Happy New Year

Thanks to all my wonderful clients this year. You all really make my job great!

I hope everyone has a great new year (and you should make a new year resolution to come do boudoir portraits, it's easier and more fun than going on a diet and a bigger self esteem boost)!

My resolutions for the new year:
*Update my website and blog with more pictures!
*Do more with my family!
*Keep my car cleaner!
*Start a blog for my wedding and portrait work!
*Oh yeah, and the obligatory "go on a diet"... LOL

2010 Valentine's Day Special

This is big news. I hardly ever offer specials! For a limited time you can book a special boudoir shoot for Valentine's Day. But you have to plan ahead. Your shoot has to happen before February 1st. I will be scheduling a limited number of sessions in order to get everyone's albums and disks in time to deliver to your special Valentine!

So email me (or call) soon to reserve your date:
susie@definitionimages.com
801-520-3739

4x6 leather boudoir album with 30 pictures

Merry Christmas

Boudoir Makeup

With 2010 right around the corner I thought I would do a little research about what the experts think will be the big makeup trends for this coming year so I could share them here.

A few seconds in I realized that trends are just that - trends. They won't necessarily flatter you, they may look dated in time, etc. So! With that in mind, we still want to look current and hot, right?

So let me share a few of my favorite makeup looks for boudoir photography:

Eyes: Dramtic eye makeup is great for boudoir photography. Smokey eyes are really popular and the look really photographs well and is super sexy.

Lips: I have always been told to do either dramatic eyes or dramatic lips, not both. However, you can be a touch more bold for this type of photography than you would want to be for just every day wear. Most women are surprised at how well they can actually pull off red lipstick. It just all depends on the shade and application. You don't need harshly lined lips, think more of a cherry stained look, like what you get after eating a bright red popsicle.

Nude lips can also be really sexy, but you will want lots of shine. And don't be fooled, nude colored lips aren't bare, makeup artists will put a touch of lipstick in a neutral shade on and then gloss over that. This will give a nice even and full appearance.

Skin: Super matte skin and super glowy (i.e. shiny) skin don't photograph well. You want something in the middle. You want to look fresh and dewey, not overly made up. Great makeup artists will also do a touch of contouring which will look very natural in photographs.

Keep in mind that makeup for photography should be a little heavier than normal, especially with the studio lights that I use. They can wash you out a touch.

If you are doing a session that includes 2 makeup looks it's best to start with a more natural look and then change it up a little and do a really dramatic look. It's easier to apply darker colors over lighter colors. Doing two looks also gives you the opportunity to try something new with the second look and it will give you more of a variety of images to choose from.

If you are doing a mini-session you will need to come with your hair and makeup already done and ready to shoot. If you are doing your makeup yourself make sure to practice. Stop by a MAC counter in the mall (Denise at the Fashion Place Mall is the best! She is one of my favorite hair and makeup artists) and they can show you makeup that will look great on you and you can buy everything you need there. Make sure to bring your makeup along with you for touchups.

A Heart For Madison

(Read the original post first. I decided to put updates in the same post to make it easier to follow)

12-04-09 Update: Madison has a new heart on the way. She will go into surgery today. Please keep her family in your prayers, after the surgery the journey won't end, it will just begin. And please also keep the family that donated the heart in your prayers too. The gift of a heart means another family lost their child.

12-08-09 Update: Madison's surgery went well. I didn't know a lot about heart transplants before this, but the more I learn the more I realize what a miracle it is. In a child a new heart will start beating the moment warm blood touches it. Madison's doctor said that a heart was made to do one thing - pump blood, and it knows what to do. I was able to visit Mark and Michelle in the hospital during the surgery. They were doing so well and were surrounded by family and friends.

Larry, one of Mark's friends, purchased Madison's tree from the Festival of Trees and set it up in their house. He wanted them to have it and his generosity has touched me so deeply!

Get well soon little Miss Madison, you are loved so much!

Original Post:

I spent yesterday at the Festival of Trees at the South Towne Expo Center helping to decorate a tree in honor of my dear friends Mark and Michelle's baby daughter, Madison, who is waiting for a heart transplant.

Madison is 17 months old. She has a twin brother, Cooper. She will have her heart transplant performed at Primary Children's Hospital which is where the proceeds from the Festival of Trees will go.

You can read a blog Madison's parents are writing HERE.

Everyone should take time to visit the Festival of Trees which starts tomorrow (Wednesday) night for the public. I am amazed at the amount of hours that are donated (not to mention monatary donations). I am so glad I got to be a part of it.

The tree is titled "A Heart For Madison" and yes, there is a tree under all the ornaments.

I love Teddy Bears. From the beginning I thought it would be cute to put bears in boxes under the tree. Don't you adore the pink lights? I have battle wounds from wiring them on.

Twin bears for Cooper and Madison!

I picked out this ornament which reads:

Love believes all, hopes all, endures all... Love never ends.

Mark and Michelle have a long road in front of them, but I have faith they will get through this. They are strong and wonderful parents and they can be secure in the knowledge that their family is forever and that the trials they face now are just for a short time. I hope they also know how much they are loved by their friends, family and coworkers!

I took this picture a year ago to the week! They both look so tiny here.