4 Actions I Take to Redefine Beauty

With so much illusion going on in the world I have to take steps to help make to redefine beauty in America.  The following actions I take work for me and I hope at least one, if not all, will work for you too.    

1.)    Being More than Happy with Who I Am!

I look in the mirror and I am so happy with what I see.  I find things that I love about myself that others may not like.  I appreciate my long muscular legs, high cheekbones, defined jawline, coco colored skin with gold and even undertones, tightly coiled natural hair, wide toothy grin, and my small button nose (that EVERYONE points out). I NEVER wear make-up (you’d be hard pressed to see me even rock lip balm).  This, to me, is beautiful.  While some people might find some of what I listed as “flaws” I see them as beautiful pieces of ancestry passed down to me through a perfect genetic combination. 

ACTION:

It’s important for find things beautiful about you.  What you may see as flaws others may actually envy.  Don’t use the cover of magazines for your basis for what is beautiful.  Turn to yourself and find what YOU think is beautiful. 

Not only are physical characteristics important, but so are personality traits.  I pride myself on being an even tempered nonjudgmental person.  I know that I am a good person.

Being a good person who is honest with not only the world, but with themselves, helps rebel against society’s idea of beauty.  In that growing you begin to feel more confident in whom you are as a person and your place in this life. 

2.)    I Vote with My Dollars

Voting with our dollars is the act of choosing to spend or save on products or services based on principle or ideology.  For example, I like to see a lot of movies with an all women cast or movies with people of different colors and class.  Hollywood didn’t produce a lot of Black, Asian, or Latin movies for a very long time because they didn’t feel as though the dollars were there for production.  Therefore these cultures in American had to make their own way and show Hollywood Boulevard there is real money in these demographics.  In the last five year we have seen an explosion of movies and network TV shows starring African Americans, Hispanic, and Asian Americans.  When I see a beautiful Asian woman on a cover of a magazine, I purchase it. If Zoe Saldana is on the cover of Bazaar, I’m taking it home.  Yes, I shop at Victoria’s Secret.  Why?   Because the brand LOVES women of all shapes, sizes, and colors. I mean one of their current top models is the beautiful Adrianna Lima who loves that fact that she’s Afro-Brazilian.  Yes, I am spending money with a brand that believes in embracing all facets of beauty.

ACTION

I suggest voting with your dollars too.  That’s the only way these companies get it.  What drives your passion?  What do you believe in?  Then decide appropriately how to spend your discretionary income on those products and services.

3.)    Not Airbrushing Your Size Away

Lets’ admit it.  Some photographers’ Photoshop to the next level!  I mean it’s so bad that sometimes the person in the photo doesn’t even recognize themselves.  

I also feel as though over photoshopping someone sends the wrong message. It tells the women that you weren’t pretty in the first place so I’m going to slim your waist here, thighs there, resize your jawline and make your skin about 10 shades lighter.  By that time you look at your photo you are no longer seeing yourself.  You are seeing another person’s interpretation of beauty, not your own. 

At Wonderland Boudoir we only do light airbrushing.  If you have a pimple, or course we are going to edit it out.  That pimple is not part of that every day you.  If you’re skin is blotchy… of course we are going to color correct it, but no, If you’re a size 22 I’m not going to make you a size two.  I help women achieve their desired outcome by teaching them how to pose.  I even go one step further and after our boudoir session curate the best straight out of camera pictures of you and let you see the pictures pre-color correction.  You need to see that you are beautiful straight out of camera.  Woman love that because they see they are just as beautiful, if not more, than those “women on the magazine covers.”

4.)    Mentoring Young Women, Flaws are OK

Korin love the kids (you see what I did there, right?  Okay, my 90s Hip Hop heads get it).  Girls at an early age begin to depict why they aren’t as beautiful as the girl on the magazine cover.  What she doesn’t know is that the girl on the magazine cover has been HEAVILY edited (if not had body augmentation).   I love the current trend of young celebrities fighting back the magazines abuse of Photoshop.  Let’s be honest bigger breast, smaller waist, and lighter skin it’s always the right formula for “beautiful”.  These women are tired of selling a fantasy they can’t even keep up with.  When abused, Photoshop can be a tool used to uphold unrealistic and unhealthy standards of beauty.   As a world community, we need to teach our young girls that our flaws are characteristics that help us define and distinguish what makes us different and valuable.  How do we expect our young women to love themselves when the magazines are portraying a different story?  As Lady Gaga stated in her very public response to Glamour Magazine on over photoshopping her cover, “When the covers change, the culture changes.”

ACTION

If you have a daughter teach her the value of individuality and why it’s important to know the difference between an illusion (abuse of Photoshop to sell magazines) and reality.  If you don’t have a daughter volunteer at great organizations like Girls Inc or Headstart.  Young ladies love seeing beautiful and confident women who look just like them.  It helps install confidence and a sense of importance. 

“Let us be that change that we want to see in this world.” -Ghandi

Question: Let me know in the comments below what steps are you taking (or will be taking) to redefine beauty for you.

Giveaway: Boudoir Divas 1500 Book or Poses.  Share this Post on Facebook or Retweet on Twitter using the Hashtag  #RedefineBeautyChangeTheCovers

What is Boudoir?

Wonderland Boudoir is a high-end boudoir photography studio in Dallas, Texas.   We aim at providing fun, safe, and empowering sessions for every woman who walks through our door.  In January, as a vendor for Bridal Show Inc’s Dallas Bridal show, I met tons of women educating them on the fun and excitement of boudoir. In fact, I kept hearing this same thing over and over: “All I have been hearing about is ‘boudoir’!  What exactly is that and why does EVERYONE want to do it?!”

What Is Boudoir?

Boudoir once meant a room built to spend time with one’s husband. For Wonderland, boudoir means defining YOUR sense of sexiness and releasing your inhibitions.  Boudoir should be fun, safe, empowering, and liberating.  Your fantasies should be unlimited. Women have been blessed with beautiful, individual bodies; we should embrace and celebrate our natural beauty.

 Why Do Women take Boudoir Pictures?

Boudoir can be done for any number of reasons:

• Boudoir Presents for Him

Many women host sessions as a wedding gift for their future spouse.  Other popular reasons include anniversary gifts and Valentine’s Day presents.  Imagine giving your lover a collection of beautiful, one of a kind pictures for his eyes only. He'll be hard pressed to match that present!!

• Boudoir Present for You  

Boudoir sessions aren’t limited to gifts for that special someone in your life.  More importantly, boudoir sessions should be for you.  Many women have sessions for themselves as birthday presents.  Others have a session for body change reasons, like maternity photos or reaching your goal weight.  Have a session after you've run your first marathon or you've gone ice skating for the first time, so that you can celebrate all that your body does for you! Do a boudoir session to celebrate YOUR sexy! 

• A Boudoir Present for ALL

They are also great for bachelorette parties and a Girls' Night Out!  Yes, we do host boudoir parties (The Queens Court) for you and up to five of your closest girlfriends, for a fun filled day you won't forget!

Why Should I Have a Boudoir Session? 

First and foremost, a boudoir session should be done for you.  These sessions are fun, powerful, and liberating.  Feel like a celebrity and have a team pamper you with hair and makeup.  We then help you pick out the best outfits or lingerie for your desired outcome, and finally you get to do your session.  Wonderland Boudoir helps with posing and making sure you feel comfortable all the way through.   If for some reason you still feel tense, there is always champagne!

Feel Comfortable

We at Wonderland Boudoir know it is intimidating going into a room with a person you don’t know and sharing the most intimate parts of yourself, but there is nothing to be nervous about. We are a fun and understanding team that is here to support you during this session.  We help guide you through the process and teach you how to properly pose to help strengthen the beauty of your photos.  In almost all of the sessions, you will see me posing right along with you!

In Conclusion…

Take the leap and feel liberated by investing in a boudoir session. I have been photographing boudoir sessions for years, but I still LOVE the reactions when women see that they look like THAT GIRL in their photos.  

Be that girl.  Get that same feeling.  

Book a boudoir session.

To book or get more information on sessions, head over to the contact page and call or email! 

Question: Let me know in the comments below what some questions you have about boudoir sessions. Tell me about your fears and concerns. 

Giveaway:

Share this post on Facebook to qualify for a $40 gift card from Yandy.com!  Winners will be announced March 9th , 2015!

Face Your Fears, Always do what You’re Afraid to Do

“Always do what you’re afraid to do.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Monday Y’all!  Every Monday I’m going to share with you a quote that I hope keeps you inspired and motivated through the week.  This week’s quote from American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson really resonated with me. 

“Always do what you’re afraid to do.”

This year I plan on scaring the shit out of myself.   I’m doing things I have always been too reserved to do because of what other people may think or say.  I no longer want to live my life by the approval of others.

 I plan I’m making fun YouTube videos and even doing a really sexy boudoir session with an amazing photographer on the West Coast.  I can’t wait to share those photos with you! 

I will no longer fear mistakes.  I mean what’s the point?  You’re going to end up making them regardless of how hard you tried to avoid them.  In my experience, the more I tried to avoid them… the bigger the mistake tended to be.    I’m going to embrace the mistakes I make and no longer be afraid of the potential consequences. 

If we stay complacent we will never grow.  We should constantly do things that challenge us because those challenges are what define us as people.  Fear isn’t a wall that stops us.  Fear is only a hurdle.  You can always clear that hurdle. 

Face your fears head on this week.

TELL US...

What is something you’re afraid to do?  What are you going to do to conquer this fear?

Today’s Giveaways?

Retweet this post and in the comment section below let us know what changes you are making to face your fears.  Please make sure to leave your twitter handle in the comment section! Winner announced March 9th, 2015.

Welcome to Dallas Boudoir Studio, Wonderland Boudoir!

Welcome to the Dallas's new Boudoir Blog!

Thank you all for joining in the relaunch for Wonderland Boudoir’s blog! 

WHO ARE YOU?!

I am Korin, the principal photographer of Dallas boudoir studio Wonderland Boudoir.  I have loved photography since I was a little girl.  One of my first memories was going through my dad’s things when we first moved to Texas and picking up his camera.  I took the lens off his Pentax 35MM and examined the inside.  I loved the complexity of the camera and since then I was hooked.  By the time I reached high school I signed up for photojournalism and I was hooked with the art of photography.  There was no turning back from there. 

I loved working in the darkroom.  The idea of rolling and developing my own film felt like a safe haven to me.  It was the place where I felt at peace and I just enjoyed working with my hands to create a beautiful image.  After graduating high school I attended university and didn’t pick up a camera the entire time… but one never forgets their first love.   Then in 2008 or 2009 I purchased my first Nikon DSLR and never looked back.  Since then I started a successful photography company, UrbanJunglePhotography, which focuses on headshots, family, engagements, and weddings.  Then in 2014 I established the brand Wonderland Boudoir. 

WHY BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY?

When one is first getting into paid session with photography many people will take whatever gigs comes to them.  Honestly, I think that‘s a good way to go about it because, in my experience, I knew after two years of trying to figure out my strong suit, that I loved working one on one with people.

During those two years of finding my groove I would have women reaching out to me asking if I did boudoir.  As a shy person by nature I often backed away from it and declined offers.  Then one day I decided that I was going to try this boudoir thing after so many requests.

 I was nervous at first because you are seeing a woman at their most intimate state.  However, after my first session I knew this is where I wanted to go.  For me, it was easier to work one on one in a private setting.  I enjoyed instructing ladies on how to pose to get the pictures they wanted.  Unlike a lot of my family and engagement work, there aren’t a number of people around so my client doesn’t get distracted.  It’s just a one on one session with the client and the photographer.  Plus, as an introvert I like being able to build a bond with someone without having a ton of people around distracting either one of us from the end goal, beautiful photos you can cherish forever. 

What I love the most are the reactions women have after they see their photos.  Every time I see a smile on their face, get a gushing email, or an elated call it makes me love what I do more and more.  We as women are taught to really scrutinize our bodies and how we look based on the media’s standard of beauty.   The idea of beauty is not a cookie cutter mentality.  Each one of us are different, therefore there is no way the standard of beauty can be the same for all of us.   Our goal at Wonderland Boudoir is for clients to celebrate THEIR version of beauty.    Forget society.  Forget the status quo.  Forget the doubt in the back of your head.  Define what beauty means for you and got for it!

WHAT WILL THE BLOG HELP ANSWER?

1.       Teaching women the meaning of boudoir

2.       Why boudoir is liberating

3.       How to get ready for your session (Think Fashion, Hair, & Make-up)

4.       What to expect during your session and how to nail it!

5.       Real tips from professional Fashion Stylist, Hair, and Makeup Artist

6.       Current work from Wonderland Boudoir highlighting our amazing clients (so you can see how much fun they are having!)

WHY SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG?

Subscribe to this blog because this will be your one stop shop for all things boudoir.  We will answer FAQs (frequently asked questions), giving unique answers to your boudoir needs, and of course tips on how to make your photos stand out and unique to yourself.

My team and I have a ton of fun while shooting so we will be showcasing some behind the scenes footage of our sessions with both models, clients, and our travels.  This will be so fun for everyone involved.  We will also let you guys know of any discounts we have with brands so you can up your lingerie game if you like. 

HOW DO I FOLLOW?

You can sub to our blog using Bloglovin’ so you never miss a post!

You can also find us on:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

WHAT’S THE GIVEAWAY?

Today we are giving away a $50 giftcard to Victoria’s Secret!  Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin.  In the comments below lets us know some questions that you have about boudoir that you want us to answer.  The commenter with the most original question will win the giftcard!!!  Contest will close on March 07th, 2015 at 11:59AM.  Winner will be announced on the blog on March 09th!

Tell us what you want to know most about boudoir!

Editorial Boudoir Photography in Dallas

I love my clients and I love when they allow me to show off their beautiful their photos.  This week I want to showcase Maria. 

 Maria has an attitude that shines brighter than the sun.  I had the pleasure or meeting Maria through Jazzy, one of the main make-up artist I collaborate with.  Jazzy has worked with Maria in the past and knew that her personality and attitude would fall into sync with our vision of this project.

 I love shooting in places that people don’t see the potential in.  One must look for beauty everywhere.  In Dallas there is a whole in the wall spot that looks like a falling Spanish community and I had been dying to shoot there.  Right now Dallas is going through a building renaissance. The city is tearing down buildings with character to put up highrises.  I needed to move quickly because I knew it was only certain amount of time before someone would tear down this unique area. 

Originally we were only going to have a session outside the building, but when we go there it turns out that someone forgot to lock the gate… we went into the middle of this community and had a party.  It was so beautiful.  This place has probably been long forgotten. Faded turquoise doors, cleared out rooms, and uncompleted projects laced the property.  When we got there all I saw was potential.  The three of use wasted no time getting some amazing photos for this project. 

 The first look was experimental.  High wasted black panties, a beautiful lacy bra, leather jacket, and spiked heels.  Trust, putting together this outfit was just as fun as shooting it.  I wanted to create an editorial boudoir session.  My aim is to always show that women can be both sexy and strong. Maria was able embrace this ideology and bring it to life in this series.  I couldn’t have imagined a better result.

 Next we took out one of my FAVORITE dresses and heels.  I love color in photos  and therefore a graffiti background near the Bishop art District was a great spot. 

The last location was probably the funniest spot of all that day.  These photos were taken in the middle of the day on a Sunday afternoon.  For years I have fantasized about shooting a model next to an Ice Cream truck and I was able to get that.  The Ice Cream man was more than happy to oblige to our request.  I mean c’mon...  What man wouldn’t be happy to have a beautiful girl in luxury lingerie standing next to his truck eating a Popsicle?  You as the model, when would you ever have the opportunity to do the same thing?  In this life we have to live it to the most.  Do unconventional things and have fun with it.  This is what we did that Sunday. 

I have to thank Maria and Jazzy for such an amazing session that day.  It was such a blast and I can’t wait to work with more ladies in the future who just want to have fun!

Wonderland Boudoir x Blitz Weekly Magazine

That feeling of being published in magazines never gets old.  At least for me it doesn’t.  If you have been following me on Facebook and Instagram then you are well aware that in April I was part of a swimsuit issue campaign in Dallas with some of the top photographers in the city.  The shoot was fun and only had two rules… you had to shoot in a public place.  You could not be near any body of water. 

Challenge accepted.

For this challenge I was able to link up with two of Dallas’s most beautiful, Alexis and Eliane.  Both women stunning in their own right. Each has a different length in the modeling.  Elaine JUST graduated high school and was started out in modeling.  Born in Taiwan and coming to American at the age of 12 she loves the city.  She and I shot in Dart’s underground subway area.  As soon as we came down the never ending length of stairs and escalators she instantly lite up, “This reminds me of Taiwan!  I didn’t know Dallas had anything like this!”  I have to say that the underground Cityplace Station is one of Dallas’s best kept secrets.  The Cityplace stop is located in Uptown and is probably the cleanest subway station I have ever been in (and I have been to SanFran and Boston).   We had fun shooting, but it wasn’t long before we were kicked out by security.  However, I have to say the security guy was super chill and wasn’t rude to us.  Thank You Dart.  There needs to be more people like him.  The security guy told me next time I should contact Dart and get permission to shoot at that location. Noted. 

For Alexis she, I, and Jazzy have been trying to link up for a minute now.  Alexis is one of the smartest, most humble, and beautiful Dallas models in the game right now.  If you have the opportunity to work with her, do it.  For Alexis I wanted to do something EPIC.  Something different.  Something Dallas iconic.  Then I thought… how about the Uptown Trolley.   Instead of shooting guerrilla style like I had planned.  I took the advice from the Dart security guy from the week before and called the McKinney Avenue Transit.  Like my father always said, “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed”.  I spoke to an incredibly nice woman who was more than happy to help us out.  She pulled out one of the most beautiful Trolley in their lineup, Rosie.  Rosie was a PERFECT fit for this project.  I love the ‘20’s burgundy interior and old wood grain.  You could tell she was a beauty back in her hay day.  When we arrived on Sunday the nicest conductor helped us out, Joe (it probably helped that Alexis is a certified 10).  I made sure I limited the shoot to 30 minutes and he stayed outside, blocked traffic, and any peepers and creepers… hey it may be Uptown, but it’s still Dallas.  I really want EVERYONE to take the time to like the McKinney Ave Transit Facebook page and if you live in the area take a ride.  It’s free!

Of course only one photo of each girl could show up in the magazine, but I wanted to give you guys more pictures of them on the blog.

• Dart Underground:
• Model:  Elaine
• MUA: Gianna Della Serra
• Styling: Me, Korin
• Swimsuit: American Apparel

• McKinney Trolley
• Model: Alexis
• MUA: Jazzy Baptiste
• Style: Me, Korin
• Bikini: American Appareal

Also, right now I have a boudoir special going on.  From now until July 27th I will be having a 25% off all my sessions!  If you are interested please contact me ASAP before this offer expiries!

Happy Tuesday!

"Nothing Can Dim That Light that Shines from Within." - Maya Angelou

She is one of the most prolific writers of modern day history. Now that she has passed she will now be a legend. She will rank with Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare as literally geniuses. She lived in a time of immense adversity, and she didn’t let that define her.

Imagine being born in 1928 in the Mid West as a young black woman.
Imagine being raped at the age of 7 and not speaking for 10 years because of your over whelming guilt that the person who raped you was killed because of your confession.
Imagine working with Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr during the Civil Rights Movement… and then living this life to see a Black President.
Imagine living through hate, but still seeing the love in everyone.
Imagine even after death you are still the victor.

Could you imagine?

By today’s standards Maya Angelou is who we should want to aspire to be. To touch more lives than you can ever see. To know that you have self-worth, even when EVERYBODY around you says differently. Not harboring hate in your heart, but still not scared to tell you the difference between right and wrong.

Dr. Angelou did not have a formal education, but still taught at Wake Forest as a professor, has 30 Doctrines, and spoke six languages.

So tell me about your struggles?
No. I’m not saying that we should compare to see who has it worse.

But consider your life in someone else’s shoes.

She did not fall victim to this world. This very hard world. Instead  choose to turn on the light in the darkness.

In order to do this. You have to shine from the inside out. You must love yourself. You must appreciate your flaws. You HAVE to love your differences… because what makes you different is the offering that you give the world.

Happy Friday Y'all!