The Boudoir Divas™

THE NEW DIVAS BLOG IS AT A NEW HOME.....

2009-01-28T18:24:00.000-08:00

www.thedivasblog.com

Also check out our new boudoir photography referral site at www.boudoirinternational.com

New Blog launched!

2008-09-04T06:15:00.000-07:00

All of you on our newsletter list already got a sneak peek yesterday... and now it's time to release it to the world! :) Stop on over and let us know what you think by leaving a comment! Thanks!

The Boudoir Divas BLOG!!! This blog is for other photographers who are interested in Boudoir Photography.

ALSO, big on the top of our list is our Boudoir Referral List! We have countless potential clients asking us if we have boudoir photographer suggestions for other cities and states. So... we just recently launched www.boudoirinternational.com

This is a list of boudoir photographers in cities across the world like, boudoir in New York, or boudoir in Arizona, or boudoir even in Australia. And of course all those other big cities in the world.

San Diegans!!! If you are looking for a San Diego boudoir photographer, or you live in So Cal, look no longer. You've found your match! ;) Visit www.theboudoirdivas.com

Our blog for our boudoir clients is www.sandiegoboudoir.com

Newsletter has been sent!

2008-09-03T14:31:00.001-07:00

...with the link to our brand new BLOG!!!
...AND some insider's info on our first Blog contest! (Plenty more contests to come, don't worry if you missed out on this one!) :)
Sign up for our newsletter if you want to be in the know about the divas!

Sign Up For News!

2008-09-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! We're about to send out our newsletter, but we have a big favor to ask those of you who've been on our past mailing lists. We need you guys to sign up again! Sorry for the inconvenience, but we really want to make sure that you still get all the insider's info about what's going on with us. So if you want to stay updated, click below and re-sign up for our brand-new e-newsletters!!! Thanks!

(If you've signed up in the last month, no worries - you're good to go... this is for any of our long-time supporters who have signed up anytime before August). Also, we've just sent out an email asking you guys to re-sign up if we weren't able to transfer your info over. So check your inboxes and see if we sent that request.

Exciting stuff here!

2008-09-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

***EDIT TO ADD: make sure put us in your "contact" list so that we don't end up in spam! info@theboudoirdivas.com

Launching this week!

2008-09-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Brand new Boudoir Divas Blog! We can't wait to announce the launch of this baby! Check back this week - or sign up for our newsletter to be notified of cool stuff like this!

On Location Boudoir Shoot

2008-08-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

When your client knows the editor of SURFER mag you can do some pretty cool things. Josie and her fiancé, set sail for two years in search of the perfect wave. They chronicled everything for SURFER mag. She booked us for a boudoir shoot and being that we live in SD, we were able to put a very interesting spin on the shoot. Here is the cover of her magazine I created out of her shoot. Josie also supplied me with photos of her and her guy surfing that I was able to incorporate into the whole design. I am sure her man is going to looove it.

Their friend owns Sanuk and gave us permission to have this mock ad in her mag, that's her soon to be hubby surfing. Pretty cool guy, eh?

Thanks KISS!

2008-08-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

I just stayed up super late last night modifying all out boudoir packages and pricing. I am exhausted from all the thinking and very relieved to say it is actually done! I wanted to give marketing genius, Kevin Swan, at KISS a big thank you for taking the time to help me out over the phone with fun names and how to best incorporate KISS into our packages. If you ever get a chance to hear Kevin and Shaun talk about album sales be sure to take great notes, these guys really know what they are talking about.

Thanks for lunch the other day guys! See you two soon!

Just a little hint....

2008-08-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

As we said earlier, we can't wait to tell you the big things goin' on around here. But we don't want to divulge everything too quickly, so we will leave you with a little hint. This is all you get for now, more soon...

Coming Soon...

2008-08-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Fun new things are ahead for the Boudoir Divas! We've been a little silent on the blog this week, but that's because we've got several exciting things that we're currently working on...

To be announced soon!!! :)

Where we're headed today...

2008-08-17T09:51:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to tell you all about this AWESOME project we're working on with the Bui Brothers! We're SO excited!!!!! Details to come soon.... :)

Glamorous and over 50!

2008-08-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Boudoir photography is for every age, just ask beautiful Linda!"Dear Marissa and Deena. I just wanted to let you know that my husband loved loved loved my album. He couldn't believe that I did that for him. I was really excited to give it to him and I'm sure he will look at it often . The pictures made me look good too!!!! I am so glad that Christi (her daughter) made me do the photo shoot. I never in a million years would have even thought to do it. I never thought of myself as sexy, but you made me feel sexy that day and I will have that forever. Marissa, thank you so much for making me feel good during the shoot so that I could take those pictures. Deena, thanks for putting the album together for me and keeping in touch with me. If we are ever out that way again, we will stop by. You can use my pictures on your website if you still want to. Sincerely, Linda B"

Thank you Linda for letting us show off your gorgeous images, you are too sweet. Give Chipper a kiss for us! (Chipper is her pet squirrel)

Newsletter and Tidbits!

2008-08-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

We would love it if you signed up to receive updates and "Tidbits." That's what we are calling our little informative clips about marketing, selling, etc which will come out soon. But you won't know where to find them unless you sign up!

CLICK HERE to sign up!

Holy Guacamole!

2008-08-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

Ah, we have so many exciting things going on in the studio that we cannot wait to share with you! Paris is turning into such a dream come true. I cannot wait to hear the sound of a model's heels clacking on the old pavement of Paris complimented by the wonderful sound of my shutter clicking. Define childhood dream come to fruition. I don't want to wait, can it be next week? We are also looking into renting a big apartment that everyone can share to slim down the lodging expenses for everyone. More on that in the next few weeks.

We have other big, big happenings that I am going to remain a bit aloof on. Let's just say that the wonderful Bui Bros are coming down tomorrow to film for us. We are eager to share it all with you.

Update on Shoot Videos

2008-08-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Be sure to watch the shoots we posted yesterday in high quality on Youtube. If you have a fast internet connection, it doesn't take too long to load. If you have a slow connection, it's definitely still worth the wait - especially if you want to see the images a tad bit clearer. PS - we know these videos are not pro. This was actually my first-ever attempt at figuring out how to use imovie, which was pretty fun! We DO, however, have some VERY pro video guys working on an upcoming project... and we can't WAIT to share what it's going to be all about. Stay tuned! ;)

If you are looking for a boudoir photographer and are not in the So Cal area, or don't want to fly to us, be sure to check out www.boudoirinternational.com

World Premier...

2008-08-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

...of the Boudoir Divas' SHOOT VIDEOS!!! We had SO much fun yesterday! So much fun, in fact, that we have decided to make this a regular event. We hired 2 gorgeous models & had complete freedom to experiment with different sets, funky wardrobes, and new lighting scenarios. And as for the end product... well, just posting images really wouldn't do the shoot justice, so we decided to create a few music videos for your viewing pleasure. This first one is very informative, as Marissa did an amazing job at explaining her shots. Check it out!

If you cannot view this video Click Here to watch it on You Tube.

And here's one more fun video for you... I wasn't quite as informative as Marissa (sorry!)... but hopefully you'll still enjoy it!

If you cannot view this video Click Here to watch it on You Tube.

Special thanks to: Our beautiful models, Nora & Vanessa.

Also - a few of the images in these videos were taken by the lovely Crystal (one of the Woman Captured photographers). C, you rock! We love you!
Hair & Makeup by: The Mermaid Salon
Music credit: Yelle & Lady Gaga

Video recording talent: Our wonderful studio concierge, Mandi!

Freedom Tour SD

2008-08-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

Last night Marissa, Weston, & I got to attend David Jay's Freedom Tour - and it was, of course, so awesome! One of the biggest things we came away with was the encouragement to listen to your clients. Tons of info & inspiration in regards to efficiency, pricing, and so much more. To top it all off, we also got some great words of advice from the queen of branding, Miss Jasmine Star! We were really glad we were able to make it... thanks so much, DJ & J*! We love your genuine passion for helping photographers. Thank you! On another note, we're super excited to start implimenting Showit Web slideshows with the boudoir studio. We are going to email the slideshows to our clients and figure that she more than likely will email it to all her gals pals. What great promo for us! If you don't already have Showit, you should definitely stop over there and grab a copy!

Inspiration and New Ideas Photo Shoot!

2008-08-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

So bad it's good! Can we ever be serious? Thank God we are photographers and not in the video biz! But we still want to take the time to share with you what's going on here in our studio. Check back later this week for shots from today's shoot and hopefully a few not so high quality video clips of the models working it.

Freedom!

2008-08-04T08:41:00.001-07:00

As you know, Showit is one of our newest sponsors! We love David Jay & all that he is doing to help out other photographers in the industry. Tonight we're going to see him & Jasmine Star talk about how to have freedom in your business. They're going to be covering pricing, marketing, and so much more... can't wait! It's going to be awesome - so if you're in San Diego, you should definitely stop by. (Details: Click Here). See you tonight!

Favorite Music Videos

2008-08-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we posted about how we use music videos to add to the total boudoir experience. In my opinion, this is one of the best elements of the shoot. We just love the way our music videos add energy to the 'set' as we're shooting. This isn't a new concept at all... most photographers use a music playlist while shooting. And the other day, I was reading a magazine article that talked about a fashion shoot, and how they brought a DJ in for the shoot to do live mixing. So much fun! Anyway... I took a poll this past week, and asked all of the photographers about their favorite songs on our video playlist. A little inspiration for those of you who would like to create a new playlist for your boudoir shoots. Here's what everyone had to say:

Marissa: Yelle's "Je Vuex Te Voir." This video rocks, it is so hilarious. There is no way anyway can watch this video and still be tense.

Crystal: There are so many good ones, it's so hard to pick! I'll have to go with Sexy Back by JT! It just sounds like something that should be played while walking down the cat walk!

Deena: Bleeding Love & Sexy Back

Me (Kimberlee): I have a tie between 2 faves: The first is Regina Spektor's "Fidelity." Such a fun/quirky video - love it! Also, right now I'm really loving the Maroon 5-Rihanna video, "If I Never See Your Face Again." It's got a lot of energy, and the sets in the video are SO cool - lots of visual inspiration for a boudoir shoot.

There are so many different elements that go into making the boudoir experience unforgettable; music is just one small part of that experience, but as you can tell, we LOVE this part of it!

music. Woman Captured Playlist

Video of our production area....

2008-07-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

As I am sure all of you know already, there is quite a bit more time spent behind the computer rather than behind the camera in this digital world. In order to keep it to a minimum we have streamlined everything in our studio, and let me tell you, after a five years of being unorganized it feels sooooo good! We have check off list and procedure docs for any and every little thing.

Here is a video clip of all of us working away. Oh, BTW, too bad I didn't film this after we our big cleaning fest today. Just imagine everything all neat and sparkley like it is now.

If you can't see the clip above click here to watch on You Tube.

IMPORTANT: Paris dates have changed!

2008-07-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

In our quest to find the perfect apartment to host the Paris workshop in we have changed the dates. We apologize as I know this will probably be a bit of inconvenience for those of you who were trying to clear your schedule to make the other dates work. Unfortunately it was a bit out of our hands, but these dates are double and triple confirmed and good to go.

Everything else about the workshop is exactly the same, only the dates have changed. We will have more about nearby hotels as well as possible apartments to share for much cheaper with other photographers very soon.

A little credibility....

2008-07-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Kimberlee and I call ourselves "The Boudoir Photography Divas," which is a bit bold for gals who know that they are a major work in progress. At least the haughty title gives us a lot to aspire to and always makes us work a bit harder. One thing we love about boudoir photog is the amazing emails we get after our shoots. As a wedding photographer and portrait photogs, we are able to compare the response of those shoots to our boudoir clients' responses. The latter always seems as if she has had a big mental shift in the way she perceives herself- so satisfying as a photographer. Here is what a client sent me today. I love it, and at the risk of seeming like I am bragging about the job I adore, I am going to post it anyway!

"Hi! I received my proofs from my WC shoot! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM! Marissa did such a great job, she is so awesome! I was so nervous, but she totally put me at ease! I am convinced that this is something EVERY woman should do!! I felt so empowered when I left!! I was definitely one the best experiences I've had so far in all of this wedding planning. Anyway, thank you SO much!!! I had a great time at the shoot, looking through the pics, etc. I cannot wait to show my fiance!!! The hardest part of it was trying to choose only 20 pics! Marissa definitely knows how to capture girls at their best. :) THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) melissa "

Paris Plans...

2008-07-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

We are SOOO excited about Paris! We're now accepting deposits to reserve your spot, so if you're interested, shoot us an email and we'll get you more details. We have tons of exciting things in store for this trip. Mainly: shooting, shooting, and more shooting... Fun boudoir shoots in a private Paris apartment! Plus shooting (more editorial/fashion-type shoots) on the streets of Paris! AND a e-session or bridal shoot just for fun! It's going to be so awesome. Marissa & I are already shopping and picking up fun/funky things for our models' wardrobes. We can't WAIT! Oh, and yesterday Marissa was booking our Paris apartment, and she was showing me where it is on Google Earth. So amazing to actually SEE where we're going to be shooting! It's crazy - just look at this aerial view of the Eiffel Tower!

The streets outside of our Paris apartment are SO perfect. Like if you've ever dreamed of doing a photo shoot in Paris, you're going to die when you see this place! We'll share photos of the location later... (can't you feel the suspense growing?!) :) Heehee... if you're thinking about booking the Paris workshop, we'll require a 50% deposit now ($550), and then the remaining $550 will be due about a month before the trip. Let us know if you have any questions! (email: info@theboudoirdivas.com). For the ladies who have already signed up... we are SO excited & can't wait to meet all of you in Paris! I'm sending out an email today w/ more details, so be sure to check your inbox. Thanks!

6 months away...

2008-07-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already signed up for DWF's Convention, head on over to their website to register! January 11-14 ... we're so excited to be sharing at this year's convention! [Check out the seminar line-up here].

Bragging...

2008-07-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

So Marissa is on vacation right now, with no internet access and no way to check up on things here. Which means, I have full reign of what I can post! This would be a good time to bring out all the funny photos of crazy times at Disneyland and such. Hahaha. I'm not going to do that, don't worry. Instead, I'm going to take a little time to brag about my friend and biz partner. She would probably kill me for bragging about her, but she's not here so she can't stop me! ;) Ok so here's the deal. Marissa started Woman Captured about five years ago, although, it's REALLY taken off and gotten huge within the past 2 years or so. Which means that in just a few short years, this boudoir studio has totally blown up! We just recently moved from a 2-car garage into a 4,000+ square-foot studio! Riss usually waves off compliments, and she always downplays this fact. She's also a little shy about sharing photos of the new studio space, because in her mind, it's not completely "finished" yet. But I think it looks AMAZING. Sure, there are a few finishing touches to add to make it reflect the complete vision... but I am just so impressed by all that Marissa has done to get this space looking like it does. (I'm going to give a little sneak peak here... this is just a PORTION of the shooting space in the new studio - it's SO huge!) :) Yes, I know I may be bragging a bit too much - so I'll get down to the heart of it. We can't take the credit. For anything. Yes, I'm SO proud of Marissa... she's come so far in such a short time! But Marissa would also be the first to acknowledge that NONE of this would be possible without God. In her new office/workspace, Riss has a verse written on the main wall: "Let the beauty of the Lord establish the work of your hands..." (Ps 90:17). Marissa and I both know that we wouldn't be where we are today without God. Our faith is so important to us, and we just want to acknowledge how we know that any amount of success that we see w/ the boudoir studio, the boudoir book, or our own personal photo businesses - ALL is because we have been blessed by God. That's all. Enjoy your weekend, everyone! Riss, see you soon!

Dressing room video

2008-07-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Question: Do we know how dorky we are?
Answer: Yes. :)

Woman Captured Blog gets a little face-lift...

2008-07-20T17:30:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

On Shootsac's Blog...

2008-07-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

Check it out! [CLICK HERE]

RSVP - ASAP!

2008-07-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, Just wanted to give you an update & let you know that there are still 2 more spots left for our Paris workshop at the $950 rate... after that, it goes back to the regular $1100 rate. Within a matter of a few hours we had 3 gals sign up for our boudoir workshop in the City of Lights! :) Thanks, ladies - can't wait to see you in Paris! To RSVP, email: info@boucherphotography.com Thanks!

***EDIT*** -- Sorry folks, we've had our first five lovely ladies already sign up. They are the lucky gals who are coming to our workshop in Paris at the discounted rate. Anyone else who signs up from here on out will get our regular price, $1100.

Mailing List

2008-07-16T21:50:00.001-07:00

Just sent out a newsletter (unfortunately I think it was sent out from my personal email account, kimberlee@kimberleewest.com... rather than our normal Boudoir Divas email address... oops!) Sorry about that. That won't happen in the future. :) We've had a few email addresses that bounced back to us, so if you THINK you should be on our mailing list & haven't received an email, let us know by writing: info@boucherphotography.com (*but check your bulk/spam box first). Thanks!

Other Stuff...

2008-07-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

Check out our other work... brand new blogs just launched!

Marissa (weddings) & Kimberlee (portraits)

Paris Dates Announced!!!

2008-07-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

******EDIT 7/30/08******
Dates changed to 4/1/09 - 4/4/09

If you cannot view this video Click Here to watch it on You Tube.

This workshop will be much more in-depth than our workshops in the past. We will be covering:
- Shooting on-location, for those of you who shoot in hotel rooms, we will be covering how to work with natural or existing light.
- Shooting with the lighting and sets that we recommend and use in our studio
- Posing (our favorite and most flattering poses)
- Rapport with client during the shoot
- The overall supermodel experience
- Processing images (Photoshop, actions, etc)
- Order Production
- Album design
- Marketing
- Booking process
- Products and pricing
- Shooting a model in the streets of Paris (Boudoir fashion shoot)
- One-on-one creating a biz game plan with a Boudoir Diva
- "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" Together we will create a custom action plan and help you leave the workshop ready to churn a profit.
- An engagement shoot in Paris with Marissa and Weston BOUCHÉR! (or possibly a bride & groom)

Exciting News - Coming in a few hours!!!

2008-07-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah... we've got our dates finalized for the Paris workshop and we're going to make the announcement before the end of the day! Check back soon...

San Diego Workshop - Postponed

2008-07-15T00:46:00.000-07:00

Due to an overwhelming amount of inquiries & support for our PARIS workshop... we have decided to put a hold on our upcoming San Diego workshops for the rest of 2008. We are sorry to inconvenience any of you who were strongly considering the Aug workshop.

As for the Paris workshop - we are about to confirm the dates, it is looking like either the last week of March or first week or April! We will post as soon as we have the exact dates.

Training Guides - On Their Way!

2008-07-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

To all of you who have ordered a book this past month... THANK YOU for your patience! Any book orders placed from now on will be shipped out within a week of receiving payment.

Shootsac Love

2008-07-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

We wanted to send a huge thank you to Jessica Claire & Keats Elliot over at Shootsac! We LOVE Shootsac! ;) Here are a few shots from our last workshop here in San Diego... And the winner of our Shootsac giveaway... Janet!

Mini overview of The Bad-Ass Training Guide

2008-07-09T18:07:00.001-07:00

Check out this clip! Kimberlee takes on the camera and gives us an overview of "The Bad-Ass Training Guide".

***NOTE: if you can't play the above video, CLICK HERE to see it on youtube.

Video of our shooting area....

2008-07-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a video clip of where we shoot most of our sessions. Before you watch I just wanted to apologize, it seems the harder we try to be professional the further away we get from just that. Oh, and I was just playing the video on my computer and realized that that the music was way too loud in the background! Sorry guys, hope you like J.T.!

Oh For Pete's Sake!

2008-07-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

The books were supposed to be here on Monday, well actually last Monday, well if we are really getting technical, the Monday before the Monday before that. To say our publishers are making us anxious is an understatement. BUT, there is good news. We have an official UPS tracking number and they will be arriving in 2 days! So if you have ordered a book we will be shipping it ASAP on Weds. We can't thank everyone enough for their patience in this waiting game. Thank you for the orders.

Serious "Boudoir Diva" heels

2008-07-03T16:22:00.000-07:00

Marissa here again: I spotted these bad boys at the mall yesterday. It was like they called out to me..."I was made for a boudoir photographer." They look like edible candy and for $10 bucks who could say no. I was pretty stoked on Kimberlee's cool high heel pic done by Jasmine Star, and even though this is a blatant copy cat move, I know she won't be able to help but love my new boudoir kicks. And on that note, "kicks" is the perfect term because I will be "kicking" them off before I start shooting of course :)

Stay Tuned!

2008-07-03T11:54:00.001-07:00

There is so much we want to share with everyone about our studio and boudoir photography in general. We figured what better way than video! Video with info and tidbits to come next week.....

Inspiration Wall.

2008-07-02T15:33:00.001-07:00

At our Woman Captured studio we are always updating our inspiration wall with random photos that stir us. This month it is a majority of "V" and "Vogue" magazine shots. The photogs always seem to break all the rules and create some seriously bad-ass stuff. Every time I feel like I get stuck in a rut all I have to do is pick up one those babies and I ready to rock!

Found a few photos...

2008-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

...From the May Workshop! These just turned up as I was looking through a few folders from our last workshop. Group shot of all of us at dinner on the last night (just missing Rachelle in this picture!). Notice how Marissa, Weston, and I are all making the exact same face here - hmmm...

Waiting for our books to arrive...

2008-06-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! We need to apologize for the delay in shipping out our books. If you've placed an order this month, thank you for your patience! We have had numerous issues with our publishing company meeting their quoted deadlines, and unfortunately once again they've pushed back the date for the arrival. :( (It was supposed to be 3 weeks ago!!!) You can imagine our frustration, and we certainly can understand that many of you are anxious to get your hands on your copy of the book. We're so sorry that it's taking this long... but we have a new date of shipping them out: this coming Wed, July 2nd. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

So nerdy, I almost didn't post....

2008-06-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, the aliens on the left and the right are in fact Kimberlee and myself. I am not ashamed to admit that we are Star Wars fans, but I am a little embarrassed to say that I fought pretty hard to be Queen Amidala and it just didn't happen. Apparently the boys got the starring roles. But the women know the truth, in Star Wars and especially in this photo, behind every good man... is a good alien woman. By the way, I just have to mention that I even used the Totally Rad Action "Oh, Snap" on this pic. That is how addicted to it I am. PS. The dudes in the photo are my hubby Weston and our buddy Brian. Thank God Weston doesn't have hair like that in real life! But Kimee you look pretty hot blue.....

Southern Wedding Style Magazine

2008-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

Yay! This post is a little delayed, but better late than never... :) A little while ago, we were honored to be featured in the premier issue of this gorgeous magazine! There's an article on boudoir featuring one of Marissa's shots, they also interviewed us for our opinions on boudoir photography (mainly about how a bride ought to prepare for her boudoir shoot). Check it out - we're on page 40 if you have a chance to grab a copy! Thanks, Laura & the rest of the SWS staff - you rock!

Who are you?

2008-06-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, it's SO important to get your photo out there - so that your clients will be able to see who you are. This is ESPECIALLY true as a boudoir photographer. Your potential clients are (most likely) already feeling quite a bit nervous and hesitant about doing this kind of shoot, so if they can't see who you are (in a photo on your blog and website)... they're probably going to be even more hesitant to pick up the phone to call you. On that note... here are a few images of myself that I'll be using on my portrait/lifestyle photography website and blog. Jasmine Star did a great job of snagging a few shots that are actually decent! (I'm not the most comfortable person in front of the camera, so I promise you - it was a challenge). :) Putting a face to a name is going to get your clients one step closer to booking a boudoir session with you - so go out and get some images of yourself and add them to your blog and site! By the way, Jasmine is SO good at branding herself and giving her clients a glimpse of who she is. Be sure to check out her stellar blog and her new Showit Website. (My own website and blog are under construction... but feel free to check back soon to see how I'm going to use these images... for now, here's my current blog).

Announcing - New Sponsors!

2008-06-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce that we've got some great new companies on-board with the Boudoir Divas! Thanks, Shootsac, Showit, and Totally Rad! We're excited to partner with you. And for you, our fellow photographers... what do you get out of it? Even more cool prizes at our upcoming workshops! SHOOTSAC | SHOWIT WEB! | TOTALLY RAD ACTIONS

2008-06-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Just came across a few recent threads over at OSP ... thought it would be cool to post what other photographers are saying about boudoir...

"I've wanted to do boudoir sessions for a year now, but I never put it out there that I wanted to do them. When I finally announced that they were available, I had people coming out of every corner wanting them! Who knew?!?" | "it's amazing how many people want a boudior session. I think that there is a somewhat untapped section of the market there for wedding photographers." | "I certainly love the way that boudoir is becoming so popular. It's not about making a size 16 look like a 10, but about making a woman feel good in her own skin."

Right on! :) (And who knew? We did!) Hee hee

Happy Birthday, Riss!

2008-06-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

You are the best boss-turned-business partner- turned- FRIEND a gal could ever ask for. :) It has been such a blessing to know you these past two years, and I am so thankful that God brought us together! Hope you have a wonderful day today, my friend!

xoxo,

Kimee

(Photo by Marissa's hubby, Weston)

San Diego Style Magazine shoot!

2008-06-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Kimberlee, Weston and I (Marissa) all had the huge opportunity to shoot for a magazine cover yesterday. We had so much darn fun that you would never know we were working. We will post the shots once the cover is announced and released. Cross your fingers for us that we get it!

Loads of info on The Boudoir Diva's August Workshop

2008-06-13T14:36:00.000-07:00

It's a big decision to pack your bags and head out to sunny SD, leaving work and responsibilities behind for a few days. We wanted to be sure that we gave you enough information to help you make your decision. Below is a link to a PDF that has plenty of juicy tidbits about the days you will spend here with The Boudoir Divas. Our main goal with the workshop is for you to leave with gorgeous images for your portfolio, confidence in your shooting and posing, knowledge of how to sell packages and market yourself and a solid idea of how to precess high quality images. It is our intention that you leave and are easily able to pay for your workshop expenses with the next two shoots you book... we'll show you how to get there. http://http//www.womancaptured.com/August_Info.pdf

PARIS!!!!

2008-06-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

Guess what??? We're taking the Boudoir Divas INTERNATIONAL! :) We've had several people inquire about doing a workshop over in Europe, and we decided that Paris would be the absolute perfect place for a workshop. We're still working on the details, but we know we'll be heading over there in the Spring. If you're interested, please send us an email w/ your answers to THESE QUESTIONS (click here). Then we'll be sure to put on our "Paris potential" list, and we'll get you more information when we finalize some more details. (info@theboudoirdivas.com) On another note, we're all VERY excited here at the Woman Captured/Boudoir Divas office! This morning, we're all hopping in the car and taking a road trip up to Cabrillo CA for the wedding of someone very special! The lovely Miss Crystal (our amazing studio manager/super-star photographer/super-planner/girl-who-takes-care-of-everything-and-then-some!) is going to become Mrs. Carr. We're all so excited for you, Crystal! She hired the best wedding photographers in the world ;) - and Deena and I (Kimberlee) are going to be each others' dates for the wedding. Heehee... Seriously, though, we're so excited to celebrate with our dear friend as she marries the love of her life. We'll definitely be posting some photos when we get home, so check back later to see the fun!

Little changes around here

2008-06-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

We've been so busy lately that certain things get put to the bottom of the to-do list (I know you all know what I'm talking about here). So recently we've finally taken the time to work on our blog design a little bit. After we designed it, we didn't really have the time to figure out the coding on blogger, so we had the lovely Miss Nikki help us out over at Expressive Style Graphics. She's been great to work with, and she did our layout and coding just the way we wanted. (She can also do your design work on your blogs, splash pages, and logos, if you don't want to do the design yourself and need a little inspiration). Thanks, Nikki!

Our Next Workshop...

2008-06-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Back by popular demand. :) Really, we've had several inquiries about our next workshop, and so we've now released a new workshop date for the end of the summer. To sign up, we'll need a 50% deposit (that's $475). Click on the button below to register now!

Day-After Beach Session

2008-06-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we had our optional day-after shoot - and it was amazing! Marissa and I (Kimberlee) were having a great time shooting our model, and Marissa's hubby Weston was a HUGE help, giving tons of tips and advice to the gals who were there for the shoot. (Thanks, Weston!) It's been so much fun to look through all of our shots to see the different angles and styles we each captured (Marissa, Weston, and I). It was also really cool to see Weston's shots using an off-camera flash set-up (it gives his shots a very "Sports Illustrated/Maxim-editorial" look, in my opinion). And it was absolutely wonderful to work with Joslyn; the expressions she gave us were just perfect for the look we were going for with this shoot. Here are a few of our shots from the day:

Marissa's Shots...
Kimberlee's shots: And Weston's shots: (We love these ones where he used the flash; it gives the images a totally different "feel") Here we all are, shooting away. The 2 hours just flew by. I (Marissa) was having so much fun I just really wanted to stop time. Here is what happens to you if you volunteer to be the lighting stand in!

I got them all back though.... It was so nice having Weston at the shoot. He is an awesome photographer (he shoots weddings with me, Marissa, hubby n' wife team) and I have never shot anything like this with him before since he doesn't shoot boudoir portraits. But even still, he is a key asset to Kimee and me in that he is constantly pushing us to strive for higher quality. Since this was going to be more of an editorial type shoot we thought it would be a great to have him! He played around with syncing flashes and got such awesome shots, we decided to call him "The Boudoir DIVO" for the day. Thanks babe! His shots will be in the slideshow as well.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW!!!

And thanks again, Joslyn- we loved working with you! :) Some of you have noticed that we've added new workshop dates to our website - including one international date next spring - woohoo! More details to come soon...

May Workshop - Day of Shooting Recap

2008-06-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

The first full day of our workshop was all about shooting (so much fun!) After Marissa and I demonstrated how we use our different lighting set-ups, we let our workshop attendees have full reign of our studio for the remainder of the day. We've all been to workshops where there are so many people around you that you feel like you're fighting to get a good shot in. Well, we really wanted everyone to have enough time to really build up their portfolio and work on posing & expression, and so we worked hard to figure out a schedule that would allow maximum amount of shooting time with the least amount of shoving/pushing/fighting for shots. :) Here are a few images from the day (Marissa and me, demonstrating our shooting style): We have to say a big thank you to our gorgeous models for our day of shooting. (We couldn't have done any of this without you ladies!) So thank you, Adriana, Courtney, and Leah! You gals are awesome, and it was a pleasure working with each of you.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A FEW OF OUR SHOTS FROM THE DAY!

Workshop Gals

2008-06-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

Check out the lovely photographers who joined us for our workshop!

melia

janet

christi erica

carmen

kat
rachelle

Photo Shoot at the Beach

2008-05-30T16:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the official end of our workshop, but today we had our optional extra day of shooting. We worked with the most amazing model, Miss Joslyn Davis (isn't she gorgeous?!?)... Thanks so much, Jos; we look forward to working with you again. We are going to have TONS of images to share from this week, but for now, here are 2 shots of Joslyn from our shoot today: (Check back next week for more images from the workshop).

Workshop Update

2008-05-29T07:39:00.000-07:00

Not much time to write, as we're super busy with the workshop. But I just wanted to stop in and say that we have SUCH a great group of photographers here! Marissa and I are having an awesome time (despite what our faces display in the above photo)! :) Lots to share later... for now, here's a group shot:

Whitney wins!

2008-05-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Kimberlee here again. So since I've been in Africa for the past month, I've gotten a little behind on some of the shows I keep up with. I finally got caught-up with The Office (go Jim & Pam!). And yesterday I also heard the news about the winner of America's Next Top Model - Cycle 10. Yes, this is one of my "guilty pleasure" shows, and I have to admit that I LOVE watching it. Marissa and I both do, actually. We often chat about the sets, lighting, posing, and expressions of the images from that show (we're dorks, I know). :) Anyway... I was SO very excited to hear that the winner this season was Whitney! On the show, she's been labeled a "plus-size" model, but let's be real here; she's "NORMAL" size! She never apologizes for her curves, and her confidence is just so magnetic.

One of the sections in our Bad-Ass Training Guide is entitled: "We're Bringing Curvy Back"™ - and I just want to emphasize again how important it is for us as photographers to really take advantage of this opportunity we have. It's an incredible opportunity - to celebrate women of every shape and size; and to help combat society's views of what "beauty" really is!

Right after Whitney wins on ANTM, Tyra mentions how she is a "full-figured" model, and one of the other judges makes a statement that is absolutely right-on. She said:

"THIS SHOULD NOT BE CALLED PLUS-SIZED OR FULL-FIGURED. THIS SHOULD JUST BE CALLED BEAUTIFUL." (Click here to watch it)

Congratulations, Whitney! *image courtesy of the CW*

Our second workshop officially starts tonight, and we're so excited to meet the awesome photographers who have traveled here to San Diego to hang out with us at our boudoir studio. Tomorrow is a day dedicated to posing, expression, lighting, and shooting, and we've got some gorgeous models lined up again. (And, might we add, we have a few gals that are actually normal clients - not just professional models here!)

Countdown to the workshop

2008-05-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

"I am so excited about the workshop. I did a boudoir the other day and used your actions and WOW love the softness and that bombshell b&w is to die for. Building an album now with the templates and I just have to say that you girls ROCK!" -Christi

---

We just got this email from one of our workshop attendees... thanks for the kind words, Christi! We're so excited about the workshop, too! We can't believe it's only 2 days away. See you soon! -Kimberlee & Marissa

"I've got a friend in you!"

2008-05-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

Those are the song lyrics I hear in my head when I (Marissa) look at these photos I took of my friend Melissa, or "Smelly" as I like to call her. This adorable gal has let me snap her photos since we were in our high school photography class together. Thanks Smelly! I need to mention that Kimberlee was a co-conspirator in this shoot. We were all walking down Main Street in Ramona (where I grew up) when we saw this piercingly bright laundry room shining at 10:30 at night. In unison Kimee and were like, "photoshoot!". Mel just happened to be wearing her usual quirky garb so she was announced as the model right away.

Back from Africa!

2008-05-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

It's been a long few days of travel, what with 16 hours in the London airport yesterday and 2 different 10-hour flights... I'm definitely ready to get home! Right now I'm hanging out in the San Francisco airport; just one more quick flight and then I'll be back in San Diego. Marissa just sent me an email, asking if I would post this photo (I think it makes her laugh). So here it is... Africa was amazing; I had such a great time! And FYI, carrying 20 liters of water on your head is NOT as easy as it looks. :) I'm so excited about our upcoming workshop (next week!) See you all soon. -Kimberlee

Some thoughts from another photog on Boudoir...

2008-05-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

"Dear Boudior Divas~

I just wanted to share with you how happy I was to find your site (thank you Becker). I am a Military wife and photographer. It really is such a unique demographic, and frankly, The boudoir shoot is something that is so in demand right now. However being in the military brings it's own unique issues when it comes to sending and receiving photos.

These women know that when their significant other opens his mail, that there can be others standing in close proximity, or he may even have them pinned up. It is important to be able to relate to these ladies that boudoir is tasteful end elegant, not racy and vulgar.

I really think You have done a wonderful job, and look forward to ordering your Bundle. Deployments are not fun for anyone, but the service member who gets a boudoir book from his girl halfway through, knows he has something to look forward to when he gets home.

Juliana Oliveira

Pennylayne studios"

Thank you Juliana, first of all for the kind words, and, second, we love to hear other photographers thoughts on the boudoir trends that they are seeing in their area. We would love to hear if others of you cater to specific market in your area or where you see boudoir going over the next couple of years.

The workshop is almost here!

2008-05-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! The whole studio is a buzz right now as we prepare for our workshop. We just moved into this big studio from an at home operation so needless to say there is much to get done. We just booked our models for you so that when you go home you will already have a portfolio that has a lot of variety. All the gals are gorgeous and different shapes and sizes so that you can appeal to a variety of clientel.

We are also preparing your giveaways! We intend to spoil you all and giveaway a fun gift to each one of you. If you have your eye on something in particular cross your fingers!

We have a few seats left. If you are considering joining us we would love to have you! Call us if you would like more info. 858-485-0443

Really...???

2008-05-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Kimee here, just taking a short internet cafe break here in Zambia; I had to share something really fast. So when you're working with someone day-in, day-out for over a year, you start to have similar mannerisms. Marissa and I often say the same things, complete each others' sentences, and even think the same thoughts. So yesterday after I posted on my blog, I started cracking up when I saw Marissa's recent Woman Captured blog post - SOOO similar! Really??? We're half-way across the world from each other, and we're still thinking the same. :) Haha, love ya Riss, see you soon!
Check it out: My shoot... and Marissa's shoot...

Subject: Yay!

2008-05-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we received this from a client and I loved it so much I just had to share. She was Kimee's client, but if my memory serves me right (Kimee is in Africa or I would ask her for specifics) she sent this over to her guy serving overseas and she was able to watch him open it on a web cam...

From: Michelle T
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:33:10 -0700
To: Woman Captured by Boucher

Subject: Yay!

"Okay, here's my little thing:

Lingerie & makeup: $225
Pictures: $609
Webcam & internet access: $175
His face when he saw the pictures: PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my GOODNESS!!! He was SHOCKED and loved them! He looked at the cover of
the DVD and was like "Is that YOU?!!!!!!!!" and his eyes just lit up! Thank
you so much for everything!!!!!!"

Michelle T

Our emails are going to spam bins...

2008-04-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of months I am realizing more and more that my emails seem to be going to people's SPAM bins. So I wanted to notify you workshop attendees to check your spam if you haven't received a recent email about workshop info. Please check as I sent out hotel info. Ah, I am a worry wort.

More info on the May Workshop!

2008-04-28T12:10:00.000-07:00

We have a few more seats left for our May Workshop. This one is especially dear to our heart since it will be in our new 4500 sq ft studio. We still can't believe in just fours years we went from shooting in a 2 car garage to this insane space! Even our dressing room is adorable...

If you would like a bit more info, here is a link to the PDF we have been sending gals who book the workshop. More Workshop Info

DWF 2009, here we come!

2008-04-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

We are speaking at the DWF Convention, 2009! Here is our glamorous photo shoot for promo (camera on timer!). Thank you, Jeff Caplan, for giving us this exciting opportunity. This pic above is really the only decent one out of 50. But, ya know, believe it or not we actually like it.

CIPPA!

2008-04-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

We wanted to thank all of you who made it to the CIPPA meeting on Monday; we felt very privileged to be able to share with you all. I think we had about 50 photographers there - it was awesome! We loved chatting with you all, and we hope that you enjoyed getting a little glimpse of how we run our boudoir business. We also wanted to say a huge thank you to Leann and Amy for hosting us (and thanks again for a delicious dinner!). Gotta give Leann major props for helping us out while we were talking about posing. We were mentioning a few of our favorite poses, and when someone asked to see a demo, Leanne stepped up and helped us out. :) (Isn't she adorable?)

Blog Contest!

2008-04-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! We've got a fun contest that will be running from now through the end of April. Here are the details: If you blog about the divas' workshop, we'll enter you in a drawing for a $75 itunes gift card.
What needs to be in your blog [or forum] post:
1) A link to our website (www.theboudoirdivas.com),
2) A sentence or two about our workshop. If you came to our Jan. workshop or our KISS 'n tell all shoot in Vegas, we'd love it if you would share a little about your experience. Or if you've purchased our products, you can write a mini review. Haven't been able to come to a workshop yet? Go ahead and just drop a quick line about our May workshop: The Boudoir Divas' next workshop will be held in their new 4,000 square ft studio in San Diego, May 27-29, 2008.
3) The following image needs to be somewhere in the blog/forum post (copy and paste or copy the image web address): After you've done this, send us an email to let us know - we'll add you to our itunes drawing. kimberlee@theboudoirdivas.com... Thanks for spreading the word about the Boudoir Divas! Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks! :) -Kimberlee & Marissa

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous

2008-04-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

CHECK IT OUT!!! We just added a new gallery on our website - with tons of images from the "KISS 'n tell all" photo shoot. Click on "Information" then "KISS shoot" -- enjoy! -- :)

Awesome Workshop Prizes!

2008-04-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the awesome gifts we're going to be giving away at our May workshop...
-Kodak GEM plug-in
-Bludomain Website
-KISS Wedding Books gift card
-NIK filters

Monday night - CIPPA speaking engagement

2008-04-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

This coming Monday, we'll be speaking at the Monday night meeting for Channel Island's Professional Photographer's Association (CIPPA). Click here for more info

Marissa Boucher & Kimberlee West - Evening Speakers Monday, April 14, 2008 6:30 p.m. Marriott Courtyard, Camarillo. Free for CIPPA/PPSBC Members; Non-Members:$30

Topics we'll be touching:
• Marketing strategies for boudoir photography
• Overview of shooting and photoshop techniques
• How to "wow" your clients with the boudoir experience
• Easy ways to add boudoir to your list of services and practical steps to get started now

Workshop GIVEAWAYS to be announced soon!

2008-04-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

This coming workshop in May we are really planning on spoiling our attendees. Not only will it be held in our new 4000 sq foot studio (yes, we are so stoked), but at the workshop we will have a drawing and at least 5 awesome giveaways will be handed out. We will be announcing the giveaways very soon. If you are not our newsletter list and would like to be added please email kimee@boucherphotography.com

Also on a side note, we will be moving the studio this week so we may not be as accessible as we usually are. We apologize about any inconveniences ;)

The workshop will be in our new studio!

2008-04-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

We have really excellent news. Woman Captured and Boucher Photography will be moving to a 4000 sq foot studio. This is really exciting news for our "Boudoir Divas" workshop attendees. You will get to see our new place and shoot on all of our outrageous new sets. This is really a dream come true for us. Currently we are working from home, shooting in our garage. In just a few short years we are able to move from 1200 sq feet to 4000 sq feet. We are so thrilled to be able to carry out this dream so quickly. We are so darn excited and feel like we will have so much creative freedom. We realize that this isn't everyone's goal so at our workshop we still intend talk about how we were able to shoot in such a small space. I , Marissa, had so much fun this weekend combing magazine after magazine looking for cool set ideas, color palettes for all the different offices and presentation areas. To say we feel blessed (and overwhelmed) right now is an understatement.

More from KISS 'n Tell All

2008-03-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Here are a few more images from our boudoir shoot at the KISS house during WPPI week.

I thought this was hilarious... Marissa shooting me - and me shooting Marissa - at the same time. :) Also, be sure to check out the following links for some images that other photographers got during our shoot...
Betsy McCue - La Vida Creations Photography
Nate Gates Photography

David Baxter - Ohana Photography
Andrea Kelly Photography: (Amanda) (and Amber)
Tait Photography
Deanna Hall Photography
Laura - Noire et Blanche Boudoir

KISS 'n tell all

2008-03-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Our Vegas trip started out with a boudoir photo shoot at the KISS house! Kevin and Shaun were gracious hosts, and the house had a lot of interesting places to shoot (a cool bathroom, pool table, and jacuzzi- to name a few). Thanks, KISS guys, for organizing the shoot! There was a great turnout, and we had a blast (we're already making plans for next year!) We also have to say thank you to our make-up artist, Joel. Your work is amazing, and we were honored to be able to work with you- thanks so much! And, of course, a HUGE thank you to Amanda and Amber, our lovely models for the day. You gals rocked it! Here are a few of our favorite shots from the jacuzzi... To all of the photographers who were able to make it out to our shoot, thank you so much for joining us! We enjoyed meeting all of you, and we hope you had fun! We'll be posting more images soon, so check back this week for some more fun stuff.

Vegas, Baby!

2008-03-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

We're having SO much fun! Lots going on here. The boudoir shoot at the KISS house was awesome and we have so many great shots to share! We'll be posting tons of photos soon, so check back later...

Where to find us at WPPI

2008-03-13T16:49:00.000-07:00

Remember "Where's Waldo"? Didn't you just love pouring through those colorful pages, searching for that little red-and-white-clad guy? (So much fun!) We know there are going to be TONS of photographers at WPPI, but we would absolutely love to meet you! (Especially if you've purchased our products- please find us; we would love to hear your feedback!) If you want to purchase our products, FIND US! We'll be offering a WPPI special, but you have to find us if you want to know the details. :) While we won't be wearing red stripes, we WILL be wearing some "boudoir divas" distinction on our nametags. Also, here are a few of the places we'll be this week:

SATURDAY-
*KISS 'n Tell All boudoir shoot at the KISS house
*KISS event (they're surprising us- can't wait to find out what we're doing!)

SUNDAY-
*Find us hanging out at our favorite vendors' booths! (AKA our sponsors!) Bludomain, Collages.net, KISS Wedding Books, Neil Enterprises, and Kodak.
*Awesome classes
*Grabbing a drink at the Pixel 2 Canvas party, and then...
*Sun night we get to go see "O" at the Bellagio (can't wait!)

MONDAY-
*Platform classes
*Bludomain party

TUESDAY-
*Platform classes
*Collages.net party

Out of the office

2008-03-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

We're heading to Vegas! We'll be out of the office from Thursday 3/13 through the 20th), so if you try to contact us we won't be able to respond for a while. We'll be getting back to all emails and phone calls when we get back to the office on Friday the 21st. Oh, and if you've ordered a book or bundle this week, don't worry- we will be sending out a shipment before we leave, so you should be receiving it shortly. :) xoxo, The Boudoir Divas

Booking Sexiest Gift in Vegas!

2008-03-06T15:38:00.001-08:00

We will be in Vegas for WPPI and per a few gals request we have booked a great room and will be shooting our Sexiest Gift package on Weds the 19th! Yes, even photographers want great pictures of themselves for their man! For more info click on the image below or email us at marissa@boucherphotography.com

KISS 'n tell all... a few spots still open!

2008-03-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! If you're registered for our "KISS 'n tell all" event next week, we've just sent out an email with some more information. We're SOOO excited about it- it's going to be tons of fun! To all of you who have signed up- we're very much looking forward to meeting each of you! We're also going to be doing a little raffle during the shoot... we'll be giving away a copy of our Bad-Ass Training Guide! Oh and another lucky winner will also receive a free Kodak GEM airbrush plug-in! Any questions about the shoot? Send me an email: kimee@boucherphotography.com If you want to sign up, there are a few spots left- so shoot an email over to Kevin: kevin@kissweddingbooks.com

Models for the "KISS 'n tell all" event

2008-03-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Aren't they gorgeous??? This is going to be an amazing opportunity for you to build up your boudoir portfolio!

Workshop Details

2008-02-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Check out the schedule for our May workshop... (it's on our website under WORKSHOP/PRODUCTS) Please let us know if you have any questions about it. Looking forward to fun times and lots of learning about boudoir!!!

Our Stance on Boudoir

2008-02-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

This might raise a bit of a heated discussion, as I'm sure there are a lot of opinions out there regarding what exactly boudoir photography is all about. But hey, this is our blog and we're allowed to post our own personal opinions! :)

Original meaning of the word "boudoir" - "a woman's bedroom or private sitting room" - 1777, "room where a lady may retire to be alone," from Fr., lit. 'pouting room,' from bouder 'to pout, sulk,' which, like pout, is probably of imitative origin. [French, from Old French bouder, to sulk.]"

So, in our own opinion,

Boudoir photography is...
-Sexy
-Fun
-Classy
-Accentuating a woman's beauty
-Intended to give to her husband or groom as a gift
-With the hope to combat society's view of "beauty," bringing out the beauty in every woman, no matter what shape or size. We're bringing curvy back!

Boudoir Photography is NOT...
-Cheesy glamour-type photography (a la Deb's glamour shots from Napoleon Dynamite).
-Sleezy X-rated shots (showing more really isn't more, if you catch our drift!)
-Photos of a man and a woman doing things that should be left behind closed bedroom doors. We consider this "couple's intimate photography," which is a completely different genre of photography. It is our personal stance to never shoot this style of photography. In our opinion, this is taking things to a whole different level, and honestly we just wouldn't enjoy our job if we had to coach a couple in that setting. It's SOOO much fun coaching a gal through a boudoir shoot, and then showing her the photos and watching her reaction as she realizes how drop-dead gorgeous she is! :) THAT is true boudoir photography.

Our Boudoir Studio's Mission Statement: Our God grants us beauty and love everyday. He gives us strength and wisdom to create a life that will benefit those around us and those he asks us to help and give to abundantly. He gives us the resources and creativity to create a classy and romantic piece of art that ignites confidence and excitement in a bride or wife and re-enforces beauty in a woman and romance in a couple. With praise and deep gratitude we thank God everyday for the blessings He gives to us. We have nothing to fear because Christ Jesus sustains us.

Our Goal with every boudoir shoot: To celebrate each woman individually, capturing her in a new light that can re-ignite confidence and the way she sees herself. We hope to make a positive effect on the way our society views beauty and bring it back from it's current state of distortion. To celebrate all shapes and sizes.

Captivated by the Light!

2008-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, the four of us ladies went to Ed Pierce's Captivated By The Light Seminar. It was awesome! Very inspiring and lots of fun. We especially loved it when Ed talked about studio lighting. It gave us fresh new ideas and inspiration to try out some new techniques!

Our Next Workshop Dates!!!

2008-02-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

We just announced our next workshop dates! If you're on our newsletter list, we sent out an email with more details (check your inbox!) Email for more info: kimee@boucherphotography.com, or to register, sign up on our website! Looking forward to it!

Workshop Portfolio Pics

2008-02-19T16:29:00.000-08:00

Our workshop attendees were freakin' awesome, and we just wanted to showcase a few of their awesome images from our workshop portfolio shoots. Here's a slideshow with some of the images.

And of course, we have to say a huge thank you once again to our gorgeous models. Our workshop gals had a great opportunity to build up their portfolios with you beautiful ladies... thank you again SOO much, models! Also, check out the websites of our workshop attendees:
Olga Wilson of Las Vegas, NV
Leslie Biggar of British Colombia, Canada
Shannon Atkinson of Fort Worth, TX (website coming soon)
Jennifer Johnson of Las Vegas, NV
Julie Ambos of Key West, FL

Desiree!

2008-02-16T15:48:00.000-08:00

Desiree was one of our models for our Boudoir Divas' Workshop last month... isn't she gorgeous?!? I love a challenge, and five photographers in between me and the model definitely posed a challenge. So I had tons of fun walking around and trying to snag some shots with a new perspective, from some different angles than the way I usually shoot. Thanks so much for helping us out during our workshop, Desiree! You were an awesome model, and we appreciate your help SOOO much! :) Here are a few of my favorite shots...

2008-02-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

Have a great day, everyone! xoxo, Kimberlee & Marissa

The Boudoir Divas KISS 'n tell all event!!!

2008-02-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Exciting stuff! A lot of you have been emailing and asking about our next workshop, and we're shooting for May (official date will be announced soon). But if you can't make it out to Cali for one of our workshops, how 'bout meeting up w/ us in VEGAS?!?!? We're doing a boudoir photo shoot at the KISS house on Las Vegas Blvd., and it's only open to a select amount of photographers. So if you wanna join us, you'll need to sign up asap! CLICK HERE for more info on our "KISS 'n tell all" event!!! If you have any questions, feel free to email: kimee@boucherphotography.com... or if you know you definitely want to sign up, shoot an email over to Kevin Swan at KISS, and he'll get you registered. Also, check out these 2 other awesome events happening at the KISS house that week: The Jim Kennedy Reality Tour & a small-group session with Mike Larson. CLICK HERE for more info on these sweet KISS events!

Huge news!

2008-02-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

If you're on our newsletter mailing list, check your inbox! We've got some exciting news we just sent out (hint: it has to do with something happening in March in Vegas!). :) We'll post about it tomorrow here on our blog, but you newsletter peeps got an early heads-up about it today!!! So exciting! (If you're not on our e-newsletter list, send an email request here: info@boucherphotography.com)

Inspiration...

2008-02-08T15:16:00.000-08:00

We love getting new ideas and inspiration for our boudoir shoots. One of our favorite things to do is sit with a glass of wine and look through magazines. We scrutinize all of the fashion spreads, thinking about how we might be able to incorporate new lighting techniques or props into our boudoir sessions. So much fun! We encourage you to look everywhere for ideas and inspiration for your shoots! And, we figure that while looking at this photo you probably have two questions in your mind; A) Are they really just hanging out on countertops looking at magazines, drinking expensive wine (can they really be that cool)? Or B) Are they such embarrassing nerds that they put the camera on timer and set this whole scene up?

Answer: A & B. We really were doing this on our own. (Embarrassing part starts now) We noticed how cool we looked and took 5 minutes to set up the camera in the perfect spot on timer.

We love KISS!!!

2008-02-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

We know there are a lot of choices out there when it comes to albums. But for boudoir, there is nothing better than KISS!!! We love everything about our KISS books. The silky soft leather, the simplicity of the ordering process, and the outstanding customer service. Plus, they're simply gorgeous books!!! :) Just take a look at these beauties... If you are thinking about adding boudoir photography to your list of services, we HIGHLY recommend using KISS for your high-end leather albums. We promise, your boudoir clients will absolutely fall in love with them!

Books and Bundles are on their way!

2008-02-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

To anyone who pre-ordered a book or bundle BEFORE Jan. 10th, you should've already received it. For those of you who place an order AFTER Jan. 10th, your orders are on their way! We dropped them in the mail yesterday, so you should receive them this week. Please shoot us an email when you receive it and let us know what you think! We apologize for the delay; our books were on back-order because of the [unexpected] huge demand! We completely sold-out our first shipment of pre-ordered books, so we had to wait for our new shipment to arrive for any recent orders. We just got the new shipment in, so you'll be receiving yours soon! We also have plenty of books in stock now, so any orders placed from here on out should be shipped within a week of payment. Thanks so much to all of you who have ordered our Training Guide. We hope it will help you become successful in this niche market of boudoir photography! Also, thanks for spreading the word about us! Since we haven't really started marketing yet, a big part of our success has been through word-of-mouth. So to those of you who are posting nice things about us on photography forums and your own photo blogs, thank you, thank you, thank you! Keep spreading the word! ;)

Book Release Party!

2008-02-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

Last week, we got together a few of our friends and all went downtown to celebrate the official launch of our Training Guide! It was so much fun!!! A HUGE thank you to all of our friends who celebrated with us- thanks for coming! Here are a few photos from the evening. Crystal and Deena are the 2 lovely ladies who work with us at Woman Captured. They are awesome! They both gave us a sweet toast during our party, it was so nice of them! Marissa and I are extremely thankful for Deen and Crystal; they have been very supportive during this whole book writing process. Another person we have to thank: Marissa's hubby, Weston. He was SUCH a huge help (and editor/contributor!) as we were writing our book. This was a project that we never could have completed without the help of some amazing people. So, to all of you who have helped us through the book writing process... THANK YOU!!! We couldn't have done it without you guys. xoxo, Kimee & Riss