The Secret to a Scents-astional Boudoir Session

May 2, 2017 Bodacious Betty

He rolled over and reached out for her. Her familiar scent of vanilla, cinnamon and amber permeated the pillow. He filled his nostrils with the scent of her. She was gone but her presence was impossible not to feel.

As cliché as the scene above sounds, there’s no denying that scent has a powerful impact on our attraction and our memories. Can perfume equal desire?

Maybe. Smell is fundamentally linked to emotion. Certain scents can trigger or enhance desire.

Cinnamon, Black Licorice, and Vanilla are all said to enhance sexual arousal.

My personal favorite is rose. It’s the vodka of the perfume world since it mixes well with just about everything. Perhaps it helps that the rose is also a symbol of power. 1

Thierry Mugler’s Angel Rose is at the top of my list. It has all the classic notes of caramel, patchouli, and chocolate topped with citrus and rose. Bvlgari Rose is another favorite that is both rosy and spicy with base notes of patchouli and sandalwood.

So, while attending a Givenchy press event at Neiman Marcus in Tampa, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Givenchy has a beautiful rose scent in their Spring line-up. Rose Ardente is described a floral spicy fragrance with chili pepper and patchouli. It is self-assured and smells like confidence with a touch of lace and knee high leather boots.

It reminded me of how much fun it is to include favorite scents in a boudoir session. You would think it would be counterintuitive to bring a favorite session into a photography studio but when you consider that scent is so closely tied to memory and emotion, it makes perfect scents, pun intended.

My job as a photographer is to ensure that my clients feel relaxed. Scent can be a powerful trigger to help me achieve this. In fact, I had one client who was so inspired by her favorite pop star that she has the entire line of Britney Spears’ fragrances. We decided it would be fun to incorporate some of these into her session. I even created a faux fragrance ad.

Stay tuned for my next post to see how Givenchy’s Phenomen'eyes mascara stacks up to Limelight by Alcone’s Perfect Mascara.

1 (http://theconcordian.org/2014/02/12/the-red-rose-a-romantic-symbol)

Once Upon A Wedding May 20, 2017

April 28, 2017 Bodacious Betty

* One on one mingling with wedding professionals.
*Enjoy scrumptious cake and desserts.
*Complimentary Valet Parking
*Swag Bags for attendees

Avoid the crowds of a big expo and the hustle and bustle. Enjoy a very intimate gathering of wedding professionals where you'll have ample time to speak with every vendor. We want you to leave inspired, prepared and excited for your perfect wedding day!

$10 in advance or $15 at the door
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/once-upon-a-wedding-tickets-33515328249

Sponsored by:
Boudoir Betty
Esthetics813
Captured by Arlene
Mollyana Ward • Florida Executive Realty • Greater Tampa Bay, Florida
Mercedes-Benz
Tampa Flowers and Baskets
Paper Majik
Meeghan Carroll Designs
Angie Carter with Origami Owl
Cruise Planners
Belle Torte Cakes & More
June Hall of Junehall.com
Cheers for a Cause with via One Hope Wine

Look Good in Photographs All the Time! Free Guide

April 11, 2017 Bodacious Betty

Being photogenic isn't something your just born with and isn't a Maybelline trait. Believe or not, you can learn to be photogenic. Let me take the mystery out of it for you:

In this free guide, you’ll learn:

The most flattering poses for the camera regardless of your body type
How to use the best light when having your picture taken
How using the right makeup matters when taking a good image
Wardrobe do’s and don’ts to look your best

You’ll also see before & afters of some of my clients and how I utilized the above points to make them look gorgeous in photographs.

You’ll see diagrams of how lighting helped me take a beautiful photograph.

You’ll get a posing checklist so that you can mentally check everything off before having your photograph taken.

Six Sexy Ways to Present Your Boudoir Photos

January 21, 2017 Bodacious Betty

Make a game of it.

Birthdays, Holidays, Milestones, Anniversaries, Albums, Gallery Wraps, and Mounted Prints. Oh my!

So many reasons to do a boudoir session, and so many ways to display the images…but let me give you some ideas on how to present them:

For the couple who wants to spice things up a bit:

Many ladies worry that their significant other may not like the idea of them getting boudoir photos, or feel guilty spending so much money on themselves but consider making a scavenger hunt out of it. You ask questions such as, “Where is that butterfly tattoo on my body?” or “Where am I the most ticklish?” Then we make the answers with the corresponding photos and you hide the clues all over the house until he or she finally gets to you, the grand prize!

Or you can ditch the scavenger hunt and just place photos in random spots all over the house: in between the bills, or in a pile of laundry. It’s also sneaky way to get him or her to help out with the house chores!

Alternatively, you can make a trail of images leading back to the bedroom.

For the bride or anniversary:

It’s pretty common for ladies to come in and get a session as an anniversary gift. The flush mount albums are a popular choice but I had one client take it a step further.: She purchased an album but also purchased 10 individual prints. With each photo, she wrote her husband a letter. She is giving him one letter and print a year until they get to their tenth anniversary. Then on the tenth anniversary, she is finally giving him the album! I don’t know how many could wait that long to gift an album but I love the idea!

Or Picture This (pun intended): You’ve arrived home after a dinner out. You slip into something sexy and tell your significant other to check the drawer in the nightstand. In the drawer is the album you made for him or her.

For the Long Distance Lover or Traveling Spouse: If your partner travels a lot for work, you could put some photos on his or her phone or laptop. How delicious would it be to surprise him or her with a sexy screensaver? Just be sure that no one else has access to these devices.

Just Because:

Make it a movie night with you as the star. When you purchase a collection, you get the files on USB in addition to your flush mount album or mounted prints. This allows you to make a slideshow of your images, which is far more interesting than anything on Netflix!

Hopefully, these ideas have started the wheels turning in your head. The presentation can be just as important as the gift itself, but no matter what, you can be sure your significant other will appreciate the gesture.

Fat is a Four Letter Word.

January 12, 2017 Bodacious Betty

The only F word that was on her lips when she left my studio was “fabulous”.

The most common objection I hear when I ask ladies if they’ve ever had a boudoir session, or when they’d like to book is: “I’m too fat.” Or“Maybe when I lose some weight.”

“Fat” is a word that keeps us from doing so many things. It holds us back from enjoying life.

“I wish I could wear that.” You can but we tell ourselves that we can’t because we have a certain image of ourselves that doesn’t meet the reality that we see in the mirror.

“I can’t go to the gym. I don’t want anyone to see how fat I am.” Please tell me that you see the irony in that. You don’t need to apologize for your body to anyone. You have every right to exist. Stop letting the word “fat” define you.

It's lights out during intimate moments, or we suck in your stomach every time our partner reaches out to touch it.

“I don’t look good in lingerie.” You don’t have to wear lingerie to feel sexy. Sexy is really just a mindset. It’s my job to help to you get into that mindset. If you feel sexy in a loose t-shirt and some boyshorts, then buckle up. Because there’s more than one road to sexyville. .

Who said anything about lingerie? A lace gown with nothing on underneath highlights curves that don't quit.

“I’m too fat to do a boudoir session. I’ll do it when I lose ten pounds.” Wrong. You’re too afraid to do a photo session. You’re putting off an event that is a huge confidence booster, and can even give you the jump-start you need to a healthy lifestyle. Consider the idea of doing a “before” and “after” boudoir session: do a session now and come back after you’ve reached your goal weight.

Your internalized shame shuts you down and diminishes the brightness of who you are. We are far harder on ourselves than the world is. Be fearless, not fat.