unique as she was, as her special request was going to be, if she could find the studio who could do it. She researched photogaphers. She personally visited each studio. We were her most recomended studio. When she came to us, she knew…
Bubbles – They’re Tricky With a Mix Master whirring and a whisk twirling, I struggled to create bubbles for my bubble sessions. Then, a client offered her solution; it was a brilliant approach! With no effort, big, fluffy bubbles appeared in seconds from just a little soap. It felt like magic, and it was so much…
A mermaid glides past my lens, her hair flowing weightlessly in the water. Her tail, a dazzling five feet-long with a three-foot fin, moves hypnotically. She turns her head, smiles . . . and I have the shot. At first glance, it might seem unusual for a Calgary Boudoir and Nude portrait studio to feature…
Slayer is not just any bike; she’s a masterpiece. With her oversized chrome-coated engine and award-winning design, Slayer commands attention. My studio is usually all about boudoir and nude photography, but today, Slayer takes center stage. We will still mixed in some glamour, nudes and boudoir photography. Every bike show she’s entered, she’s claimed the…
Kenisha’s image had a transformation path nearly as remarkable as Kenisha’s personal transformation. The flow and result of her session reveals the power of boudoir portrait photography. Before I took her image, I envisioned it: a moody image of a woman leaning against an old brick wall, her open jacket revealing hints of sensuality in…
Only 8 Sessions May 25 & 26 Included: waterproof makeup, light hair styling, props, and some outfits 60 min of session time. Lots of splashes, reflections, rain and fun. Boudoir is bigger than a bedroom; this set is like a huge Hollywood water set. A Water Master is even part of the team. Or should…
Why I shoot Boudoir Photography This may be hard to imagine, but at one time, boudoir photography was not an option for women in western Canada. Inner Spirit Photography was the first studio in Calgary to offer boudoir photography exclusively. This was 41 years ago. I can still recall my first client’s faces and their…
Cowgirls Are Hot! They are wickedly independent women; they run with their own rules. They work hard and play hard. Nude and Boudoir Photography is a natural choice.That is why they are such a delight in our studio. They are bold, usually going for the nude poses, perhaps with a hat or boots, and neither…
When Less Is More. Being a boudoir / nude photographer for over 40 years, I have found that the less a woman wears, the more she can express her authentic self. There is another side to the “less is more” statement. Professional boudoir photographers design their shots. Volume is not as crucial as getting the…
Guitar Lady – a Fine Art Wall Piece Fine Art Friday. This is a bit over the top, yet it is a popular approach. It adds energy to the image, visually moving the image to a different level of interest. What I enjoy about my approach to boudoir photography is the range of concepts I…
Heels Are Body Painted Women I love body-painted women. Just watching their faces as their bodies transform during their nude body painting, is fun. Their nude figure becomes this personal art piece over a few hours. (check out the High Heel body painted vidoe at the end. ) My clients are embracing it too. We…
Angel Wings – Take Your Fantasy For a Flight Have you ever watched Victoria’s Secret models strut down the runways flaunting their bouncy wings? Wishing you could wear a pair like that? Or perhaps you are just an angel at heart, would like to play the part. There is a serenity you feel when these…
Is A Body Painted Lady Nude? Body painting is having a very sheer second skin covering your nude body. The whole body could be covered when the art is finished, or bits of skin still peek through. When you look into the mirror, you can see the transformation. So are you nude now or considered…
The Freedom of Flying Nude It is a rare experience taking flight nude or even in flowing boudoir lingerie. You float effortlessly in the image. It’s a powerful and free feeling! A rare experience, a thrill, relate women who have done it. We added one of those exercise bouncy mini trampolines to our studio props.
Our studio looks like a Hollywood FX shoot. Water rains down on her slippery skin, splashing before it gathers into streams racing down over the curves of her body. It reaches the pond at her feet, creating ripples that disturb her reflection, giving it its own life. Flashes pop, electrifying the air, revealing not just…
This May Sound Odd, But Here Is What I Want. . . You might be surprised how often we hear that phrase. We have become known for creating unique solutions, so the question comes up quite often. One mother explained that her child was at the perfect age, She was just adorable and so sweet.
Not High Heels – Body Painted Women! I love body painted women. My clients are pretty thrilled too. For many years we have created some spectacular body painted art. Not this yet though. When I first saw this video, (watch it at the end) I thought it was just big replica shoes. Then one moved,…
Is A Painted Lady Nude? Body painting is having a very sheer second skin covering your nude body. When the art is finished the whole body could be covered or bits of skin might still peek through. When you look into the mirror you can see the transformation. So are you nude anymore? The most…
The Canadian Photographer of the Year Is Me! This is so exciting for so many reasons; many of those reasons are not even mine. My clients, the women and child in the images, are thrilled! It was an unexpected victory for them too. Barb, my client who commissioned the images of her granddaughter, loves the…
Seems pretty bold, doesn’t it? Even for a charity event called Fashion Forward.But they are bold. This year they invited us to bring one of our Body Painters to body paint an expectant mother as we auction off Photography and Body Painting Sessions. Our participation in the silent auction is not very silent. It…
Painted Mommy-To-Be Tummies I love working with body painters. They do the most creative art on bodies. This Sunday a collection of painters covered both full body nude pregnant moms and on some just their tummies. They took full advantage of the wonderfully round shape; so different than the usual bodies they paint. Of course…
Really, my staff is looking at me like I have become unhinged. Let me explain. Usually my nude or lingerie images are arty or sensual, fun with big grins, or dramatic. But today I am going through images from our Wet ‘n’ Wild Water Set Session Some of these are hilarious! I came across a…
