Imagine stripping down to your push up bra and lacy panties, and posing for a stranger pointing a giant camera lens your way.

That’s what more and more Vancouver women are doing as many of the city’s wedding photographers are offering to capture a little more skin than a bridal gown might reveal.

“A lot of women in Vancouver are really good at taking care of themselves by going to the gym or to yoga,” photographer Barbara Chung said. “More women need to reward themselves and celebrate how beautiful their forms can be.”

Chung, who has photographed over 100 women in boudoir style since she started offering the service in Vancouver two years ago, said many clients intend to give the photos as gifts to their partners.

“They want to spice things up for a birthday or an anniversary, instead of buying a new shaver or a tie or cufflinks,” Chung said. “But it turns into a gift for themselves.”

For Tanja A., her boudoir photoshoot gave her a confidence she didn’t know she had.

“It gave me an ego boost,” the 28-year-old Vancouver woman said. “It’s really nice to see yourself and to know that you can look like that if you want to.”

Tanja said the key to a successful boudoir shoot is to work with a photographer you trust and feel comfortable with.

Chung, who works out of her Yaletown studio, emphasized that the photography is meant to be classy.

“You don’t have to be naked to be sexy. I think some of the sexiest photos are the ones that leave a bit more to the imagination.”

Chung has photographed women of all shapes, sizes and ages. Her youngest client was 21 and her oldest client was 55 years old.

“The older woman was just so comfortable with her body and I thought that was really exciting,” Chung said. “It’s about taking the time to treat yourself. It’s all about embracing your body.”