Boudoir at The Dwell | Inside Chattanooga’s Argyle Room

All images by Ivey Photo unless otherwise noted.

Some spaces are pretty.

Some spaces have presence.

And The Argyle Room at The Dwell?

She's BOTH.

The Argyle Room at The Dwell is bold, glamorous, and full of personality from the second you walk in.

The Dwell is one of Chattanooga’s most distinct boutique hotels, known for its retro-glam personality, design-forward rooms, and intimate feel. The Argyle is one of its King Balcony Suites, with a king bed, soaking tub, stand-alone rain shower, gas fireplace, cozy sitting area, and a private balcony.

In other words: this ain't just a room; this babe is a whole mood. And that's precisely why I HAD to do Boudoir at the Dwell Hotel, specifically the Argyle Room.

A little glimpse of the sitting area and details that make The Argyle Room feel like more than just a hotel room.

Life has changed quite a bit for me in the last couple of years. I returned to full-time work as a lawyer, I shut down my studio, and I became a travel agent. Because of that, some people seem to think I stopped being a photographer.

Not even close.

The truth is, my photography has not slowed down even a little. I have just been busy creating one of my very favorite kinds of secret art: boudoir.

More of that gorgeous argyle wall, because honestly… why would I stop at one?

Lately, I have been working with clients who love elevated images in reimagined places, and I have been creating boudoir sessions in all kinds of fun spaces that feel a little more exciting, a little more luxurious, and a lot less expected than a traditional studio setup.

The details at The Dwell are part of the charm, and I am absolutely into a hotel that knows how to commit to a whole aesthetic.

And NOW, I am finally going to share some of that secret art with you.

But if you think these images are good, you can only imagine what the actual boudoir photos look like.

The sitting area in The Argyle Room is such a fun little shift in energy and gives us even more room to play during a session.

I have seen other photographers use this room before, and I had been wanting to shoot here for a while. I finally got my chance recently, and let me just say: this room did not disappoint.

Even the little details in The Argyle Room feel styled, thoughtful, and just begging to be worked into a session.

The Argyle Room at The Dwell is full of the kind of eye candy that makes my brain immediately start firing on ALL cylinders.

Even the bathroom art at The Dwell is serving, and I love a space that commits all the way through.

Pattern. Texture. Mood. Good light. Interesting details.

She's got it ALL, y'all.

Even the brick wall gets a moment, because texture like this is just too good not to use.

One of the things I have loved most about shifting away from a traditional studio is that it has opened up so much more room to play. Instead of walking into the same setup every time, I get to create around the personality of the space.

And this room has personality for days.

The tub setup in The Argyle Room is clean, simple, and just waiting for its starring role.

We utilized the sitting area, the brick wall, the bed space, and the tub, which means a gallery made here can have so much variety without ever losing that cohesive, elevated feel.

The light hitting the floors and brick like this became a natural reflector, and we had a blast playing with both the light and the shadows it created.

That is one of the things that makes a hotel boudoir session so fun for me creatively. Every part of the room offers something a little different, and I get to build the session around what catches my eye and what fits my client best.

You see subway tile. I see an entire boudoir shower set.

And one of the best parts of using a hotel room for boudoir is that it turns the whole thing into more of an experience. Your session does not have to begin and end the second we stop shooting!

I know you are not supposed to pick favorites, but this floral bath setup was giving The Fate of Ophelia. And I am OBSESSED!

You can book the room, have hair and makeup come in, bring your best friend, hype each other up, make a whole thing out of it, and then stay the night after your session for a fancy little girls' night in.

And yes, that also means you can have wine in the room, which is something many studios do not allow.

BYOB, babe. One of my favorite things about using a hotel suite for boudoir is that you can actually bring the wine and make a whole night of it.

And if you love the way the room looks, I promise you would love the way YOU look in it even more.

And for my finale: a little lingerie on the lamp, because subtlety has never really been my thing.

And if this kind of boudoir experience is speaking your language, you do not have to piece it together on your own. As both a photographer and a travel agent, I can help plan the entire experience for you: location, stay, and session included.

Your session starts HERE. XO, PIE