I LOVE MY JOB! It’s more than a job, it’s a passion! I love seeing the clients come in the studio all nervous and then seeing them get into the shoot as they relax and realize that it’s no big deal to be nude or in intimate clothing. There are some that have a low opinion of themselves and others who know who they are. But I love the way they all get into the shoot and give it all they’ve got to get the images. It rejoices my heart when a client says “I can do this!” and proceeds to melt the lens with stunning image after the other! Many are astounded at how they look on the monitor. Others know that they will light up the lens before they come to the studio. But one thing is for sure, every one of my clients enjoy, relax, and have fun at their photo sessions.

I LOVE MY JOB!!! Actually I LOVE BEING ABLE TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL GREAT ABOUT THEMSELVES!!!

Ank in a cosmetics advertising shooting.  Timisoara, 2008

© JulioRomeo.Com’ property.  Each copy or use of these pictures is protected by copyright law.

]]> http://casualelegancephotography.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/nude-and-boudoir-myths/ Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:40:43 +0000 casualelegancephotography http://casualelegancephotography.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/nude-and-boudoir-myths/

I’d like to dispel some myths many people have about boudoir and nude photography. First Boudoir (bood wahr) is a French term that means a woman’s dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room.

1. Boudoir does not necessarily mean nude. You can wear clothing or lingerie, or you can be nude. It’s up to you.
2. Boudoir does not mean Porn. Boudoir is a romantic, sensual, and sexy type of photography but it’s not porn. The images capture the essence of beauty and femininity – soft and romantic.
3. Nude does not mean Porn. Tasteful artistic and even glamour nude can be a beautiful expression of sensuality and is not porn. I’ve had clients have a enlargement made of their nude images and hang them in their homes. I’m sure if it were porn they wouldn’t do that.
4. Boudoir photography can be simple or complex in nature. It’s up to you and your personal preferences. Anything from a typical bedroom scene to a totally plain background.
5. Did I mention that Boudoir, Art Nude, and Glamour Nude are not Porn?

At Casual Elegance Photography® we believe that the human form is a beautiful piece of art in itself. Whether clothed or nude, we capture sensual, sexy, and romantic images that express the beauty that’s you. Contact Casual Elegance Photography ® today for your Boudoir or Nude photosession.

And guys… contact Casual Elegance Photography for a “Dude-oir” photosession! It’s something your loved will love forever!

Ok, so you’ve decided you want to do a boudoir photoshoot for yourself or for someone you love. WHAT NOW???

Let’s start with what boudoir photography is all about. Boudoir actually means a woman’s bedroom, dressing room or private sitting room. Your boudoir photographs should reflect a sense of intimacy, sexiness, and femininity. That is easy for me to write, and to describe, but to get your images to look great the most important thing is that you are comfortable and relaxed!

As a photographer who specializes in boudoir and nude photography, I can tell you that nerves will show in the photos every time. If you read our clients comments you will see that without exception they are comfortable and relaxed in the Casual Elegance Photography® studio – even if they have been completely naked for artistic nude photographs! And most of them are surprised by this! I have robes available in the studio for your use before we begin shooting and during set changes. It always surprises me that halfway through the session most women aren’t even bothering with the robes anymore! I am glad that they are that comfortable.

Remember, this is new to you, but as the photographer, I have done this hundreds of times. I use digital imaging and shoot directly to the computer – so we can see the results as we shoot. This allows us to get the most out of the shoot. I have never had anyone say that they didn’t enjoy their shoot once the photographs start appearing on the screen! Most say that they cannot believe how beautiful they look, and seeing their images on the screen helps them to relax more.

There are many things you can do prior to the photoshoot to calm yourself. Take a relaxing bath, listen to soft music, meditate… just spend some time keeping the nerves at bay. Prior to the shoot I will be sending you an email that will outline a bunch of hints and tips to help you prepare for the shoot. You can also look at the FAQs on my site to get some sense of the process and normal questions that people have about a shoot. Again, the key component of a successful shoot is that you are relaxed, feeling confident, and prepared for your shoot.

You may have noticed that we have been tweaking around with our blog today here is the list of changes:

• The first most important addition, which people have requested, is a new subscribe button. This will send you an email of new blog posts as it is via email make sure you sign up with a safe email account, such as a non work one. You can find it at the top of the first side bar on the right.
• Removed the erotic photography tab and replaced it by archiving the photos on our new tumblr.com erotic photography account. We will still post the photos as new blog posts but if you want to just see them all you can go there. We have also included a Tumblr button link to the page in the right hand side bar.
• We missed the music when we were visiting the blog so we have returned the player to automatically play when you visit, but the sound should be quieter just in case you do view at work.
• We have made the sight more pleasing on the eye too and got rid of some of the clutter.
• Finally people always ask us where the best place to get such and such from and we do have favourite places we like to shop at however we are concerned about junking our blog up with lots of adverts so we may add a tab with all the links we like to use for buying different things around the web.

If you have anything features you would like to see added or any improvements or suggestions please leave them in the comment box below.

Kittie and Charlie

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Seldom seen in stores, your friends will have never browsed these three titles, so each will be a complete surprise. More adventurous, and in some cases a bit more dicey, they will surprise the recipient. In fact, one should be opened in the presence only of adults! All three are linked and previewed on the web, all three are but a click away, and your unusual gift requirements can be handled with ease. All come, somehow, from the archive of Jim Linderman, a fellow who has been compared to Harvey Peker, but he is not nearly as odd. The three titles, which should ALL be previewed before purchase…have been well reviewed, in some cases offer free page turning software to view and all have considerable merit and unusual characteristics not seen in your average chain store. As such, choose them for the eccentrics or artists on your list. Gals Gams Garters documents an anonymous scrapbook from the 1950’s found in a dumpster (!) and hidden for 50 years, Shy Shamed Secret Shadowed Hidden features 100 antique photos from the vernacular erotic collection of Victor Minx, and to cleanse the pallet, Take Me to the Water exhibits dozens of antique photos of folks being immersed in baptismal rights along with a CD of appropriate music. Think an authentic and real version of “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? All three linked!

For our new photo we have decided to try something new and go for a more gritty, voyeuristic more candid type shot. We wanted it to capture a moment in time and through someone’s eyes watching a scene playout in front of them, rather than the posed for the camera stylised shots we have gone for in the past.

We hope you like it please feel free to comment.

K&C

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I know we have mentioned it before but please plan early if you want to do a photoshoot and calendar or book for a holiday gift. A calendar needs 13 edited images and a book needs 20 – 25. It will take you a while to pick the images out, then several days to edit them and provide the proofs to you, and then a few more days to lay the book or calendar out. Once that’s complete there is the time it takes the lab to print it and ship it to us. I usually say that you should allow about 20 days from the shoot to have the finished product. Calendars are a bit faster because the layout is a simpler process and can actually be done via email and a phone call or two. But the book layout is much more complex unless you want only one image on a page. Then it’s similar to a calendar time frame. Both books and calendars can have words placed with the images. On a calendar we usually recommend that you create a “tag line” that goes with the shot and represents the month. For instance, a shot in a sexy halloween outfit for October with a tag line of “Trick or TREAT!” But a book could have a poem with the photo or something that would make the person receiving the book know how much you care about them. It can get complex and time consuming. There are SO MANY options…

So plan early, have some themes in mind, get your outfits ready ahead of time, and be ready to create the most unique and sensual gift that they could ever receive. And as a reminder, Valentine’s Day is only 2 months away!!!! Hint hint…

I just had a call from one of my favorite model friends. She and her fiance want to come in for a couples artistic nude session. What will be great about this shoot is that they are both ballroom dancers. Can you imagine the images we can get as they dance and interact with the music? I’m really excited about being asked to shoot this. I envision shots that will be along the lines of “the Kiss” by Rodin, the sweeping beauty of a passionate embrace as the dancers dip at the end. I can also envision the classical dance moves captured in a romantic, sensual way. Yes, there will be nudity, but it will be the purest form of expression and the most sincere expression of emotion.

The key to a great couples nude session is to express your passion and feelings with your partner. Although it may be difficult to imagine forgetting that you are being photographed, my clients have said that once they let the feelings take over they were in another world. The first reaction is always that they think they have to pose. But I keep telling them that posing is not what they need to do – they need to be natural. Once the posing ends, the beautiful natural images begin. A kiss, a hand being held, a touch, or a hug. Natural, beautiful, expressive, and sensual. That’s what it’s all about.

I’m still getting used to the new studio and the challenge is the amount of space I have for storage. But today, just before we cleaned the studio we put up a 30″ wide storage cabinet and a 24″ wide wall cabinet. Between the two I was able to free up 4 storage shelves and 2 shelves in the kitchen area. This will allow me to store more props and things, as well as organize the storage areas a little better. We’re now thinking of removing the front reception area and building another set in it’s place. In a smaller studio everything has to serve a dual purpose!

The word Erotic congers up many different thoughts and each person has a different idea on what Erotic is to them. I’ve asked many clients about the word and their thoughts. It amazes me at how different the answers are. I have a few shots in one of my books at the studio and I use it to determine the client’s view of erotic. By understanding what “Erotic” means to them I’m able to focus my shots on those types of images. When a couple asks for an Erotic Couples shoot, I use basically the same technique to gain an insight into their thoughts on the word so we can put together a plan for our shoot. The variation in thoughts is something I would have never believed. For instance, I had a shot of a woman’s legs in Red heels and a rose draped down one leg. It’s set to a gelled red on black backdrop (see it below). I’ve had some say that it’s the most erotic shot they have seen and had others say it’s not erotic at all. I’ll bet there’s some study or psychological paper about why people perceive it differently, but I really don’t want to know that much, just what they think it should look like. I remember taking a class once called “What you are is what your were when”. The class was about how we take in the world around us and develop our personal views as we grow up. Cool class!

So, if you call me to schedule an Erotic Shoot either alone or as a couple, be prepared to discuss what erotic means to you.

I know the title is a bit strange but let me explain. I received a note from a wife of a serviceman who is currently serving in Iraq. He is scheduled to come home in the next few months. This couple has always wanted to have photos taken of them that express the intense love and sensuality of their relationship and have chosen me to photograph it for them. I’m honored and I will do all I can to fulfill their request. They will be flying in from half way across the country to shoot with me and I plan to make the trip a success from the photographic standpoint. I also have a deep respect for the families that serve our nation. Yes, I said “families” because I firmly believe that it’s not just the person in harms way, it’s a family that feels it all. Mom, Dad, Wife, Husband, Child, Brother, Sister, Friend, and the list goes on. We’re all a part of the process and we all feel it. I served in VietNam – my wife and I can tell you how hard it was – not just for her, but both of our families.

Bottom line – I’m going to do my finest to make this shoot go great!!!! His wife and I have some great idea for shots and I’m sure that we will get some emotional, sexy, and very personal images!!!

The free and daily blog Shy Shamed Secret Shadowed Hidden which posted original vintage photographs from the collection of Victor Minx was once “shut down by the provider” for “violation of terms.” The blog, which was receiving 40,000 hits a month for crumpled old PG rated photographs with no advertising, was not only innocent in this day of extreme web pornography, it had a message about the camera, photography, the relationship between model and picture taker and much more. Now available as a BOOK HERE the first 15 pages, which includes essays and images, can be previewed, like the original banned blog…for free.

A little different topic today. Last night I attended a seminar called Digital WakeUp Call by David Ziser. The seminar was mostly centered around wedding photography, but it doesn’t take too much imagination to move the ideas into the Boudoir Photography business. David explained many ways to light subjects using on-camera and off-camera flash, many different ideas about using some newer software products to enhance images and workflow, and a whole bunch of ideas on how to promote a business.

Although the focus was on a business model (weddings) that I don’t participate in, I find that no matter what the overall focus of the seminar is, I always take away a few “golden nuggets” that I can use. In my notes I have at least 8 new ideas for lighting, products to offer, and ways to increase client awareness.

I highly recommend that all photographers, no matter what your experience level is, consider attending seminars and ongoing education. In today’s digital world, the basics of photography will remain, but how we apply those basics with the technology we are using, is something that’s changing at an ever increasing rate and you need to be prepared.

We’ve been doing a lot of calendars lately. There are going to be a lot of loved ones very happy this holiday season! The nice thing about a calendar is that you are on their mind each and every day of the year – from the cover to the 12 months worth of images. And each month can have a “tag line” that expresses your thoughts for the month. It’s a very personal gift that shows how much you care.

Sorry for the play on words, but more and more clients lately have started out just wanting to do Lingerie shots and end up asking to do nudes. One client explained it like this, “After seeing how sexy the shots were coming out I figured I’ve gone this far, why not take the next step and see how nudes come out.” She said “it’s like running a race, you’ve already invested in getting close to the finish line so put in the effort to finish at a strong pace.” She also mentioned how comfortable she felt in the studio and the way she was being treated professionally as the drivers to her decision to do nudes. I pride myself in being respectful and professional with my clients. Yes, we do joke around a bit and try to make it a fun shoot, but the most important aspect is treating the client with total respect and professionalism. And since “change of mind” for many clients happens, I have started making sure that the studio is prepared to do both venues of photography at each shoot.

Take a look at my website, read the client testimonials, and give me a call to schedule a session for you. Remember that intimate images can make a very memorable gift for the one you love – or even just for yourself!

Inez Lewis Photography invites you to shoot at a special discount
Nov 20-21, 2009

Inez  Lewis  Photography  will  offer  our signature erotic / sensual
photography at a beautiful upscale suite in West Hollywood the evening of
Nov 20th and all day to late night Nov 21st.

The suite has a separate private bedroom and work area, spacious living room
with a gas log fireplace and balcony.
-Rates-

~Express Shoot – $280~

1 hour of unlimited clothing changes (looks).  Most models can fit about 4
looks in an hour.  You must come camera ready as no makeup is offered with
this package.  You will receive approximately 30 to 50 images per look.
Book with a 50% deposit and receive 4 complimentary retouches.  *Pay in full
when booking this shoot and receive 6 retouches at no extra charge.

~Deluxe Package- $520~

All of the Above x 2!  Take your time and utilize the full two hours or
split  this time with a friend!  Book with a 50% deposit and receive 6
complimentary retouches. *Pay in full when booking this shoot and receive 8
retouches at no extra charge.

~Ultimate Package – $760~

All of the Above and Then Some! 3 hours include 1 hour of hair and makeup
services provided by a top makeup artist to cater to your beauty needs
through out the shoot and 2 hours of unlimited looks.  This package is not
for sharing as it is designed to take your shoot to the next level with
expert artistry, focused on bringing out your very best.  Book with a 50%
deposit and receive 6 complimentary retouches. *Pay in full when booking
this shoot and receive 8 retouches at no extra charge.

All shoots include assistance with posing, magazine quality retouching and a
disk of your full shoot.  This is how it works… A private gallery of your
shoot  will  be  emailed  for you to pick out your favorite photos for
retouching.  Any additional retouching over what is offered in your package
is only $20 per photo.  Once we receive your selections it normally takes
about 48 hours for us to retouch and email  your web size retouches to you
for immediate you use.  Once you have approved the retouches, a disk of the
full shoot will be mailed to you.

A 50% deposit is required to book your photo shoot.   Pay in full when
booking and receive 2 additional retouches at no extra charge.  Deposits are
non-refundable.  Please arrive on time to your photo shoot.  Since this is a
special offer, we cannot offer additional time for shooting should you arrive
late.  To ensure privacy between models is critical to arrive as close to on
time as possible.  Additionally, unless you are getting hair and makeup done
included in our 3 hour package, please arrive camera ready so you can have as much
time as possible for shooting.

Thanks and we look forward to working with you again!

Inez Lewis Photography

Many clients ask if they have to stick to one type of shoot during their session. The answer is no, you don’t. We have two main shooting areas so we can provide a full service. If the client wants multiple types of shots we typically start with the artistic nudes. This is because we don’t want any clothing lines on the body from their lingerie or outfits. We shoot our art nudes in our main shooting room which has a variety of lighting choices. Once we complete the art nudes we can then move to our Boudoir (bedroom) set and shoot the glamour/boudoir shots. We also have a small vanity/dressing table that we use for some really cool shots. It’s amazing the amount of variety the studio can provide as far as sets and lighting are concerned.

If you would like to stop by and see our studio just give me a call. I’d be happy to show you around and help you decide how to go about planning your photoshoot.

Casual Elegance Photography ® has been providing professional and experienced intimate/glamour photography since 2000.