Project in the works

I got this idea from a peer. He was doing a big mess with a model, and asked me to help him. I figured since she was already a mess, why not just throw the paint to her? Then I decided to do my own take on the concept. So far, this is what I have. I need to experiment with colors and techniques. Any takers to model?

The simplicity of white seamless - NSFW

It just has something. It's simple, elegant. The whole image revolves about one thing only: The subject. 

I know, even on white seamless, I have to make it dark. But what's the fun on leaving it white? I mean, we can turn it gray, whatever shades of it, or even black, right?

 

Here's a truly white one. 

 

I admit, my way of utilizing seamless can be a little less conventional than other photographers. And that's how I like it :)

 

So there, even I like clean and high key images.

Adrian

There's something about feathers...

I know, the angel wings have been done before. A LOT! But I couldn't resist and I had to give them my own spin!
Thinking about it, I can come up with several approaches, different than the much seen Lingerie brand.
I'll work on it. More to come soon!
Adrian

The outfit issue, or what to wear?

The answer is complex. It is complex as it's tricky. When clients ask me if I provide outfits, or what to bring,
they probably believe there's a right kind of outfit. But there's not. What you wear is a reflection of who you are.
So, It would not be fair for me to provide outfits. It would make everybody look exactly like the other 550 clients I had. And...who wants that?
People come to see me because I do something that nobody else does. But the big part of that is that my images are not cookie cutter, like they would be if I provided outfits. That leaves still a big chunk out there:
So what should I bring?
Well, that depends on many things. What's your personality? Who are the images for? Are you confident? I've done session with one outfit through the whole time. And with one pair of shoes. Not ideal but I can work with whatever you have, however, I would ask you this:
When you go out, say on a very important event, maybe a wedding. You pick the perfect outfit. Spend days browsing on dresses, and finding matching shoes. Maybe some jewelry. You do this in an effort to find something in which you just feel gorgeous. Then you make an appointment for hair and make up, right?
Boudoir is pretty much the same. With on little caveat: The images might be intended to make you gorgeous on somebody else's eyes. Find out his/ her preferences!
And usually, guys and girls have different approaches to beauty and sexy standards.

Let me share some images. Check them out and see by yourself. What works best for you? simple? elaborated? is it worth it getting new stuff?
A boudoir session is the perfect excuse to do some shopping!

So, which one is more "you"?  bright color? matching set? dark? conservative? wild? No, there's not a 'right' kind of outfit. They're just different, as every person is.

A couple of things though,

• Please bring matching shoes for each outfit.
• Make sure all outfits are ironed.
• Remove tags from all of the outfits.
• Clean shoe's soles.
• If you bring garters, make sure you bring stockings and know how to attach them.
• Make mental notes of which outfits you like more and which less.
• Try to bring an average of 5 outfits per hr of session.
• I tend to favor matching outfits. But that's just me. I consider a matching outfit to be one with the same colors and fabric on both parts of it. Close enough is just close enough. However, it's your session and we'll do it YOUR way! :)
• Push yourself out of your shell. This is a once in a lifetime experience. So what kind of images are you creating? cute or mind blowing?

Adrian

What do you mean by a couple's session?

I'm not exactly sure how it started. I guess I had a client who had a very special request, and then, from there, it just took off.
The truth is, a couple's session is a very intimate thing. It shows the most basic connection between a man and a woman. It's about the electricity that generates between them. I'm lucky enough to do quite a bit of these. These images are just a tease.
You'll get the idea. Yes, this lovely couple gave permission to post their images. They're just so cute together!

 Definitely not the kind of session for the shy or square. But a lot of fun. My clients make an event from it, sometimes driving from out of town and planning the whole day around it.
The session, a nice candle light dinner afterwards, maybe dancing and a night without the kids. What's not to like?

 The best way to rekindle the relationship and remember why they got together in the first place.
Plus, getting a book with their images always makes for awesome memories and lots of conversation :)

 

 Are you wild enough? Bring your loved one and have an absolute blast.

So much, that these two are coming back for seconds :)

Guerrilla Boudoir

I met my model at Starbucks at 6:30am. We talked a bit about the plan for the day. Public Boudoir photography can be tricky. She was gutsy though. She even stopped to ask a police officer for directions to our shooting site. Gosh, she drove in the wrong direction in front of him!  I knew this was going to be good. Turned out that the site I originally selected was closed due to hunting season, so we had to improvise and headed to a different but nearby pleace. I unloaded my backpack with light stands and a medium sized, gridded softbox, battery and camera bag. Went ahead scouting for a nice area, with a couple of different options and textures for shooting.
I found nice trees, some rocks, fall leaves, a lake in the background. Yep, this was going to do nicely.

She had an amazing attitude. I love open minded models. I's so easy to bounce ideas back and forth. Little did I know that she actually has a degree on design. Well that explains a lot. She just was in sync with what I had in mind. Bonus points: She didn't mind a hike, bushes, rocks, branches.

I love using natural light. But I like to tweak it. So as usual, I had to carry a ton of gear, just to  make sure.
Within less than 90 minutes, we tried 6 outfits, a bunch of different looks and moods. All within a 100 yard radius and in a small public park. Just need to have an open mind, choose the right time and a head with lots of ideas!

Oh the adrenaline!

Just a quick one this time, I promise.
When a client comes for a session, they probably think I'm crazy due to the questions I ask:
Can you describe a sexy image? Are you Nervous? What do you mean by classy?
and so on.
Some even get a little confused by the questions.. I don't mean to be a pain. It just helps me figure out what the session is going to be.
My goal is to create the right environment, where a client can open up, have fun, be creative and daring. Some clients get there easily. Some don't.
However, a session without trust is not only boring. It yields lifeless images.
This, on the other hand, is what happens when a client opens up and starts going with the flow.
It just inspires me to create something beautiful.
And just for them. It makes a difference when you 'connect' with the artist trying to make you look good.
Try it next time.
It just creates magic.
Adrian

The perfect day

I love my work, it allows me to express my admiration for women, for their strength and their beauty.
But sometimes, magic just happens. What does it take? who knows. It's a mixture of trust, chemistry, creativity and luck.
This is a clear example. Jenny, the Quixotic aerialist.
Jenny got in touch with me, because she had a special idea, more of a request. We talked it over, she came to the studio and we just clicked.
Months after that day, her session came. This is what we created together.

I don't think that this kind of art is possible without trust, great communication and to put it plain and simple: willingness to be open, to create, to think outside the box and go to places we haven't before.
Hanging upside down wasn't new for her. What was new for her was to be at the studio, trust me and put herself in my hands.
Me? well, I've done crazy things before,  but pictures of ladies hanging upside down wasn't one of them. They had always been hanging the 'normal' way :)

Thank you Jenny!
Adrian

PS
These are other crazy things I've done:

 A single good picture like this made my whole trip. Yep. Crazy.
So Creatives, artists, adrenaline-seekers, extreme crowd...Unite. Come create art.

What a trip!

It’s been quite a trip. Back in February 2011, we moved from a home-based business to a brand new (to us at least) 1400 square feet studio at the West Bottoms. Thinking back, it’s been quite a trip. Aside from all the stories and very interesting people we’ve met, our whole life has changed and is way richer than before.

I wanted to recap all the things that have changed, starting from the sets. Back then, we had about 4 different sets that we provided to our clients. Now, at the very least, we have 16 readily available sets, which we can use in a blink. We’re also working on new and fun sets, announcing them as we get them ready, to be tested by our brave boudoirettes (Yes, I made that word up). We have added classy seamless paper, black and white, custom made textured ones, played with water (and got in a lot of trouble with that!) and have also got rid of the least popular ones, such as the giant sand box (which is a bummer to my wife!).

We added two custom- made computers to our work flow, totaling three and improving the editing process, both in time and quality. We also added custom made furniture by local artist Ian Peters.

We have added in house printing with our spanking new Epson Dye based ink printer R2000, which allows us to improve the presentation of our CD’s with customized images printed directly on them and ad-hoc paper prints, all with calibrated equipment and a controlled source of fine art papers.

We expanded our network of friends, joined business networks, worked with four different make up and hair artists and learned how challenging it can be to try to merge two businesses together, which at the moment, we’re still working on.

We tried having two different apprentices, who helped us greatly and went on their own way, pursuing their dreams.

We have improved our client experience, in many different aspects, from the temperature during the session, which was a challenge when we started, due to the old building we’re located in, to the improved changing area, which is now more comfortable, has more room for outfits, better light and a cozier feeling. We also now offer refreshments to all customers during the session, making the experience more fun and relaxed.

We drastically improved the number of sample books available on site, having books for boudoir, pin ups, couples images, very edgy images, as well as more traditional books for weddings, portraits and children photography. Now you can get a full feeling of the many options, sizes and styles you can get when ordering a book.

We improved our workflow, now adding more and better editing to all our images.
Including new gadgets, interfaces, and even adopting technologies from other fields, to be able to keep up with the huge volume of work we have.

We learned how hard is to build a name for your brand, how it’s a real challenge to work with the big companies to improve your business. We have been trying to work with Google for months about their maps been inaccurate. We’ve been repeatedly ignored by Yelp about their rankings for our business, which we believe are biased since they hide all positive feedback provided by clients.

We ran specials with many companies, bringing our innovative product to many clients who otherwise would’ve never had a chance to fulfill a long time wish.

Groupon, Living Social, Deal Saver, Google Deals.  We did them all.
We heard our clients suggestions, now having easier to see proofing galleries, adding extra steps to our post-process to make the viewing easier for you!

We have learned so much about expectations and how important is to be clear about all processes and time frames. We have served over 371 clients and have about 150 more already booked, having a long waiting list that keeps us busy and very energized.
We have improved our pre-session communication process, having very detailed information sent to clients so they can prepare and squeeze the last drop of enjoyment out of their sessions.

When we look back, we see lots of changes, improvements and great times. When we look forward, we see a thriving future, with lots of opportunities and great friendships to be made.

We see new and exciting concepts, maybe some new partnerships, new lines of business and different models to make our product even more accessible, all while supporting our growth.

We are excited to be able to make a change in people’s lives, by showing them how beautiful they are, and the things they’re capable of doing. Empowering, inspirational, thrilling, life-changing are words we repeatedly hear from our very satisfied customers, many of whom return over and over for second and third sessions, or just stop by for a cup of coffee and a nice chat.
And this is just the beginning.

We definitely look forward to it.

Thank you.

Adrian and Michelle

Boudoir interesting facts

It's so interesting to learn and observe people in my profession. Why? Many feel vulnerable. Most people feel exposed so they act different. Most of the time, they behave so differently than the way they do when in a regular setting, that the transformation is short of amazing.
But today I wanted to just make some notes on things I've observed:

• About 30% of my clientele are teachers.
• About 30% are nurses or in the medical field.
• Men are WAAAAY shyer than ladies. (mostly)
• Mature ladies tend to be more confident and usually edgier and more relaxed.
• Most people are extremely nervous when they arrive, but get relaxed by their second set/ outfit.
• No two people have the same thing in mind when they say the want sexy pictures. So I really don't have a clue what they mean if they ask me to do 'sexy' pictures for them.
• Almost every client asks me how does my wife handles my job. (I'd like to know that myself! I guess she's just awesome!)
• Nobody really believes it, but I'm really shy. I blush quite frequently.
• Bringing your own music playlist usually make a world of difference.
• I've used three make up artists since I started working at my new studio. One left me and I miss her so much (You know it Katia) The other two... oh well,  just vanished.
• About 65% of my clients seem to ignore the information I send them. This usually makes the session slower.so PLEASE read it. It makes your session so much better!
• I purposely avoid checking other local photographer's work. I'm the most isolated photographer. I like knowing that any idea I have, it's my own.
• There are about six other photographers in my building. I know two of them.
• About 50% of my clients order a book to present their pictures to their significant other.
• Although seems like nobody does, apparently a lot of people check my blog. (I'm sorry for the typos. I'm the artist, the wife is the words lady ) If you do find something interesting, It'll be nice to hear from you.
• About 80% of my clients wish they had done a couple of risque pictures, but didn't ask for them.
• The oldest client I had so far was 71 years old.
• I never intended to become a boudoir photographer. I was a wedding photographer, but somebody liked some model images I had lost in my website. The rest is history.
• Most Make up artists (in words of one of them) think they're divas. They certainly make more money than the photographer. Plus they get tips.
• I've done specials with Groupon, Dealsaver, Google deals and Living Social. 
• In the last 16 months, I've done 350 sessions.
• Apparently in Kansas City there's a HUGE community of bondage, swingers, hard core people and all sorts of fun things. Nobody likes to talk about that though. Weird, I thought Kansas City was more conservative. Luckily, is not.
• Almost every photographer I know does boudoir... Under the table :)
• Photographers have a weird sense of humor.
• My average schedule on a work day is 6am to 10pm. I work Monday to Sunday. I take two days off every month.
• An average boudoir session takes 90 minutes. Editing 25 images takes me anywhere from another 90 to 180 minutes. The time I spend reading and answering each customer's emails averages another 30 minutes. So it's fair to say that each client gets about 4 hours of my time.
• Last year I took about 150,000 pictures. 
• Yes, I have pictures of my wife on my site. Guess who she is and win a free 60 minute session!
• I'll keep writing things as I remember them.
• If anybody is there, reading, be nice and drop me a line. Seriously. Gets kind of lonely here!

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

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

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!

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.

Where inspiration comes from

To be honest, I'm going through some changes. Professionally, personally, philosophically.
Then I happened to be visiting one of my favorite blogs (check it out it's pretty awesome) and he's interviewing a wedding photographer, who has a pretty cool story. the year she picked up her first camera ever, she did three weddings. Next year, she books forty plus weddings. All word of mouth, no previous experience. She actually dropped from Law school.
It kind of struck me. How many of us photographers, or anybody for that matter, would love to have that happen? well, it doesn't "just" happen out of thin air. She was ready, she was determined, she had the drive and the talent.
Are you ready?
As she put it, it's not only the technical stuff, which she obviously didn't have down when she started, it's all about the attitude. She said something that just makes sense. "would you rather fail at doing something you love or succeed at something you hate?"
Many times, I thought I was ready. obviously, I wasn't.

So this lady, got into photography because her own wedding photographer inspired her. why? because he loved what he did.
Many time in my career, I focus on the stuff that doesn't seem to be working. But rarely we consider the good things that happen around us. Now I want that to be my focus. So, stop the madness, let's go back to basics.

This is day 8. We'll see how many it takes.

Why I work with the models I work with

My take on models and photography is that each model's image has a unique feature, that helps me do a specific project. So when I get in touch with a model, I insist on meeting first. I need to get a feeling about the person, the ideas, the way they move, talk. After that, I start thinking on what theme to develop. I always ask models what ideas they have, but so far I haven't been lucky: All I get is usually "I don't know, edgy, something cool and different"
So I base the whole shoot on my own ideas. I try to come up with something unique for each model. It helps when they have lots of wardrobe, so I can play with that as well. As in everything, some models have an amazing amount of clothes, accessories and shoes. Some, not so much.
The other thing that I've observed is chemistry. I'm talking about chemistry at a personal level. I had models where we barely spoke more than a couple words, and I had models that wouldn't stop making me laugh. Those are the models I go back to. Granted, the model is an image, so the final effect doesn't depend on if he/she talks or not. however, my work flow is all about improvising. When we're having good rapport, a laugh or an interesting chat, my creative juices just start flowing and there's never enough time to do all the things I'm imagining. If the model sits there and doesn't even say moo, well, I take a couple pictures I had already in my mind and call it a day.

I've worked with Tiffany a couple times already. Something I love about it is that she's as crazy as I am. She will climb, go up, down, and do whatever takes to get the picture right.
It's been so interesting to see how she keeps growing as a model. But something that hasn't changed, is that she models because she loves it. Not for the money, not because she believes she's so cool, or because she needs images for her portfolio to get discovered by an agency and become next America's top model. She just loves it.
I love photography too, so I guess that's why we click.