"$400 sounds like a lot of money just to push a camera button a few times." I could just respond, "Yeah, but that camera built around the button is crazy expensive!" But you're not here to listen to what my expenses are. You're here to see how this Session Fee - this money that you've worked your butt off to earn - is going to be spent to benefit you. Here you go:
We will arrange a time to discuss the possibility of working together on a boudoir shoot. (Obviously, it's important for both of us to have a good repoire if we're going to successfully create this intimate art.) You'll share a bit of your journey that has led you to consider making this brave leap, and you'll get a chance to meet me, hear my heart, get an idea of my sense of humor, etc. You can tell me about any stylistic or thematic elements you're considering, and ask all the questions you can think of. And like most other people, most of the questions get thought of immediately after hanging up! No worries - I am available via text and at least three social media messaging apps. Keeping you informed and reassured throughout the entire process is part of the package!
No matter how well my clients prepare in advance, they usually arrive to their boudoir session with at least some nervousness. Often that is combined with some frazzle and tension from the morning. Don't worry, we are going to take complete care of you - not just your face, but we'll be working to settle your soul as well. You'll drop your bags, grab a beverage, and sink into the makeup chair. You'll have an entire hour to decompress, shed all outside concerns, enjoy some laughter, and get to know us. We'll share stories and connect as human beings. And by the time your face and hair are camera-ready, your mind will be too.
I'll be providing you with an ideas list and asking you to bring to your session way more items than we are going to be able to shoot. Once your hair and makeup are done, we will go through everything together and select the best pieces. We'll also see if we need to add accessories or change backdrops to compliment the session's chosen wardrobe.
Don't know how to model? Don't worry about a thing! After you've changed into your first outfit (usually something casual like a loose sweater or button-up shirt), we'll sit down and play the mirror game. From there, we'll go over what you can expect from me as a posing coach and review different terms and directions. Don't worry if you don't retain it all - we'll have plenty of opportunity to review during your shoot. By the time we're finished, you'll feel like a pro!
Nearly all of my shoots take place at my home studio in NE Fort Wayne. It's a 17'x24' room with 15' valuted ceilings, and windows that give us a 72-square-foot wall of gorgeous natural light. If the weather, time of day, or a chosen theme dictates otherwise, we can set up infinite combinations of studio lighting to make you look your absolute best. Additionally, in an average boudoir session I will take anywhere from 500-1500 frames. That means your final photo set will be made of the best of the best of the best that we shoot.
I will coach you through your entire shoot. I'll often demonstrate a pose first and then talk you through it - guiding you step-by-step into the most flattering positions and angles. By the time you're done, you can pretty much guarantee two things: 1) You're going to be sore the next day, and 2) You're going to feel way more confident and natural in front of cameras after this.
I started working in the design and printing industry probably before you were born. The first time I used Photoshop, it was literally still in version 1. And I've used it nearly every day of my life since then. So rest assured, when you get your luxurious photo album, your pictures are going to be exactly right.
I should clarify, however: My goal is to present the best possible version of "Today You." The means I will erase temporary distractions, such as a bruises, zits, or scratches. I will make your photos radiate by smoothing your skin and maybe even giving your teeth an extra shade of white. But I'm not going to body morph away your love handles or carve inches from your arms. Today, right now, you are perfectly you. And part of this cathartic process is seeing YOU and realizing how perfectly you this collection of beautiful imperfections really is. If you've seen my Instagram feed, you've seen my editing style. You can see that every one of those women is gorgeous, regardless of their dimensions, skin color, or unique traits.
Speaking of editing style, I've noticed that most photographers nowadays have a certain "signature look" to all of their photos. You'll get on their Instagram feed and go "Yep, every single picture has that 'orange and teal' look... or they're all super-dark and moody... or they all have a certain retro, old-timey scratchiness to them... etc." My approach is different. I don't believe that all of an artist's art should look the same. And I believe that when you are the subject of my art, that art should be created to perfectly compliment your mood, your outfit, your surroundings, your expression, your body language. So I don't use presets, I treat each shoot like a fresh, brand-new canvas. And I guarantee you're going to love the picture of you that I paint!
I love reveals! When my clients return for their unveiling, we first talk about what they are hoping to feel when they see their images. I do this for two reasons: 1) To help them get centered, focused, and being really ready to receive what they are about to experience. 2) It gives us a reference point. You see, most clients tell me something along the lines of "I'm hoping to feel 'less bad' about my body." Minutes later (when they're crying tears of joy or shrieking with excitement), they realize how conservative their expectations truly were.
The hardest part of your reveal won't be the unveiling. It will be deciding which photos to get rid of. (Rest assured, you don't have to get rid of any of them. We have packages and upgrades that will let you keep them all if you choose!)
Once we've figured out which ones (if any) will be left behind, the rest will be beautifully designed into a gorgeous Luxury Album. You'll have the final say on which photos get full-page treatments, which layouts you like the best, and even in what order the pages appear. You'll have the option of adding pages to your Luxury Album, and even change the size of it if you wish. We will finalize all the details in this session so the only thing left will be to get your Luxury Album into your hands once it has been created.