Dallas Boudoir Photography: March Review!

Wow!  What an awesomely incredible March!  First off I want to say thank you to everyone for making this re-launch a spectacular event.  I couldn’t have imagined a better way to re-launch the boudoir blog. 

 This month we focused on who Wonderland Boudoir is and what we stand for.  We are a Dallas based boudoir studio that focuses on a safe and fun environment that empowers women.  We want to teach women to love who they are without the hair and makeup.  Being dolled up is always fun, but the best feeling is truly knowing in your heart that you are a beautiful being. 

We also want to stop media from defining beauty.  There are too many different types of women in this world and the media can no longer place all of us in a box.  We need to learn to dictate our own feminity and beauty without the false imagery from what the media shows us.  The that really identifies the scope of Wonderland Boudoirs beliefs are the Four Actions I take to Redefine Beauty.

I have shot some amazing women recently.  I love the Black Rabbit session with Ashley.  She SLAYED it in her American Apparel swimsuit! 

Then Yareli KILLED it in her session!

 What both of these women have in common is confidence.  Confidence will break down a ton of doors for your success!

 One of our most cohesive blogs was the Official Boudoir FAQ!  This was one of my favorite pieces to write!  It really breaks down the most common questions women have about boudoir photography! 

If that ultimate guide wasn't enough I broke down the seven ways to feel comfortable before your boudoir session!

 My favorite quote of the month was “Love Yourself First.”  Too many times in this life we put other people before us and we take who we are for granted.  Stop doing that!

 Cheers to an amazing March and I can’t wait to see what April has in store for all of us! 

In the comments below please let me know what your favorite article was this month!

Nothing can Dim the Light that Shines from Within

Maya Angelou was one of the most prolific writers and Civil Rights activists of the 21st century.  Even though we lost this powerful woman in May of 2014 her words now now art.  And art is immortal.  It will live on forever.  Art is also like a light.  Art illuminates the body and soul.  It helps motivate, inspire, and most importantly teach.

What Dr. Maya Angelou has taught us that no matter what is going on in our life as long as we have a goal and positive attitude nothing can take that away.  We must inherently know what we want and go after it no matter the opinions of others.  Do not let naysayers (no matter how close they are to you) ever distract you from what is right and what is our goal.

This week stay focused on what you really want out of this life.  When someone questions your goals and commitments to long term and short term projects really think about your relationship to this person.  Does this person really want to see your shine or are they coming from a place of jealousy because they are not achieving the success you are?

Surround yourself with positive people who only want to see you succeed.  Surround yourself with people who challenge you to be the best person you can be me.  Surround yourself with people who understand your end goal.  Surround yourself with genuine people who have nothing to gain from you.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your day to read this post and other post I have written this month.  It really means a lot to me!  Have an amazing Monday!

The Official Boudoir FAQ: Top Questions Every Woman Ask about Boudoir

1.)    Who is Wonderland Boudoir?

Wonderland Boudoir is a boudoir photography studio located in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, Texas.  Our aim is to provide a fun, safe, and empowering environment for your boudoir experience.  Please read the blog, titled Who is Wonderland Boudoir, post to learn more about our goals and inspirations!

2.)    Why should I have a boudoir session?

The short answer?  Boudoir is a fun and liberating way for a woman to celebrate herself.  A boudoir session is both sexy and empowering.  The idea of boudoir can be intimidating one but once we start shooting all your fears will begin to fade.  Every woman starts gaining confidence and starts coming out of their shell.  For a more in-depth answer to this common question please check out my WHAT IS BOUDOIR post.  Here you will leave knowing exactly what boudoir is!   This post gives you detailed reasons why a boudoir session is necessary for every woman.

3.)    Whar are some occasions perfect for a Boudoir Session

• Anniversaries
• Major Birthday Milestones (25th, the Dirty 30, the Fabulous 40, the Sexy 50th)… and any birthday in between
• Significant Others Birthday
• Valentine’s Day
• Because the Day Ends in "Y"

4.)    Where are the Boudoir Sessions Held?

Wonderland Boudoir currently shares a 750 square foot studio in the heart of the Bishop Arts District.  Half our yearly sessions are done here.   About a quarter of our sessions are done outside (if you choose to do that), and the last quarter is either done in a hotel or on location.  Yes, we at Wonderland Boudoir do travel for boudoir sessions.  Please contact us for more information.

5.)    How Much will my Boudoir Session Cost?

Wonderland Boudoir’s prices start at $597.  Please check out our investment page for more details.  If any of the productions don’t fit your needs please send us an email so we can customize a session unique to you!

6.)    How far in Advance to do I Need to Book a Boudoir Session?

This really depends on what you need the photos for.  Is this a wedding, birthday, or anniversary present for someone special?  Do you need albums, frames, or additional photos?  If you want one of our handcrafted Italian made photos albums as a gift to someone then we ask that you come in at least 6 weeks before the date.  Our handcrafted items take 4 weeks to create!  The process is intense and long, but trust me it's more than well worth it. 

The weekends get booked way faster than the week so if you only have availability during on the weekends I suggest calling ASAP to secure the date preferred. 

7.)    Who should do my Hair and Make-up for a Boudoir Session?

I’m just going to be honest here.  Do not do your own hair and makeup before your session.  Check out my post that gives you 6 reasons hiring a makeup artist is the best move you can make.  Here at Wonderland Boudoir we have a rolodex of outstanding hair and makeup people in Dallas.  I only recommend Hair and Makeup artist I have personally worked.  This helps me ensure you are getting a quality experience.

8.)    Will you Photoshop me to *insert size here*

The quick and simple answer is no.  That’s the truth.  I do light airbrushing.  For example, if you have a pimple or blemish on your face, then of course, I will correct that.  I also color correct all my photos and will even out skin tone.  Depending on your on preference, I will remove stretch marks. However, if a lady is a size 22 and wants to be a size 2… then no I don’t do that.  In fact, I don’t do any real body modifications.  It’s not my style or aesthetic.  Wonderland Boudoir promotes natural beauty.  

Every day in the media we get assaulted with false images of “real women.”  I’m here to help stop that and show that every woman can define their own meaning of beautiful.  I have a blog post that describes four actions I take to redefine beauty!

 

9.)    How can I feel more comfortable during my shoot? 

There are 7 great ways for you to feel more comfortable in front of the camera:

1. Consultwith your Photography
2. Hire a professional Hair & Makeup Artist
3. Get Your Nails Done
4. Try on your Wardrobe Before Your Session
5. Practice the Poses You Want
6. Don’t Forget WHY You’re Doing This
7. Trust Yourself & Relax

Read the full post here to get detailed steps and ideas on how you can calms yourself before a boudoir session.

10.) I’m Nervous! How do I calm myself.

Simple.  Just trust in the process.  We at Wonderland Boudoir are here to help you achieve your best photos ever.  We aim to make you feel as beautiful as you look.  I have over 15 years of experience with shooting.  I will be there with you all the way to help you pose and make sure you get the best out of your session.

11.) Do you Post my Boudoir Pictures All over the Internet?

No.  The ladies you see in my pictures are women who have given me written permission to use their photos to showcase my work.  I won't lie, I would love to use your photos for my blog.  Showcasing women and telling their stories helps other women want to come up with the courage to shoot as well.

12.) Do you have Lingerie or should I Bring my Own?

We do have outfits, but I do encourage women to bring their own lingerie to make the session more unique to them.   I actually have another post coming up that helps outline what to bring for a boudoir session.  Always bring shoe!   Depending on what you are wearing a classic pair of black pumps is always a great idea.  The higher the better.  I always suggest at least 4 inch heels for dramatic effect.    The right pumps will make an outfit stand out and your more lean!

13.)   Who will See Me Take my Boudoir Photos?

Most of the time it’s just you and me in the room.  If you hire a hairstylist and makeup artist through me there is a good chance they will stay the entire shoot and touch you up as we go along.  However, they don’t stay in the room and watch the entire time… unless you want them too.  We are a professional group here to make you look and feel great!  We love to have fun and by the time your session is over you will forget how nervous you were to begin with.

14.) Should My Friends Go with me to my Boudoir Session?

No.  I’m just going to say it no… unless you are having a boudoir party.  Otherwise I do not recommend your friend/family member coming with you.  The reason being is when you get in that room with myself and your friend is there a lot of the times the clients starts worrying about what their friend is thinking.  This creates a focusing problem and could have a negative effect on your session because you aren't concentrating.  This is discouraging to both yourself and the photographer.  You will be safe and fine without a need to worry.  I get that a friend may be a safety blanket, but a boudoir session is such an intimate experience so it’s very important to concentrate without any potential distractions.

15.) Will you Hide my Cellulite/Scare/Birthmark/ *insert least flattering body part here*

Let’s be honest, we all have things about ourselves that we feel as though are less than perfect and we may not want one of those things shown.  When we speak on the phone I will take note of you’re the areas of the body you like to conceal and enhance.    

16.)  Will you help me with Posing?

Yes!  Of course!  The average woman isn’t on the covers of Vogue magazine.  We will help you with posing your body to for optimal photos.  Not only will we tell you what to do, we will also pose in that same position so you can see firsthand what we want you to do.  At Wonderland Boudoir we are known for poses and angles so you can be sure that you will learn a lot from our session. 

I also suggest checking out the Boudoir Divas from San Diego who have three amazing books that show the BEST photos for posing.  One of the books has 1500 boudoir poses images!!!!!!  Check out the books here!

17.)  How long does it take to get my Boudoir Photos Back?

If you don’t want any add-ons such as books or additional photos I try and have your photos done at least 14 days after our session.  However, if you want albums, additional books, or accordion books then it takes about 6 weeks to get back.  Most of our books are handcrafted in Italy so it’s very important that the books are made slowly and perfectly to last a lifetime.  We at Wonderland Boudoir only work with the best of the best to ensure that our clients receive a quality product. 

When your photos and packages are ready we ask that you come back to the studio and pick everything up.  WE DO NOT MAIL ITEMS.   There have been too many times photos, usbs, and books have been lost in the mail and therefore we want to make sure you personally pick up your items so they are safe and secure.

18.) Explain a Typical Boudoir Session

At Wonderland Boudoir we have the client come in and have hair and makeup done (if that’s what you have chosen).  It takes about 90 minutes to have your hair and makeup done.  After our discussion with the hair and makeup artist on your wants and needs we then we pick out your wardrobe.  All of us have really great style (toot toot) so you are in great hands if you're unsure about any of your chooses.  After hair and makeup is completed and you have given your seal of approval of your hotness we then start the session. 

After our session is over I will schedule a time where we can meet 14 days later so you can see your photos and pick the ones you want to keep forever!   

19.) Do you Offer Group Parties?

Yes, we offer Boudoir Parties.  These are great for birthday parties, Girls' Night Out, and Bachelorette parties.  It’s a time to get pampered before you enjoy a night out on the town!

20.) Who Shouldn’t get a Boudoir Session Done?

At Wonderland Boudoir we believe that all women should have a session done.  However, if having boudoir photos done will hurt your career in some way then I suggest not having them done.  While we take EVERY SINGLE PRECAUTION to ensure that your photos never get out we cannot guarantee everything 100% in our digital world.  This is why it’s very important to considerate what may happen.  Our photos are tasteful and classic, but how far you want your session to go is really up to you.

21.) How long do you keep my photos on file? What If I want more photos on a later date?

We don’t have a strict time period on hand when we destroy photos of past clients boudoir photos, but do try and dispose of all photos after seven days.  We have a large number of clients come in so it’s very important that we have as much room as possible on our drives. 

22.) Do You Guys do Couples Sessions? 

Yes!  We love shooting couples who are in love and would like beautifully directed photos for years to come. 

23.) How can I book a session?

Please check out our investment page! Please feel free to call us for additional questions and schedule a time to book!  You can contact us here!

Yes, I know that was a bit intense!  There is so much to cover in boudoir session! The FAQ sheet will be constantly updated to answer any additional common questions that clients have!

In the comment below please let me know what questions you have that weren’t addressed in this post?

Contact us!

Using the form below, contact Wonderland Boudoir Photography of Dallas if you would like to book a session with us!

How to Make the Perfect Mimosa

My favorite part of Sunday boudoir sessions are the mimosas!   In Dallas mimosas are a Sunday staple.  Orange juice and champagne is as necessary to Sundays as air is for breathing.  You just need it!  Yes!  I do know I’m being hyperbolic but you get where I’m coming from!  Today will be a super short blog post, but absolutely necessary.  I’m going to show you how to make the perfect mimosa!

With spring here and patio season in full effect I feel as though every functional adult should know how to make a proper mimosa!

Ingredients:

Grab Your Champagne Flute

Orange Juice (Fresh Squeezed always taste best)

Champagne (Chandon is always a good choice)

Orange Liqueur (Grand Marnier is the best)

Perfect Mimosa Recipe

(In Exact Order)

In your champagne flute pour the orange juice first and filll the glass ¼ full

Next, pour ¾ of flute with champagne

Last, pour in 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur

Done! You have now made the most perfect mimosa ready for any perfect Sunday brunch!

If you are just DYING to know I purchased this beautiful gold crackle champagne flute from they came from Pier 1!  Don’t you just LOVE Pier 1?  While I prefer the gold flutes the teal glasses are just a gorgeous and would be perfect for entertaining poolside!

PS: To make this drink virgin substitute Ginger Ale for the champagne.

(Fun Fact:  My New Year’s resolution was to give up drinking for the first 6 months of 2015!)

Since summer is right around the corner what other drinks would you like to see me make for the blog?  Leave your comments down below! 

Always Love Yourself First

“I love you more than I love myself.”

Have you heard that phrase said before?  Have you said it?  When you said it were you pleading with someone?  Was it an intense fight?  What was the end result of that fight?

I’m going to gather that it wasn’t good and you two separated ways… or at the very least your relationship was strained for a long time.

You should never love anyone else more than you love yourself (your children excluded).  I’m speaking more of getting dangerously lost in personal relationships with people.  Rather than doing what we know is the right thing for us we sacrifice either emotionally or financially (many times both) to others who would not do the same for us. 

Loving yourself first is not selfish.  If you can’t be your own motivator, cheerleader, or inspiration then how do you expect anyone else to do that for you?

People are attracted to confidence. When you love yourself first you begin to form a confidence that people around you will take notice of.  There is a presence there that is recognized immediately.  We have all felt this type of energy from someone in our lifetime.  It’s powerful and contagious. 

When you love yourself first you begin to carry yourself differently.   You will also notice that you begin to take less shit from others, especially in personal relationships.  You will begin to be more vocal about the things that are not acceptable to you… when before you may have been shyer to voice your opinion out of fear of rejection or dismissal. 

However, when you begin loving yourself first you no longer fear the thought of rejection or dismissal.  If that person can’t see or understand your value it’s no problem for you to drop them by the wayside.  What I have learned in this life is that once you get rid of the people who don’t value you, or add value to your circle, great things begin happening in your life. You are no longer concerned with people who are only concerned with themselves.  Your energy is being redirected and because of that good energy comes into your life.  This happens because you now understand YOUR value.  You know this value because you began loving yourself first.  You can’t just like yourself.  You have to LOVE yourself.  Be honest, can you be our own best friend?  If you can’t then perhaps it’s time to start making a change in your life. 

You have to like being alone with yourself… you can’t be scared of that.  You have to be your own best friend at times, and really you should be the type of person you would want to date and marry.  Once you have those feelings about yourself then you know that you really love yourself.  Trust me.  You will find that person who sees and wants that same value and energy that you have. 

Just love yourself first. 

In the comments below let me how life changed around you when you really began loving yourself first. 

What tips can you offer others on how to love who they are more?

How to be Beautiful? Confidence is Key

What is the definition of beauty?

Dictionary.com believes that beauty is the quality present in a thing or person that gives great pleasure or deep satisfaction in the mind.

About Yareli

Late 2014 I hosted a boudoir session with a beautiful young woman named Yareli (doesn't she have the PRETTIEST name?!).  Yareli has striking eyes, a gorgeous personality, and a confidence to spare.  Her radiance was glowing at a level 10 and she couldn’t have been more excited for her boudoir session.    Our session was great!  She just jumped in an owned it.  She knew what she wanted, how she wanted it, and yet was still open to suggestion and thoughts.  

Do Boudoir for Yourself

When asked why she wanted to have a boudoir session she let me know she did it for herself.  Yareli is a beautiful full framed woman.  As a curvier woman she rejects the status quo of society’s standard of beauty.  She knows she is beautiful. She owned every single curve, every single “flaw”.   These “flaws” were actually the thing that made her so youthful and vibrant.   Due to her confidence and shape she has had no trouble finding a man that appreciates every single ounce of her. 

Yareli explained to me that she had to learn how to be more confident with her fuller size because no one was going to do that for her.  Let me tell you, her confidence shined through her photos and the last thing I notice was “the weight.”

The Problem with Defining Beauty by a Waist Size

Many young women these days see magazine covers of these “naturally perfect women”, videos girls, or female celebrities and believe, “this is what I need to do/look like to be successful in this world”.  What these women fail to realize is that most of what we see on social media, movies, and magazine covers are smoke and mirrors.  Abuse of Photoshop in the media is an unachievable illusion designed to separate people from their money in order to make them feel like this is what they need to do to achieve love and success. 

If you are a size 16 and you feel absolutely gorgeous at a size 16 don’t let Glamour Magazine's photo shopping team tell you that’s not beautiful.  As stated in the Redefine Beauty post we don’t need to validate our sex appeal by people who aren’t us. 

Interested in a Boudoir Session?

If you’re interested in a boudoir session with our talented team at Wonderland Boudoir please check out our investment page with all the different productions we can provide!  Once your done contact us to get more information or schedule a session!

Want to See More of Yareli?!

Make sure you LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook to see more photos from Yareli's Gallery!

Happy First Day of Spring Y’all!

In the comments below define the word "beauty" for you!

5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Makeup Artist for youR Boudoir Shoot

“Do I really need to hire a make-up artist?   I do my own make up every day.”

This is a very common question/statement I get asked from clients.

Unless you’re a professional makeup artist yourself, the answer will…

ALWAYS.  BE.  YES. 

Let me be honest with you.  When I have professional hair and make-up artist contact me to do a boudoir session with them 90% of the time they hire someone else to do it for them. 

Why? …

..Because they understand the value in hiring a professional artist.

Today I’m going to give you 6 REAL reasons why you need to hire a professional makeup artist for your boudoir session.

1.) Investment

Your boudoir session is an investment.  There aren’t many things in this life that go up in value after purchase, but a boudoir is one of them.  You paid for an amazing photographer and purchased the perfect lingerie and outfits for your session.  However, you are now considering cutting cost a little bit with hair and make-up by doing it yourself... or letting your cousin, sister, aunt (whoever) do your makeup because they do such a great job on themselves.  Doing makeup on you is not the same as doing it on someone else.  Let me tell you that paying the additional $100-$150 (depending on the boudoir studio) is well worth the price tag.

Great makeup enhances your boudoir photos.  Do you really want to take the risk of doing a reverse smokey eye and ombre lip on yourself if you have never done one before?  The day of your boudoir session is NOT the day to try your hand at applying false lashes or a makeup technique you have never done before.

I really wish I could attach photos of my clients who did their own make-up versus my girls who hired a make-up artist.  However, I do not want to put anyone on blast so I won’t do that, but there is a night and day difference between the women. 

Most boudoir studios will have in-house or contracted hair and makeup artist they can recommend to you.  These professionals have typically worked with the photographer on a long term and ongoing basis and can anticipate the photographers shooting style and perfectly incorporate that with what you are wearing to the session. 

At Wonderland Boudoir our makeup artists typically stay with us the entire length of your session.  Unlike many boudoir studios our makeup artist touches you up throughout your session to make sure you look flawless in each frame.

The last thing you want to do is love EVERYTHING about the photo EXCEPT your make-up.  You don’t want to regret doing the makeup yourself (or resenting your family member for doing a poor job).  Boudoir sessions focus A LOT on the face.  Have complete confidence in your session by hiring a professional makeup artist.  The extra $100-$150 on a makeup artist will be a drop in the bucket when it comes to gorgeous photos and peace of mind.

2.) Quality

Makeup artist invest a lot of time and money into their craft.  They research different styles and know by heart the brands that will work best for not only your skin but for the overall photos.

Also, there is a quality to their work you will not find anywhere else.  Each makeup artist develops a style and skill that they call their own.  This is called passion.  The makeup they do for you is evidence of their skill and brand.   Essentially, you are a walking billboard for them.  If you are being photographed they NEVER want to do a bad job.  That’s why they put in so much time and effort to provide you with a quality result for your boudoir session. 

 

 

3.) Professional Grade Makeup

All of the makeup artists that I have ever worked with apply high quality HD makeup for boudoir sessions.  For session such as boudoir, engagements, and weddings they use makeup that is more heavy and not for everyday use.  We aren’t talking drug store brands here.  No.  There is nothing wrong with anything you may have purchased at CVS, but if you are looking for Grade A flawless make-up your makeup artist is going to have it. 

The brands makeup artist use for boudoir sessions is built to last for all day use and under hot lights.  Professional grade makeup takes real effort to remove.  You want something that will last the entirety of your session and even later into the day.

4.) Technique

Makeup artist are professionally trained and state certified. They know what they are doing.  They have techniques that we commoners can’t do.  Keep in mind that a photo a 2D image.  This means that everything is flat in a photo.  However, professional makeup artist know tricks to make your photo 3D.  They add color, highlights, and contouring to make our cheekbones, eye, and hair pop!  Let’s not forget the blending game!  There is nothing like a makeup artist that knows how to really blend!  Blending makeup is probably the most important technique that any artist can do and it’s the one that most people who aren’t makeup artist tend to forget.

5.) Photographers Hate Photoshop

Most photographers hate Photoshop.  They much prefer to get every last detail right in camera.   Yes, makeup is one of those details.  Many clients think that Photoshop is the be all end all, but Photoshop is a tool… not an answer.  In fact the photo of Toni to the right was one were the only two things I did was remove blemishes and make the color pop. That is all.  Before arriving to the boudoir studio Toni went to a celebrity MUA in Dallas to have her makeup done.  Let me tell you, the money she paid was well worth it because not only was the makeup perfect for her outfits, eyes, and face shape it also allowed her to receive her photos back much faster because I didn’t have to take the extra time to touch anything up on her face. Who doesn’t LOVE getting their photos back sooner than anticipated?

6.) Relieves Stress

Having a professional take care of your makeup alleviates the pressure of making sure you did it right.  While this is listed as the last reason it’s actually the number one reason you should hire a makeup artist to do your makeup for a boudoir session. 

You have so much going on already… work, planning for your boudoir session, buying lingerie, and let’s not forget your personal life.  When you hire a professional makeup artist all you need to do is show up. 

I always tell my clients to create a Pinterest board as inspiration for each look they want to do.  This helps you, me, and the makeup artist because it provides a visual idea of what you want your end result to be for your session.  Since a makeup artist can’t read your mind it’s important to send a visual idea of what you are looking to accomplish.

CONCLUSION

Hiring a professional makeup artist is an investment that you need for your boudoir session.  There is a quality and technique that professional makeup artist have that most people don’t because they haven’t studied the form.  Makeup artist use expensive high quality makeup that isn’t necessary for everday use but is necessary for your boudoir session. Photographers like to use as little Photoshop as possible for your session so it’s important to make sure your makeup is right in camera to help speed up the editing process which helps you get your photos back sooner.  The most important reason you need to hire a professional makeup artist is that it leaves you stress free.

In the comments below let me know if you have anymore questions about why you should hire a professional makeup artist for your session.