Sheena & Lemmie Tie the Knot

This weekend was the PERFECT weekend for a wedding. The weather was perfect, and most of all the couple was perfect! Congratulations to Sheena and Lemmie Lunsford!

October 13, 2012

Roxboro, North Carolina

Ceremony: Victory Baptist Church

Reception: Roxboro Country Club

 

Falling for Fur

All is officially here in North Carolina and this drop in temperature has me thinking about new prop ideas for the cold weather months.

My entire life, I've sworn I was born in the wrong decade. I've always longed for the glamour days of black and white cinema, ruby red lipstick, and FUR... yes, fur!!! (Faux of course, PETA, take me off your list) Isn't it just the epitome of sex appeal or sweet appeal (for the babies)??

I'll definitely be incorporating it into the prop closet this year. Here are some of my favorite finds so far (for inside the bedroom and beyond)

And finally, the piece de resistance

A Little Lip Service

Today's fashion inspiration is bold statement lips. If you haven't noticed, bold lips are popping up all over the fall runways. And as you can see, sometimes a great lip color is all you need to complete the look. Today my friend Ashley over at FabEllis blogged about how you can duplicate this look on a budget. Go over and check her out. Fall Trend: The (Budget Friendly) Dark Lip

Who cut the "Cheese?" - How to get REAL smiles from your kids

We've all done it! "Say Cheese" we yell just before taking that "perfect" picture of our kid on the first day of school, or the moment they loose their first tooth. Only to be ruined by the dreaded, and yes, CHEESY, "Say Cheese" smile. 

The good news is, you never have to get stuck with another fake smile again, here are a few simple ways to get a genuine smile EVERY time

1. Cut the Cheese - Vow right now to never again utter the words "Say Cheese". In fact you can say anything but "Say Cheese". How about, "Say.... Ravioli" or "Say.... Elephant". I promise the unexpected, new and improved version will have your kids in stitches. And seriously, who doesn't love a picture of a child laughing??

2. Don't be so serious - If you want your subject to have fun, you will have to have fun too. This is especially true when it comes to children. Its perfectly okay to act your shoe size. Crack a corny joke, or sing off key. Kids love it when they see adults having fun! Go ahead, try it

3. Reverse Psychology, works every time - What would your child do if you said in the most serious voice you could muster, while holding your camera "Whatever you don DONT smile"? I don't know about yours but every kid I know would give you their biggest, toothiest grin ever. If it doesn't work for your tike, try... "make a scared/funny/silly/sad/happy face" I love "faces"

4. Let them be the judge - always show your kid how awesome they look when they are being real. show them the "Say Cheese" image and the "Ravioli" image and ask them which they like most.

Attention photographers and survivors:
Please join Faithful Grace Photography in our push to share our love of photography with breast cancer survivors! We urge you to use your talent for photography to give the gift of memories to at least one family who has been affected by breast cancer.



When?
During the month of october
Why?
To raise breast cancer awareness and show love to those affected.
How?
by donating your time and talent


SURVIVORS: Find out if there is a participating photographer in your area here: Photographer Directory

How to look great in EVERY Photo... No matter What

So, you and your very best girlfriends had a blast last night at dinner. Everything was perfect, your hair, your dress, and your shoes were fabulous and comfortable. You just can't wait to see all the pictures... you log onto Facebook and low and behold, you've been tagged,  you log on, only to find out that hair... not so good. The dress... it looked okay when you left the house, but looking at the pictures, you're having second thoughts. The shoes... well they are still fabulous and comfortable. But even so, you're untagging yourself because you look like you have 2 chins (despite your rigid workout routine) and weigh 15 pounds more than you really do.

Its happened to ALL of us!! But alas, the solution is here! I have the 3 secrets to looking GREAT in EVERY photo!!

FIRST: Start with the Feet. By putting all of your weight on your back foot and pushing your hips back as far as you can you will instantly look slimmer. Why? Because everything close to the camera looks bigger and everything far away from the camera looks smaller.

SECOND : Keep your arms away from your body. By leaving a gap between the arms and the body it removes the appearance of bulk. This is a little bit tricky because simply raising the arms off the body can sometimes make you look like there are oranges in your armpits–awkward! Instead try putting your hands on your hips for a little more natural looking pose.

THIRD: And always remember, chin forward and down. . In the example below you can see in the after shot how by simply pushing your chin forward then ever so slightly down you can eliminate the double chin phenomena. Essentially, stretch your forehead forward and down a bit to accentuate your jawline.

BOUDOIR HOLIDAY MINI SESSIONS

GIVE HIM YOU THIS HOLIDAY.

BOOK A HOLIDAY SESSION TO TRULY SHARE THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS!

Our Boudoir Holiday Session Marathon is a mini 20-30 minute boudoir experience based on a “holiday” look. Bookings are on a first come, first serve basis with limited availability. To reserve your spot the total session amount is due at time of booking. Please review info below for more information

BOUDOIR HOLIDAY MINI SESSION $75 

20-30 Minute Session With Lens Time & Art Direction

Dressing Area 

Holiday Props Or Bring Your Own

Professional Red Or White Holiday Set Choice

Choice Of One Of 3 Holiday Sets 

5 Retouched Hi-Res Digital Images For Download (Choose Your 5 Favorites For Retouching)

1 Printed Photo Holiday Card With Envelope 

“Have A Sexy Holiday” Gift Tag

MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BOUDOIR MINI SESSIONS

What is a boudoir mini session? This session is a 20-30 minute mini session experience with just one outfit that is styled for a “holiday” look. Perfect for a unique and sexy holiday or New Year’s gift for your significant other near or far. The session time includes one outfit, set selection, getting ready including changing & lens time.

But I want more “lens time” & more outfits! This session is NOT for clients who desire more outfit/hair/makeup changes and a large album. We suggest you book one of our regular boudoir sessions and add-on the holiday option.

Who photographs the sessions? Photography & art direction are by Amber Randolph the owner of Boudoir Belly Baby / 1000 Words Photography.

Retouching/DVD: Unlike our regular boudoir sessions where we upload only all retouched images, mini session images are uploaded as proofs with 5 images retouched of your choice. Additional images will be retouched if you purchase additional product(s) for those image(s). No DVD is supplied.

Hair & Makeup? This session does NOT include or have hair & makeup add-ons, you must come with H&M ready.

BOOKING YOUR BOUDOIR HOLIDAY MINI SESSION

Before booking please scroll to bottom of page & read our marathon FAQ’S

• Book your session by calling us @919.291.1466 or email us at boudoirbellybaby@gmail.com 

• Once you have a verbal or email confirmation of your desired date/time we will email you our agreement & payment link payable online.

Please note no appointments are not confirmed until you have paid for your session in full-$75.

If your payment is not received within 24 hours your spot will not be held.

BOUDOIR HOLIDAY MINI Session FAQS

Please Note That These FAQs Vary From Our Regular Boudoir Sessions

How old do I have to be to do a boudoir session? You must be 18 years of age and show your ID prior to your session in order to do the boudoir session.

What is a boudoir holiday mini session? This session is a 20-30 minute mini session experience with just one outfit that is styled for a”holiday” look. Perfect for a unique and sexy holiday or New Year’s gift for your significant other near or far. The session time includes one outfit and set selection, getting ready including changing & lens time.

But I want more “lens time” & more outfits! This session is NOT for clients who desire more outfit/hair/makeup changes and a large album. We suggest you book one of our regular boudoir sessions and add-on the holiday option.

I do not celebrate certain holidays; can I still do this session? Absolutely! We have red or white sets so choose a white set and some white lingerie or bring your own different colored lingerie.

What does the holiday mini session include?

20-30 Minute Session With Lens Time & Art Direction
Dressing Area
Holiday Props Or Bring Your Own
Professional Red Or White Holiday Set Choice
Choice Of One Of 3 Holiday Sets (Red Or White Only)
5 Retouched Hi-Res Digital Images For Download (Choose Your 5 Favorites For Retouching)
1 Printed Photo Holiday Card With Envelope
“Have A Sexy Holiday” Gift Tag


How soon should I book my spot for the holiday session? Space is very limited! We suggest you book as soon as you can.

What happens if I am late for my session? These sessions move very quickly so if you are late you will only have the amount of time left in the time frame your appointment was booked for.

Can I arrive early for my session? Yes! Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to get yourself checked in and to review our product offerings.

What if I need to reschedule? You should call us immediately if you need to reschedule your session time and or date. We are unable to promise a reschedule since these sessions come and go very quickly. We will do our best to accommodate you. However you may apply your payment to a regular boudoir session for after the holidays in the event we cannot accommodate a reschedule.

Can I bring a friend? Yes. But we ask you only bring one person. There is very limited space during our sessions.

Do I have to have my photo on your website or blog? While we like to use our clients’ photos as our web and blog content we respect your privacy and only use client images with their permission. We also never post any of our client photos if the session’s images will be a gift for someone until after that special date. We always wait until that special event has taken place if you have agreed that we can use your images online and for our marketing materials.

Can I add more options from your regular boudoir sessions into my holiday session? The boudoir holiday mini session is not available for customization. This session is NOT for clients who desire more outfit/hair/makeup changes and a full album. We suggest you book one of our regular boudoir sessions and add-on the holiday option.

What kind of sets is available for the holiday sessions? We have a professional red or white holiday set choice depending on the lingerie you choose.

Do you supply the lingerie or props for this holiday session? Shoes & props that coordinate with our holiday sets are available from our holiday boudoir closet for your use or bring your own holiday outfit. Please note we do not have panties for you to borrow. You should bring your own (not see through) red, white and black panties to use with our holiday lingerie.

Can I change into more than one holiday outfit? No. This session is NOT for clients who desire more outfit/hair/makeup changes and a full album. We suggest you book one of our regular boudoir sessions and add-on the holiday option.

Can I have my makeup done at your studio before my session? Since this session is very fast moving hair & makeup is not available for our holiday mini sessions, you must arrive with your hair and makeup completely done. No full hair & makeup styling is permitted in our boudoir closet during marathons. Only small touch-ups are possible which must be done by you only.

When will my photos be ready? It can take up to 1 week until your gallery is ready with all your proofs. We will email you a link to your gallery when they are available.

Will all of my photos from my holiday session be retouched? Typically for our regular boudoir sessions all of our gallery uploads are retouched, however for this special mini session we offer 5 retouched images chosen by you. Additional images will be retouched if you purchase additional product(s) for those image(s). The 5 images you choose will be available as a hi-res download. All the additional retouched images are NOT available for download.

How many photos will be taken during my holiday session? We can shoot anywhere between 30-100+ photographs of you during your session.

What kind of holiday card is included with my session? A 5×7 glossy, holiday card and envelope is included with your session. You can choose from a few holiday card designs at the time of your session and select the photo of your choice from your retouched photos via your online gallery.

What products can I order? You can order prints, wall hangings and other specialty products during or after your session You can also order calendars, additional greeting cards, and albums via our special order forms. You will receive all this ordering info when your gallery is emailed to you.

Will my products be ready for my holiday gift date? We have placed a 12/09/12 production deadline in place to ensure your holiday delivery. If you will be shipping your gift out or leaving town for the holidays please inquire at the time of your session booking so we can be sure to accommodate your delivery gift date.

How will I receive my products? All products will be shipped to you in an unmarked package unless other arrangements have been made.

How to Avoid Looking Terrible in Your Senior Photo

Nothing could possibly worse in this world than looking back 10 or 15 years from now and realizing your yearbook picture totally sucked!! Please people, don't be a victim of bad hair, huge hoop earrings and a turtle neck!!! You can avoid being immortalized forever by seeking out the expertise of a photographer that isn't required to use a muddled brown backdrop and shoot your session in 5 minutes in the school gym!!! Right now you can get a sweet deal and a few fantastic photographs, while saving money and being the envy of all your friends

Refer more and save more:

1 friend = 10% off (you pay $90)

2 friends = 20% off (you pay $80)

refer 10 friends and your session is FREE!!!!!! 

Call me or email me TODAY!!! What are you waiting on?

All About Brows!

Here's an idea, in your spare time, Google Eyebrow Fail (or just click that link). Laughing your pants off yet??

Seriously, is there anything worse than a bad brow?? Well maybe one or two things, but they involve weapons of mass destruction, so in reality, bad brows pretty much take the cake. "What do I do?" you may be asking, well, I called up my fabulous Make Up Artist Angel and asked her her opinion on brows. Here is what she has to say on the topic:

Happy Friday, everyone! One of my favorite features is eyebrows! Providing such a beautiful frame for "the windows to the soul", well groomed eyebrows are a must in your beauty regimen. Here are a few tips to keep your eyebrows looking fabulous:


1. Find your ideal shape.

To find your natural brow shape and thickness, let your eyebrows grow out for a month. Now, I know the thought of this is overwhelming, but trust me! Fuller, thicker eyebrows are in for the fall! Then, hold the brush against the side of your nose so its tip rests on your forehead. Your brows should begin where the edge of the bristles lands. Next, align the brush with the outside edge of your iris. Where the brush meets your brow is your arch. Finally, hold the brush diagonally from your nostril to the outer corner of your eye and up to your brow. The point where the brush intersects with the brow is where the brow should end. Easy enough, right?

2. Tweeze when you need to, but skip waxing.

What? Skip your scheduled trip to the salon for your waxing? Though tweezing allows you to pull only one hair at a time, it's safer than waxing because you don't risk being burned, having an allergic reaction to the wax or stripping away your whole eyebrow.

3. If you have long eyebrow hairs, cut them.

Brush out your brows using a brow brush or a clean mascara spoolie and use a small pair of scissors to trim any that are lying just outside of your natural brow line. Think of this like trimming your hedges. You are not pruning them, just trimming, sparingly, and carefully!

4. Fill in your brows.

I prefer powder eye shadow over gels or pencils, but pencils can be good for someone who has very sparse brows. Be wary of applying your pencil too heavily. It can look obvious. You're only filling in, not drawing them on. You can apply powder over the pencil to soften the look and help prevent it from looking too "precise". Brow gels are good for those who would like to add a bit of color or need a small amount of fill in.

And a trusty stand by for those of us who tend to have unruly eyebrows, swipe a little clear mascara through them to keep them in place!

Stay beautiful,
Angel

We've Come a Long Way (with) Baby

Flash back to 1991, it was the cover that rocked the magazine world. Demi Moore, baring it, 8 month pregnant belly and all, for the whole world to see. Some of us were shocked, some of us were liberated, but all of us had to have secretly or not been proud that someone was brave enough to make pregnancy glamorous.

Flash forward over 20 years to 2012 and mommies to be are still showing off their bellies in front of the camera. A whole entire genre of photography was born from that Annie Leiboviz photo for Vanity Fair. Celebs and normal everyday working girls have donned the pose and captured this special moment for ever.  I wonder if we would even see pregnancy as sexy if it hadn't been for this daring cover. 

I for one am glad that gone are the days of the maternity moo-moo. Fashion for expectant moms can be seen on the runway. As a matter of fact, NY Spring Fashion week is in full swing now, and designers like Marc Jacobs and Liz Lange will be showing their Maternity collections at Bryant Park.

Even reality TV has recognized women's desire to see successful, beautiful, and glamorous baby bumps. Shows like Tia & Tamera and Pregnant in Heels make expectant mothers feel good about their bodies. I for one think its GREAT. 

For fashion forward and great fitting Maternity wear, check out some of favorite websites and designers. 

Zulily

Isabella Oliver

Unbuttoned Maternity

Liz Lange

Shop Bop

Happy shopping!

-Amber

Here Comes the Bride

This week I had the honor and pleasure of photographing a special bride. She'll be getting married this Saturday and wanted to give her groom a special gift on their wedding day. So she packed up all of her lacy, racy, pretty, and frilly things and headed over to the BBB studio. My Make up artist extraordinaire, Angel, and I had a great time giving her the royal treatment with hair, makeup, and a two hour photo shoot. I can't ruin the groom's surprise, but I can share a before and after picture! She was AMAZING!! Don't you agree?

-Amber

                                    Before                                                                         After

By a Show of Hands

I was going through at photographs today on Pinterest, as I often do, and found that I was particularly inspired by close up images of hands. And so my Snap Shot Saturday blog post was born. As I searched the web for hand images, I began to realize how important our hands actually are, but sadly we take them for granted. Just think of the things we do everyday with out a second thought... all made possible by the use of our hands. AMAZING. I am often guilty of cropping out hands from my photographs, and like so many other photographers, I concentrate on faces, eyes, and smiles. But all of the images I saw today tell just as much of a story. I just had to share some of my favorites. I hope you are inspired as well. 

-Amber

Fabulously False

Long thick eyelashes are one of those things that every girl wishes she had. They really make your face pop, especially in photographs, not to mention they give you that extra oomph when you're going out with the girls. My  problem has been I can never get them applied correctly on my own... Until now!!! The Beauty Department has demystified applying lashes!!! Go check out the Lash Tutorial and let me know how it goes!

3..2..1...Blog BLAST OFF

Well, I've finally gotten around to the "create a business blog" line on the ever growing To-Do List for starting a business. Its actually kind of strange to be staring at a blank blog template and trying to figure out what to write. So I figured I would start off by letting you know what you can expect from me and this blog.

After countless hours with my thinking cap on, I've decided to devote each day of the week to a specific theme:
Maternity Mondays - everything you need to know about your maternity photo session
Tantalizing Tuesdays - everything you need to know about your boudoir/glamour photo session
What to Wear Wednesdays - everything you need to know about looking your best
Friendly Fridays - guest contributors give us their two cents and I'll weigh in on my favorites
Snap Shot Saturdays - how to WIN at taking and being in ANY photo
Sum it Sundays - a recap of everything fabulous from the week.

I can't wait to start interacting with you... while you're here, be sure to check out my FACEBOOK page... go ahead, everyone's doing it

-Amber