Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Chelsea Staud

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Chelsea Staud. Check out our conversation below.

Chelsea , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Sadly, there are quite a few things that I feel are misunderstood about boudoir imagery and what it means and represents. I feel like most women don’t think they are the ‘type’ of woman who would do a boudoir session because they 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 to loose weight first, or they 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 to be getting married, or simply too nervous to see themselves like the women they see on my website. I think boudoir is also seen as just a moment to spend in lingerie and get your photos done, when it is way deeper than that. Boudoir is when you choose to see your feminine, sensual self from someone else’s perspective; which is really the real you.

It is about pushing your comfort zone, trying something new, allowing yourself to indulge in the simple feminine fantasy of spicy dress up. It can also be the perfect way to celebrate your birthday, your weight loss, your recent divorce, or simply because you want to look and 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 sexy; and what is so wrong about that? We wear clothes every day to be a version of ourselves. Corporate fit for the office girlies, sweatshirt and sweatpants for the moms, and Sundays best for church. So for once wear the thin lace, wear the thigh highs, the black heels- spend a day playing the part of you that is rarely ever seen but deep down is craving to be 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑛, or simply found.

I also feel that many women think boudoir is for only women in their twenty and thirties, when again, boudoir is for anyone. It’s for the woman in her 60’s and retired, it’s for the mother with children in college, and it’s for the young new bride, it’s for the single woman in her 30’s wanting to capture her beauty to look back at later in life. It’s also for the couples that have celebrated 15 years together and wish to have the ultimate spicy day date, or the couple who is wishing to reconnect on a more intimate level.

A boudoir experience is truly whatever you want it to be. We spend most of our lives with work, responsiblities, the every day routine; boudoir allows you to embrace your feminine sensuality for a small moment in time and just allowing yourself to be 𝑦𝑜𝑢, whatever version that may be. Boudoir is for everyone, and for everyBODY.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello new readers, my name is Chelsea and I am the owner and photographer at Gemini Boudoir | Gemini Haus Studios. I specialize in working with the every day woman, and delivering her a boudoir experience that is all about her. I have empowered over 400 women, and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. In fact, I just celebrated five years in business and opened a new studio located downtown Cincinnati. The new studio and the renovation was definitely not on my bingo card for this year, but I am so happy it found me. It felt great to spread my wings and leave my home studio to create Gemini Haus Studios, a 1800 sqft space that once was a girls school; how cool is that? With 14 foot tall ceilings and original hard wood flooring, there is so much charm packed into the newly renovated space.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I would say the earliest moment of feeling ‘powerful’ and empowered behind the lens, was when I booked my first official paying client. Spoiler alert, she has returned three times now over the years; something I am so greatful for that she has trusted me time and time again with her boudoir experiences. When I got my first ever paid booking, I thought “wow I can do this! I am going to make this dream happen”. The best part was after the session she left me a google review, and emailed me thanking me for her experience and that she wanted to purchase an album. I remember thinking “I made her feel so beautiful she is willing to get products to showcase her art, this is awesome”. From then, I truly trusted the process and trusted myself to deliver a boudoir experience that simply made my clients feel seen, and beautiful, all the while creating sexy art with their own bodies. There should never be shame placed around the feeling of simply wanting to see yourself as a feminine, sensual human being. To see yourself and think, damn- I do look good. We say it about others all the time, why not give ourselves those same complements?

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would thank myself for taking all the twists and turns along the way in life the lead me to Gemini Boudoir | Gemini Haus Studios. I grew up wanting to be photographer, and now can say I am who I ‘wanted to be when I grew up’. I love telling people what I do for a living when asked, I love meeting so many different women that all want the same thing- to see themselves from my lens. Best part is I don’t ever feel like I am working during a session, I just feel like I am connecting with a friend that has the same goal as me, which is to have a fun, sexy boudoir experience that is all about celebrating themselves. I am a true girls girl, and wanting nothing but the best for my clients from my Glam Team to the products they can choose from, I want the best for them.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Showing and reminding any woman who works with me ( and even myself at times), that the simple things about ourselves are beautiful and should be seen, and should be noticed. How us women and society characterize beautiful is forever changing, and what the trending standard is of “beauty”. I am committed to forever showing women who they are, and that their sexy beautiful selves is enough, and worthy of appreciation.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am most definitely doing what I was born to do- taking beautiful, sexy images of women and couples who decide to see themselves from my perceptive, and lens. I will forever be thankful that I became who I wanted to be growing up. That is all because I have had 400+ women believe in me to deliver them a boudoir experience that celebrated them, and frankly to get really hot photos of themselves, cause why the hell not?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.geminiboudoir.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boudoirbygemini_/ https://www.instagram.com/geminihausstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GeminiBoudoirVIPBABES