Boudoir Photography - Changing Lives

This week I have received an surprise e-mail from Ellen, a woman that had a boudoir photography session a few months ago. In it she talked about how much she her husband still loved the book we created, but she also wrote about something else the book had done for her. Something she had not expected, but it was something she could not thank me enough for.

Ellen was my typical client type, a real woman – in her late thirties who didn’t live in a gym. She only did the book as her husband had been raving about how much his friend loved the one he got from his wife.

She said that I could quote part of her very personal letter here:

“I never really saw myself as beautiful. I always felt plain or average. Whenever I would look in the mirror I would focus on what I saw as my flaws.

But now my life has changed. The boudoir photographs you took brought out all my best features and made me look more beautiful than I had ever imagined. I have found a new confidence that came from seeing myself they way Dave has seen me. He has always told me that he loved the way I looked and now I see it too.

I just didn’t know where to look for my own beauty before the session. I was blinded by my own point of view. Now when I look in the mirror I give myself a quick look and do a little turn and there I am, SEXY Ellen. It sets my mood for the entire day, confident and proud.

Thank you so much for finding the real me. Dave says thanks too!”

It made me feel good to get this letter and know that I had an impact on someone life. Good luck Ellen, you deserve the best!

Orcatek Boudoir and Glamour Photography - Scottsdale

The Girls Come to Town

This week was an extra fun week in the studio. A group of three wonderful women came to town for boudoir / glamour sessions. They were a referral from a prior client whose book that had seen and decided they all wanted to do one too. They liked how sexy yet classy the photographs looked.

The group had scheduled several weeks ago so I was able to find a time where they could all shoot on the same day. Groups like this are especially fun for everyone as they help each other with changes of outfits and encourage one another with their comments. The fun of doing the photo shoot with friends creates a party atmosphere.

The decision on who should go first is always an interesting group dynamic. This time the decision was easy as Beth was ready first. I always start by doing my “warm-up” set on the first outfit. It is a quick set to see how the woman responds in front of the camera and to let her begin to develop her comfort level. The set runs through some standing, sitting and laying poses and allows me to quickly show them how good they look.

Beth was a bit nervous at first, but after about 5 minutes Jessica was ready and began to watch and encourage her with comments on how sexy she was looking. A few minutes later Sharon was ready too. The two of them continued rooting Beth on through the warm-up. I then did Jessica’s and Beth’s warm-ups too.

The ladies were all now really getting into the grove as we progressed onto their next outfits. This time Sharon went first. As the others finished getting ready they came to watch and would often comment on how they wanted a shot just like the one I just shot. As their turns came up I made sure to get those shots they had requested.

Each girl typically gets a set of similar poses, but not the same as I like to work with the flow as I shoot each woman. I see how she moves and what looks best for her body type and adjust as needed to bring out the very best. I never want my boudoir photography to become boring or formula. Each shoot needs to be different to bring out the special something that makes each woman unique.

This group had two who wanted to do some nudes, whereas Sharon had said she didn’t think she wanted any. I prefer to shoot my nudes low-key and in black and white, but depending on the mood of the shoot will stray away from B&W and the low-key set. Today it ended up being a mix of set-ups as we moved between the different sets in the studio. Jessica saw the implied nudes which most of my nudes actually are and decided since she was actually covered in the photograph she wanted some too because they looked so sexy.

Jessica ended up being the star of the nude session. Once she started to see some of the images she really got into the mood and did an amazing job. Something just switched on and she became so relaxed and her photographs showed her new confidence.

We continued the day through various outfits and sets. Each one of them ended up with a wide variety of looks to choose from for their books. There are going to be a lot of very happy men next month when they get their books.

Orcatek Boudoir Photography - Phoenix

Weather Thwarts Flight

Spent last week in San Francisco, California shooting photographs for an article on Airship Ventures. They provide rides in their airships over the area. The views should be spectacular. They fly to other areas around California for special events.

The plan was to come up to their base at Moffett Field and do their two hour flight to get plenty of variety of shots from the air. Unfortunately the first day low clouds caused our flight to be canceled. No problem, we would just go on the shorter bay area flight scheduled for the next day out of Oakland.

As we arrive at the meeting point in Oakland things look like a go. Then we get the bad news, winds were too high for our flight and we were canceled again. Winds are a big deal to airships, as they get blown about pretty easily being lighter than air. Whereas they are capable of flying in the winds of the day, the do not as the ride is very rough, unpleasant and possibly dangerous to passengers. Good call by them, but a disappointment to us.

I did manage to get these shots of the airship when stopped by Moffett for our ground shots. We will be going by soon to take the flight and finish the article.

Orcatek Photography - Phoenix

Glowing Maternity Photography

Capturing that magical look that pregnancy brings to a woman is such a rewarding type of photography. I really enjoy working with pregnant women to document this time in their lives. These photographs will become heirlooms that the family will treasure through generations.

When I shoot maternity photographs I take my experience from glamour and boudoir and apply those techniques. The softness desired in glamour photography creates very beautiful maternity images. The future moms are prefect for this type of look.

Also, I find the lighting techniques from glamour and fine art come into play. Using the light and shadows to contour and hi-light the shape of her belly takes an excellent knowledge of lighting. In my fine art work I shoot what are known as bodyscapes, and pregnancy creates some amazing opportunities for this type of photography.

Often the father and/or siblings will pose with the mom to be to show the family’s newest member in their first “portrait”. And of course there are plenty of fun maternity poses such as baby blocks on the belly and hand hearts that are always fun.

As always I am looking forward to my next maternity photo shoot. I know that it will be a joy working with the pregnant mom to be.

Orcatek Maternity Photography - Phoenix