Merry Christmas and happy holidays friends! We pray that this Christmas season the hope and beauty of Jesus’ birth stir your heart and your creativity, as it certainly has ours. This year had been filled with fun times, sweet blessings, and lots of enchantment! Warmest wishes from Marissa, Kimberlee, Deena, Erin, Lindsey, Sarah and Peggy…
This year we decided to to do a video greeting instead of a card. Hope you enjoy it!
PS. Thank you Weston Boucher for creating the song, Taylor for modeling for us, and Jenna for the rad hair and make-up.
So Kimberlee has been shooting boudoir since 2006. She has made tons of gals feel glamorous, but so far she had been yet to have the full experience for herself. Until yesterday! We did 4 looks for her, going from a cute sexy outfit like the ones we will show you below, to super sexy outfits that we would probably never ever show 😉 So ready to see her in all her DIVA-NESS? Okay!
The first shot of the day….
Now folks, this is exactly why we never really experiment with new sets on our clients. This here is the doing of myself, Marissa, clamping so much heavy fabric to a backdrop stand and thinking that the wind was so minor that it wouldn’t go down. We always use background sandbags on our stands, but today experimenting with some vintage fabrics and our new Drop It Modern Backdrop on the right, I must have been a little too excited for details. Sorry Bitner. Not the most glam way to start your photo shoot. I hope I made it up to you.
Doesn’t she look beautiful!? She was so easy to shoot, and we had such a good time!
I also think these photos are the perfect example of how sexy beautiful doesn’t mean you have to bring in lingerie for your photo shoot with us. We are always encouraging girls to book an additional set with us so that they can also have glamour photos in a dress, or cute outfit, photos they are comfortable showcasing to the world.
and completely losing my focus. Obviously, cuz I am blogging this nonsense. 🙂 Cheers and goodnight to all my hardworking bou pals out there, time to take a break. (Kimee you too, get off your comp and go eat some dinner. xo)
Heya Bou buddies! We are always amazed and seriously so grateful when we look at our analytics and see how many people are stopping by this blog. Wowzers, thank you for stopping by, even if just for a few minutes! So we feel like we have been posting all the things going on randomly on our blog, facebook and twitter, and if all the chaos is kinda making our head spin, then we wanted to make sure we spelled out exactly what was going in case your head was spinning too. So below we have a list of all the current happenings. We would just love for you to be a part of one, two, three, or heck, all four of these fun, boudoir-inspired activities. And while we are in a “Back to School” mode, we hope that our “zesty-ness” maybe inspires you to do something a little quirky or energetic for YOUR boudoir business. Maybe a fall-inspired boudoir marathon for your clients, styled with boots and sweaters? Maybe a boudoir concept shoot like we talked about a couple months ago? An annual sale? A set make-over? Or maybe it’s time to really push that one product you have been meaning to push more for your clients. Like boudoir gift certificates or beautiful wall art. Whatever it is, just know that we wish you the very best – and we are rooting for you! We want boudoir to be famous all over the planet. (“Boudoir Photographers, Unite!”)
That’s right, as I am sure you heard, we have finally re-launched Boudoir International. And if you sign up by TODAY, you’ll be able to enter to win one of these killer prizes!!! What we love about our contest is that you actually have a pretty darn good chance of winning something! We have so many people emailing and calling the studio asking us if we have a specific recommendation for a boudoir photographers in there area, now we can easily point them in the right direction. Yay!  You may have gotten an invitation to join Bou Intl, but if not, don’t be afraid to email us at [email protected]
We just love that we get to host other photographers in our studio, that together we can have so, so much fun while also helping your boudoir business move to that next level. I think that seeing some of our past attendees just take off after attending our workshops has brought more joy to us than we could imagine. To say we would be delighted for you to make your way out here to spend time in our studio is such an understatement.
And we believe with every fiber in us that it will help your business grow so much. Investing in education and learning is one of the best ways to spend your money when you are building your business! For instance, in 2005 I couldn’t find any boudoir photography workshops, so I (M) attended Vickie Taufer’s children and family workshop. I just wanted to see a huge dream that was realized in action – and that alone was worth more than I could ever have imagined. If Vickie was surprised when I told her (while we were studying light on babies!) that I wanted to shoot boudoir only, she didn’t show it. And just being around her, with all of her enthusiasm and drive, was infectious. I never could have imagingd I/we would fall so in love with boudoir photography, and that our business would see so much success, that we would soon have the opportunity to play that same role for others. Life is amazing, isn’t it?
We are so in love with our Boudoir Workshop – and we would love to have you join us in October! It’s the last workshop for 2012, so go check it out!
Enough said right?! Um…. best photo shoot opportunity ever! We shoot about 4-8 Supermodel Package shoots in our studio a month, but come on, as much as I ADORE our studio, I think this backdrop beats it, hands-down. Our shooting locations are going to be so glorious that I may have some bouts of jealousy of the gals I am shooting – simply because I will want pics of myself in all the spots I place them! 🙂 Nothing is sexier than a sandy beach, with the turquoise blue water shimmering and palm trees waving in the breeze. Oh and I should mention, one of the spots we will be shooting is in Old San Juan, it looks like those cool pics you see of vintage Cuba. Ah!!!! So freaking exciting!
We do have just ONE spot left (all the other 3 have been snatched up!)… so if you are a photographer & want to get in FRONT of the lens for a change, we would be honored with the opportunity to work with you and take your photos with our Caribbean Supermodel session! (Email: [email protected] if you want more info on this last spot).
We are such Cali girls at heart. Maybe even a little bit more “hippie” than “Diva” in reality. So with that said, beach boudoir photo shoots are pretty much pure excitement and joy for us around here, and being in Cali we have the added perk that our summer lasts a bit longer than the typical summer season. Â So we are gonna squeeze the summer for every drop we can get out of it! Do you want to join us by booking a killer beach shoot promo? Email us at [email protected]
“Paris, Paris, Paris”. That’s what my Mom kept saying in her sweet little voice when we were on the plane to Paris for our 2010 workshop. Now it always rings in my head whenever I start dreaming & planning our next workshops. Â Have you always wanted to go to Paris? Are you a boudoir photographer? If you said “yes” to both of these, then 2013 is YOUR year! Email us at [email protected] so we can be sure to email you first as soon as we launch the workshop. (*NOTE: we already have about 40 photographers on the list who want to be notified about Paris… this workshop is gonna fill up FAST! So start looking at your calendar for mid- to late-April 2013, and start dreaming/planning – and then you’ll be able to grab a spot before it fills up!)
Have you seen our past Editorial Concept Shoots that we titled, “Believe in Beauty?” If not,  please check out our pirate beach shoot and our hot air balloon dream shoot on you tube. We are now planning for our next big shoot. Watch the video below to see the latest item we checked off our list in preparation for this fun shoot. (Oh, and keep in mind that this video was taken and edited on my iphone). It seems I still have a few quirks to work out when it comes to editing on a telephone – don’t judge us, it’s just for fun. 🙂
So that’s a little bit of what we are up to right now. We sure hope that you can be a part of at least one of these fun events! And again, as always, thanks so, so, so much for stopping by. xo- M &K
Always dreamed of having a gorgeous photo shoot on the beach? What girl doesn’t, right!? Well now you can make your dream come true in the warm water of the Caribbean Ocean in Puerto Rico! If you have any questions or want to nab your boudoir photo shoot spot, then email us at [email protected]
Note we will be asking for a 1/3 deposit to lock in your spot. Air and accommodations are on your own.
Growing up I was OBSESSED with Disney movies. I know all young girls are, but are they so obsessed that the sound of each epic Disney song can tell them exactly what stage they were at with their own “Walt Disney-inspired dream”? Maybe. I know I sure can! This morning I was feeling very grateful for all that has transpired in the past few years, thinking about how in some ways it truly was Walt Disney that taught me all about “dreaming,” and I think the best way to sum up and celebrate the journey is by sharing our timeline/progress through this series of videos. Hope they make you smile as much they do me.
1. A dream emerges It all starts with that wish your heart makes.  And as a child this song gave me permission to dream big. And although we didn’t have little mice friends to help us out along the way, we DID have an amazing team pushing us forward with this dream. We can’t talk about our dreams and our timeline without mentioning the pivotal people who have been a part of the Diva family through the past eight years. We are so thankful for each and every one of you!
2. Getting to work. Although not always whistling, I did often play this song to remind myself that rolling up your sleeves and working very hard can be an enjoyable thing. It’s all about the attitude right? I actually did listen to this song multiple times when I was getting a little pooped.
3. Almost there!
“Getting closer and closer every day and I am almost there, trials and tribulations I have had my share, ain’t nothing gonna stop me now, cuz I am almost there. You gotta make it happen, it all depends on you” – Princess Tiana. When I heard this song the first time, I knew it was just what I needed. We were going through some changes and I could see how things NEEDED to be, but I knew it was going to take a lot more tweaking to get there. So we rolled up our  sleeves and made shtuff happen!
4. In awe with gratitude and satisfaction. In so many ways I feel like this is a gratitude hymn or some sweet melody to God. In the past few years this journey has really been a spiritual transformation for myself, and I might be a able to speak for K in saying that is has been for her, too. It wasn’t about getting what we wanted (because I assure you sometimes we didn’t), but more about seeing how God is in control and is always there for you even in the small things, and definitely in the big things. I know K and I are on to new chapters of God’s plan for our lives, and as we discover what this looks like, I know we both really feel as though he has shaped us for new adventures. Yes we are still and always will be photographers and business owners, partners & BFFs, and we will always be working toward our goals and dreams for the Boudoir Divas and bringing boudoir to the masses. But along with all of that, I think we will now  ALSO be able to put our focus more on HIS bigger picture. Because we have been able to reach and realize so many of our original dreams for The Boudoir Divas, we are at a place where we have found more freedom – and that freedom is allowing us to dream in new ways. So now, we are thrilled about re-launching “Boudoir Photographers Unite” – and we are also on quite a roll of documenting and helping the marketing aspects of a few different non-profit organizations – which makes our hearts feel alive. We can say we see His plan for us – and we are so grateful. I don’t think I can watch this next video without crying every single time.
We would absolutely LOVE to hear what Disney songs, or just songs in general inspire you. To leave a comment you actually need to click on the blog post header to get you into the post page. It would make my day to hear what songs move you. 🙂 – Marissa
We are thrilled to share with you a slice of an experience that we consider boudoir heaven… Paris! I can’t believe it’s has been almost a month since our Paris Boudoir Workshops. That just seriously blows our minds. Blogging about something this special is one of our favorite things to do, but it is quite an undertaking. We had about 50gigs worth of pics and video and to pour through to come out with just a handful of a few images that might even speak to what this whole “livin’ the dream” of traveling to Paris for what we consider (sorry we are biased) the best type of photography out there… boudoir.
So here goes, a picture book breakdown of the trip….
Well, to say we had an INSANE time, well I’m not so sure that would do it justice at all. We were able to go Paris – which, if you know me and K, it’s basically the only place on the planet that makes our hearts soar as much as Disneyland. And that, believe it or not, is actually saying A LOT. We were able to pretty much combine our four loves: boudoir, Paris, our Diva fam (minus Erin, Lindsey, Sarah who did a killer job keeping up shop back in SD , we missed them imensly) and hanging with other photographers. Does it get better than that??? Nope, I don’t think it does. It is these trips that truly show that if you have that bananas dream in her heart, it totally can come to be.
We also need to thank Peggy Rogers for helping with hair and make-up and modeling. To Deena for modeling AND helping with so much. To the DIVOS, Eric and Weston, for helping with so many little un-glamourous things like techie stuff, cooking breakfasts & preparing lunches, giving help to the attendees, carrying things with your big strong arms, driving small European cars, and calling people and trying your hand at French (saying “bon-sway” instead of “bonsoir” lol). We also had some really sweet models at our workshop. A huge thank you to Michelle, Jessie, Julee, and Aubrey.
After the workshop, Kimberlee, the boys, and I were able to go on a good ol’ European Roadtrip. We hit up Loire, Dordogne, Avignon and St. Tropez. We hope to show off some of those in the future. Man were those some fun times.
To all who love boudoir as much as we do…. “bon-sway!”
In honor of our upcoming trip to Paris, I just HAD to post this video from our last France trip. We love embarking on our little adventures, and this video shows you our adventure to Fontainbleau!
As we have mentioned over a million times on this blog cuz we are stoked…. we are going to be leaving soon for our Paris Boudoir Workshop soon. Yay!!!!! I don’t think I could put enough exclamation marks to adequately convey my excitement. And add to that that after the workshop we will be going for a driving adventure that we are calling our “Frantastic Road Trip 2012.” After our many European escapades we have learned that nothing beats renting a tiny car, piling our huge American suitcase in it, and hitting the road. So that’s what we plan to do. We will be heading from Paris down to the South of France, Provence, and stopping at some epic spots along the way with our picnic basket full of all things Frenchy, cheesy, bread-y, and therefore, “Frantastic.”
Now that I have traveled quite a bit with my very organized, and very visual, business partner (Bitner)…. I have learned a few fun things that I would like to share.
1. A Google Doc is always necessary and we will always argue about what “fun” fonts are appropriate and cool. Since we use all our “cool” fonts for business, I like to indulge in the more cartoony fonts that are never appropraite in the business world. The fonts that say this isn’t serious at all.
Here is an example of what I mean….
Makes me laugh everytime I see it. If there is something K takes seriously, it’s always using cool fonts. Lol
2. I mentioned she is visual, and you all know she is obsessed with marketing (me too!), and if The Boudoir Diva objective with marketing is spelling things out visually in a pleasing and enticing way, then that is just what Kimberlee does with the planning of our trips. Example…
Take a look at the canoe. I always know what activities K is more excited about based on if there are stick figures of us involved in the pitch. Case in point.
So when I suggested the four of us dress up when we visited some epic castles, I figured I should use K’s marketing tactic to make her jealous of Weston and my very cool outfit and want to join us 😉
3. I know that she is secretly learning French right now with some sort of fancy app and she intends to bust out a few phrases when we get there to impress us. So I too have a fancy app just to make sure that I can one up her, all in good sisterly fun of course 😉 Of course?
Of course.
If you will be coming to Paris anytime soon I suggest this free app. It’s pretty cute and fun and at this point I will be able to order myself a drink, say my name, and even find the bathroom. All in perfect French.
4.  That is she a really amazing person to travel with. She is fun, energetic and appreciative of all different kinds of sights. Oh and really the best part of a travel buddy…she isn’t annoying at all, and let’s me be all plenty kinds of annoying without complaining once about the headache I am sure I give her. And she seems to find the same things humorous. Like a deer boudoir photo.
A match made in heaven!
As for the attendees who we will be meeting in Paris, what are your plans before and after the workshop??
“I don’t know what I would do with a whole day off.”
This was my response to Marissa when she told me that I should take a recent Friday off and not work. In the weeks leading up to WPPI, we had been slightly overwhelmed with to-do lists, projects, re-writing our Workshop in a Book, prepping for our platform program, and on and on and on. Marissa’s response to me when I said I didn’t know what I’d do with a day off? “Kimee, that’s just sad… are we really so consumed with work that we can’t think of what we would DO with a day off?” And you know what? She is so right! Have you ever felt so consumed with projects and to-do lists that when things stop for a second, you feel the need to start up again, rather than just taking a moment to pause and enjoy a little peace?
So, Marissa forced me to take a day off. The first thing I did: I wrote my perfect day-off ‘wish list.’ Then, I did everything on this list. And it was wonderful.
As you know, Marissa & I like to “M.S.H.” We TACKLE our to-do lists with a vengeance. We are constantly on the move, in the mix, working on things & starting new projects. We don’t just sit around hoping and dreaming that we will reach our dreams; we make stuff happen. At the same time, though, we need to constantly remind ourselves that REST is extremely important! On the weekends, we actually don’t check our email. We do our best to have normal, restful, relaxing weekends, and to keep our work life separate from our PERSONAL lives. Otherwise, what’s the point? If we are running ourselves into the ground, never able to slow down and enjoy our loved ones… I don’t know about you, but that’s not how I want to live my life. We have worked hard, and set-up our business in order to create FREEDOM in our lives to enjoy the people & things that mean the most to us. We can’t stress this enough. We really encourage you all to work and to fight hard to create this freedom, and focus time on things that are important to you.
So, what would you do if you had an entire day OFF? No work, no emails, no photo shoots, no projects. What would you do with your day? Make a list. And then – FORCE yourself to take a day off. I have decided that I’m going to make this a regular activity for myself. Every month, I’m going to create a ‘wish list’ of all the great things I could do with a day off. And then I’m going to take a day off. Anyone out there want to join me in this?
