Let us re-introduce ourselves for a second.
K and I have quite a bit of fun getting to share all the good times that we are having with boudoir right now. You all know that we like to be silly, make goofball videos, photograph boudoir (obviously) and love getting to know everyone in this wonderful business. But when you look at the heart of the matter, what we really want to do is share with all of you. Boudoir photography has brought both of us a new freedom in our personal and career life. We are so grateful for this work that we enjoy, and the sustenance that it brings us, that we wrote “The Workshop in a Book” to share with you all every bit of knowledge that we possibly could about how we set-up and run our business. From the success of that book and all the traffic on our blogs/facebook/etc, we feel like we have been very privileged to make many, many new friends. What a wonderful life. I am truly starting to understand what DJ was talking about when he quoted “your network is your net worth” in his “Free to Succeed” program. At the time it sounded all “business” and I really didn’t even realize that I had a “network” until it dawned on me that is simply a very unromantic way of saying my “friends.” And it all makes sense now.
And so I am addressing all of our friends out there. We have had the honor of getting to know quite a few of you; and for others, we look forward to having the honor in the future. Today my post on our blog – (a blog that tends to be all “fun while learning”) – is a little more serious. We would love to hear feedback about what you truly hope to accomplish with boudoir. When I first started, before I completely fell in love with it, I hoped to replenish the savings Weston had worked so hard for with his 9-5 job and that he so graciously gave up for us to start a photography business (weddings and portraits). I could cry right now at the generosity of my incredible husband. For me, at the time boudoir was the door to just that. While weddings were providing our income, I needed to find a way to earn a bit more. I had no idea how far boudoir would take me. When we started out, weddings was our main source of income, and we were overwhelmed w/ 40 weddings a year! Now, though, things are totally different, as we typically shoot just 15 weddings per year – and I get to primarily focus on boudoir. I know that a lot of you out there may be looking for something similar. Maybe freedom from shooting far too many weddings per year, having weekends off to be with your family again, maybe you want a change from photographing children, maybe you love empowering women, maybe you come from a background of not loving who you were in entirety, and you would like to be a part of that transformation for women (gaining confidence and helping her realize her true beauty), maybe you need additional income, and the list goes on and on and on.
We would love to hear what your hopes are with boudoir photography. Dream big. How can you arrive somewhere if you don’t know exactly where you are going? I challenge you to post below, anonymously or with your real name and let us know you specific goals for boudoir. Then after you post your comment, say it out loud; let your heart and mind know exactly where you will be in the future. Believe us when we say that if you dream big and work hard, boudoir can be your perfect vehicle to realizing your goals.
Warmest wishes friends,
Marissa Boucher and Kimberlee West
I never thought I would get into this type of photography and it happened completely by accident thanks to my hair stylist and her word of mouth. As my business grows my goal is to bring confidence to those I photograph. I love for my images to be simple and clean and beautiful. Nothing makes me happier than to hear from my clients that they loved the images and can’t wait to show them to that special someone in their lives.
Honestly, I love the excitement of a gorgeous photo. It fulfills me in a way that nothing else has. If I’m being brutally honest, I’m a frustrated model. I think everything about posing and having fun in front of a camera is amazing and I would do it all day everyday if I had the ability. I love that moment when my vision becomes reality and I can SHOW this woman the image I just shot. The excitement that is generated from that moment is intense. It’s an adrenaline rush for me. I’d love to say it was all about flying in the face of the media and how I felt growing up, and trying to totally discount the negative self-talk. While that’s part of it and a huge benefit for me, frankly, I love pretty pictures! Pretty things make me happy! The emotion that can come from a photograph sometimes is something that stays with me forever. I guess I’m an idealist that way. I was the peacemaker, always wanted everything to be calm and beautiful. Now I found an outlet that lets me do that. To see an ideal, a lovely ideal everyday… gives me hope and makes me smile.
I honestly am one of those gals who never entirely loved myself. And still struggle with it everyday… being able to help a woman “feel” her beauty, empowerment, and self-love is one of the greatest things in the world! I do need the extra income to free our family up from the daily drag. We are first farmers- yes farmers (and need more money to do what we love)! lol But after the hubby had to go to work instead of self-employment our family time is little to nothing. I hope to get better at boudoir and grab the market by the reins- hopefully, while providing a service that not only frees the real, sexy woman inside the client… I will be free too (not only time for family but free to find love inside myself).
I heart boudoir! I’ve been interested in it for the last 4 or 5 years. I didn’t realize how much I would love it until a friend asked me to do a session for her fiance about 5 yrs ago. I had SO MUCH FUN shooting it that I realized I had a true passion for it. But back then I still didn’t know a whole lot about it. So over the years I did a couple here and there… absolutely LOVING it every time, and realizing that this was something I definitely wanted to specialize in someday… but didn’t have the slightest clue how to really put it out there. And then I found the “boudoir divas”!! And you guys have pushed me and inspired me to really go after it!! I used to be kind of shy to put it out there… but now I have the confidence to offer it to my clients and so far it’s going GREAT!! I realize now how unique and beautiful boudoir photography really is and not only do I have a passion for making women feel beautiful, sexy and gorgeous… but I feel as though every time I shoot a boudoir session, a little piece of my heart is shown through that lovely woman in front of the camera. I love to be able to express myself through the art of boudoir. Thank you Kimee and Riss for being such an inspiration to not only me, but countless others. You guys seriously rock! See you in a couple of weeks!! Holllla!
All women are beautiful! Sadly, we live in a culture that tells us differently. I hate that. I believe that beauty has more than one face, one age, one dress size, and this is what I tell my clients. Of course I’m running a business, but with my boudoir photography what I’d really love is to be part of changing women’s views of themselves, one frame at a time.
We’ve been dying to market boudoir style photography for years and years. We know we can do it, we know we do a great job, but its difficult due to the “tarty” reputation that boudoir photography has had, particularly in our area. We’re two women in a business that is dominated by men and we want to bring the beauty out in every woman. I’m overweight, and for the first time in my life its an issue for me and I want to overcome that by making other women feel comfortable in their own skin and beautiful no matter what their size.
My dream is to one day have my own actual boudoir studio. To move out of 2 small bedrooms in my home and into a large enough space to have multiple sets up at once with REAL installed wooden floors and not boards that come apart after each session (MIL housing!) that doesn’t have my son’s crib in the corner! I would be so happy to just shoot boudoir. I love it so much. I love seeing the looks on my clients faces when they see just the image in camera. I love watching shy clients transform into Diva’s infront of my camera. I am a law graduate who was suppose to be practicing law right now but because of job (or lack thereof) i decided, with the fabulous support of my hubby, to pursue photography. I’m loving every minute!
For me it’s a lot of things. Income, making women feel great about themselves, all the obvious reasons. But I also like to think I’m helping couples light a new spark. Maybe helping lower the divorce rate. I know that’s a big order to fill. And boudoir is not going to be the magic marriage fix. But it can’t hurt. When you love yourself, it’s easier to love someone else. And we are without a doubt teaching women how to love themselves. My goal is to move the studio out of the house. I already have it all planned out in my head from floor to roof. And to be able to pamper and spoil my clients. Because I feel they deserve it. Thanks for being an inspiration!!
This was such a sweet and sincere post and such a pleasure to read. Your success is so inspirational and the two of you just seem so down to earth. I hope to meet you one day and hope some of your awesomeness will rub off on me 🙂
I have always wanted to shoot “beautiful” women, and the way I see it, everybody is beautiful. My goal when I have a session is to not only boost her self confidence while im shooting, but when she gets the photos and that look on her face when she sees how truly gorgeous she is. I kind of see it as how your significant other sees you all the time, all the “imperfections” that you see are the things he loves about you. And hopefully after their shoot they wont see them that way, I hope that my client walks away with a new found self confidence that she didnt have before. I hope at least! I now have a studio to make this happen, all I need are girls! Its a process, I know, and I cannot wait until I have enough clients that I can stop my “real job”
my goals!: to be the best boudoir photographer that I can, To be “the photographer” for girly shots an pinups in my area. to be better at the business side of things. my list could go on.
thank you girls so much for sharing everything that you do! When I have a bad day, I look at your blog and it gives me HOPE! I can do this, and I will be great!
Thank you, everyone, for sharing!!!!