{Michelle BEFORE}

Okay, so using Michelle before almost isn’t fair because she is so beautiful WITHOUT makeup but we’ll take what we can get. Darn Michelle and her beautiful good looks!

{Michelle AFTER}

With Michelle, I did a beautiful smoky eye & false lashes, a nice peachy blush and complimenting bronzer, her lips have a naturally beautiful depth to them that we just accented with a very light tinted gloss. Gorgeous & glowing!

So, just a slight sneak peek at our makeup applications which come included in many of our packages, but can also be added to any package of your choice. I am also available for weddings, and other special occasions. Get in touch with me for pricing and booking information at 715.514.4505 or bobbiesue@theboudoirwhite.com

]]> http://www.theboudoirbrand.com/uncategorized/makeup-before-afters-by-bobbie-sue-eau-claire-wi-makeup-artist-boudoir-photographer/feed/ 0 http://www.theboudoirbrand.com/eau-claire-wi-boudoir-photography/valentines-day-2012-lingerie-ideas-eau-claire-wi-boudoir-photographer/ http://www.theboudoirbrand.com/eau-claire-wi-boudoir-photography/valentines-day-2012-lingerie-ideas-eau-claire-wi-boudoir-photographer/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:36:18 +0000 admin http://www.theboudoirbrand.com/?p=271 Hey, heyyyyy! So tomorrow is the big day, all roses, diamonds, and heart shaped boxes. Ladies, are you ready? Have you planned the wardrobe, dropped the hints? I’m sure there are some last minute Valentine’s Day shoppers out there so make sure they know what you want. Of course, we all know what he really wants…so I put together a sexy little lingerie board for you to inspire your minds and creativity. You could also use these boards as inspiration for a boudoir session, I’ll be making these boards a regular thing so keep an eye out! Enjoy!!

  

Happy Valentine’s Day, kittens….

So first on my list?

#1. A bubble bath. Complete with lit candles, rose petals, some luscious smelling bath bubbles, and a nice book or magazine to read along with a glass of wine. Guys, if you have missed the latest wine craze, I’ll throw you another bone. Muscato. Can’t go wrong. Just go to the liquor department, bark “Muscato!” at the liquor guy and off he’ll go. Easy as pie.

The best thing you can do after arranging this, is pack the kids up and head out the door. Come back in a couple hours.

#2. A love letter. Or even a card. Guys…a lot of you don’t do this. You’re missing out on the best part of Valentine’s Day. Sure, you got the roses, the diamonds, the chocolate, maybe even dinner…but even if it’s a 99 cent card, we love to see the love you have for us written on a piece of paper. A love letter is going to get extra bonus points, but the card will be equally enjoyed.

#3. Perfume. It seems personal, I know. But a lot of the things we do, we do to please you because we love you. So it goes without saying that we want to smell nice for you too. We do a good job of picking out our own scents, but the one YOU give us, we know you’re gonna love. So invest in a romantic, pretty scent that you love on her.

#4. A spa day! We have so many great spas in Eau Claire and the surrounding areas! Check them out! Get her the full day at a spa, so she can be pampered from head to toe. She’ll be feeling extra generous when she comes home.

(Source: www.sheknows.com)

#5. Your undivided attention. For one day, turn off the XBOX, turn off the tv, avoid the computer. Even if you stay in the house snuggling, or go on a drive. Make the day about her. It’s all she really wants is to know that you can still give her your undivided attention. Women are easy. Give us love and attention and we’ll be purring like kittens and you’ll have us eating out of your palm. Of all the things you can buy her, she won’t really care if this last “gift” is given to her. And when she tells her girlfriends, the looks and murmurs of jealousy will make it that much better!

Men’s Valentine’s Day Gift List

#1 A little mini vacation just for the two of you. Pick a B&B and get out of town for the weekend. We stayed in The Olcott House in Duluth, MN, and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The rooms were so incredibly nice, the linens were divine, and breakfast in the morning was very delicious. The owners were also very accommodating and friendly, this B&B would come with very high recommendations from the 2 of us. Don’t miss out on this one, with rooms starting at $140 per night including breakfast and a cozy, luxurious, and beautiful room you won’t regret your decision!

Both photographs were taken in the days of my Canon Rebel XT, before the start of my business. The top one was handheld at dusk…I should definitely have used a tripod ladies and gentleman…it’s a little shaky. But you still get the grand glory of the place!

2. A back massage. Who doesn’t love a back massage? And for men, they work so hard providing for us, that they deserve it! They might not show stress like we do, but it’s there! Make it fun and pay for a couples massage! Contact Carla at Time to Heal Massage and tell her Bobbie Sue sent you!

Purple Lotus in the U.K.

3.  A man looooves his protein, and nothing says I love you on Valentine’s Day for a man, than treating him to a big, fat, juicy steak dinner. Houligan’s Steak & Seafood in Eau Claire is a great place to go for a great steak. The link I provided will take you to the Specials page on their website. I’m sure the special doesn’t apply to Valentine’s Day, but restaurants are always crowded on Valentine’s Day anyway. Pick a day before or after or even a couple days so you can really enjoy eachother.

4.  YOU is some Lingerie. I was surprised by this one…Travis isn’t a sexy lingerie type guy. He likes the plain jane t-shirt bra and panties type undergarments. But I suppose any man likes some lacy eye candy every once in a while. Trying to stay local with all of these, but unfortunately we don’t really have a local intimates shop in Eau Claire, that I know of! If you know of one, please let me know. For now, Trousseau Intimates out of Milwaukee, WI can probably help you out with some scandalous under things.

5. Surprise & happiness at whatever he gives you in return. This might seem like a given, but no matter what he gets you…even if it’s a new kitchen appliance, a vacuum cleaner, office supplies, or drugstore chocolates, the fact remains that the man thought of you. He might not be particularly gift shopping savvy, or he just really has no idea what you want. He may even feel that by buying you something you truly NEED that he is showing his love for you better than flowers, diamonds, or chocolates could. He’s not far off the mark…when you open up that kitchen appliance, remember how much easier it is going to make your life. You already have lots of jewelry, the chocolates are never THAT good, and the flowers are over-priced and vanish quickly. A sturdy present will be a testament of how much he loves you, far longer.

(Marie Claire)

This post has gotten longer and more involved than I thought possible, probably because once you get me writing I never stop, so the women’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide will be a separate post. Keep your eyes peeled. What are you wishing for for Valentine’s Day?

One of my all time favorite celebrity boudoir sessions is Jessica Alba’s shoot for the April 2005 issue of GQ magazine. It was so well done, and really showed her soft, innocent side. The images were extraordinarily beautiful!

ABC News Tracey Marx Reports:

 

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and most women are expecting flowers, chocolate and jewels from their loved ones.

But what if you want to give your significant other something a little on the racy side?

Boudoir photography is an art Hollywood beauties have used for centuries to bring their sexy back, sitting for portraits as a celebration of the female form.

Now women not on the big screen or walking the red carpet can still feel like they’re hot enough to land on the pages of glossy magazines like Maxim and FHM.

“I saw how popular Maxim magazine is, and FHM and, even, Playboy, and how gorgeous women want to feel,” Jennifer Rozenbaum told “Good Morning America.”  “I would look at those magazines too and say, ‘I want to look like that.  I want to feel like that.’”

Rozenbaum, a former stay-at-home mom, opened her own boudoir photo studio, Jenerations Boudoir,  in New York City.

The average price of  a boudoir photo session at the studio begins at $1,500.

“Seeing how you look is empowering and just celebrating womanhood,” Rozenbaum said.  “There is nothing to be ashamed of to want to look beautiful and feel beautiful and to show off your body.”

A boudoir photo session is not the kind of photo shoot where you sit down and just have shots taken.  Clients are pampered with hair and makeup and wardrobe choices, just like a real photo shoot to make you feel like a sultry supermodel.

“It’s literally so much fun,” Lisa Hastings, a 30-year-old client of Rozenbaum’s said.  “I’m giving the album to my husband. I think it’s just something that is great to do, for him to see me in that kind of light.”

The photography is a trend women are embracing.  From New York to Missouri, Wisconsin, Colorado, Texas and Oregon, boudoir is big.

“I would say that maybe about 40 percent of the brides I’m currently working with are now booking boudoir sessions this year,” Janelle Brooke, owner of Janelle Brooke Photography in Northport, New York, told “GMA.”

“I think it’s a trend that is not going to go away,” she said.  “It ignites confidence in women.  It celebrates the beauty of women and the romance in the relationship.”

Valerie Mazarowski turned to Brooke to photograph her engagement session, her wedding and the day after her wedding nearly two years ago.

The thirty-one-year-old then wanted something intimate, beautiful and sexy to last a lifetime and to represent a different time in her life, so she again turned to Brooke for her boudoir photo session.

“Having that personalized relationship with these brides is really also the driving force,” Brooke said of the photos’ popularity.  “It is such an intimate shoot that you want to have that closeness, that trust with the person who is taking such intimate photos of you.”

The gift of a boudoir photo can be given not just for Valentine’s Day but for a wedding, or even a birthday, photographers like Rozenbaum and Brooke say.

And the women in front of the cameras say a boudoir photo session was also a great gift for themselves.

“That was so much fun,” Mazarowski said of her shoot with Brooke.  “I enjoyed every second of it.”

“At this point in my life I’ve really found great confidence that I’ve never had before,” she said.  “I kind of want to freeze this moment in my life so that 30 or 40 years down the line I can look back at it and say, ‘Oh my God, I was a good looking girl. And my kids can say, “Wow, my mom was really hot!’”

(LINK TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE)

Consider doing a Valentine’s Day session for the love of your life, this Valentine’s Day! We have a special deal for all you ladies to make this work in time for February 14th! Contact us for more details!!

Another important detail, is you want those images to be displayed beautifully, you do not want those images floating around all over the place with no respect for your privacy. I know personally of a few photographers in this industry who have websites that they charge men to come on and view their images of women in vulnerable positions. In fact, a friend of a friend of mine had her images on one of these sites and had no idea until I brought it to her attention. This is such a lousy way to do business, and no woman should ever, under any circumstances have to find herself on one of these websites.

With The Boudoir, you have our word, promise, GUARANTEE… We will NEVER display or show your images, unless we’ve discussed that option with you and had a signed release form. We will never allow a third party to view your images in any way, shape, or form without your written consent. Even if written consent is provided, we will gladly remove any and all images from our website, Facebook page, etc. Our number one goal before anything else, is to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment in which you can feel your best and leave with more confidence than you came with.

However, we still need to share the work we’re doing so other women will feel comfortable and KNOW that this is a respectful business we’re running. One whose utmost, number one concern is you as our client, and your peace of mind. With that said, if you trust us with your images and presenting them in a classy and tasteful manner we will gladly give you a $50 credit to put toward prints or editing.

Ask us today how to book a special session just for you that will be in a safe & secure environment, and will make you feel like the lady you are. Thank you so much for considering The Boudoir.

What do you get??

-1 hour portrait session
-2, 3×3 mini albums. You keep one, give one away.
-2 Fully edited poses
-champagne & chocolates
-AND you keep the hotel room for the night.
Stay with your girlfriends for a girls night or surprise your loved one with the room for a romantic stay away from home.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal! Must be booked and deposit paid by February 3rd!!

Our very first Boudoir Marathon will also be held on Sunday, January 29th, just in time for Valentine’s Day. $150 gets you 40 minutes of session time in a swanky hotel, 1 fully edited image, and 2 mini accordion albums. 1 to keep, 1 to give away to your significant other. Only 6 sessions are available so book them while you can.

Normally, this type of session would cost $250 but we are offering it to you for $100 off! What a great gift to give to your significant other that says you still want them for your Valentine. You can also purchase Boudoir gift certificates for your loved one. Sometimes women want to do something like this but aren’t quite sure if their husband or boyfriend will find it as sexy as they do! Give her the go ahead with a Gift Certificate to The Boudoir. You’ll be glad you did!

I don’t like societal molds. I don’t like placing people, things, or ideas in the spot where they “fit.” Sometimes, you’ll find you place something in a spot it doesn’t normally “fit” and it thrives. It grows, it flourishes, and it shares it’s strength with others. Think about all the places you’ve seen something or someone in a position you never would have imagined them in, but they’re doing it, they love it, and they are thriving. It happens all the time!

Boudoir Photography is an art form. It is about showing a woman what she’s got, and telling her to “Show ‘em what you’re workin’ with.” This is a celebration of a woman’s beautiful body, but also what’s on the inside of that beautiful body. The heart and soul that makes that woman unique and beautiful. A truly great photo isn’t just capturing a moment, it’s also about capturing what is really there, what is on the inside. Making that photograph come to life, having people look closer not just take a glance and walk away. Pornography is very explicit, there are no questions as to what the objective of porn is. Pornography is an activity where the model is usually paid, and paid well to showcase their goods. Pornography is something meant to be shared enmasse, and to titillate many people. Boudoir photography is really only done for one other person than that of the female having portraits done. Boudoir photography is only meant for the eyes of her partner. It’s also not laying everything out on display for the viewer to see. It’s purposefully mastered and posed to give a little sneak peek but to remain slightly ‘anonymous’ for lack of a better word.

Labeling boudoir photography porn, is not giving it enough credit and is an insult to those who create it and those who have it done. We are living in an era where sex is everywhere, it’s in commercials and some of those commercials are not very tastefully done (think Jessica Simpson, Dukes of Hazzard music video or Paris Hilton, Carl’s Jr. Commercial.) These examples, really objectify women. There’s nothing wrong with shaking your booty, nothing at all…but there’s a line that should never be crossed and every Photographer worth his/her salt knows this. But sex sells, and unfortunately many are ready and willing to cross that line for the right amount of money. Boudoir CAN be porn, but it comes down to the Photographer’s vision and what they want their reputation to be.

For us, at The Boudoir, we want a clean reputation. We are seeking a reputation that will send the message to women and their partners that this is a safe way for them to share their sexuality.  We make sure we understand exactly what our clients are looking for, and we make sure we have boundaries in place even before that first CF card slides in. Before we create, we protect our clients, and ourselves. When we’re all done and the lights turn off, we go home and that’s where the true magic begins. We choose our very best images, the once that really stand out and say wow! and when these women see these photos they are speechless. Many of them had no idea they could look this beautiful, even before editing! This is a healing time for many of the women who choose boudoir. It’s a time for them to make amends with their bodies and to realize what they really look like to everyone else around them. Those minor insecurities that we all have look tiny in comparison. Doing these shoots give women strength and a new-found understanding of themselves, it’s empowering! With pornography, it is the opposite, most often. Pornography can diminish a woman’s self worth and value.

Ultimately it all boils down to the fact that we are here to provide a classy and beautiful service to classy & beautiful (inside & out) women. We’re not pornographers. We’re artists. What we create is beauty, and what is left behind is more than just images on paper. Our women walk away with TWO packages when they’re done with us. One that they give away, and one that they keep inside themselves. Empowerment, beauty, confidence, a boost to self esteem, and strength all wrapped up tight with a pretty, shiny satin bow. No one can ever take that away from them because Boudoir is NOT porn.

In the 1920′s, when nudity in photography was mostly illegal and often times considered pornography, Albert Arthur Allen emerged. A Frenchman, based in San Francisco who despite being arrested for his art on numerous occasions, continued to create. A closer view of Mr. Allen’s work reveals a man who saw beauty in the more lush and “plus-sized” models to today’s standards. His posing and model choices led to a very soft and romantic appeal, which is not hard to imagine why he became very popular with his small clientele base at the time. Mr. Allen has left behind some phenomenal pieces of art history, only proven by the photograph below:

Around the same time, Cecil Beaton, an Englishman came on the scene and is famous for his photographs of Marilyn Monroe.  In fact, one of Marilyn’s personal favorites of all time come form Cecil’s collection of photographs. This detail says a lot, considering the many photographers who covered Marilyn in her day and the sheer number of incredibly beautiful images.  See Marilyn’s favorite photograph of herself below: 

Yet another photographer, whose work I find immensely enjoyable is Sam Shaw. A United States native, born in New York, has coverage of Marilyn that I feel shows her natural beauty and her everyday side. Sure, there is the glitz and glamour but more importantly he captures an innocence that I feel a great boudoir photographer should be able to capture. Not just sex, not just beauty, but also an innocence that reminds you there is a woman there. One of Shaw’s images that I find particularly revealing can be viewed below:

The history of boudoir & glamour photography is a vast one, celebrating the beauty & femininity of women, but also if done well: the innocence and romance. The reason behind this blog post today is to show you that the objective for us is not to just capture the modern day take of boudoir & glamour photography, but also to take note from our photographic ancestors and bring a little something more to the table. To show the artistic side of it all and to provoke thought and interest in what seems to be a forgotten art form.

There are many artists to learn from and from which to seek inspiration. Another of my personal favorites is Steven Meisel. Steven is an American photographer born in 1954, who has made the majority of his living through publications in Vogue, a magazine I use to this day simply for inspiration. I subscribed to this magazine, not for it’s inspiring articles, but also for it’s artistic and avante garde imagery. Steven Meisel has not forgotten what the roots of boudoir photography are all about. He has been known to photograph plus-size women, women who do not exactly fit the proper societal mold in which we place women for their size. Something I applaud, because no matter the weight of the woman, there is beauty to behold and to be captured. One of his photographs of what we consider a plus size model doesn’t even come close to defining a plus size woman in my mind, but is still one of my favorites. It shows power, and sex, but at the same time in a pose that could be seen as objectifying a woman, I see empowerment:

Another of his images, capturing exactly what we discussed earlier. Showing a woman with a 1940-1950′s glamour about her:

 Horst Paul Albert Bohrmann, A.K.A Horst P. Horst, was also a phenomenal photographer and master of lighting, something that is a huge part of our focus here at The Boudoir. We spend a lot of time researching the latest in lighting techniques, purchasing lighting equipment and arranging our lighting and models in the best possible way, to create the most dynamic image that we can. Horst is a huge influence for this. Also a Vogue Alumni, he became famous for his work with Madonna on her “Vogue” single in 1990. Horst went on to inspire many photographers, including myself, in the years since.

The list of incredibly inspiring famous photographers and artists could go on and on: Alberto Vargas: famous pin up artist, Frank Powolney: photographer, Sam Menning: photographer, Olivia De Berardinis: famous female pin up artist, Andre De Dienes: photographer, Bert Stern: photographer, Bob Willoughby: photographer, Charles Dana Gibson: pin up artist & artist of the “Gibson Girl”, the list goes on and on. The lesson to take away, is that Boudoir & Glamour photography shouldn’t just speak to the sexual side of an image. It should speak to the soul, it should show personality, and innocence. Every woman has an innocence to her that is just waiting to be captured. Welcoming you to The Boudoir, is welcoming you to a new way of doing things. We’re putting ourselves out there, we’re setting a precedent for ourselves, and a reputation that we will be working very hard to uphold. We encourage you to find inspiration of your own before your session. Come to us with your ideas, share your inspiration. We’re here to make them a reality.