Happy Holidays

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a wonderful and happy holiday season. I absolutely love this time of year. Often there is so much to do. I get feeling crazy from all the shopping, baking, gift wrapping and all the other stuff I have going on everyday like running a business and having a family. I know I am not the only one that feels this way. My holiday wish is that all of us will take a few moments to appreciate all we have and to celebrate family and friends and all the other things that are important in our lives.

New Website is Live

My new website is finally live. I got it up a little earlier than I expected. I am still working out little kinks but I couldn't wait. So check it out:
www.definitionimages.com

Be His Very Sexy Valentine

It's not even Christmas yet but it's not to early to start thinking about Valentine's Day.
Boudoir images of you are the sexiest gift ever. But you gotta plan ahead. We are booking sessions right now to get your gift back in time to surprise him on Valentine's Day!

Contact our studio today!

Studio Enizio

I took a minute today and ran over to visit Enizio's new studio - Studio Enizio
Cynthia gave me a tour. It has an amazingly gorgeous pampering feeling. They feature Kerastase products and have really great artists (I would know, I work with them).

They are located just around the point of the mountain in the very North end of Utah county. It's super convenient to get to from the freeway.

I hope Cynthia doesn't mind but I borrowed this image from her blog. I thought it would be helpful to post a picture. I got a little lost but that was mainly because I got caught in today's snow storm, which was the most inconvenient time to find out my window washer fluid was out.

New Website...finally

It's time! I am working on a new website. I design and build my own website... which is a blessing and a curse. It seems that I never have time for my own projects. I am trying to make this a priority though. Over the next few weeks I am extremely busy both with shoots and holiday stuff (tis the season). However, I can't wait to share a little taste of what's to come. I hope to have my fancy-schmancy (or at least better than what I have) website up some time after the new year... we'll see.

Ta Da:

Stripper Music

Alright, I have a fun (and completely off-topic) website to share.
I am a huge fan of music. Really. I love everything from bubblegum pop and rock and roll to punk and alternative. Growing up I listened to The Carpenters on an eight track player and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on vinyl (and talk about a sexy album cover, check out Whipped Cream and Other Delights). Those are thanks to my dad, I'm not that old. I even learned to enjoy country while living in a super small town - population: 285

Strippers Music
This blog is pretty fun with lists of sexy music for all genres and general tips for doing your own striptease. I found it pretty entertaining for a little while and wanted to share. So there ya are - go read a blog about... stripping, lol. It can't hurt.

Lingerie... Anyone?

So I get asked frequently where to buy fun and unique lingerie. Well, there's the always-reliable Victoria's Secret as well as the Blue Boutique. And I can't forget my lovely and talented sister, Becki, she makes really hot custom corsets. (psst, check out her website here - http://www.beckidesigns.com/).

If anyone has a secret little lingerie boutique they know about please share. I'd love to find somewhere else to recommend. I am always hesitant to recommend online shops, only because lingerie is something that you may want to try on.

Anyway, shoot me an email, let me know your favorite place and I might feature them here on my blog (after I go shopping of course).

Still Alive

I just relized how Long it's been since I last wrote something here on my little blog. It's just been a race getting in all the orders for my wonderful clients so they can get everything back in time for the holidays. It's been a combination of getting family pictures done in time to get Christmas cards out, boudoir albums ordered for those Lucky guys getting boudoir images as gifts under the tree and other combinations of winter inspired photographs.

So I just wanted to check in, update my blog and share a teaser image from a fairly recent session. Ok, back to work :)

East Bay Studios Fashion Show and Becki Designs

If you modeled for me at the party on Friday night (October 24th) at East Bay Studios send me an email (include your assigned model number). I will let you know when the pictures are done and get them to you. And on that note, thanks to all the fun models that shared their time and talent. It was a blast.

Email: susie@definitionimages.com

For everyone interested in the custom corsets designed my my totally talented sister, Becki, here is her website address: http://www.beckidesigns.com/
The site is still under slight construction (not all the links go somewhere yet), but her contact information is on her site and she would love to hear from you. And she would also like to thank the models that shared their talent to show off her clothing on the runway. You were all amazing.

And, for those of you who don't know what I am talking about - There is a new studio in Utah County called East Bay Studios. They are involved with VIP Media and Redline Photoworks (some pretty cool people). They opened their grand studio for an industry party of sorts. There was a live band, lots of photographers and models and a fashion show. Very fun!

(Pictured dresses are by Becki. They are made of bamboo, which feels a lot like cashmere and has a nice body to it that creates a beautiful swing in these holiday dresses)

A few of my favorite things....

So, on my website's info page I have a list of What to Wear to give you ideas about what to bring along to your shoot. However, I thought I would post a list of "a few of my favorite (sexy little) things" to shoot and the reason:

• Bridal Veils: Aw, what can be prettier than sheer white veils? You can be playful and innocent or sexy and a little bit naughty in yours. Your husband-to-be will think these are your best "bridal" pictures ever! Remember to bring along some pretty white lingerie (bras and panties work well) and your Engagement Ring!

• Thigh High Stockings: Ok, who really still wears these on a daily basis? Talk about uncomfortable. However, they are the ultimate in sex appeal. They are especially hot with a garter belt. Let's show off those sexy legs. Remember to bring some high heel shoes.

• His Tie: The guys love seeing something of theirs on you. Ties can be a super fun accessory. Playfully put it on with a bra and panty set, a la Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. He'll smile every time he puts that tie on.

Niki's Album

Sweet! I took a minute to update my portfolio with Niki's beautiful album. Take a peek (click on the image).

Holiday Schedule

I wanted to give everyone a head's up about getting albums in time for Christmas since they are the most popular product I have. I have already had a conversation about this with everyone that currently has a session booked, this doesn't change anything.

Alright, my album company just got me the deadline for holiday delivery for this year. All album orders need to be in by Friday, November 21st. So Christmas sessions need to be done well before that. I don't really have many openings left but I may be able to squeeze one or two more in before then. So contact me and we'll see if we can work something out on our calendars.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Sessions for this holiday must be done in January if you are considering getting an album.

Albums don't usually take as long to ship. They usually average around 2 weeks. However, the holiday season is especially busy for them. The albums and photobooks are put together individually by hand with the highest quality materials.

Remember that I have other ways of displaying and giving your photos as gifts as well. DVD slideshows are a fun surprise. Leave him a little note to press play on the DVD player. We can also do prints, mini albums, and calendars.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Bra Fitting

One of my clients sent me this video after we discussed bra fitting at a photo shoot. It's actually pretty good. It doesn't include measuring or math, just things to look for when trying a bra on. There are more videos in the series, but this one seems to be a good general one. (And by the way, I don't envy the model that is getting pinched).

Not-So-New Stuff

It's officially the second day of fall. I love everything about the changing season. The fresh local produce at the farmer's markets, the lazy feeling of the cooler days, and the beautiful colors that start to emerge at my favorite family photo locations are all reasons to celebrate. Wedding season winds down and I can catch my breath. I was having just such a moment of un-crazy-ness and realized I have some fun images from boudoir portrait sessions I have been meaning to post here on my blog. I admire all those photographers out there that saturate their blogs with new pictures weekly. They must never sleep :)

Here's one of my favorite sexy/artsy shots from a session with a gorgeous bride:

And, here's a little fun. Bringing your totally cute and witty sister along to make you giggle can make for a whole series of darling expressions:

And a classic maternity shoot:

Poster

I designed this poster for expos. I thought it was too fun not to share.
Thanks once again to the gorgeous ladies who let me use images from their sessions.

Recent Session

I just thought I would take a minute and post some highlights from a recent boudoir session.
Thank you to all the brave women that have been happy to share their images with other women interested in doing a boudoir session. I understand the private nature of this type of shoot and completely respect that most of my clients choose to only share them with their husbands and boyfriends. I won't post any images from your shoot without written permission from you.

Client Thank You

I absolutely love hearing back from my clients about how much they love their images. I just received this email this morning and it really made my day -

"Susie, I am in the middle of writing thank you notes for our wedding gifts and wanted to take a minute to thank you for the greatest gift of all. On our wedding night I gave my husband the album you designed for me. He absolutely loved it! I wanted to thank you for the amazing pictures. You helped me look so great and feel confident that I am really truly sexy. My husband couldn't believe that I did this for him. He says he has the hottest wife in the world! So thank you so much and let's do another session for my five year wedding anniversary (if I can wait that long)."
-J.L.

Choosing a Boudoir Photographer - The Five Things

In just about any wedding publication you are bound to run across the article titled "How to Pick Your Wedding Photographer". They contain important information and can help you avoid choosing someone with little experience or professionalism. Boudoir photography is gaining a lot of popularity and you should look for the same thing when picking a photographer to take your personal photos. Here is my list of the 5 most important things a boudoir photographer should have/do/be:

1. Someone you can trust: While many male photographers do fabulous work, I still think it's important to have a female photographer. She will understand that you, like all women, will have insecurities and will help you not only look your best but FEEL your best too. Regardless of what gender your photographer is make sure you are comfortable with them. Trust is very important in boudoir photography.

2. Posing Experience: Make sure your boudoir photographer has done this sort of work before. It is so much different than any other type of portraiture out there. Special skills, training, and education are necessary. Posing is critical to how you look, the camera only adds pounds if you are posed incorrectly. A good photographer will know how to bring out your best features and make you look your sexiest.

3. Lighting Experience: Studio lights are a must!!! I can't stress this enough. Window light can only do so much. Your photographer may be able to work with natural light but they will be limited. Different looks, poses, body types, and moods all call for different lighting. Make sure your boudoir photographer is well educated about lighting. Anyone can run out and drop a few grand on studio lights, but that doesn't mean they can use them effectively. Glamour lighting is the key to gorgeous images.

4. Photo Editing Experience: Editing images is an art! There are powerful editing tools out there that can do amazing things. Make sure your photographer knows how to use this technology. You don't want raw unedited images. Boudoir photography is all about looking your best and subtle editing will aid in that. On the flip side you don't want someone that edits with a heavy hand. You don't want to look plastic and fake. Obvious photo editing is the absolute worst kind!!!

5. Portfolio: You should ask to see your photographers work. Make sure the quality is high and the style fits what you are hoping for. You should be welcomed to view samples from several different sessions. You want to make sure the quality is consistant and that they aren't showing you a few lucky shots. On the same subject - Make sure your photographer will keep your images private if you wish. Your photographer MUST obtain written permission to show your images to other people.

Boudoir photography is becoming more popular in Utah and more photographers are starting to offer it. I hope this list helps you choose who to go with. The most important thing is that you are happy with your experience and the images.

Utah Valley Women's Expo

Well, this weekend's show at the McKay Events Center was a blast. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and saying hi to me and looking through my sample albums. I met a lot of really fun women and I am so excited to do all of your photoshoots.

Congratulations to Sariah! She won the Victoria's Secret gift card and she said she will be spending it on a new outfit for her photoshoot.

If you wanted to book a session so you have time to get an album in time for a Christmas gift let me know soon. I have limited sessions available before then! But remember, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Also, a couple girls gave me their email addresses so we could book a session. I have sent an email to each of you, but one girl let me know my email got sent to her spam folder. So check and make sure my email to you didn't end up there, or give me a call. I promise I didn't forget about anyone.

Women's Expo - Sept. 5th and 6th

Come see me at the Utah Valley Women's Expo at the McKay Events Center in Orem.
September 5th and 6th from 11:00am to 8:00pm both days.

It will be so much fun and totally worth the drive if you are in Salt Lake. There are just tons of cool things to see and do. Bring your girlfriends and come say hi to me. I will be giving away awesome coupons and a gift card to Victoria's Secret!

I have free tickets to the show! Email me your name and mailing address and I will send you a pair. This is a first come first serve thing so don't hesitate.

More info can be found on their website:
Utah Valley Women's Expo

Style

"You can define a Style, but a Style should not define You."

I would love to say that a cool famous person said that, to give it more credit, but, alas, I made that up. Or, at least, I believe I did. Maybe I heard something like it and am subconsciously regurgitating it.

For some reason photographers like to chat with each other about what their style is. I think my clients don't dissect it as much and just know what they like. I would love to be able to concretely tell you what my style is, but I can't. Style is something you evolve into, it's something that changes with the ebb and flow of trends, with the attitude and unique personality of the model, and even with the mood of the photographer. Your personal style should be something that you loosely have, an approach you take to your photography with the intent of being flexible.

I have been photographing people for years. I would say my style is modern and fresh because I keep evolving it. I would also say that I know the trends but don't live by them. I want your portraits to be relevant and undated years down the road. I would also say that your personal style also affects mine. I don't want you to look at your beautiful images and see a reflection of me in them; I am just the photographer and artist. I want you to see YOU and your unique beauty and your style which is just as multi-faceted and hard to define as my own.

Sexy Albums

I wanted to share a few pages from an album I designed. The photobook albums are beautiful with super glamorous glossy pages. They are true flush mounted, meaning there is virtually no seam down the center and they lay completely flat when opened. This allows me to design full panoramic spreads without any distortion, and you DON'T want distortion in these type of pictures.
There are a lot of options with this type of album including custom dust jackets, different sizes and the exact amount of pages you want.

There are lots of sizes available in both square and rectangle!

I wanted to note that all my albums are carefully designed to showcase your gorgeous photos. They are completely custom, I don't use templates or pre-made designs. Your album will be truly unique.

A New Look

Defintion Images has a fresh new front page! But that's not all! A few pages have new pictures and there is a brand new album in the portfolio for you to enjoy.
I also have my Private Dressing Room webpage up and running. This page is password protected and contains more tips about your session and a few more pictures for fun. Schedule your appointment today to get exclusive access to this new site and of course our awesome service and gorgeous pictures!
Definition Images - Utah Boudoir Photography

A Break for Flowers

I know, this has nothing to do with boudoir photography, but... My husband brought me flowers a couple days ago. I have been in the middle of editing a lot of bridal and boudoir portraits. Sometimes I just need a break to refresh my creativity. So I went down to my studio, dissected the arrangement and took about fifty frames.
Here are a few for you to enjoy.

New Computers Rock

Ok, so my last computer wasn't that old, but it was slower than I wanted it to be, so I bought a new one. Geekbox in West Jordan is the place to go for custom built computers! My new one is screaming fast and runs all of my powerful editing software smoothly. When my husband and I visited Geekbox I met Cameron, a fellow photographer, we talked cameras and Photoshop and he helped me pick out exactly what I needed. He said to bring my computer back and he would customize the settings on my computer to make Photoshop a dream. However, I haven't gotten back in yet. My summers are crazy-busy, such is the life of a wedding photographer :)
Anyway, the moral of the story is to go get a Geekbox computer, even if you aren't a super photo editing nerd like me. They have computers for everyone.
Check them out online:
GeekBox

Boudoir Photography Article

Boudoir photography is gaining more popularity especially in Utah. There is no reason to wonder why. It makes a very special gift for your groom and it's a lot of fun. Check out my article on Associated Content about boudoir photography:
Boudoir Photography for Brides

Congrats to Jennifer

Jennifer got married in Hawaii a few days ago!!! Congratulations!
I have been patiently waiting for her big day because she gave me permission to use her images on my website. She is absolutely gorgeous and her new husband is a lucky guy!
We had so much fun at her shoot. Her hair and makeup were done by Valerie with Archetype Beauty.

Boudoir? What's that?

So what is a boudoir anyway? And, how do you pronounce it?

The word boudoir actually has many meanings. It's French (ooh la la) and originally meant a bedroom or a woman's private room, but over the years it has been used to describe everything from a style of furniture to a type of sexy photography (yes, we know all about that part).

It is pronounced like this - boo-dwahr. Don't worry, I feel funny saying it too.

Quotes from Ms. Loren

Sophia Loren:

"Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful."

"Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got and fifty percent what people think you've got."

Memories

I have a specific memory of one of my very early childhood birthday parties. My memory consists of me opening a present with a pink bunny inside. A few years ago I was going through some old pictures at my mother's house and ran across a familiar picture of me opening that present and holding the bunny. Strangely I don't remember getting any other presents or anyone being at the party that was not present in the picture. I am convinced that photographs strengthen or even create memories.

When photographers say they are "preserving your memories", I think it is such a trite statement and I have to try not to gag. But, it's true. Great photography will not only preserve great memories but enhance them and make them more glorious and special as the years go on.

You deserve great portraits of yourself during special times in your life. Ok, I hope that didn't sound trite!

Archetype Beauty

As a photographer in the fashion/glamour industry I have worked with plenty of hair and makeup artists. I have to say Valerie Osmond with Archetype Beauty is the best. Not only can she create any look flawlessly, but she is also great at listening to her clients so she can make them look just how they imagine. I am so lucky to be able to work with her and can't say enough about her great artistry, darling personality and professionalism.

And guess what! Valerie's hot new website is up and showing off her talent. Visit her online at www.archetype-beauty.com

FAQs: What if I don't look like a model?

I will let you in on a little secret - Even models don't look like models every day (of course you already knew that, but sometimes we forget). The women you see in the movies and in the magazines have a team consisting of makeup artists, hairstylists, photographers and editors that know how to make them look their absolute best.
At our studio you get the same treatment.
When getting boudoir portraits done you want someone with specific experience in this genre of photography. Posing and lighting are so important. You will also want someone who knows how to properly apply makeup for photography. Studio lighting requires different application of makeup than what you would normally wear.
Touchups on the finished photographs are also very important. There is nothing wrong with editing images to enhance them. It helps to realize that all the stars you see on the cover of magazines are airbrushed extensively. Photo editing is a skill. Poor quality editing can leave the image looking fake and plastic. Subtle touchups are usually all that is required to perfect an already sexy image.
With all the work we do on our end to help you look stunning, you have to realize that the true beauty lies within you already. Nothing is sexier than a confident woman who radiates with her own special brand of beauty.
Working in this field I have come to realize that every single woman is beautiful and sexy and should be confident enough to book a boudoir portrait session.

Do you shoot weddings?

I get asked a lot if I shoot weddings. As a matter of fact - I do! (I didn't notice the pun until I re-read this before posting. I am so funny, what can I say?)
Check out Charles Barnard Photography. Charles is my husband, a very accomplished photographer. We work as a team to cover your wedding beautifully. From his photojournalistic approach and attention to detail and my glamour and fashion knowledge, you get the best of both worlds.

Why are we different?

What makes us different from the other photographers out there? Well, let me tell you :)

Besides being a female photographer, I work with an amazing female hair and makeup artist. Her artistry has been performed on some pretty high profile celebrities as well as for my own beautiful clients. She works on set to make sure every hair is in place and that your look stays flawless.

We have a studio dedicated to shooting boudoir photography. That means you don't have to pay for an expensive hotel. Although the hotel option is available, we think our studio is perfect. It's private and versatile.

I use glamour lighting techniques that are used for fashion and glamour magazines. This means you will look like a supermodel. I also have over 10 years experience with photo editing software (I don't want to tell exactly HOW many years, I prefer to pretend I am still 20). I do touchups on all images. You will see these touchups before you order your prints and books. If you prefer something changed I will be happy to do it. I don't charge extra for touching up because honestly I enjoy it and believe every image you see should be it's best.

The style we offer is a sexy fusion of glamour and boudoir photography. We are very experienced, professional (although expect to have a lot of giggly fun), and we LOVE what we do.

Irrational Blogging Neurosis

I have to admit it. I am a little nervous about writing in a blog. It's not about the time it will take. It's a mix of worrying about what to write about and how it will be recieved. Do I have to stay on topic? I guess there are no rules, it's my blog. What if I sound too casual or too corporate for a blog about my business?
I love to write. However, sharing it is another story. I remember in school I would fill my writing assignments with my emotions, passions and convictions and sometimes a funny story or two only to have it handed back with red marks correcting an occasional grammar or spelling error. "That's not what it's about" I would think. "Stupid teacher probably didn't even really read my essay". Probably not. They were busy correcting 30 other just-as-boring-to-them pieces.

So, back to blogging. I will try to remember that photography (especially glamour photography) is not everyone else's passion. I will also try to be uninhibited and share my emotions, passions, convictions and maybe throw in a funny story here or there.

Enjoy (or don't, it's okay, I won't pout)!

Boudoir Photography on MSN

Boudoir photography is hot! It's not just me that says so, check out this article on MSN:
Boudoir Wedding Photography 101
Then give me a call to schedule your session!

Ta Da, Welcome to our new blog!

Ok, so I have decided to jump on the blog bandwagon. So here I am. I will start by introducing myself.
My name is Susie. I have been doing professional photography in Utah for years. As a female photographer shooting weddings I have been asked many times to do boudoir sessions. I love doing it. Boudoir photography is when a girl has sexy images taken of herself to give as a gift to her husband. Many brides choose to do it as an extra special gift for the wedding night. But these sessions aren't just for brides. An album or slideshow makes a great gift for an anniversary, Valentine's day or for any other special occasion.
After struggling with the hassle of booking hotels and hauling all my lighting equipment there I decided to design a private studio where boudoir sessions could take place. I figured this would save my clients from the cost of the hotel and make things easier for me. So far it has been great.
Check back often for updates, and in the meantime visit our website at:
http://www.definitionimages.com/