Fine art boudoir

Portraits of the woman you already are.

Black and white portraits for women, made privately in a studio with a fireplace. Located southwest of Chicago.

Book a consultation See the work

Black and white fine art boudoir portrait by Daniel Baleckaitis

Internationally publishedFine art portrait work in print
Hair and makeup includedArrive exactly as you are
Private by defaultNothing shared without your signed yes
Palos Park, ILTwenty minutes from most of the southwest suburbs

Light, shadow, and a little nerve.

Every image is shared with the client's written permission.

Fine art boudoir portrait in black and white

For the chapter you are in right now.

Most women who sit for me never grew up in front of a camera. They come because something shifted.

Milestone birthday
Fresh start
After the kids
Just for me

Black and white, always.

Timeless on a wall, decades from now.

Low-key black and white boudoir portrait of a woman reclining in pearls and lace

Shaped by shadow.

Low light and careful posing. Nothing you have to fake.

How it works.

From first hello to a print on your wall. You set the pace.

First
Consultation
A relaxed call or coffee. Why now, what you want to feel, and what stays off camera. No commitment.
Before your day
Planning
My wardrobe guide and a short questionnaire. A bodysuit, a set or two, something soft, your favorite jewelry.
Session day
In the studio
Hair and makeup, then about an hour with me. Every pose directed out loud. Bad dad jokes included.
After your session
Your reveal
We view the finished images together. You choose your favorites, your album, your wall art.
Last
Delivery
Archival prints and heirloom albums, made to outlast any phone.

A fair question

Yes, I'm a man. Here is how I work.

Asking about this is smart. These are the standards I keep in every session.

Bring someone.A friend, sister, or partner is welcome in the studio for the whole session.
Posing is spoken.I direct with words and demonstration. I never adjust you or your wardrobe without asking first.
You set the line.Your comfort level is agreed in writing before we start, and you can change it at any moment.
Your images stay yours.Nothing is posted, shared, or entered anywhere without your signed permission.

DanielDaniel Baleckaitis, photographer

A private studio with a real wood fire.

Firelight, window light, and patience for the right glow.

Client seated on a fur rug before the lit fireplace in the Palos Park studio

Client kneeling on a fur rug before the fireplace, candles and firelight behind her

Client reclining by the fire in a lace chemise

Client reclining before a bright fire in thigh-high boots and a sheer robe

Holiday session by the fireplace with garland and a Santa hat

Client in a black costume lying on the tile floor before the lit fireplace

Thrown out of drawing class on day one.

I've been into art in one form or another all my life. In college, a professor looked at my sketch of the model, picked up my book bag, and walked me to the hallway. He left me there after saying, “You won't learn anything in my class.” I had to scramble, but I was moved to a higher level of figure drawing.

Art eventually led me to biology. I spent years in research, from studying circulating brain hormones in hibernating garter snakes to a long run managing a neuroelectrophysiology lab studying songbirds. Yet, I never put down my camera.

Photography started early. In seventh grade they called me “Flash,” and not because I was fast. It was the Kodak I kept borrowing from my father. My first real camera was a $20 garage sale Olympus OM-1. Decades later, during a dramatic portraiture course, boudoir found me, and it changed how I see people.

My job is simple. Reveal the beauty that has always been there, and let you see what others see.

Married more than 20 years, with two kids, a cat named Chairman Meow, and a dog named Pretzel. Off the clock: hiking, brewing beer, and repairing watches.

What clients say

“I felt so incredibly nervous and didn't know what to expect. After a couple of poses I mentioned that I felt silly. Daniel took another pic and showed me the back of his camera. I cried so hard cause I looked so beautiful.”

Jen S.

“My experience working with you was fun, engaging, and personable. Being able to have some laughs while taking photos really makes the difference in how effortless they come out. I felt relaxed and comfortable the entire time. Also, your lighting and mood of photos is fantastic.”

Reyna E.

“Daniel is extremely professional and is an amazing photographer! I was thrilled to get a variety of beautiful images from our first shoot. I would recommend him!”

Rebin

Follow along on Instagram.

New work, behind the scenes, and the occasional bad dad joke.

Follow @danielbaleckaitis

Questions, answered.

I have never modeled. Is that a problem?

Almost no one has. I direct every pose and show you the back of the camera as we go.

Do I need to lose weight first?

No. Posing and light do the work. Come as you are, this year, in this body.

What should I wear?

A bodysuit is the single best piece. Add a bra and panty set, something soft, jewelry, and heels. You get my full wardrobe guide after booking.

Can I bring a friend?

Yes. Many clients do.

Will my photos end up online?

Only if you sign a release saying so. Most clients keep their images completely private.

Is hair and makeup included?

Yes, in every session.

What does it cost?

Collections are built around you. I walk through the full pricing guide at your consultation, with no pressure to book.

Book a consultation

Start with a conversation.

Tell me a little about yourself. I reply personally within two business days.

ddbstudiosllc@gmail.com (773) 570-0068 Instagram @danielbaleckaitis