Denver, Colorado Boudoir Photographer: Why You Need Professional Makeup for Your Boudoir Shoot

This post has been a long time coming! My makeup artist, the fabulous Lindsay of www.makeupmadame.com, and I wanted to put something together to get across the importance of professional makeup for your boudoir shoot. So many women think they can put on a little extra Cover Girl or L'Oreal and they are ready to go. But while this may look great when you're going out, it is all wrong for being in front of the camera. This is why I've incorporated Lindsay's artistry into ALL of my packages. Her work combined with my work will leave you looking amazing!

When it comes to makeup, looking good in person and looking good in a photo are two very different things. When you come to my studio, you will be under some pretty intense lights. That's why Lindsay's expertise is so important. She follows a specific regimen to make sure you will look gorgeous ON CAMERA. Read her post below for more information, and see the before and after photo at the end for even more evidence (click to enlarge)!

Here's a recent post from her BLOG on some of the things she incorporates in your professional makeup session.

Professional makeup application is a service that many woman do not consider. These are the some of the reasons why:

1)Most woman have a daily "routine" doing their own makeup, that she feels will get her by. 

2)Having a  friend/family friend that is decent at her own makeup and tries to attempt doing yours. 

3)Other women are nervous to have a professional attempt their makeup because they have had a bad experience in the past 

4)Or simply because they feel the artist will put way to much makeup on them, and they won't look like themselves.

Benefits:

     A professional MUA understands all the elements that are involved with a makeup application, from the effects of  lighting and exposure of the camera, to the textures, tones and finishes of the makeup. A consultation is done before the actual makeup application, so you receive a customized look that accentuates all of your best features using your skin tone, face shape, and eye shape/color.  When having any professional photography done- wedding photography, photo-shoots etc., I highly recommend using a professional makeup artist

Professional Product:

     Using professional products and brushes are so important in a makeup application. 95% of everyday street makeup like Cover girl, Maybelline, Revlon etc. is made for daily wear, it's not made for photography. The purpose of professional makeup is to enhance your best features and minimize your flaws while staying on all day.

     When using eye shadows, foundations and blushes multiple questions should be asked. Where do I put a frost or a matte eye shadow? Where do I highlight and contour using foundation/blush/bronzer? A professional knows the theoretic reasoning behind these questions, leaving your application beautiful and blended, highlighted and contoured properly.

     HD Makeup is the new "revolutionary product". The coverage is complete and flawless. It is made for the camera. There is a lot of theory to the whole HD concept, but simply it leaves a crisp and clear finish to the skin.

     Brushes are very important to an application. Makeup brushes vary according to the purpose, design, material, quality and style. They apply the product smoothly and flawlessly while using minimal product. There are hundreds of brushes with multiple purposes, and a MUA will know the reasoning and use for each of them. In addition, maintenance and cleaning are practiced after each client.

-Lindsay


CLICK TO ENLARGE

Denver, Colorado Boudoir Photographer: A Dream Day for Ms. J

A few months ago I ran a contest asking why you ladies thought you deserved a free boudoir shoot. I got a lot of interesting entries. Although Ms. J wasn't the winner, she did come in for a shoot and has graciously allowed me to share her photos and unique story with you.

Ms. J recently emigrated from Columbia. She is intelligent, beautiful and has a great sense of humor! She is bilingual, published in several scientific publications and has a Master's degree. Yet, even with all of these accomplishments, she always dreamed of being a model. Even as a young girl, this was her desire, but in order to please her family, she opted for a career in science instead. She never let her dream die though and worked hard to keep herself prepared for when the day came that she would be able to get in front of the camera. So you can imagine our excitement on the day of her shoot!

Here's a little quote from Ms. J.

"When I look at my body, I still believe I can do it. Maybe this constant reminder that there is something in my bucket list that needs to be done has given me the strength to respect my body along those years. I know that the possibility of being a professional model at this point in my life is remote, and I easily could have let my body go. But I realize “this is the only body I have and it deserves my care!” I am not talking about fancy spa sessions and cosmetic surgery… I, like many other women, will never have the money to do that. I am talking about the basics… controlling what you eat, sleeping well, working out, and having inner peace. Many may think I am doing this for vanity. I call it living out my dreams. By doing this, I have managed to keep a body in a shape I want to see in a picture.  I think that amongst those titles and diplomas…that picture will show who I really am; and who I always wanted to be!"


As you can see, Ms J did an amazing job of taking care of herself and her photos came out beautiful. She is gorgeous inside and out and she and her family should be proud of the amazing woman she is!

Remember ladies, it's never to late to be a supermodel!!

Denver, Colorado Boudoir Photographer: Free Shoot Contest Winner Ms. N

As you may remember, last month I ran a contest for a free shoot giveaway. All you had to do was tell me why you deserved a free photo shoot to be entered to win. I got some amazing entries and loved reading all of the stories, but in the end I chose Ms. N as my winner. 


Ms. N and I went to high school together back in San Jose, CA. We didn't know each other too well back then, but in the years since we've kept in touch. After reading her AMAZING story which brought me to tears, I had to choose her as the winner. Ms. N is an amazing friend, mother, career-woman and just an all-around loving person. Another on of our girlfriends from high school came to help and we all had SUCH a fun, girly time shooting!


Since I was in CA for this shoot, I didn't want to haul my studio lights on the plane. So this entire shoot was done in natural light right in Ms. N's bedroom and I really love how soft the look of the images came out. 


Ms. N has graciously allowed me to share her story with you and some of her gorgeous images. Thanks again Ms. N, you deserve it!

Why I Deserve a Free Boudoir Photo Shoot! by Ms. N
So, 500 words or less to say why I deserve a free photo shoot that would not only be sooo fun, but would make me feel great about myself? Where do I start?!


In July 2008 my life changed. Perhaps the most challenging, amazing change of my life occurred- I found out I was going to be a mom! The next 7 months were a bumpy road, and sad to say they did not get easier. My daughter was born 2 months early, and although I had amazing friends and family by my side, I survived that 1st year of my daughter's life as a single mom...it was hard!  It is the hardest job I have ever had. Not only that, but that year with my daughter as my motivation, I also went back to finish school 3 months after she was born. I finished my last class, scored an awesome paid internship, and still graduated on schedule with my class at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in October of 2009. 

By January 2010, I was engaged to my daughter's father, living in San Francisco, and I thought things were really perking up for me. Several months after moving, I received an amazing job offer for a startup cupcake shop, the job of my dreams! I engrossed myself in this job and taking care of my fiancee and daughter. Days and weeks passed with me taking care of those around me, but never really taking care of myself. Then, my fiancee began treating me poorly, and I realized he had not changed one bit, the main reason he was not present for the first year of my daughter's life. This was just the begining of my realization that my life needed to change, It took complete intervention by my friends and family, and complete heartbreak, to see that being in San Francisco was not where I was meant to be and that my relationship with my fiancee was unhealthy and abusive. 

So here I am September 2010. So much has changed, BUT I do know several things will remain embedded in my life.......that I am a strong, beautiful and confident woman, and I will be that woman everyday because I want my daughter to see that daily in her life. Also, that as a young single momma, it's ok to be stressed out, it's ok to ask for help, it's ok to need a little 'me' time, and that I need to take care of myself so that I can always be there 100% to take care of my daughter. 

I believe I deserve a photo shoot because its time to do a little something for myself! I love The Boudoir Maven's classy photos, and their mission statement. If I do a photo shoot, it will be an awesome way to give me a confidence boost, and preserve my young sassy attitude so that years from now I can look back at them and smile. And who knows....someday some VERY lucky man may get to look at them too. 

I truly do believe that our body is a temple, and I have done my very best to take care of mine and wear it with confidence and grace. And what's just as important is what is on the inside as well. I believe that becoming a mom and enduring all these struggles has made me a beautiful person inside and out and I thank God for that everyday. My life has been blessed for striving to be this kind of woman. Proverbs 31:30 

Love you Ms. N!!!