Funny story time.  So I can do a lot with natural light, meaning the sun.  I know how to create shadows with it and so I figured “how hard can it be to do the same with actual lights?”  Well, after having a friend accompany me to a test shoot where we could try just that I learned that it is, in fact, not the same at all.  For over an hour we tried to stick a light behind some blinds to get the blind panels to shadow across her body.  We moved this light every way we could, made it face every single way we could, she stood everywhere she could (including behind the blinds) all while topless, in a floppy hat and heels.  It could have been really awkward if we weren’t friends and she didn’t start out as a client and know what to expect from me.   In the end and with over an hour of shooting we gave up but we DID get a few photos with the shadows.  Not my best moment, but I own it.   I never learned how to make those shadows but I will try again one day.

Anyway, last year I really wanted to try my hand at lighting.  I wanted to be able to expand my portfolio and offer a more diverse look to clients.  Shooting natural means you just use the sun to light your images with no studio lights.  This is how I have always worked and preferred to work since I know it, I get it, and it’s cheap!  Lighting intimidates me but I like a good challenge every now and again.  I purchased a lighting kit from the guy who owns the studio where I shoot and began practicing.  While I know I have a lot to learn I’m really loving the feel so far.  I love being able to offer a more sleek and editorial feel to my images and my clients love it, too!  Here are a few photos from a recent shoot using studio lighting.  No, this isn’t Jennifer Lopez, this is a real client.   Isn’t she stunning?

These were all lit with an AB-800 strobe and 24×32 softbox to camera right about a 2 feet in front of the client.  85mm, f6.3, 1/125 sec at ISO 200.

I was so excited the night before her shoot that I could barely sleep.  Ideas were swarming in my head and all truth be told, we tried them the next day and not all of them worked.  I think that’s okay though because between my client, Jade on hair and makeup, and my collaboration, the outcome was perfect.  “J” is not a dancer but she is a performer (singer and guitar player) and that helped immensely.

I wanted these to be obviously Black Swan inspired but because this IS boudoir, I also wanted them to be feminine and pretty.  For some of the shots we took the feather shawl and pinned it around her waist to make a skirt.  Jade did a phenomenal job of both painting detail and gluing feathers to her back like they were sprouting.  We wanted to keep her expression morose and stern and let her clothes allow the images to be sexy.  We paired her black lace bra with my under bust waist cincher, black lace panties, and the feather accessories.

We did many different looks that day but this one was last and probably the most thought out.  I will post her other photos in another shoot next week.  I LOVE when clients get inspired by something and we can all come together and collaborate and run with our ideas.  I think it really makes the experience and photos unique.  Check the bottom of this post for “J”‘s response to me after seeing her proofs.  And a HUGE thank you to both she and Jade for this fun idea and all of the work put into it.  Real client, real shoot, real dreams coming true.  Be inspired!

“Stacey!! Words cannot express how much I enjoyed this whole experience with you and Jade. I am so glad I found you and I can honestly say you boosted my confidence and made the process so much more than a shoot. You uphold the idea of real, strong, and beautiful women, sharing their stories and encouraging the rest of us. I looked through your recent blog reviewing 2012 and I was so touched, especially by the way that you captured each woman’s personality and made that shine through each picture. I feel like I came out of my boudoir session with two new girlfriends, so thank you so so much and I will be telling every girlfriend I know to try boudoir with you” – “J”

]]> http://simply-boudoir.com/blog/2013/01/04/black-swan-boudoir-north-carolina-boudoir-photography/feed/ 2 http://simply-boudoir.com/blog/2012/12/22/2012-in-review-north-carolina-boudoir-photography/ http://simply-boudoir.com/blog/2012/12/22/2012-in-review-north-carolina-boudoir-photography/#comments Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:05:04 +0000 Stacey http://simply-boudoir.com/blog/?p=2966 There is still a little over a week left in 2012 and while I still have 2 shoots left, I know if I don’t do this post now I will not get around to it with holidays and schedules coming up.

2012 has been huge for me.  It is the year where I pushed myself and my limits.  I became a full time photographer in July and I could not have asked for a bigger blessing in disguise.  As I looked back over the photos to compile these images, I am in awe that I only met these women this year.  Women I have come to adore and I feel like I have known forever.  Women who I keep in touch with and whom are some of my most avid supporters; both in business and life.  This is just a small glimpse into this past year and the stories and images I have been so blessed to share with the world.  As always, this is only about 50% of the ladies I have had the pleasure of photographing, as privacy is my number one interest with clients and I respect their rights when it comes to image sharing.

While these images are beautiful as are the women in them, it is the stories behind them that you don’t always see.  Women who have fought and are fighting cancer.  Women who are business owners, mothers, wives, and lovers.  A woman born with 2 uterus and who at 40 has decided she may finally be ready for children.  A woman who was pregnant at her session but unfortunately lost her baby to a tubal pregnancy 2 weeks later.  A woman who’s husband hasn’t touched her intimately in months and another who’s husband pushed her to celebrate herself and see herself as beautifully as he does.  A woman with a double mastectomy, newly weds, brides to be, incest survivors, women working over seas, women in armed forces.  We have cried together but more importantly, we have laughed together.  All of these women that have one thing in common – the desire to look and feel beautiful and sexy, just as they are.

My heart is full and I have become a better person for helping them with their journey.  Documenting their beauty and sensuality and giving them permission to celebrate it.  I could go on forever but sometimes less is more.  I adore you all, and I thank you for an amazing year.  Also, I have to give half of my credit to my amazing makeup artist, Jade.  She has been my sidekick and partner through this all and I could not ask for a better stylist to have on my team.  We have gone through bottomless cups of coffee and packs of eyelashes but not once has she complained about the early mornings and late evenings.  Only the best for my clients!  Also to my amazing boyfriend who has been my biggest supporter and has put up with so many nights where I only had the energy to eat and fall asleep while watching a movie.  I cannot wait to see what 2013 holds.  Please, keep shining on.

(Thank you to Jade for the amazing hair and makeup and to my lovely past client for modeling for this session).

Makeup and hair styling by Janelle Reaves.

Also, the amazing Bella Bella Boutique has released a discount code for boudoir clients whom are looking to purchase luxury lingerie for their photoshoot.  Be sure to take a look around the entire site as there are pieces on there for every budget.  Look outside of VS, ladies – there is a whole world of classy and different lingerie just waiting on you!  Use promotion code boudoir at checkout for a 15% discount!

This is a busy weekend of shooting fabulous new ladies for me and I hope everyone else enjoys their upcoming weekend, too!

The setup on these was simple (2 lights) but took a bit of tweaking and my lovely client was all for me trying new things.  I promised her that it would be worth it and she would be offered a wide range of options when it came to her proofs and well, her email to me after seeing her sneak peeks proved that it was totally worth it.

Here are just a few shots from today using both studio lighting and natural lighting (I will list above each shot which was used).  I’m sure this means more to photographers than clients, but just look at the photos we were able to produce that you might not have been able to receive before because of the restrictions with using only natural lighting.  I’m so excited to implement it into my future work and learn new ways of making YOU shine!

A big thank you to my beautiful lady for allowing me to share these with you.

Studio lighting used to create dramatic shadows.

Studio lighting used to create a soft yet even light across client and background.

Studio light used to make the client stand out from the backdrop to create a more dramatic effect and draw your eye to her.

Natural lighting, client facing window.

Natural lighting, window to the left of client.

Natural lighting, window to the left of client.

So as I have mentioned before, I have been itching to do some personal work.  Not just for my portfolio and to flex my artistic muscle, but also to try out some new techniques.  Working every.single.day. leaves very little time to experiment and learn new crafts, both of which I crave with photography.  I  want to be able to offer as much as possible to my clients in way of style, lighting, composition, etc.

Sarah is actually a past client and I knew from the first time she emailed me and again at her actual shoot that she also had a creative brain.  She liked being different and creating more thought provoking imagery.  Since our first shoot where she was simply a client and I was her photographer, we have become quite good friends.  She sent me a message a few weeks ago about a gas mask and right in that moment, I knew I had found my soul sister.  Ever since I was a teenager I have wanted to do a shoot with a gas mask.  Don’t ask me why, I’ve just always thought it looked cool.  So I jumped on etsy and found this amazing gas mask, told Sarah it was ordered and this past weekend we met up to experiment.  A very awesome and sweet lady who will soon be a new client loaned us the location for the day and we had a blast.  We laughed a lot, I learned a lot (hopefully Sarah did as well, as she’s also getting into photography) and I came out with more knowledge than I went in with, which was the whole point.  Including that three breaths taken inside a gas mask will get you high.  Sorry, Sarah!

I cannot wait to share more images from our creative shoot which includes off camera lighting, shadows and a sexy vintage leather loveseat.

As for this being sexy and boudoir-esque – I am a firm believer that sexy comes from the inside.  If you wear something or have a quirky personality trait that makes you feel sexy, then I think you should work it.  It’s not all in the clothes, but the attitude and the inner confidence that makes one sexy.

I encourage everyone to learn something new this week or to take the time to do something you’ve been wanting to do.  Take the time to make that new recipe, jog that extra mile, buy that dress you’ve been eying or put the kids to bed early and set up a romantic night for your significant other.  Put some time aside for YOU and I promise the outcome will be worth it.

And this was just a silly behind the scenes photo.

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