Budgets Are My Bag

So many lovely brides contacting us for late summer and early fall weddings!  Tanya and I are working hard to answer emails and keep planning the shoot for the fall line while I wait for the impending baby to decide they are ready to join us "on the outside".  Add in that the poor husband and I are still looking for a larger place closer to where he is working, and I feel like I have plenty of reasons to "pop" any day now.

Prices have been updated and I need to plug them in this week so you can see the new price lists for all our services.  We're keeping in mind budgets and trying to offer the best over all results based on what has been popular for the last year or two.  My biggest aim is to offer digital galleries and options to allow more clients to share their images with friends and family even if they do not feel an album is part of their needs.

Once again I am sticking to my guns on affordable packages and quality images being the goals, meaning I have taken on the challenge to find ways to keep everything in-house for editing and sourced local printing to keep cost down.  I am proud that for the third year in a row we are set to do everything under $2000 for even our most elaborate package and longest day.

Pinterest Ate My Soul

Oh the horror!

I have avoided joining Pinterest in a non-business aspect for as long as I could.  I'm obsessed with looking up wedding gowns if I'm not in the studio or at a wedding, so I've taken care to avoid the easy way to feed that need for flowing girly gowns.

Unfortunately, I am once again on bedrest after giving my doctors a heart attack by almost having a heart attack while in for what should have been a routine exam.  A friend sent me a note suggesting I check out "that site with the pictures" because I was fretting over how to plan a combined nursery for the toddler and newborn... and so I have fallen into the void of Pinterest.

I promise to come up for air and share things now and again, including the super cool news that we have a new camera on the way!  (this is almost as exciting to me as the new baby)  I have had to admit my poor darling has outlived her use as a primary shooter for weddings, and so she is being retired to the hands of my second shooter to live out her days as a studio and occasional wedding clicker if something goes wrong.

I am also happy to be the one back at the keys doing the emailing.  When you request info or contact us for a consultation, it is now "Akelis" herself answering the emails.  Normally it is Tanya doing this while I am out in the studio or running off to photograph a bride, but when all I have to do all day is edit images and play on Pinterest, it makes sense I be the one you hear from.

Models and local brides looking to perhaps do something a little different should check back at the end of this month for an open casting call.  I will be updating and creating new gallery displays for images in the near future.  Boudoir subjects can expect to hear from me soon if we want to share your lovely shots and had not previously obtained approval.  Couples booking for the up coming season of weddings can expect to be splashed all over the web as I find new ways to get your lovely mug out there.  And as always, recommendations from friends about using a photographer are always welcome as brides have so much to plan and do!

-Jeannine-

Cupcake Catastrophy

While discussing the baby shower plans for tomorrow a memory popped up that made me wish I had my back-up drive handy today.  I'm working from the laptop while on some doctor ordered bedrest at the moment, so I'll have to pry the pictures out a little later.

Some of the most hilariously perfect photos happen when you are "there for set-up".  I often pop in to the venue on the day of an event and take a look around to get a fast mental image of the where-and-what to expect when we arrive at a reception.  On this particular day I arrived at the same time as the baker and the desert delivery and the ever so cute flower-girl in her sparkly pink and white dress.

Yep... anyone with babysitting or parenting experience can see where this is going...

Part of the delivery of deserts was a tower of beautiful cupcakes and lady-finger treats, all delicately frosted with an array of soft pinks, spring greens, and cheerful blues.  I saw the colors and made a mental note to get some good images of the colors before the reception turned them to crumbs, then headed upstairs to see the bride. 

The bride was lovely and already most of the way through dressing and hair so we had a chance to play with images of the bridesmaids.  We did some lovely images in front of the dressing room mirror and the window to catch the pristine white of her gown.  Just as we were ready to head down to the ceremony site outside, the bride asked where her flower girl was and a frantic search ensued as nobody had kept track.  Like any concerned mom I had a momentary "if that was my kid what would I do" then remembered the last time I had spotted the flower girl and where.

Yes, as you can guess she was mostly safe, though I'm not sure how long it took for her to work off the sugar rush.  Only about ten total cupcakes and cookies were mangled, but the results were slightly hilarious to behold.  Thankfully, the flowergirl, bride, and nervous mom (a bridesmaid so the girl was supposed to be under grandma's watch) were all fine though nothing could be done to save the pretty toddler dress from some very large stains.  What I did get for images were actually quite cute.  Covered in crumbs and frosting, the big grin on that messy little face made an appearance in the wedding album and I remember the bride asking for prints to share with her friend later.  

So what does all this mean to me?  Well, when life gives you cupcakes... MAKE A MESS!

Hotel Shenanigans

As Valentine's Day creeps ever closer I keep wanting to do one big day of shooting to get in as many bookings as possible in a single push to help limit how often I am over extending as the due date for this baby crawls ever closer.  Thankfully, the ever beautiful Tanya has thrown her hat in the ring to pull an event out for all our sultry brides to be and sexy ladies in lingerie!

While I am gearing up with new lens orders for the 2014 wedding season, we are going to do a big day of shooting at a local hotel as well.  The goal will be to book a fancy room that has all those picture perfect elements you know and love about great boudoir.  So girls, are you ready?  Bring your favorite something sexy, have your make-up and hair done by our team, and get your very own session of seductive images to share with your Valentine or yourself.

Dates and location to follow soon.  And a big bonus for one lovely bride to be may just be in the works too!

Wedding Day Details

 

Last weekend my high school best friend had a small, informal wedding to celebrate her marriage with a great guy.  It was lovely to see her and her bridesmaids in the gowns from our shop, and I am proud I could be a part of helping them celebrate the day.  I have been busy training a new assistant and preparing the final stages of moving out of our "too little" condo so editing has taken a while, but here are some of the cute little details and moments from that day.

Working Poor Wedding Planning

With unemployment higher than ever and weddings becoming more extravagant with every celebrity under the sun looking to show off for the paparazzi, planning a wedding has become a dream many couples simply cannot afford.  Fresh out of college and struggling just to feed themselves on minimum wage, often a bride and groom can no longer fall back on parents either.  Wedding loans and DIY can go a long way in stretching a budget, but not everyone can handle the idea of an intimate gathering or elopement.

I decided recently that I am uncomfortable with how so many photographers turn down elopements or low budget events and flat ignore or insult the needs of a couple strapped for cash.  It is true that albums are expensive to order and my time is indeed valuable.  But weddings are often the one time where getting to be photographed is not faced with dread.  There is so much value already placed on the bride being beautiful, and this means those photos framed and displayed for guests will mean so much more to the couple.

Being on a budget does not mean a couple expects lower quality images.  The comments about "getting what you pay for" with photographers should not have to mean blurry or poorly white-balanced snapshots from a camera phone or point-and-shoot pocket camera.  Rather, a groom should look just as dapper in $600 photography as they would at $6000; and digital copy should be the norm, not the exception.

To fix the problem of prices, I have made a new rule for my business plan.  I will never quote any couple a package price exceeding $2000.  I begin all wedding packages at $500, hourly shooting at $75, and boudoir or engagement sessions at $125.  Digital copy is included with every booking and extra copies of CDs are $5 per copy.

As always, interested couples should contact me with their needs and I will work with them to see what best suits their budget.

Why Boudoir?

Boudoir can be intimidating for many reasons; personal image issues with your weight or confidence, the fear that somebody would find the photos or that they will be plastered all over the internet to ruin your reputation, or the misconception that boudoir requires you to be pornographic in some way. Perhaps there is even the feeling that when you hand the finished product to your special somebody that they will be unhappy about the results, or angry that you allowed another person to see you in such an intimate way.

After hearing stories from many of my clients on how this was a huge step outside their comfort zone or how getting their photos back gave them a chance to really see how beautiful they are inside and out, I wanted to share their stories to let you all in on the not-so-secret.

Pamela

A few weeks ago I shared the story of my best friend and her boudoir shoot. She and I were college roommates and have similarly aged toddlers. She is a wonderful person and has a glowing smile, but really never has the chance to shine anymore between her work as a nurse and her work as a mom. I am so pleased she took the time to share her thoughts as her shoot has some of my favorite classic poses.

"Being a mom has given me a very different image of myself an sometimes it overtakes who I feel I am as an individual. For me boudoir was a reminder of that person I am and have always been. It's a way of showing myself I'm not just a mom I'm still woman and that is something to celebrate. It's fun and it's probably outside of a lot of woman's comfort zones (mine included) but the images afterward are incredible it gives you a glimpse of what others see in you not just the physical features."

Tanya

A stay-at-home mother of two that once had some serious self esteem and body image issues, she has had a long road to get to the confident and outspoken woman we see today. I feel blessed to help show off her big, beautiful smile in this surprise sitting done while her husband was out at work. This survivor of a truly unpleasant past is an inspiration for being so confident no matter what her detractors try to say.

"I feel it isn't so much about the modeling as it is about how the woman feels in their own skin. the fact that I have posed for pictures of this fashion says a lot of how I portray myself in my own eyes. Do I have some problem areas that need to be worked on? sure I do! do I have areas that I wish would never see the light of the sun and curse the eyes of others? maybe... but I am who I am, not one single person is going to change that and the ability to be photographed and show that personality, MY personality and my soul and inner being shines through. when I look at any and all pictures taken of me not only do I see body and soul and personality, I also see growth, as a person, and I also see the growth of the photographer. "

Charity

Charity has been featured here on our blog a few times and writes her own thoughts on working as a model in boudoir, fashion and fetish. She is always a pleasure to work with and talk to about many things. I often call Charity when it is time to do a study on poses or for a chance to practice with an experienced and flexible model before working with a client. She is happy to give feedback and honest opinions without overly praising or dragging out a negative when having a bad day. For this reason I respect her thoughts on boudoir as an art form and as a model.

"Boudoir shots for me are all about the setting and the mood. These shots are based on the concept of a lady’s “sitting room” where she would entertain visitors and lovers. They can include nudity and implied nudity but in essence nudity and being scantily clad is not a requirement. Boudoir for me typically uses lingerie and lighting. They can involve props and gloves as well as full body or just an arm."

Writing this and speaking to these ladies has given me the final push to put aside my own insecurities about my health troubles and lingering baby weight. In the coming weeks I will be planning and posing for a new boudoir shoot of my very own. I plan to share some inside images of the process and the results in an up coming blog later in June.

Thank you to every one of my brave and beautiful ladies for sharing this experience with the world. I hope they can inspire you to be brave and believe in your own beauty!  If you are located in the New Hampshire or southern Maine area and would like to book your own boudoir session, please contact our studio for more details.

Toes In The Sand

Saturday was my first beach wedding of the 2013 season.  The bride and groom picked a great spot and made the best of a rainy day to celebrate the start to a whole new life.  I wanted a share a little summary of the day and some of my favorite moments with you all.

Congratulations again on your marriage!

 

 

Spring Portfolio Cleaning

OneWed.com : Spring Green Wedding Shoes

It's spring, time to make my new list of photos I want to get for my portfolio while covering weddings this season.  I always consider the gaps and try to find ways to fill them without missing a moment of a bride's big day and making sure to work with her ideas.  I encourage every bride to build a profile on Pinterest and send a link while we are planning her details so that I can see the thoughts in her planning process and important moments she wants captured. 

This year I am all about the colorful brides.  The weddings I have booked are nontraditional in their color choices and I love that about these brides.  I look forward to picking up an image or two like this with color and class mixed into a different way to salute the wedding rings.  I'm a fan of shoes anyway, so it also feeding into my obsession with those things that cover a girl's toes.  

My other recent obsession is looking up wedding gowns through wholesale brokers online.  I spend a huge amount of time looking at dress designs on wholesale ordering sites to keep an eye on trends in bridal fashion.  I get to figure out if I am looking at a year full of lace or one with beading and bling.  I adore the fun of looking at lace and long flowing lines but short and flirty can be a welcome change as I book with modern brides.

I love the color and spark in this dress from MLtailor.com.  The flower detail on the waist is not my personal style, but is one of the better executions on a fabric flower that I have seen in the last few weeks.  Normally, I am also not a huge fan of peachy-pinks, but the blush tone on this is really pretty over the tulle layers in that mermaid gown, a works so well with the backdrop they selected for this shoot.  It all reminds me of spring!

Finally, I really want to play with perspective again this year.  I have a few ideas of what will work for poses, and now I just need to book enough weddings to keep up with them.  As of now, July is almost all open for bookings and one June weekend is un-filled.  I am looking to take elopements as well as large events to keep giving my all to couples on a budget for their day.  Remember to check out the new portfolio at www.AkelisStudios.com as well!

Beautiful Bride

Five years ago I was a bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding.  I remember helping her into her dress and braiding everybody's hair when the stylist canceled at the last minute and only called about two hours before the ceremony was supposed to start.  It no longer fits, but the dress I wore is still in my closet and reminds me of that day.

After five years of marriage, my college roommate finally made the choice to do some lovely boudoir as a gift for her hubby.  Taking advantage of the fact that five years and two children later she still fits her gown, she brought it along and we told a wonderful story.

Thank you so much for being an amazing friend!

Step-By-Step: Design to Dress

 

Going from sketch to gown is a long process.  Having a one of a kind dress is a dream fewer brides can enjoy with tight budgets and the massive numbers of off the rack gowns.  Fewer shops offer the chance to sit with a designer and really discuss ideas on what would be perfect for that one special day.

This is one of four new sketches starting the 2013 Spring/Summer season for Weddings By Armando.  Updates on how this beauty will go from thoughts, to sketch, to being ready for a walk to the alter will be available in future updates.  Until that point our new quest for models to participate in our 2013 search continues.  Plus size, same sex couples, and anyone wanting to have a chance at being a model for a day should keep track of our updates on facebook and apply as soon as we open the information. 

Until then, we are working on big website updates, new dress designs, and a wonderful winter trash the dress idea for snowy brides to get some ideas for fun photos in the frosty outdoors!