Last week, I stepped into a world where wellness meets artistry, femininity meets courage, and self-worth finds a new language. I met with French photographer Adele Odette, the woman behind By Adele Photography and By Adele Boudoir, to explore her deeply empowering work with women here in Mallorca.

Her new studio, tucked just off Paseo Mallorca, feels less like a workplace and more like an elegant Parisian apartment. Saturated in velvety midnight blues and muted smoky greys, it exudes the quiet glamour of a refined French boudoir: intimate yet impeccably tasteful. It is the kind of space that seems to whisper, “You are safe. You are beautiful. You can bloom here.”

Before we even begin our conversation, Adèle offers me a quote that summarises her philosophy:

“Boudoir is not just about sensual and intimate portraits; it’s about embracing your true essence and reconnecting with your power and beauty. Every session is a journey of self-love and empowerment, helping you see yourself as the powerful, beautiful being you truly are.”

And as the afternoon unfolds, I realise she means every word.

A Process Rooted in Care, Comfort, and Connection

The boudoir experience, Adele explains, begins long before a camera is lifted. Clients are invited to visit the studio in advance—to feel the space, meet her, and begin dissolving any nerves. She even accompanies clients lingerie shopping when needed, offering gentle guidance on pieces that flatter their shape and personality.

Whether they shop together or follow her curated preparation guide, women arrive on the day knowing they are in capable, compassionate hands.

The first two hours are dedicated entirely to easing in: hair and makeup with a professional artist, time to chat, sip coffee or cava, breathe, and center themselves. “It’s important for women to feel like the main character,” she says. “If you walk in and I say, ‘Right, get into your underwear,’ it doesn’t work. They need time to feel cared for, to land.”

Only once the client feels settled and glowing do they begin with the first outfit—always something modest, building confidence gradually as the session progresses. With each pose, each breath, each click of the shutter, Adele guides them with reassuring gentleness: where to place hands, how to angle the chin, where to soften, where to lengthen.

You can see it happen—the softening, the opening, the dawning realisation.
“By the end, they don’t want to stop,” she smiles. “Something unleashes in them.”

A Transformation That Goes Beyond the Lens

The results are viewed the same day. After the shoot, while clients enjoy lunch—sometimes joined by a partner—Adele selects the strongest images, preparing a gallery that reveals their transformation.

“I’m with them when they see the photos for the first time,” she explains. “Most women have never seen themselves like this. Not selfies, not photos from a partner—this is different. It’s important to reassure them that the beauty they’re seeing is real.”

Clients choose from exquisite handmade albums, velvet-covered boxes, wall art, or accordion folios. Some later tell her they revisit their album whenever they’re having a difficult day.
“They light candles, put on music, and look through their photos,” she says. “It reconnects them to themselves. It brings the magic back.”

Boudoir Packages begin at €950, depending on the products chosen, and the experience typically runs from morning to mid-afternoon. There are also couple sessions—often a wedding gift or anniversary celebration—which she describes as “a beautiful date with a touch of spice.”

But she prefers women to shoot alone. “When someone is watching—even a husband—the energy changes. Vulnerability needs privacy. But partners are welcome for the photo reveal.”

Adèle shoots 500–1,000 images per session, selecting the best for clients to review. She offers personal branding packages as well, ranging from €950 to €5,200 for full-day sessions with photo and video content—perfect for entrepreneurs, creatives, and professionals.

Empowerment for Every Woman, Every Age, Every Body

One of the most moving aspects of Adele’s work is her commitment to authenticity.
“All women, all sizes, all ages,” she emphasises. “I want every woman to feel like it could be them. Not just a certain type of body.”

Her clients are predominantly 40+, with many in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s.
“Younger women often already feel sexy; older women want to reconnect to that. After children, after divorce, after menopause—they want to rediscover themselves.”

She calls herself a “visual healer”—a title she wears with humility but also with truth.
“Women come thinking they’re doing this for their husband. But afterwards they say, ‘The gift was for him, yes… but the experience was for me.’”

In an age where young girls are drowning in AI-manipulated images of “perfect” bodies, Adele’s mission feels not just relevant but vital. “Real women, real bodies,” she says. “Stretch marks, scars, softness, age—it’s all beautiful. I want young girls to see this and understand that ageing is not something to fear.”

We talk about the epidemic of low self-worth among teenagers, particularly girls.
“They look at these manipulated AI images and want to be that false illusion,” she sighs. “It creates fear, pressure, mental health issues. This work is my way of offering another narrative—one of truth, softness, strength.”

My Own Moment in Front of the Lens

Before leaving, I stepped into her boudoir to experience a brief personal branding session myself. Though not lingerie-based, I still felt vulnerable, unsure of where to place my hands, how to sit naturally.

Adèle was grounding, warm, and disarmingly intuitive. She guided me gently, turning what started as self-consciousness into something surprisingly enjoyable.

By the end, I understood why her clients call the experience healing.

A Safe Haven for Self-Rediscovery

“You’ve created a sanctuary,” I told her before leaving.

“That’s exactly what I want,” she said. “A sanctuary where women can reconnect with their inner and outer beauty. A place to blossom.”

If you’re considering a transformative experience—or searching for the perfect gift with meaning this Christmas—Adele offers beautifully packaged gift vouchers. She also provides personal branding sessions designed to elevate entrepreneurs and professionals with striking, authentic visual content.

Adèle Chrétien is more than a photographer. She is a guide, an artist, a witness—and yes, a visual healer. And for any woman ready to reconnect with her power, her sensuality, her joy—her lens might just be the mirror you’ve been waiting for.

For further information go to www.byadeleboudoir.com.