Marilyn Riel

Time has flown by and it is the day before your photo session!

You have been preparing all month for this and have gotten your clothes ready, your shoes are shining and your nails are polished.  You have had a blast surfing Pinterest for those images you pinned to show your ideas of what sexy, fun, glamorous and sophisticated are.    You followed all the information in the guides and emailed all your questions and are ready for your big day!  Now it is time to take a deep breath and relax a little.

Here are a few last minute tips for the day before your session:

• Shave and use a moisturizer. Moisturize everywhere, from your nose to your toes.
• Double-check that you have everything you will be bringing for your session – clothing, lingerie, high heels, jewelry, props…
• Relax and have a stress-free evening.
• Try to get at least eight hours of good sleep.

It is the day of your session!  Your Big Day has arrived. 

Whether you are doing a boudoir, glamour, fashion, pinup or some other type of shoot this is the day you have been waiting and preparing for!

This is YOUR DAY and it’s time to get ready!

• Bath / Wash and dry your hair but don’t use any products to style your hair if we are providing hairstyling for your shoot.

• Use a clear deodorant but don’t use perfumes or colognes.

• Eat a light breakfast before leaving the house (Do Not skip breakfast)

• Try to leave a little early to your session in case you get stuck in traffic or are delayed. You don’t want to be late.

• Arrive in loose fitting cloths to avoid marks on your skin- yes be careful even with your socks! Lines from the clothes you wear to your shoot take time to fade and can be challenging to cover up especially in a boudoir shoot!

Relax and try not to be nervous.  We’ll make sure you look your best and are guided throughout the entire process making sure you’re as comfortable as possible.  Try to remember that nothing is sexier and more attractive than a confident woman.  This is your day and a wonderful experience so enjoy yourself and have a great time!

Awesome! You did it!!! You were beautiful, sexy, and looked amazing!!

Now it’s time to take a break for about an hour before we sit down and view the very best photos from your shoot. You can relax with some snacks, coffee, tea, juice or water and fill out your post shoot questionnaire.  While you are relaxing, we are preparing your images for you to view on our large screen.  We will sit together for your slideshow and from these images you can choose your favorites.  You will be able to select from our various print packages to show off your amazing photographs. We’ll get right to work preparing your images for print and have your order ready for you to pick up in just two to three weeks.

Here is an excerpt from a follow up email from one of our lovely ladies after her boudoir/fashion photo-shoot:

“Hi Marilyn!

I just wanted to email you and see how you have been doing…  I love the photos, I don’t remember if I told you. I like how they came out and I am so very proud of them. I also wanted to let you know that since I have seen you, my confidence has risen. I absolutely love that we had a chance to meet. You are definitely an inspiration.

-T”

Thank you for taking the time to read our posts and learn more about what an experience with us entails.  We would love to meet you and set up your very own Big Day!

Book your session today!!

Part 2

So here we are with part 2 of our 3 part blog series: Preparing for your Photo-shoot. We are so excited that your BIG DAY is almost here!!
Last time we talked about what you need to get started on the month before your session. By now you have already booked your session and have the date for your big day, and you have finished your pre-shoot consultation and questionnaire. Your private Pinterest board should be all filled up with images that inspire you. Your session, no matter whether it is boudoir, fashion, pinup, maternity, bridal, will be individually planned for you based on the feedback we receive from you and the items you pin. You will have already added some poses, outfits and hair and make-up ideas so we can get your sets, lighting and your stylist ready to make this a super experience for you.
You are less than a week from your shoot and the excitement is mounting! You have your clothes picked out and some really amazing shoes, jewelry and props ready to go. This is when the importance of continued communication is vital. We have you either post to your private Pinterest board images of your outfits or send them to us via email. This allows us to see more what you are envisioning for your images and lets the hair stylist/make-up artist ensure they are also ready for your day.

Now that we are almost to your big day, we want to share more of the items you should be keeping in mind.

• If waxing is your thing, make sure to wax a few days before your session as to avoid redness and irritation.

• Pluck and shape your eyebrows.

• If you want to get your hair cut and/or colored, make sure to allow yourself a few days before your session to make sure you are happy with it.

• Either give yourself or have a professional manicure and pedicure. It does make a huge difference in your pictures.

• Don’t go out tanning and don’t use a spray or liquid tanner the week of your session.

• Try to cut way back on salt and increase you water intake. Lots of water makes for beautiful skin but the extra salt may cause water weight.

• Try on the clothes and lingerie that you have chosen to make sure everything fits well and be sure to remove any and all labels that might be seen.

• Make sure to clean and iron the clothing you will be bringing and hang them rather than fold them so there aren’t any wrinkles or fold marks.

We also want you to remember that you can email or call us any time to go over anything you have questions on. Another thing to do at this time is review our Image Collection information and let us know if you need any clarification or if you are interested in purchasing any specialty items. We will be doing your image viewing the same day as your session and want to ensure you have any questions answered before your big day. So now we are almost there!! Five days to go until the day that is all about you!

Next time we will talk about what important information you need to know the day before and the day of your session so check out our next blog – The Day Before Your Session and Your Big Day!

Book your session today!!

Part 1                                                   Part 3

As a Woman’s Portrait Photographer I am often asked to explain more about the genres of photography I create.

Some types of photography are easy to explain like business head shots, and maternity.

Business portraits have been used for years and with the increase in social media and web development, your business photo is often the first impression you make. Maternity photography, though not a venue that has the history of business portraiture, is also a very well-known and now common reason for someone to visit a professional photographer.  Maternity photography ranges in style from outdoor, family type photography to more dramatic, artistically posed studio portraiture. My maternity photography takes place in our studio and ranges from the more dramatic editorial style to maternity boudoir and focuses solely on the mother-to-be. Both styles of maternity pictures help a family celebrate this momentous occasion and create special memories.

As I go through other styles such as pinup and boudoir I find people asking more questions about how these are specifically done.

I explain that pinup photography gets its vintage look from the hairstyle, makeup, clothing and props used.  These reflect the era that someone is trying to recreate their look from.  So if you are a fan of the roaring 20’s, the war era 40’s, the “Happy Days” 1950’s style or even the cinematic film noire, we will work with you to capture that in your session.  Pinup is also often a cross-over into boudoir photography if you are a fan of Gil Elvgren or Alberto Vargas.  Many of their pinup images are women in lingerie as well as their images that influenced the Nose Art on war planes.  Boudoir photography itself is also often a misunderstood genre.  Though it can range from images that could be considered artistic nudes to football jerseys, boudoir photos should be reflective of the individual and always be done in a way that is respectful of the comfort of the woman who is getting them done.  Personally I do not do images in the artistic nude category but will take pictures that while keeping you covered in all the right places, may suggest that you have nothing under that sheet. (Nude colored panties and a strapless bra are awesome for these types of photos)  I have done boudoir photo sessions for women in a wide range of outfits from long sleeve dresses and boyfriend or husband’s button down shirts to super hero costumes, Star Wars t-shirts, traditional lingerie and the suggestive with a sheet.  Each session is based on the woman’s comfort and the outfits she brings that have special meaning for her or her significant other.

Once I get to fashion, fitness and what I love to describe as “nerd chic” people begin to see that there are so many options to choose from that each session is truly a personalized experience.

Whatever your choice of photography, if you are inspired by a look or an era, there is a genre it will work with and it can be recreated and captured photographically for you to frame, hang or give as a gift.  I would love to spend a day with you creating your individual experience and capturing it for you to save and share.