The Boudoir pie

Years ago, when I started trying to get money out of what I loved doing, the big thing was doing weddings. It seemed like the logical choice. As in many other fields, we managed to blow it. Every new graduate from art college wanted to get in, so they came up with very interesting pricing, just to get their foot on the door. The problem? We got too many feet! When the new photographer tried to get some business, since there was no experience, the hook to attract clients was a very low price, thinking that once the experience came, the price would go up accordingly. In some months, with some weddings under the belt, newbie raised the prices. By then, another ten new guys had fancy websites and ultra low prices, trying to get their own slice of the pie. Now, I've seen photographers offer to pay, to do a wedding, just to get 'their names out'. As we saturated the market with entry level DSLR's, flash based websites and home-based studios, we now move to boudoir! It's just a normal thing. We move to another new trend, once the last one is depleted or shrinking. As the photographer on the side of the brick and mortar studios, now it's my turn to deal with the newbies. But my advise is not for photographers today, but for consumers. I saw many very talented professionals quit their passion, due to the inability of the consumer to find the value on a true artistic approach. Now I see the consumer live the groupon era, where the only thing that matters is the rock bottom price. Having dealt with the groupon people myself, I can see what we are doing to the industry. We're creating a price war, where we are sacrificing quality for quantity. (groupon wanted me to do a special for about 1/5 th of my normal price, due to another photographer based on an apartment, shooting for that amount) Well, thankfully I decided to do it for twice the other photographers fee. As consumers, we must care for the very things we value. We must support our favorite vendors, get educated, interact. Most people rather ignore that their loved groupon deal is really causing their favorite vendor a loss. That's fine, since it was the vendors decision. but that vendor was banking on patrons who would come back, and pay regular price later, instead of lurking groupon for the next newbie doing a special for close to nothing. Support true artistry. Support quality and do the math. How long can your favorite vendor offer you that awesome product or service making less than working at the fast food joint? So, my 2 cents of boudoir shopping advise: (and it's free) Talk to the people. Clients love to text and email. But they never really get a good feeling of who they're hiring. To me, specially boudoir needs lots of trust. I tend to get a very good idea about somebody, when I talk to them. If you don't know what you want... At least know what you don't want. Browse the web, see images and find out what's hot, what's old, what's appealing to you. Love yourself. If you don't like how you look, nobody can make you look good. Many, however, will be happy to make you look fake though! Find your match. Each artist has a different style. Find a style that you can see yourself in. Don't go to walmart studio and ask for trendy. They just don't talk your language. If you like a photographers work, go for it, but don't ask him/ her to do something they don't. (I have people come to me for kids portraits. Or for long sleeves girlie pictures...seriously?) Be prepared. I can't stress it enough. Boudoir is mostly a once in a lifetime experience, unless you get addicted to it. So why would you show up to your session late,with two outfits (one of them on) and one pair of shoes? It's about beauty, empowerment, confidence, freedom, and yes, naughtiness. So invest in yourself. Get some nice outfits, get hair and make up done. Bring a good friend, have a great time! Be nice. Nothing is weirder than a rude lady in underwear. Your photographer is actually trying his best to make you look amazing. It's a hard work. Also, really doesn't pay much. So manners are ALWAYS appreciated. Before, during and after the session. I've met many amazing people as a photographer. And many nasty ones too. Please, don't be the second. Adrian

Do you really want a lady tell you what's sexy?

It always makes me think. Some of my clients even have told me they where a little worried about having a male photographer. My answer? Well, most of my clients come to see me because, plainly put, want to knock their husbands/ boyfriend/lover's socks off.. Then, who can know better what the man in their life's wants? The girlie photographer? Nope, Me!
Generalizing a bit, a good female photographer will make them look gorgeous, pretty, classy. If this is all you aspire, you're in the right track.
Me? I make them look irresistible, sexy, sassy. I make them look like the woman their husbands want them to look like.I make them laugh. I make them think. I make them be themselves, just wilder. It's just logical. A guy knows another guys brain.
It's easy to understand their apprehension though. But this is not a guys garage. This is professional studio. I'm not new at this. I serve hundreds of customers a year. I don't do boudoir under the table, like is a bad thing. This is what I do..
Bring a friend, get some insights of the male brain, rediscover the inner goddess.
Don't settle for cliche. Don't settle for what you've seen everywhere. Boudoir is truly an empowering experience. Shouldn't you trust it to the photographer who knows what your loved one feels, thinks and dreams of?
Just saying.

At the end, go with your instincts. But don't discriminate based on old cliches.
I love what I do, with passion. Talk to me and make your decision.
Adrian

Calling for all the Muses

Every day I work with people. Most are really nice. We take pictures, I deliver their prints or albums, and we forget about each other. Some even get a little short or demanding, which is just part of business. However, every once in a blue moon, you find some people to which you, somehow connect at a different level. I can't explain it. It just happens. Where you just trust, feel like you can be open and art is created. Art at a different level. I call these people Muses. My wife is the best muse I have. I'm also lucky to have met some models to which I keep going back because they're just so awesome. All my personal projects are with them, since there's this artistic bonding that allows new things to be born. Thinking about this, I noticed that this also happens with some of my clients, who just transform, become creative engines, naturally, without any directions or previous experience, they just become Muses.
So I decided to start a Muse gallery, where I'll post some of the images we created together. I want to mention that these pictures came out of an otherwise normal session, where both the subject and the artist connected.
Anyway, I'm so lucky to experience this rather rare situation, so here are some of my Muses images.
Adrian

Less isn't always more

So you're excited, you're on your way to your boudoir session. You've always wanted to do it, you've been telling all your friends, you get into the studio, it's amazing and you're ready to roll. Photographer asks you what outfits did you bring, so you get your three black outfits and one pair of black shoes. You feel soo excited, and then...

Then what? Then, you just underutilized an amazing opportunity.
I see this every day. Ladies, let's be honest. How many times have you done boudoir before? And do you plan to do it again soon? Exactly! This is a once in a lifetime thing. By not doing your homework, you just got a session with the same old outfits you and your significant other know by memory. Why not go wild? Why not invest in cute sexy outfits to look amazing?
Bright colors, fun corsets, stockings, pumps. Get the best out of your investment. After all, how often do you indulge in cute lingerie? Best of all, you get to wear it again later!

But wait, it doesn't stop there. You showed up all excited, decided you didn't need to spend a little money on hair and make up. After all, you do it yourself every day, right? WRONG! You just look like you do every day. How exciting...
Do yourself a favor, hire a professional to give you a diva look, a new and glamorous image, sexy eyes, big hair,lashes, just for this occasion.
You'll be so glad you did it.
Now, don't blame me if you don't. I've warned you ;)
Adrian.

the iPhone office

A couple years ago, I wouldn't have guessed it. I probably would've actually said that it's just plain wrong. Nothing beats a good old phone call...or does it?  I've been trying to understand it, and truth to be told, about 85% of the contact with my clients is now through my amazing iPhone. Either we text back and forth or we email. I check my calendar, I make the appointment right in the phone, send price lists, email appointment confirmations, enter clients contact information, track orders and sessions.

Isn't technology scary?

So no, I barely call them and looks like that works best for them too...

Wonder what would be next.

Adrian

Thanks from our brave men overseas

Today I got an email from the husband of a customer. He was so happy and thankful to see beautiful images of his wife, while he was away and missed her so much. Needless to say, it made my day to know that I could help, even if seems like a small thing. I think when you're away from the ones you love, anything that helps bring them closer to you just makes a big difference.
So there, I'm happy to support our brave soldiers, with my work.

Adrian

Should I be flattered?

I received an email today, it was really nice. One of those emails that make you feel special and good at what you do. Here it is:

"First, I just want to say that your work is stunning! I am a news photojournalist who is looking to develop my boudoir photography in to an art form. I definitely do not want to copy your work, but I would like to learn more about how you light, stage, pose, etc. Do you have any workshops coming up or any tutorials online?







Thanks for your time!


XXXX
"
Of course, I answered politely. What makes me feel weird is the fact that this photographer already has a website offering boudoir, and I have to say is way pricier than mine! Her prices go all the way to $1295. My priciest at the moment doesn't go over half of that!
Such is life.
Adrian

Why creativity costs

As an artists who spends plenty of time planning concepts, modifying the studio, buying gear, insurance, back up hard drives, consumables, props, clothes for models and customers, refreshments for the shoots, paying rent for a big and comfortable space, editing images, uploading images, printing, cleaning, driving to and from shoots, networking, etc. it amazes me how little value many people assign to our efforts as creative people.

Never fails the model wannabe who solicits your services and then wants YOU to pay her. Or the customer who paid for two hours of service and keeps asking for 'just a picture like the one in the magazine'. How about the customer who comes with a laundry list of 'small requests' to change things to their images?

I've never been good at people like that. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. But as I become more aware of the responsibilities, legalities and little details that can make or break my business, it's just hard to keep pleasing everybody. specially the people who want to harvest the fruit of our job as creative and also who want it for free.

How many doctors, mechanics, contractors or other professionals do you know who will work for free?
How many people will provide a service without pay? Do you ask your mechanic to also replace the brake pads, since he's already into it, without expecting to pay for it?

As consumers, we've become used to the bargain, the special, the freebie. We're killing the livelihood of those who love their art and provide us with a number of satisfaction, services, art.

Let's re-learn to appreciate the time and effort  a professional puts into the goods we purchased with 70% discount at groupon and at least thank them, recommend them, why not, even tip them.
That professional may not be there next time you want him/ her.
Sorry for the rant.
Adrian

Yes, is still all about the Pin Up

 I had a great time putting my second Pin Up session together. I worked with really talented professionals and I just love the results.
I never thought it was so hard to find the right props! Many hours at antique stores were required to find just a handful props, which will be used soon. I can't wait to do the military and sailor scenes, the skates, the baseball and many other ideas.

 I also wanted to give my own spin to the Pin up genre. Maybe it looks like so many others, I hope not. It is a fine line, to be able to keep it recognizable enough, you must follow certain "guidelines". It's also a very different approach to my normal take on light. My whole contrast idea, rough on soft, Ying- Yang, had to be put on the back burner to come up with soft, dreamy, girlie and cute images.

 I think we succeeded. This particular session was about four hours. we ended up so tired but extremely excited with the results. Besides the session time, it took two and a half days of preparation, gathering outfits, props, changing the studio space, making gadgets to help the work flow improve. Lots of work, getting ready for the next Pin Up special, which we anticipate will be as successful as the boudoir one. Just for more conservative yet very sexy ladies!

Because of Popular demand...Pin Up!

 I just love challenges. I can't sit still. Have to get the adrenaline rush, come up with a new thing, or at least, something I haven't done before. The feeling of having to create a plan, logistics, create props and sets.
So I decided since my portfolio is always on the edgy, risque side of things, I needed a soft girlie and more accessible portfolio.
The answer? Pin Up! Calendar girls!

 It's always funny to see how many models always want to work with a photographer, they send you messages and hope you'll pic them, yet when you reach out, very few actually step up. Well, Sheryl did, and boy I'm glad she did! (Actually, she was introduced to me by a photographer friend)
I had Katia help with the make up, cup cakes and posing and on our trial shoot, this is what we came up with...

 I think they turned out lovely but even more important, I learned a lot about a photographic genre I wasn't familiar with. So my next shoot is going to be epic. Thanks also to Tiffany, Sheryl's friend, which didn't do Pin up modeling, but some really edgy and artistic modeling.
But that's another story.

Lovely gifts

 

What a better birthday gift for the Hubbie? It's been a while since I posted. I've had so many sessions lately that I'm barely catching up with other stuff, blog and editing. But this session stood up and summarizes what it's all about. The session was intended to produce a birthday album for the husband, who travels a lot. Since we where at it, we also made a video with the images and a customized message for him. I wish I had seen his face when he got the video while away traveling, in his cell phone.

As it happens, my customer turns out to be also a model, So her images will be in her new book. we managed to do very trendy, but also romantic and nostalgic images. Love it!

I love my job..

 What's not to love?
I get to thinker with my gear, create new sets, build, design... But most of all, I get to help amazing people to look best, to feel sexy and seductive.
I get plenty of inquiries, about if there are limits on age to do boudoir sessions. The answer? Absolutely not! Last week I met two amazing ladies, who gave themselves a boudoir session as their birthday gift. I think I never laughed so much in my life! They were mid 40's and still looking amazing.

 And to my amazing customers who allow me to use some of their images, thank you so much! means the world to me to be able to share my work, and to be able to show what we can do for other people.
Interesting enough, I'm getting lots of questions about couple's sessions.
Yes, I do those.
No, I can't post those. They tend to be more...outside of the box and really nice and artistic, but certainly not for the shy.

Stay tuned, I have new sets and scenes in the works.

Adrian

It's new, it's bigger, it's badder, it's simply awesome!

 

So it's official: Adrian Vega  Photography and GoodGirlBadGirlBoudoir move to the West Bottoms in February...

This is the white canvas, where the magic will only get bigger. More room, more scenes, sets and all the natural light we can hope for.

Thank you to all of my amazing customers. This is for you.

Right now it's full of plans. The furniture and gear are on their way. Stay tuned. It's just the beginning.

Sometimes the best strategy is to stand still

The internet is the main avenue I use to get business. How do you go from averaging 30 visits a day to getting 4,651 visitors just one day?
That's the beauty of the net. Sometimes, you just have to wait.
It pays to be ready. As an entrepreneur, you got to be willing to think differently and take a big risk.
So one day, shortly after the featured interview in Photoshelter, I receive a call from a very nice lady. I could tell it was a sales pitch. I get them all the time. How to boost your placement in google, yellow pages, a new card, you name it. This lady was talking about some Groupon thing. Poor thing had to spend about twenty minutes explaining what Groupon was. I was that clueless. Then the pitch: They wanted a radical discount.
Not to go into details. I ended up  giving her a VERY generous deal.
We agreed, emailed and the date was set. Jan 27, my Groupon add went live.
I could barely sleep the days before. What if nobody bought it? What if it was a bad decision?
I had a feeling, though. You can't expect to get different results if you continue doing things as you have. So I risked it.
That day, I answered calls from 7:00 am to about 8:30 pm. Answered emails non stop, posted comments on the Groupon board and best of all, booked the next three months of my calendar. Solid. Even weekends.
I went to bed so excited and absolutely exhausted. Determined to sleep in the next day. Fat chance. My wife texted me about 8 am, waking me up. "It's still going on" I got to my computer. I had a nice email from Groupon: They were so excited that the special did so good, that they extended it. So it happened all over again. I now have sessions scheduled in 2012.

What did I do different though?
Well, besides risking it (Really you are risking all your reputation if you don't please all these new customers). I changed my work flow. I streamlined my operation. I put myself out there. And at the end, I loved it!
I talked to very nice ladies, sold sessions for guys, got and invite for pizza and had a ball realizing how loving these ladies are, getting out of their confort zone to please their husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends.
I got asked and had to answer, "Can you make me beautiful?"
It's a tough question! makes you search within your soul.
Many will come out of town. Many will get up really early, or stay up really late. Many saw this as their last chance to do it, before life just didn't offer the opportunity anymore. Many just did it because they love who they are.
It really made me rediscover why I do what I do. Because it's quite an honor to have somebody's trust to show their inner beauty.
For that, I'm extremely happy.
Thank you
Adrian.

Introducing...R1D1

When I go out with my photo buddies, they have come to expect weirdness from me. When it's customers, they just stare and later appreciate the extra sitting bench. The thing is, tired of hauling bags, dollies, boxes or tired of my stuff going into the ground, I decided to take a radical approach. That's how R1D1 was born.

 

The good people of the hardware store provided all I needed. The Stanley wheeled chest. (there's different sizes) the PVC hardware, some screws, the things to hook up  the straps, the strap ant the rest was common garage stuff.

R1D1 functions not only as a gear box, with wheels. Also is my mobile power source.  My Vagabond battery is inside, you can see the power strip on the outside, ready to provide juice for my Alien Bees, my boom box or a small fan.

This is a detail of the side, where the painters pole rests. It's pretty handy. Sturdy and also much better than the light stand if it's windy outside. all the stuff in the box and the box itself make it extremely stable. That way I can even full the rig while taking pictures, like when I take pictures of somebody walking.

 

Here you can see how easy is to attach your tripod, lightstands, umbrellas, your walking cane and whatever you want, very safely attached with just one strap. No messy and bouncy bungees!

This is the rig in action. Fully deployed with my umbrella, music for mood, all my gear stored neatly inside, protected from the elements and readily available. As I said, the problem most of the times has been to get my customers to get off their comfy seat so I can get my stuff out.

Update:

One reader asked me if you could access the inside while having the pole in. The answer was no. So that bugged me enough to modify it and address two other concerns: Now it is possible to open the container at any time, regardless if the pole is in. I have now independent straps. This is useful if there's gear I use more often, so I don't have to strap / Unstrap Everything every time. Smaller bundles are easier to handle :)

Lastly, I added a net that keeps the smaller parts, rods or monopod from slowly sliding down and getting out of place. The net is kept in place by two small carabiners. So I think this is the last version. Not to give it a coat of black paint and we're good to roll.
Cheers!

We're not as modern as we think. or are we?

Corset from 1902. Il y a des femmes qui lassent leurs amants plus vite que leur corset. (There are women who tire of their lovers faster than their corsets.) From La Vie Parisienne

Think about it: This image is one hundred and nine years old. Over a century. This lady is going to be remembered forever. She had no problem posing for revealing pictures, even a century ago, when things were so different. Maybe. It makes me laugh how even today, how so many people, especially in certain small cities (like mine), think boudoir is too risque, or feel it is too indecent. You wouldn't believe how uncomfortable some people really are with it. Yet you see way more sexually aggressive things on TV, you hear way more suggestive things on the radio. (My four year old daughter has shocked me and sings things I wouldn't even repeat, and I'm a boudoir photographer!).
So have we really changed so much?
I see the stores carry the lingerie ~ Targets, Walmarts, etc, etc. People hear it on the radio. People see it on TV. People read it in magazines, (Ten tips to make your guy ......... and other guides for your sex life in Vanity, Marie Clare, and most women magazines)
Yet, many people don't want to talk about it.
Michael Angelo did it. Leonardo did it. Renoir, Tizian, Botticelli, Picasso, Dali, Kahlo, Gauguin...
It's just art. It's so natural, that we're born with it. It's our body.
Let's embrace what makes us human.
Adrian

We're just sand...

So, How do you get here?
All my customers, friends and even my wife often scratch their heads when I explain my ideas, or when they find out how I got the image I wanted.
It all starts with an innocent comment, something I heard, or a magazine. This particular one was actually kind of sad. Somebody I know is now in a very sad place. Let's just say that she risked her life, to try to get a better future. Things didn't work out for her the way she wanted them. This got me thinking about the dessert. I was in the dessert taking pictures about four years ago. Now I wanted to do it again. At Home. So I decided to build a gigantic sand box. I had an image in my mind, a woman alone in the dessert. Sad, vulnerable, beautiful.
I figured I could pull it off in a day or two. It took 500 lbs. of play sand. Many trips to the hardware store. A big pain in my back. Almost getting shot while collecting wild branches and grasses since it is hunting season and freezing temperatures.


It was actually a shoot that was planned for a very specific model. Somebody who inspires me and with whom I've worked before. She ended up rescheduling the very day of the shoot. Things have a way to work out, however. I had a shoot with another model later that day. She agreed to do my sand box concept. I feel bad for her. She got sand EVERYWHERE. However, I'm very pleased with the results. I got the pensive and delicate feeling I was going after. Defenseless under headlights. My thoughts go out for Dolores, hoping she'll soon be back with the people who love her and need her, Safe.

The art of waiting: a rant

Beware: this is just a rant. Seems like there has been an increase on the amount of people who think it's perfectly fine to waste somebody's time and money. And even worse, not even feeling the least amount of remorse. Two days ago, I spent an hour waiting, since I had an appointment with a potential customer. Not that I didn't enjoy good reading while I waited, but the gas I used to get there and back, the time I spent getting materials ready, putting pricelists, samples, albums together, the time and even more important, I left my family on a weekend, to accommodate her schedule. You would think she would have called. or emailed. Well, I'm still waiting to hear from her, two days after the date. Just a couple days before her, when I actually spend money building a set for a boudoir photo shoot, hauling raw materials into my studio, getting plants from the lake freezing temperatures, kept in touch and timely followed up with her, She cancels, five minutes AFTER the time of the shoot.

Is it asking too much to respect people's time and effort towards work?