Thanks so much for liking us. It feels so wonderful to be liked. We like you too. If you don’t like us yet, click here and then click like. 🙂
We would LOVE to have you come out to beautiful, SUNNY SAN DIEGO for our next boudoir photography workshop! We absolutely LOVE our workshops, and we love meeting new photographers, chatting with everyone, sharing some things we’ve learned with our business, and overall having a GREAT time! If you’re ready to sign up for the workshop, go on over to the Boudoir Shop to register now! If you have any questions, please feel free to email Ashley & she’ll help you w/ any questions you may have: [email protected] Looking forward to seeing you here! xoxo, Kimberlee & Marissa
Here’s a quick run-down on the details for the Boudoir Divas’ Workshop…
DATES: June 7-8, 2011
TIME: 10am-5pm, with a lunch break thrown in there somewhere along the way.
INVESTMENT: $1200
SCHEDULE:
DAY ONE: Lighting basics, posing tips, watch the Divas demo w/ a model (past client), then you grab your camera and SHOOT! We have set it up where each of you will have 10 minutes of 1-on-1 time with a model/client… ensuring that you have time to work with them and not have to ‘fight’ for the best shot with 20 other people. 🙂 You will be shooting with our models on our sets, using our hot lights… and you get to use these images for your website! Such a great way to build your boudoir photography portfolio!
DAY TWO: Everything else. Seriously. We try to cram as MUCH as we can into this day… from the boudoir experience to pricing and packages, to studio organization, to post-processing and marketing and advertising. We don’t hold back anything!
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST BOUDOIR WORKSHOP ATTENDEES:
“I absolutely LOVED this workshop!! Worth every penny and I would totally do it again. All the Divas were SO great! I learned so much and bumped up my portfolio!! They went in depth about lighting, you get one on one time with models and they even go over every bit of their business plan. They are not afraid to share anything as they want you to succeed! I went to school for two years for photography and learned more in just these two days!! So it doesn’t matter if you are just starting or have been doing it for years, I promise you will love it! Plus who doesn’t want to hang with The Boudoir Divas!!!” – Jamie Sperry
“I am SO glad I attend the San Diego workshop as I not only had a great time and took some phenomenal pictures for my portfolio, but I learned so much about how to launch a boudoir photography business. As a new boudoir photographer, it was priceless to learn the tips, tricks, secrets, and basics of launching my business the right way from the original Divas! I told my husband everything we did and he nailed it – “you went to school!”. I don’t remember school being this fun! If I did, I would have paid more attention! Thanks Diva Team!” – Anita Lubke
“This workshop is absolutely worth every penny! If for no other reason than the killer portfolio you will leave with. But there are so many more reasons this workshop ROCKS! The Divas don’t hold back; they tell you all their secrets, everything they’ve learned, everything you need to know to shoot Boudoir. This workshop is great for people just starting out or those who already have a photography business and want to add Boudoir. I left there with the know how and ability to start a Boudoir Photography business. This is the best money you will spend if you want to learn this awesome niche market.” –Kate Kelava
ADD-ON OPTION: “BASICS” BREAKFAST (this is an optional add-on… we’ll be going over the basics of exposure, making sure you’re ready to shoot in manual mode for the remainder of the day once the workshop kicks off!)
DATE: June 7 (the morning of the workshop, before it officially starts)
TIME: 7:30-9:30am
COST: $75 for the add-on basics breakfast
Here are a few videos to show a bit more about our boudoir workshops:
GET READY… this is a LONG one! 🙂
So, just in case you haven’t heard about this little project we’re taking on… we wanted to throw out this idea to all of our boudoir photographer friends out there! We have had this crazy dream – and a crazy goal – to raise money for women entrepreneurs in Malawi, Africa… and if this idea sparks excitement in your heart, then we want YOU to join with us! Why Malawi? Why this project? Why small business loans? Well… here’s just a little explanation, to share with you why it’s something we feel really passionate about. Marissa and I recently took a trip to Uganda, Africa, to document the stories of women and children living in poverty.
We had the amazing opportunity to talk with these resilient women, to hear their stories, and to see first-hand HOW they have been able to survive – and thrive – despite the horrible circumstances they’ve been faced with, being born into poverty. It was incredibly humbling to see these women, and to hear the HOPE in their voices, despite what they are facing on a daily basis. Most of them women we met have been able to change their situation, and get OUT of poverty… and it was really cool to consistently see that a small business loan had helped them do this. We saw women with tailoring businesses and little shops – they’ve been able to make a living for themselves, and all they needed was a little hand up, to help them get started.
We are so blessed… we have been born into a society and a country that gives us SO MUCH opportunity. Marissa and I run a successful business, and we have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams, knowing that we are able to live OUT this dream of ours with The Boudoir Divas! We just want to give back, even though this seems like a small way. But we want to give a few women the opportunity to start a small business in their hometown!
One man we spoke with in Uganda defined poverty as “helplessness plus hopelessness.” It’s not about material goods or wealth. It’s about having no hope… no possible way for you to change your life… because there is absolutely no way to pull yourself out of your current situation. This is how a majority of the world is living. So when a small opportunity is held out to someone who is helpless & hopeless… their situation is now given new meaning as they are given an opportunity to change. They are no longer in poverty because they DO have hope. They DO have an opportunity to change, to do something about their situation. They are no longer helpless.
HOW IT WORKS…
We would ask that you commit to giving $5 from each boudoir shoot that you do, put that money aside and then the first of every month (or a date you choose) you update our donation page http://www.optinnow.org/fundraisers/boudoir . We have been doing this same thing with our clients, and we have labels we have printed that we stick on their invoice so that our clients know that a small portion of what they have paid is going to an amazing cause. Here is an example of what the label could look like. You can adapt ours (right-click and save the image below), or just make your own!
MORE DETAILS…
*If you commit to the pledge email us at [email protected] and we will add your link to the Opportunity International post. Note: You do not have to be a member or Boudoir International to participate, you don’t even have to be a boudoir photographer. You can just commit if you love the cause.
*There is no written contract saying that you are going to participate. If you even need to stop donating we will completely understand. If you are more comfortable making a one time donation we welcome that as well.
*Our studio (www.theboudoirdivas.com) has earned $3500 in the past for World Vision’s Girls in Crisis Fund and now we are ready to push with fellow boudoir photographers for a larger goal. We love to dream big and believe that God will meet us halfway if we humbly trust him and are in line with what he loves. So let’s do this together everyone! BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHERS UNITE!!!
*ALL of the details can be found here!
***ALSO…… If you’d like to see the finished product of one of the videos we worked on while we were in Uganda, click below!
Thank you so much for helping us move forward in our big dream. If you have any questions about this, or would like to know more about how to get involved, CLICK HERE and visit the Opportunity International page. Not sure what we are talking about when we say “Boudoir International“? It’s just a little referral website for photographers – click here for more info.
Another workshop is just around the corner! Literally, it is next week and we are very excited to have another great group of photographers. If you can’t make this workshop, we are having another workshop at the beginning of June. You can go to our Boudoir Shop to see details and register! As always, we like to introduce our photographer/attendees by having them fill out a little questionnaire. Enjoy!
Website: www.TierraKendrick.com
Location: Albany, GA
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
I’m most excited about learning posing techniques and lighting to get the best photo. Hopefully improving my skills and expanding my reach to clients.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Besides lighting and posing techniques, hopefully how to interact with clients and how to make everyone comfortable.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
I lived here before when I was stationed in Camp Pendleton back in 2003-05.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
I love to photograph children and very small babies. They’re super precious!
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
STARBUCKS!!!! I love the java chip!
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
On my ipod? Nothing. I’m watching iCarly with my 2 yr old (Don’t judge). But if I was listening to my Ipod it would be a mix of Maroon 5, Beyonce, and some early ’90s R&B.
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
I don’t have a favorite yet. I have my eye on the 85mm f1.4 Nikon lens. Sooooooo sweet!
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Right now I’m in love with Pistachios. This is recent. I eat those when I’m not sneaking a mini reese’s cup behind my toddler’s back.
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
It changed every year. From a teacher to doctor, nurse, lawyer, and somehow I ended up being a Marine. Now I’m thinking straight and can finally focus on photographer.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Just being a great mother.
Website: eyeonlifephotography.com
Location: Pilesgrove, NJ (South Jersey)
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Opportunity to see your work flow, from start to finish. Not to sound like I’m kissing up, but shooting and discussing the craft of true leaders in your field. Shooting a totally new genre for me.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Selling aspects, I am fairly comfortable with the camera and lighting subjects, I am hoping to get a strong understanding of your pose flow and reasons you choose certain poses. Very interested in your “tricks o’ the trade” pose hints, selling hints etc.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
ONCE! and it was 45 degrees and hailing and I was only there for a day, I was very disappointed!! Hoping for classically renowned San Diego weather this time!
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
I have grown to really try to capture the emotions of photographing people. Hence my switch to Boudoir, I can’t think of a more emotional intimate thing to photograph than a woman trying to be her absolute sexiest and beautiful either for her or her partner. I’ve done the wedding thing and while its an emotional day there is a hectic nature that tends to take me and the subjects out of the “mood”.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
As long as its strong and black! My blood is type O-caffinated
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Jeffrey Gaines, and Michael Franti
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
24-70 f2.8L lens — it’s my go to lens for just about everything and one I find on my camera 90% of the time & my latest addition – the “Rapid Strap”!
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Chocolate! and/or Jalapeno Cheetos — they were in stores for a while now they are gone! They were soooo good!
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
Yawn – engineer – the practical nature of my parents driven into my head! I’ve learned!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Compassion and Generosity
Website: www.janeengs.com
Location: Las Vegas, NV
1.What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Learning some boudoir photo techniques.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Their cool, fun style.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Too many to count.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
People and travel.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Starbucks
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Moby, Train, Adele
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
70-200mm 2.8
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Chocolate
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
Flight attendant
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Being a great parent.
Website: KarenWilsonPhotography.com
Twitter: 1kittyclick
Location: Westbury, LongIsland, NewYork
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Learning to run a successful Boudoir Business.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
About the mistakes so I do not make any. Saving time is very important.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Never.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
Clothing details.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Starbucks.
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Keith Sweat, Christina Aguillera.
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
Canon 135L Lens.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Raisins.
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to work in a Museum.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
My Kindness.
Website: www.MapuanaPhoto.com
Twitter: MapuanaPhoto
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Learning the shoot the Diva Boudoir Style.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Shooting style, editing, lighting and posing.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Only twice.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
Showing someone how beautiful they.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Trying to kick the habit…. but Coffee Bean has a killer Iced Dark Chocolate…. I’m drooling….
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Adel, Duffy and Katy Perry.
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
Still adding to my collection but as of now I only own a 5D Mark2 and a 50mm 1.4, but the 85 1.2 is a killer lens to shoot with.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Chocolate.
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
A teacher.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Being a kick butt photographer and making others feel BEAUTIFUL.
Website: www.claireandsamphotographers.com
Twitter: claired707
Location: Petaluma Ca (outside San Francisco)
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Meeting other workshop attendees and of course meeting the DIVAS!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
How to strengthen my brand and marketing abilities. Most of all getting my clients to feel safe and comfortable with me 🙂
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
I can’t even count! I went to Fresno State so we would always go to San Diego when we wanted to do something fun!
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
I love photographing women and making them feel beautiful about themselves.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Starbucks… I have a bad addiction
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
I like really weird independent bands. Any thing form the 80’s and a little bit of country. But I will have to say my favorite band right now is Florence + the Machine
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
My 85 1.2
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Trail mix but not the healthy kind ,the kind with lots of chocolate.
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
A horse trainer. I did that but after having my son needed to get something a little more stable.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Being Awesome!!!!!
Website: http://www.MeribellaPhotography.com
Location: Brownsville, TX
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Visiting a new place, getting to meet the awesome Boudoir Divas, and knowing that after the workshop I will be a completely, much more knowledgeable photographer, and will see women from a different perspective.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
-lighting: different affects, exposure, etc.
-posing: different body types, how to hide flaws
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
zero!
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
The eyes, and people’s expressions (close-up)
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Either one
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
S&M by Rhianna
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
My camera… just kidding, my expo disc
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Trail mix, yogurt, or fruit (snickers would be great, LOL!)
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
A photographer, teacher, or cosmetologist
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Being a good person
Website: WWW.XOXOBOUDOIRPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Twitter: XOXOBOUDOIR
Location: SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Oh my goodness, what am I not! Seeing the studio, meeting all the girls, SUNNY WEATHER!! That, and my personal shoot!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
I am really excited to learn about the best way to grow quickly and stay organized. And just learning from the best in the business.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Never 🙁
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
My 3 month old son and 5 year old daughter. And a tight second is the way a woman transforms in front of the lens from the beginning of the shoot when she is unsure, to the end where she feels like a celebrity.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Starbucks
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Lately I have LOVED Lady Gaga’s BORN THIS WAY.
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
Currently it is my White balance lens! Ha ha, I know that sounds a bit silly, but it really helps me create a grey card in the camera and has saved me a lot of time in LR.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Goodness, what is my favorite snack food. Oh, its gotta be tortilla chips and a really yummy spinach artichoke dip. Hmmm, or Chips Ahoy cookies though I have to be careful because I can eat an ENTIRE bag!!
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
I vaguely remember wanting to be many things. . . a ballerina, an acrobat, a model an actress. It seems like the most common thing was that I wanted to be KNOWN, I wanted to be famous. I wanted people to hear my name and smile in recognition. Then I became “MOM” and suddenly I realized that in my home this is exactly what happens!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Wow, so many things flood into my mind. Good mom, good wife, good business woman, good friend. All of these would be wonderful to be remembered as, but yet not entirely fulfilling. They are all pieces of a whole, scattered around inside, things that I strive to be. The one thing in life that is continuous throughout my day to day, is who I am inside. I am happy, I am proud, I am stronger than even I realize. I want to be known for the person that I am to everyone else around me, whether that is different or the same for each person. It is all the same inside, it is me.
Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Learning to work with people, I have a fear of people when I shoot.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
How to make women feel comfortable in front of my camera, and of course how to be divalicious. 😉
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
A lot…my hubby is a comic geek so about every summer for comic con.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
My dog, sunsets, buildings and just about anything that catches my eye.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Starbucks all the way!
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
The Chromatics “I want your love”
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
My Lensbaby, baby…it’s soooo fun.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Grapes and or goldfish
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
A NatGeo photographer…inspired by the Afghan girl on the cover circa 1985.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Living it to it’s fullest with lots of love and compassion.
Website: cindysdigitalcreations.com
Location: Pocatello, Idaho
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Posing and post-production.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Everything!
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Once before
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
My kids
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Coffee Bean, usually.
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Adele
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
Since my camera and favorite lens aren’t in there, it would have to be my MacBook.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Dark Chocolate
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
Veterinarian
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Being a great mother.
Website: eticketphotography.com or CourtneyEats.com/blog
Twitter: @courtneycaplin
Location: Orange County (Orange)
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
So excited to go through this so I can better help my fiancé as he begins a business in photography! Also super stoked to meet some new people and have fun!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
Boudoir technique and composition, lighting for portraiture, and the business aspect in general
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
I’ve visited San Diego a few times through the years; I’ve never spent more then a day at a time there though.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
I really like taking pictures of life around the city, any city really. I love how people and things fit into the spaces and textures of a cityscape.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Ooh Peets is so good!
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Bob Dylan, Mumford and Sons, Benny Goodman, Fred Astaire, Cloud Cult, Regina Spektor, Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion, The Pogues…The list goes on – Shuffle is a beautiful thing!
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
Hhhmmm, I’m just starting out so the list is small. I’d have to say my 50mm Matt gave me.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
French Fries with melted cheddar cheese, hands down! Otherwise potato chips and home made onion dip 😉
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an actor for a really long time
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
The way I treat people. I never want to be remembered for being rude or arrogant. I always try to treat others with respect and understanding.
Name: Tess Pierson
Website: studioalameda.com
Location: SF Bay Area
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Pretty much everything. Including sunshine. Watching the divas at work, flowing.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
How to shoot boudoir, how to get the models to relax, you know, the usual stuff, posing
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
About a hundred. My aunt and uncle live in Rancho Santa Fe
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
Kids, food, flowers, interiors–so this is a whole new thing yes
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Peppermint tea. Caffeine gets me into a jackass frenzy. So I usually choose to just skip the drama.
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
Frank, Elton, MJ, Bossa Nova, 80’s, Lady G, Johnny, REM, Reba
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
My macro last couple of months. And my camera grip changed. my. life.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Crudite and hummus. (And chocolate raisins lets face it.)
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
A librarian. I was convinced of it. My boring second choice was a designer or artist.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
Kindness and humor? Terrible at karaoke? Math whiz? Made her bed everyday? Likes the scent of lemons? Who knows dude.
Location:Oxnard, CA
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
EVERYTHING! I know I will learn so much and I can’t wait to meet all girls from
The Boudoir Divas…you seem to be already a positive group of women that already inspire me
to go after my goals!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
How to build my business and gather any all skills I can I obtain.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
Many…I have family that lives there.
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
My children
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
Either
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
I love to dance so I have everything from Black eye pees to 80’s dance/disco
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
I guess my camera
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
Lays sour cream/onion chips but I haven’t had any since January, been on the Adkins diet since then…miss them lots!
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
I didn’t really have a clue!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?
That I did it all…that nothing ever stopped from conquering my dreams…nothing!
Kaileen Galhouse
Website: www.galhousephotography.com
Location: Fairfax VA
1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?
Getting ideas for my studio
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?
portfolio building, lighting and posing, marketing
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?
0
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?
newborns
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?
either
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?
I don’t listen to music!
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?
50mm 1.4 and 100mm macro
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?
sour cream and onion chips
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?
advertising executive
Ok, how freaking EXCITING is it to see boudoir EVERYwhere these days!??!?!?! Seriously. We couldn’t be more happy that this trend is finally being noticed by more and more magazines, online bloggers, twitterers, newscasters, and more. Everyone is starting to take notice, and we’re so excited about it! On that note….
We’re on the Celebrity Wedding Reporter Blog!
We were SO honored to be interviewed for this blog post – all about bridal boudoir, why a boudoir shoot is the best gift you could ever give your man, inspiration and ideas for your boudoir shoot, along with some other important boudoir photo tips. Go check it out!
On another note… we also did some major pushing for Boudoir International on this interview, so hopefully it drives even more traffic your way! xoxo, K & M
Hey all! How’s everyone doing on this fine Wednesday? Just wanted to drop a quite blog post to talk about what’s happening with Boudoir International! Currently we’re accepting new applications for new members (shoot us an email w/ your name, city/state you’d like to be listed under, and send a link to your website (with bad-ass portfolio of boudoir images that we’d be proud to show off and promote!) Everyone on Boudoir International is “Diva-approved” – meaning, we love your work and we’d love to send some referrals your way whenever potential clients call our studio asking for boudoir photographer recommendations in cities across the US and around the world!
So, here’s what’s happening now: I need current members to send me your ideas for a boudoir article! We’re taking all kinds of new ideas for boudoir articles that would be helpful for clients browsing through Bou Intl. Shoot us an email if you’re interested! ([email protected])
If you do send in an article idea, please keep in mind a few things:
*The article should be focused toward CLIENTS, not photographers (we want this page to be a place where potential boudoir clients can go to read about boudoir and become educated about what boudoir is all about).
*Tips/how to prepare for the boudoir session, makeup, styling ideas, etc – are all great. Please be as specific as possible (keep the article specific, rather than a broad topic).
*Photos are great to go along w/ an article – we love ‘eye candy’ – so be sure to send us your best stuff!
*Can’t guarantee that an article will make it on the site, but we’d LOVE to hear your ideas. Also, when you submit an article you have to know that we will be editing it. We’ll send it to you to make sure you’re ok w/ our changes before we post it.
Also, be sure to check out the most recent guest blog post – all about The Boudoir Marathon Experience – written by Molly Keyser, of Molly Marie Boudoir.
If you’re interested, we would love to hear from you. I’m excited to get all of your fabulous ideas! Thanks so much! -Kimberlee
I know what you’re thinking… is this really the BEST boudoir workshop? Well, since we’re a little biased, I figured all we really ought to do is post a quote here from one of our last workshop attendees (so that we’re not just bragging about ourselves). 🙂 So here it is…
“The Diva’s aren’t just bringing Boudoir back… They’ve Brought it back with class & style. This was my first Boudoir workshop and I must say, it completely opened my eyes to a type of photography I never knew existed. I had an absolute blast!! The models were stunning, Ashely made everyone feel welcome and super excited to attend. Marissa and Kimberlee are truly Diva’s in there field, the education they provide and the workshop they put on is truly one of the better and more organized ones I’ve attended.” –Matthew Cotter
(I think Matt’s girlfriend is coming to our next workshop in April! He told us he wanted her to come too, so that means a lot to us!) We’ve got some amazing photographers heading out to beautiful San Diego in just a few weeks, and we’re SO very much looking forward to meeting everyone!
Ready to join the Divas and other like-minded boudoir photographers for an amazing experience in San Diego? Click to register today (nope, not too late – one spot left!)
Deena, Deena, Deena. What can we say to you? Words can’t even begin to describe how amazing you are… and how much we LOVE you! You are an integral part of our team, and we can’t imagine what we’d do without you! You are a wonderful mom, great friend, and you’re just SO much fun to be around. Whenever Deen is in the room, there is sure to be laughter and smiles. You light up our office with your personality. You make your clients feel drop-dead GORGEOUS. Your ‘Grateful Game‘ makes me smile EVERY time I get your email or text message. You are a fabulous album designer/pro-retoucher, and every piece of work you create for our clients is absolutely stunning. You are beautiful. You are fun. You are amazing. You are the $h*# rocker. And we LOVE YOU! Have a happy happy birthday – you deserve it. xoxo, K & M (and the rest of Team Diva)
PS – Deen’s bday is actually Saturday (tomorrow!)… shoot her an email ([email protected]), or post on her FB page, or give her a shout-out on her Twitter, or simply click below & leave a comment here to tell her HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thanks everyone!
It’s short and sweet and because it’s from the hubby’s perspective (who I am sure had his initial reservations about spending the moolah for his wife to come to a workshop all the way out in SD) it means so much!!!
“Marissa, just wanted to send a “Thank You”. My wife, Adelle, came to one of your classes at your studio. This was a hard investment for us. However, it was one of the best investments I’ve made! She can’t say enough good things about you and her work is amazing! Thanks again, Travis, Greenville, SC”
Adelle sure is rocking it! Check this out….
Yay! Thank you Travis for this amazing testimonial for our boudoir workshop! Those of you out there who are considering coming to one of our workshops, we have just a few a year and the next is April 12-14 .
We urge you to just go for it and book the boudoir workshop. We believe so strongly that it will be one of the best investments you make for your boudoir business. See you soon!
I’ve been wanting to do this blog post for a while, but had some trouble laying all my thoughts out accurately.
I have had a lot of challenges I have been dealing with, a lot more than I am used to; personally, and a little bit professionally. I want to always be open and real, luckily I have a blog that allows me to do that fairly easily.
This past year has been pretty tough, there has been a lot of changes in my life. I am going to spell out the major ones, not to whine, but just so you have some back story to where I am coming from….Weston and I lost two people who were pillars of strength in our lives, and found out that two other very close loved ones are very, very ill. Weston had changed careers, going in the direction of music, his first passion even before photography. Not having him as a part of the daily biz stuff is different and change can be a little tough. And as you all have probably heard, Kimberlee, my best friend, the closest I have even known to a sis, has moved out of state to be with her love, Eric. Things with The Boudoir Divas will remain the same, although some stuff will be a little tricky logistically. Even before Prince Eric came around K and I had some big decisions to make with the direction of the biz. What is next for us? Our two options are very different. It will be dramatic (and exciting!) but we are scared to make the wrong choice and we can’t put off the decision much longer. I am getting a little bit obsessive about thinking over which is the right way to go. Yuck.
And through all these challenges, my walk with God has been kinda rocky. I just can’t figure out why he is testing me so, so much. And just when I think I take one more thing, he tested me in another huge area: finances. And recently, when I let myself get too scared, too emotional, too down, I tweeted asking for prayer because I was so nervous about our finances. Then I realized that even though that tweet was about me and my personal life, I didn’t want people to worry about The Boudoir Divas in general. And, I realized that K and I are so closely tied that I didn’t want it reflecting on her. It’s not like you can really elaborate in a tweet. So I deleted it right away, but not after I am sure plenty of peeps saw it.
I know that a lot of people don’t like to share financial info, but I feel like I want to be open and honest in all areas of my life including financial. I don’t want this blog to be just butterflies and rainbows because that wouldn’t be an accurate rep of us. Nobody’s life is like that. I am sure you are thinking, ‘yea duh’, right? 😉 So here is what I was talking about in that tweet: about a year ago Weston and I received an inheritance from an uncle we unfortunately didn’t know very well. Next of kin, type thing. Well because we felt as though we really didn’t know him, we thought it was only right to give most of the money away to charity. Come a year later, after that money is gone, the gov is suing us for his cost of care for the years he resided in the Veterans’ home. Saying that this money is owed to them. So the day I tweeted, I let myself get to a really negative place in missing loved ones and just feeling overwhelmed in general. While I was in this pity party, we got a call and we learned from our lawyer that we really needed to start looking at how we were going to repay the gov. (And I know what you are thinking, yes we have tax receipts from what we gave away, no the gov doesn’t seem to care.) We had to look at the amount that we had been saving since we were dating 13 years ago (and just started to look at condos because we finally had a down payment). We had to look at emptying the retirement money we had been slowly putting away and face the heavy tax penalty from removing it to boot.
So that compiled with so many other more important emotional things going on in my life…. I was kinda at a breaking point for lack of a better term. I was trying to understand why God had taken my fairly even keeled life, and in one year poured on challenge after challenge in every area. At that low point all I knew to do was ask for prayer. And I definitely have begun to feel those prayers affect me. While my circumstances haven’t changed, in fact in some ways they have gotten a little worse, I feel God teaching me that I was at total standstill in my life before. I wasn’t in a place where I wanted to grow a whole lot, I was comfortable, I felt as though our biz had arrived and I was just really content just doing what I loved, and no more. I had a few things planned here and there for God but He was just showing me that he wanted me to get out of the boat. I was too cozy. And I am sure he showed me in subtle ways, but I wasn’t really listening. So he pretty much shoved me out of my comfortable little life I had created for myself. And just to be clear, by “comfortable” I’m not talking financially, I mean in how I had set up my life so I didn’t have to get out of my comfort zone very often.
What I am learning now is that he doesn’t want me to live a comfortable life without risk. He wants me to make bold decisions, he wants me to do bold things for Him, and to trust him completely all the way. And while I can’t control what happens in this life, I do know that there is a creator who loves me, loves all of us. That he is there for us and asking us to not try to live in a way that minimizes every risk. He wants us to experience joy, and fun, and rewarding things, but he also wants us to do things in His name. Whether that be in service, monetarily, or giving our love away constantly, praising Him everyday and being grateful for every bit of joy that he gives us. And in other ways I hope to discover. And the hardest thing….trusting in God even if at times he feels far away; as God seems to allow difficult things to happen in our lives so we will grow in character and realize how much we need to rely on Him.
Now I know that today I may just be very positive, so it is easy for me to arrive at this place, but I believe it’s because in some of my worse days I asked loved ones, acquaintances, and even strangers for prayer. I truly believe that is why my heart and head is where it is today. Thank you everyone who has been so amazing in prayer and support.
Love- M
