We're Back

After an impromptu vacation from being a responsible adult while we had family medical needs, I am back now, and ready to apologize for my disappearance with the sharing of some great things.  Namely, images from training my apprentice today.

Weddings By Armando Model Search Applications

Nemo has come and gone.  We survived two days of snow that far surpassed all previous records in our area meant three days snowed in with the family.  We have dug ourselves out and dove back to Valentine's Day insanity as usual. 

Nemo's snow at our front door.

I clock in hours with my camera, at my regular part-time job at the cosmetics store, and a third batch of hours at a local florist shop handling their customer service lines for phone orders.  That means this Saturday was the first chance I had to look at my computer for myself.  Today's list of things to do starts with posting  applications for our modeling campaign that people have been waiting for...

The application is simple, but I wanted to remind everybody to go back to the previous entry and read over our categories for models and select carefully.  Remember that we only have a few spots open, and will be selecting those that best fit our needs for this round.  If you don't get chosen, we do keep people in mind when we know a fun shoot might be coming up that they would be perfect for in the future.

Once you have the required images and information, please send your application via email and we will store it until we start the selection process on the 1st of March.  

Please refer to this chart when taking measurements to submit in your application:

(Bust, Waist, Hip, Arm, Hollow to Hem,  Skirt Length)

WEDDINGS by ARMANDO Model Application

FULL NAME:

HAIR COLOR:

EYE COLOR:

SECTION(S) APPLIYING FOR:

DO YOU WEAR MAKE-UP OFTEN:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG FROM A MOVIE & WHY:

SHOULD COMIC BOOK SUPER HEROES BE REQUIRED TO REBUILD OR PAY
FOR DAMAGES DONE WHEN THEY ARE DEFEATING A VILLAIN:

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY HAIR & EYE COLOR WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE:

WHY DO YO THINK YOU WOULD ROCK AS A MODEL FOR WBA:

PLEASE INCLUDE THE MEASUREMENTS SHOWN ON THE CHART ABOVE FOR OUR REFERENCE WHEN CONNECTING A MODEL WITH THEIR CLOTHING SIZE. ALSO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF REFERENCE IMAGES (2 HEADSHOTS, 2 FULL BODY IMAGES, 1 BACK VIEW) . ALL IMAGES SUBMITTED MUST BE OF THE APPLICANT ONLY AND BE CLOTHED.

Weddings By Armando 2013 Models

Because every body is unique and every bride has her own style, we are looking for real women to model our 2013 line of gowns.  You can be married, engaged, or even single; we just want girls willing to but their best face forward and help us show off the beauty in every bride. 

We are looking for two men and five women that fit one or more of the following catagories we will showcase with our spring line for 2013:

1. Healthy Curves -  If you have a rocking body that doesn't fit the size 2 cookie cutter of the bridal boutique world this is you time to shine! We do need models here to be at least 5' 6'' and comfortable in heels.
2. Petite - Not a tall drink of water but still have curves that rock? We may still need your help.  We would like to work with at least one model willing to show her legs.  Again, comfort in heels is a must, as is a winning smile the captures the focus.
3. The Un-Bride -  If your covered in tattoos, have hair that makes old ladies stare, and want to show that even unusual looks can work at a wedding, we agree with you 100%.  Models for this section may be asked to supply shoes based on the looks chosen so prepare to wear something fun.  Couples interested in posing together for this section would be compensated with additional final images.  
4. Classic Wedding - Have the model look that every woman wants?  Well we want you too.  While we love all our full figured gals, there are some dresses that look awesome on lighter bodies.  In this case you'll need to be able to walk, pose, maybe even dance in heels and if possible we would like a model with hair below the shoulder.  This is the collection most up for scrutiny because we have had previous models show interest.  We may choose more than one person for this group and split the looks based on what looks better on each person.  
5. Ladies In Love - We are looking for a same sex couple willing to share the love of their relationship for our fantastic new complementing looks line.  This will have one gown and one pant-suit in each look and both partners will be asked to sit with our hair and make-up team.  Partners should be comfortable with their choice of partner being public, and be willing to have these images shared at events or online in our advertising where they could be seen by the public. 
6. Gentlemen - You lucky dogs.  Our needs are far less strict though you will need to be willing to wear everything from a tux to informal attire for a more laid-back event.  We do ask that males be prepared with black dress socks and formal shoes (no sneakers or loafers).  Guys will need to be available for multiple days or longer shoot times to work with models from different collections. 

Ready to join the fun?  Then you will need to prepare the following photos and answer some questions.
We will be accepting applications  February 15th - 25th

1. Two Headshots - at least one should be with no make-up or digital editing and straight to the camera.
2. Full Body - head to toe in everyday clothes and a formal look if possible.  These must be clothed, all applications with nudes will be deleted without consideration.
3. Back View - Full or 3/4 view of you from the back.  Wedding gowns are all about the train!

Directions In Photography

I do not claim to be the world's best photographer. I have spent years learning and teaching others, but I will never claim to know everything about my craft. I shared a blog recently about being humbled and shaken when a peer gave a scathing comment on my request for advice, and I still find myself looking at work sometimes saying “I should have moved just a smidgen to the right” or “I wish I waited just a second longer so his eyes would be slightly more relaxed from the last flash”. These are the worries and thoughts of a typical photographer, and may have been distilled perfectly in a quote a fellow photographer made in a forum I was once reading:

A GOOD DAY FOR ME IS REMEMBERING TO POINT THE CAMERA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

This is a man who has his work in Vogue, Elle, and a million other places I can just hope to achieve in my lifetime. But his words have more meaning when you think about how a photographer is actually doing their client a service by freezing a moment in time.

Expression is huge, but only lasts a second. Shock and joy on the groom's face as his bride comes into view, or that warm candid moment when the Mother-of-the-Groom gives her son a kiss with tears rolling down her cheeks because he is all grown up; these are all something you can only capture just as they happen. These are true moments of candid photography. I need to be on my toes every moment at a a shoot so that I can capture the perfect image.

Perhaps even more so than weddings, working with children requires almost inhuman speed and attention to detail. I am talking about this because it will be a vital part of my shooting tomorrow and is weighing on my mind. Tomorrow is my son's cake smash sitting. Cake smash photography is a quickly growing avenue for child centered studios because of the honesty and silliness it embodies. To make it simple, a toddler is placed on a bare backdrop with a cake or cupcake in front of them and the photographer documents the following chaos.

I was introduced to the idea while working for a chain studio that absolutely forbid it because they kept a strict policy against food in the camera room. When I moved on the the studio chain, where I was responsible for training newer photographers, it was something very warmly welcomed. Now that my own studio is open, I am more than open to doing this kind of work and will soon begin looking for a local bakery to coordinate our efforts.

My son is a perfect test subject for the studio. He is constantly in my advertising and I have begun to market him out to infant and toddler talent agents because his aptitude for brilliance in the camera room could honestly make him a good deal of money to put aside for college. I also use him to test out new concepts and techniques, something I do often in an attempt to grow as an artist... but as a mother I am facing some worry that I will dislike the results.

What I want to do is really intensify the images tomorrow by choosing a stark white backdrop and a bold shade of blue-green for his cake. Next is where I am reaching my point of tension, because it is a huge risk as well. What I want to do is use a very tight depth of field and play with a slight distortion in focus. My goal is to change how we see the moment and bring out the “dirty” part of the experience.

Unfortunately, cake-smash is the kind of photography where one cannot simply “reset and try again”. The child's reaction will inherently be different because they understand that they have absolute freedom in that moment. As a mother, I want these images to be something my family can cherish just as much as myself. As an artist, I want to take advantage of this ideal opportunity to advance my skills as a photographer.

I will make the executive decision tomorrow as my husband places our boy on the subject mark. Once I can review the images I will post a selection and allow the results to be seen. But for tonight all I can do is take the advice of my photography hero and just hope that “my camera is pointed in the right direction”.

Never Too Old

I am always surprised to hear clients tell me they were embarrassed to inquire about boudoir because it is "something for young women".  I am not really sure why we need to limit ourselves to having fun only when we are in our teens and twenties.  Most women wait until they are twenty-five or older to start a family or even get married.  

I myself was twenty-five when my husband proposed, and he was about to turn thirty that year.  We are by no means "old", but we did wait a longer time than many traditionalists would like women to think is normal.  I only point this out because I still have a long list of things to do in my life, and not one of them is something I have to complete while I am "young".

I am writing this today because I think beautiful women will always be beautiful when they are proud of themselves.  Success in life is something to be proud of; a good relationship, changes in habits to loose significant weight, or any other reason you can think of can be a fantastic reason to have photography of any kind.  I may do mostly boudoir, but I always suggest even a simple portrait to show off that happy glow.

So the next time you want to say "oh, I'm too old"... remember that experience can be far more sexy than innocence in the right circumstances.  And feel free to laugh at anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.

Boutique Beauty in the Boudoir

This weekend is a big event for Akelis Studios. I am excited to see how things go, but also wanted to help out some of those who are new to boudoir photography by suggesting some ideas for choosing the perfect outfit. I'm to here to tell you what to wear every day, how to find the perfect bra based on your cup size, or any of the thousands of things that fashion bloggers have made a living doing. However... I can tell you what I know works for those not familiar with, or comfortable in lingerie beyond a simple bra & panties. 

 

At the risk of letting you all into more of my person life than needed, I will share this fact with you now; until Thursday of last week, I had not owned “sexy” lingerie of my own since about 2004. I help women feel beautiful in it every day. I am an avid fan of many companies and watch fashion shows and hungrily await new collections to be announced every season. If this is all true, why would I not own anything for my personal life... well, you can assume it has to do with my personal shopping choices and spending priorities. Having shoes that would be comfortable for walking and wearing at shoots and good quality jeans to take the abuse of kneeling or crawling in any number of muddy and nasty conditions for the perfect shot just ranked higher.

I am not going to say you should only shop at the stores mentioned here, or that you absolutely have to buy the exact items I mention; that never works out for everybody because each woman's personality and figure is a little different.  I  do not own any part of and am not getting paid to advertise these items/designers.  What I will suggest are the places (and they may surprise you) where I have found some of the most flattering things in my own collection or that my clients have brought with them for our shoots. I often will stop a client before they leave and ask where they found a piece if it is something truly striking, and that is how I built this list.

Frederick's of Hollywood:

Back before I was even out of high school I was a huge fan of Frederick's. I love that they are always willing to try something daring in their designs and color choices. Right now, I think that they have some of my favorite pieces for a fuller figured model. These are items that are great for women who might not feel secure about their stomach and hips.

Full figured ladies might want to look at these great options:

 Hollywood Heartbreaker Chemise Audrina Chemise

Hollywood Satin Pajama Set

Victoria's Secret:

I watch their yearly fashion show like an addict waiting for her next hit. It is true my favorite part is always getting a chance to see the beautiful wings they dream up for each collection. It is also true that I find their designs more flattering for smaller busted women. They have some wonderful designs for bra and panty sets that make people gasp when they get to see the full impact in the mirror or photos.

Confident Brides might want to look at some of these cute ideas:

VS Logo Lace Halter Babydoll

Floral Babydoll

VS Satin Gown  - this only comes in one color, but if you look good in red, you can get a real "Jessica Rabbit" look.

Fashion Bug:

I know, you're now thinking I have lost my grasp on reality. In all honesty, this is exactly where I found some of my favorite items over the years. They cater to a wide range of sizes and their bra selection has a fantastic choice of patterns and colors. I also suggest them for hair accessories and unique jewelry. A good boudoir look should consider all elements of beauty and fashion, and being able to find a fantastic necklace or pair of earrings will add real flair to a simple set of under-things. 

 

Much of their collection is bra & panties, so I'll share a successful look that can come from their store:
Pink Satin & Embroidered Set

Octagon Onyx Jewelry Set

Peep Toe Heels 

Pin-up Girl Clothing:

This is one of the few companies I have never bought anything from, but that will change shortly since I have selected my new bathing suit from their collections for this summer. They have a great selection for all parts of vintage styling, and the photography on the site reflects the popular photography styles of the era. I would almost classify this as “costume” wardrobe, save that I have a good number of models who are party of the modern revival of rock-a-billy fashion.

They have a number of lovely things, but these stand out for certain because they are classic accessories: 

Cuban Heel Stockings   -  back seam stockings are vital for vintage boudoir

Ruffle Panties  -  fantastic for women a little self conscious about their bottom line

Lolita Pump Shoes  -  go for a bright bold color or print like the one shown here, and remember you pedicure too!

As you might guess from my comments in the links, having a complete look is vital.  Models often come in with a great negligee, hair and make-up and the look is incomplete because they wore sneakers but forgot to bring heels or get do a little bit of pedicure work.  I also remind women that just like in daily life, a fantastic necklace or killer set of kitten heels is a great way to get noticed for your best features.

Color choice is also essential.  You should remember that pinks and reds don't look as fantastic on women who have a strong natural blush to their skin.  My favorite models have been the ones that choose something to complement their eyes or hair to best advantage.  I have green eyes and red hair thanks to a little helping henna; so my choice are greens and blacks because they don't clash with my very light skin and make the features I want to show off work for me.  

The two photos on this page are snapshots of some of the choices women might have when they  are going through their own dresser.  The one below is a tossed together idea that would work perfectly with a basic pair of heels and a sultry smirk.  The blue-green of the beads in the necklace might not be a perfect match in shade, but with a little skin between them, that bra and those beads will look lovely and make a cohesive picture.

I work with women of all sizes, not just the slender models in fashion magazines. I even have serious curves of my own and a little postpartum weight left to lose. For the full figured women out there dreaming of being “thin enough” to do boudoir photos, stop dreaming and find something that flatters who you are now... because you are never more beautiful than when you are wearing a smile.

Model Behavior

Yes. I called this “model behavior” because this is geared to understanding the rights and needs of our models... even the paid kind.

I'm not shy about the fact that I was a model years ago. I feel that time on the other end of the lens has given me insight that some photographers will just never understand. I also have been uncomfortable with my surroundings, something that every woman can tell you is all too common an occurrence when any form of even mildly sexual topic is involved. It is from this perspective that the following post was written; I am posting it in the “raw and unedited form” that I want you to witness.

In the last few weeks there has been a good deal of chatter between myself and one of my favorite models about the concept of “escorts”. No, not the kind that wealthy business partners pay for while on a trip so they can have arm candy. I'm talking about the kind that are there as an assistant and a bodyguard for the model while they are on location for a shoot. And I am going to be completely clear here... I SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO BRING AN ESCORT 100%.

I will ask that they take a seat in my waiting room while shooting any subject 18 and over. This is because I work in a small studio space, and there is a big risk of tripping over equipment cords or distracting the model. I keep parents in the room with children, and if the model is not there for a boudoir shoot or actively changing, the door stays open so there is no feeling of a threat. I usually suggest that the escort be the same gender so they can assist with outfit changes or even hair and make-up application in some cases.

What I do not support, is an escort that is a significant other or highly distracting friend. I will ask anyone with lewd or offensive language and behavior to remove themselves from my studio. I do this because it is my right to keep a clean and welcoming atmosphere for myself, my clients, and my landlord (and fellow renters). I will not allow an escort to sit in on a boudoir shoot because that is a very personal situation that requires the model be able to stay serious in what can often be an uncomfortable situation; but I also take the time to talk to my clients about what they can expect from a session so there is never anything they feel pressured to do.

There are behaviors I will not support from a model or an escort because they are unprofessional and speak to the lack of respect held by that person for the photographer and their business.

I do not support models or escorts who feel it their right to make a mess. I am not your mother. I have my own family to clean up after. If you or your escort want to bring a drink or a snack, that is fine. I just ask that you recycle your bottles and cans, toss your food wrappers in the garbage, and act just as you would on a job interview. Consider me your potential boss, and know that I do not give recommendations lightly. You will need to earn my respect if you want to receive future offers for work when I have paid shoots and need to find a model for hire.

I do not support having an escort come in and babble on their cell phone while in the room. Actually, I require that clients turn their phone to silent or completely off while we are shooting because it is a distraction. I have gone so far as to turn away sittings because a parent refused to turn off their phone or even put the device down. I know that turning away business seems counter intuitive, but I will do it because I believe in running an ethical and focused business.

I do not support models or escorts who feel the need to complain, argue, or generally cause problems when I am giving direction for a pose or an outfit. I have a rough picture in my mind before I ever walk into the studio. I will listen to requests for poses or image types. I will listen to a model who says that pose is uncomfortable or needs help with body placement to achieve the right look. I will never force a model to be nude, pose suggestively, or do something that makes them feel unsafe in some way.

What I will not support is a model that thinks they have the right to make things harder on others. I'll make it very clear right now, if you want to throw a fit and storm out because you are not being pampered, I will not be hiring you on as a model. Divas don't get rich just by behaving badly to those around them, they get rich because they have a look we can sell even if they make others miserable in the process. Models have to understand that the photographer knows what they are doing (or should if they are any good at their job). If we ask you to drop your shoulder, turn your cheek slightly, shift a hand up or down slightly... chances are it is because we see something that doesn't look right. We might need to make a few changes or moves before things come out just right; this means we are doing our job well.

If you want to be taken seriously as a model I suggest you keep the things I covered here in mind. Always ensure that there are specific terms and they are clearly hashed out before you ever agree to a session and/or any money changes hands. You have the right to say “no” when you are asked to do anything that violates your agree upon terms or makes you uncomfortable. You do have the right to bring an escort to private sessions, but in the case of large shoots with a crew you may want to skip it because they will end up being in the way of those working. Both the model and their escort must agree to behave as guests and respect their host's property both physically and verbally. There is much to be said for professional behavior in the modeling business... practice it and you will be far more successful than the self important divas that never took the time to learn the words “please” and “thank you”.