Meet Claire Pearce | Boudoir Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Pearce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I had a career change in my 40s — I went back to school to study photography. I wasn’t totally sure what kind of photography I wanted to do at first, but I’ve always loved photographing people. While I was still in school, I stumbled across Boudoir Photography. At the time, a Boudoir Photographer was offering a 6-week online course, and I decided to jump in. It offered so much helpful advice and really opened my eyes to what this kind of photography could be.

I officially started my business in 2010, even before I graduated from my photography program in 2012. Before all of this, I had already been working for myself as a hairstylist. I’ve always been a natural leader, and honestly — working for someone else just never felt right to me. I love having the freedom to create my own path and not have anyone telling me what to do.

The hardest part of this journey hasn’t been the photography itself — it’s been learning how to run a successful business. That part has definitely been a huge learning curve, but it’s also been so rewarding to build something that’s truly mine.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a Boudoir Photographer, I know that women’s mental and emotional health is in my hands. I always approach my sessions with the intention to honor that on a deep, meaningful level — being mindful of my words, my actions, and how I hold space for each woman who walks into my studio.

I pour so much of myself into every session. And while not everyone fully sees or understands the hard work that goes into it, most of my clients give me the kind of feedback that truly feeds my soul. It’s what keeps me going when things get tough, and it reminds me why I do this in the first place.

The biggest thing I’ve learned throughout this journey is the power of having a positive mindset — no matter what. To keep moving toward what you want, even when life throws obstacles in your way. Things won’t always be easy, but the key is to never give up.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a total beach lover, so if I had guests in town, I’d probably take them to Manhattan Beach first — it’s the quintessential beach life spot in LA. If it’s summertime, we’d have to do a night at the Hollywood Bowl. You just can’t beat a picnic under the stars with live music at the Bowl — it’s such a classic LA experience.

I’d plan a different area to explore each day. Santa Monica and Venice would definitely be on the list — strolling along the Venice Canals, checking out the shops, and having brunch at Gjusta on Abbot Kinney is a must. I also love a day trip to Catalina — it’s like a little escape without going too far.

And of course, before all the fires, I would always take guests up PCH to Santa Barbara instead of the 101. That drive along the coast is just so beautiful and peaceful — it was always one of my favorite things to share with people visiting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve had so many amazing mentors over the years. The very first organization that really taught me a lot about being a Boudoir Photographer was AIBP — the Association of International Boudoir Photographers. It was originally started by a woman called Erin, and later taken over by Shawn Black and his wife Michelle. The community there welcomed me back in 2013 and offered me so much free advice when I really needed it — especially when it came to things like pricing, which I had no clue how to figure out at the time.

Through AIBP, I connected with my next mentor, Jenn Bruno Smith, a boudoir photographer out of Delaware who runs a million-dollar studio and has an incredible education platform. I joined her in 2019, at a time when my business was really struggling, and honestly — I almost quit. But I decided to take a chance on her education program, The High Rollers Club, and it completely turned my business around. I’m so grateful I made that leap because it made such a huge difference for me.

Website: https://www.unbuttonedphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbuttonedphotography

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-pearce-28735141/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unbuttonedphotography

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/unbuttoned-boudoir-photography-los-angeles?osq=Unbuttoned+Boudoir+Photography

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/unbuttonedboudoir

Image Credits
Claire Pearce