Bralettes and Brunch is an all-female creative team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This incredible collective is bound by a shared passion for celebrating the essence of womanhood. Bralettes and Brunch's work has been an infinite source of inspiration for nympho life—read about the philosophy, mission, and unique artistic touch of the collective in this exclusive interview with their founder Yuli. 

By Polina Kirichuk

Who is behind the Bralettes and Brunch collective, and what is your mission? How did Bralettes and Brunch come to life? 

I'm Yuli, the founder and creative behind Bralettes and Brunch. When I started this journey, I was still working at a corporate law firm and needed a creative outlet where I could explore sensual art while staying anonymous due to the strict nature of my job. That's how Bralettes and Brunch was born—as an Instagram page where I could express myself freely without associating it with my actual name. Our mission has always been to create art of women with the female gaze.

How did your personal creative journey begin, and when did you recognize erotic photography as your medium of choice?

I've always been captivated by the essence of sensuality as a young woman. To me, being sexy wasn’t about attracting male attention or being overtly sexual—it was about embodying our natural sensuality as female beings. Being sexy felt beautiful and empowering for me as a woman. It’s what felt most natural for me. My artistic eye was always drawn to the elegance of the nude female form, whether in art or in lingerie as a statement of fashion.

Being sexy wasn’t about attracting male attention or being overtly sexual—it was about embodying our natural sensuality as female beings.

I began my journey designing lingerie and costumes, which eventually evolved into styling and directing intimate lingerie and boudoir photoshoots. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the limitations of lockdown required me to adapt, and I found myself learning photography to continue creating. It became another medium of expression for me. Now, I oversee the entire creative process, from conception to photography, working alongside a talented team of women to bring these visions to life.

How would you describe your distinctive artistic style, and what sets it apart from other photographers working in this genre?

I would say Bralettes and Brunch is very playful, feminine & imaginative. We love lingerie and being sexy but in a way that resonates with women most. I think it's always important for us to create art of women with the female gaze in mind. We love to be funny and cheeky with girl humor but also be sensual and highlight the female body. I think what sets Bralettes and Brunch apart is that we don’t shoot the typical woman wearing sexy lingerie in a bedroom scene—we try to put women in more everyday scenarios or conceptualize bigger productions for our main annual photoshoots. 

Where do you find your creative inspiration? Are there specific artists, photographers, or life experiences that have shaped the way you see and capture the world of sensuality and eroticism?

I find inspiration across all mediums. There's something so fascinating about wandering through art museums, absorbing how the classical artists captured their visions of women. Films, music videos, pop culture—they are just so mesmerizing with their vivid visuals of femininity. I’m constantly drawn to the fashion world, from the runways to the creative process of campaigns and editorials. Keeping up with art, new and old, in general fuels my imagination and keeps my ideas alive, evolving, and endlessly inspired.

What does your creative process look like, from conceptualizing a shoot to working with your models and bringing the final image to life?

I always start with thinking of the story I am trying to tell. What is the idea and message behind what I want to create? How will we provoke those emotions from our audience when they see our creations? From there I will source my visual materials to bring that story together to create the aesthetic of the concept. I think about what the setting is, how do we create that world? This helps me to see and plan how the production will look like. Next, I think of who the right model is for this story. For me, finding the right model for the right concept is incredibly important. It is like casting the right actor for the role. I do not want someone who is just beautiful and will look sexy in a photo. I want the model to truly convey the moment and become the story, she needs to be able to play the part. Once we start getting into production it's all about bringing all of the details together to create the art the way I envisioned it in my head. We source all of the things to create the setting. We finalize the wardrobe styling, hair, and makeup. We shop for all of the props and small details that will give the aesthetic that final touch. I create mood and posing boards for references, and finalize a shot list. Once the photoshoot is completed, it's all about stitching that story together. How do we make sense of this visually? I like to shoot full-frame shots of the entire production but also love detailed shots—so it’s trying to narrow down the images of what makes the best impression of what we are trying to tell without being repetitive. In the editing process, I work with my retoucher to create the tone and mood for the color grading. I think the retouching process really finishes off the entire concept, it’s so important for the final process of the project. Lastly, I work on how this will roll out on our Instagram in a series and tell that story both in our feed and stories. 

How do you approach styling in your photography, and how does it enhance the themes of empowerment, intimacy, and beauty in your work?

Styling is, without a doubt, essential in my photography work. With my background in design and styling, it's the part of the process that feels the most natural and fulfilling to me. I think it’s easy to have concepts, but the details are what really makes the art come to life. We work in pretty full production at Bralettes and Brunch, so every aspect of the project is well-styled. From designing the set we shoot in, to styling the wardrobe to fit the aesthetic, and incorporating the right props to be a playful part of the image—every detail is styled specifically to tell the story we are trying to convey. I think that so much of why people are drawn to our images is because there is so much attention and care poured into the styling and every element of the work we do. Everything feels aesthetically pleasing together and creates this imagery that wakes up your senses. I want our viewers to not only see the art but for them to feel the moment, get lost in the details and provoke their thoughts.  It’s especially challenging in the world of social media where sensual imagery is highly censored. We have to get even more clever to create sensual artwork that comply with social media guidelines, but still evoke reactions. 

What advice would you offer to someone considering their first nude photoshoot but struggling with body confidence or societal taboos?

I would say, being selfish is a form of self-love. Stop worrying about what society might think or how your friends or family might react. Do it for you. No one has to know or see nude photos of yourself but YOU. It is not something to be done for anyone’s consumption but your own. Do the photoshoot to document this very moment in time of who you are. As far as body confidence, you do not need to have the perfect body to feel sexy about yourself.  I can tell you that I’ve worked with some of the most physically “perfect” looking women & they too have the same insecurities about their bodies. Feeling sexy in your body is a mindset. Your body is beautiful, desirable, aesthetically perfect as it is.

There is no flaw in the female body.

In your view, how can women embrace their sexuality and feel more confident in their bodies? What steps can they take to overcome the societal shame often associated with revealing our bodies? 

I think most importantly it's overcoming whatever trauma or shame our bodies have been through. Women are always so judged whether we are too young, too old, too skinny, too fat, too masculine, too sexy, too prude. We are scrutinized and condemned for it all. In order to reclaim your body and power—you have to disregard the negativity that exists. Instead, ask yourself: What makes me feel my best? What pleases me? What turns me on? What makes me feel soft? What makes me feel strong? Decentering other people’s thoughts and focusing on your own feelings and wants helps you to truly connect with your body and natural sexuality. Embrace your naked body and all of its uniqueness. Explore different levels of sexuality and kinks.

Looking ahead, what new themes or directions are you excited to explore in your photography? How do you see your artistic journey evolving in the future?

I’d love to learn to shoot in film. I think my aesthetics would look really beautiful on film. I definitely would like to actually have someone take over the photography aspect so that I can focus more on the creative and business sides of Bralettes and Brunch. I would love to grow it to other things beyond photography. I dream of creating a social club for women to get together and do wellness or artistic activities. I’d love to create merchandise for Bralettes and Brunch that really fits our brand like sexy loungewear, cute totes & socks, and female-focused sensual art pieces. I have appreciated learning the photography medium but it is tedious and takes a lot of my time and focus. I do think I will still shoot more personal projects but I would love to get back to what I am best at which is styling and creative direction.

Bralettes and Brunch kindly provided selected images you can find on our website and, for that, we are incredibly grateful.  

Bralettes and Brunch is a creative space where love for women, lingerie, art and brunch comes together. Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bralettesandbrunch/