Be Beautiful Photography

BBP Newletter!

2011-01-16T09:37:00.004-07:00

As 2011 is now in full swing, I've been working hard on getting a newsletter organized. I have found that I am much better at doing a newsletter versus blogging, haha! I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter to keep up on what's happening at BBP, special offers and my random thoughts on life.

Just click on this image to sign up!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

There are lots of exciting things happening in the new year for Be Beautiful Photography. I will have a more regular newsletter going out, so if anyone would like to be on my email mailing list for that, please message me! I have been working extremely hard at getting it organized and ready to go!

I will also have a booth in the Bridal Extravaganza trade show in January, which I am extremely excited about! Calling all brides to be: excite your man before you walk down the isle with a gorgeous book of boudoir photos!!!

There will be two ads running in the new year as well - one in Alberta Brides magazine and the other in the Wedding Planner. Speaking of Alberta Brides, I may have a feature running in an upcoming issue of the magazine - all about the joy of boudoir! It is my passion and I love that people like what I do! :)

I hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and safe new year. I will write again in 2011. Merry Christmas!!

Tracy

Jenny Craig & Ghana

2010-11-13T11:48:00.002-07:00

Big news on two topics that seem unrelated but they are not. So I will share both pieces of news together in this post! First of all, I have started with Jenny Craig. It has only been a week but I have lost 2.5 pounds and am quite happy with the program. I really LOVE having all my meals organized so I don't have to think about calories, portions, etc. And having a consultant is fabulous! I meet with her every week and we go through where I felt hungry, what I'm feeling emotionally about the process, etc - she keeps me on track! There have been a few meals that I haven't cared for, which I told my consultant so I don't have to get those meals again, but I'd say 90% of the food is delicious! So far so good!

Here is a ticker graph of my weight loss. 70.5 pounds is my first big goal. I have more than that to lose, but that will be my first HALELLUIAH moment!

On to my second piece of news... I'm going to Ghana! And before I head to Ghana, I will be taking a photography safari through Kenya and Tanzania. It isn't for two years but I just can't wait!!! But what am I doing in Ghana specifically? I will be volunteering for one month to help children in an orphanage through the organization Projects Abroad. This has been one of my dreams every since I can remember so I decided to do it! I have been planning on the photo safari for a while now, and then it dawned on me that since I'm in Africa anyway, why not fulfill another lifelong dream of mine! So in a couple years, I will be spending two months in Africa!

I decided to start Jenny Craig right now so that I have 2 years to lose weight so that I can have more energy in Africa. I don't want to be huffing and puffing when playing with the kids... or if I need to outrun a lion on the safari, haha! This is a HUGE motivator for me to stay on track with Jenny!

To safe up for my African adventure, I have opened a new bank account where I will be depositing all money earned from photography. I will be paying for costs out of my pocket for everything so I need to raise enough funds to be able to fly there, along with hotels and meals, plus making up for taking two months off work! So if you would like to help me out, please hire me as your photographer! I need cash to be able to get to Ghana and help orphaned kids, so please contact me to book a shoot with me. Thank you!

For more information about Projects Abroad, please visit http://www.projects-abroad.ca/

Trinity's Boudoir Shoot

2010-11-05T21:36:00.006-06:00

This week I had a fabulous boudoir photo shoot with an amazing woman! I will call her Trinity. I initially met Trinity at her home after she called to inquire about my work. We discussed what she was looking for and what I could provide for her. After an hour of discussions and looking through my portfolio & sample products, we booked her session.

I arrived with all my gear. Whenever I come over with my photo gear, it looks like I'm moving in - about 6 bags of stuff including professional lighting, backdrops, camera, lenses and laptop. Whew. I definitely get a good workout from a session!

Trinity was getting ready and told me how nervous she was. She wanted to throw up. And if anyone has read my account of how I felt about my own boudoir session, you will know that I know EXACTLY how she felt! I setup my gear in her bedroom and large attached bathroom, and then we started the show! I always take a few initial shots to test my lighting and camera settings to ensure that everything is set right. This process usually takes about a minute. Well, during this session, this process took about half an hour! Yep, I was having an equipment malfunction! My flash units weren't working! I tested them at home and it was all good to go but when I set them up in Trinity's house, half of the frame wasn't getting any light, no matter what I did. It was weird - there was a distinct line where there was light and where there wasn't. I still swear that there was a ghost in her home playing around with me. It was so frustrating! But every good photographer has a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and Plan D, and maybe more! So I moved on to Plan B and thankfully it worked out great! Problem solving on the fly is a skill that photographers need to have, especially if you're shooting on location! Trinity was also thankfully patient with my equipment malfunction. She later told me that she thinks the whole scenario helped her to relax. I guess watching your photographer make a fool out of herself can be somewhat entertaining. haha

Oh yeah, my camera strap also broke at this shoot too. I'm glad I can laugh at myself when things go wrong. The ghost in Trinity's house really had it in for me! :)

Anyway, after all the equipment failures, we ended up with some AMAZING photos!!! Trinity was so much fun to work with. She was extremely experimental and had lots of creative ideas of her own. Being so close to halloween, she even found a pink wig that she really wanted to play with. Some of my most favourite pictures of Trinity were of her in that pink wig! It just goes to show that if you're willing to let loose and have fun with the boudoir experience, you can end up with some truly unique and special pictures.

Below are three images that Trinity has given me permission to share. Thank you!!! And thank you for an amazing and unforgettable boudoir photo shoot!

Vegas, Baby!

2010-10-19T19:17:00.000-06:00

I am off to Vegas this weekend - girls trip!!! We leave tomorrow after work for a long weekend of relaxation, shopping, gambling and maybe even a little drinking (which is highly unusual for me but I've had a rough month). I am hoping to mostly just get some rest - sit by the pool and read, take naps, meditate and just enjoy in the moment. So I'm taking a break from life for a few days. I'm not bringing my laptop so no facebook, internet, blogging, etc. I'll write again when I get back - hopefully completely refreshed! I still have a few photo sessions that I haven't blogged about yet so I need to get my butt in gear, haha. But that will have to wait until I get back. I've had extremely positive response from my clients though, so that makes me very happy! I'll write again when I get back from Vegas. Have a great weekend everyone!

Boudoir Party Pictures

2010-10-17T12:18:00.004-06:00

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Boudoir Party held a couple weeks ago (the pics are cropped to protect identities). These ladies were amazingly fun and we had a fabulous time! Thanks for a great evening!

Family

2010-10-13T20:21:00.000-06:00

I apologize for not blogging for awhile. As some of you may know, my family was dealt a card we did not expect. Three months ago, my aunt (my dad’s little sister and only sibling) was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Prior to that, she was healthy and strong, planning for her next travel adventure. But she woke up one morning with a strange aching all over her body. The doctors determined that she had cancer which had spread all over her body, including most major organs and bones. There was nothing the doctors could do. It was so advanced that the doctors couldn’t even locate where the cancer originated. She was given only weeks to live. Bravely, she lasted just over two months. On October 2, she passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side.

The two months were extremely painful for her. She was on multiple pain killers but still no real relief. It was painful for all of us to see and hear about the pain she was experiencing. Her bones became very brittle and she suffered a couple fractures from just the weight of her own body. She became bed ridden as the doctors feared more fractures and her breathing became more labored.

But through all this pain, she remained as strong and stubborn as always. She often said that we can’t change the cards we are dealt - we can only play them as best we can. She visited with friends and family, played yahtzee and bridge, and just made the most of her last days through the pain. Thankfully, she was able to stay at home during this time. She had family with her 24 hours a day, helping her when needed and just being there for her when she was too stubborn to ask for help.

I am glad that she is finally at rest. No more pain. I am finding the loss very hard to deal with however. She was part of my support system. She was non-judgmental and unconditionally loving. But every time I start to cry, I think of her saying “it’s okay to let it out… then grab a hold of it!” She wouldn’t want us sad and sulking – she would want us living. So here I am, back at it and going forward. I’m not saying that the tears are gone for good, but I’m grabbing a hold of my sorrow and living life again. It helps to know that a lot of who I am comes from her: stubborn, independent, curious about the world, somewhat blunt and to-the-point, busy, resourceful, go-getter, determined, courageous and strong. My aunt now lives within me and I want to make her proud.

For the funeral, I prepared a slideshow of pictures of my aunt from childhood to current. It took me 3 days to prepare this 8 minute slideshow. Sifting through boxes of pictures and figuring out music took a while, and it wasn’t exactly easy to do emotionally. But it got done and everyone thought it nicely captured her 78 years within 8 minutes. If you would like to look at the slideshow, please click on the link below.

Aunt Rosemary's Slideshow

And now as the cloud of grief slowly floats away, I will get back to editing photos and completing my outstanding photography jobs. Thank you to everyone for your patience.

Boudoir Home Party

2010-09-30T09:56:00.001-06:00

Last night I had the pleasure of taking boudoir photos of 8 lovely ladies! The group meets once per month for some girl time away from the kids, and the host this month thought that it would be fun to have a boudoir night. What a great idea! The women all expressed their thrill with being able to have “sexy time” rather than their usual “baby time.”

The ladies all arrived with lingerie pieces and some brought hats, gloves, shoes and other props. The host provided the snacks and wine/champagne, and the girls laughed and talked (and drank) while I was setting up the gear. When we started the boudoir sessions, some of the women were nervous and a little reluctant, expressing that they just had a baby and aren’t in shape. That kind of talk just goes in one ear and out the other for me, as I only saw beautiful women in front of me. My goal for the evening was to get them to see the beauty that I saw.

We began with one confident woman and the other ladies watched what we were doing. Once the camera started clicking and they saw that I coached the model the whole way through with comments like “put your hand here, look at me, lift your chin, look down, ARCH!” then everyone started making fun comments and got into it. They seemed to relax in knowing that I was in control of the situation rather than relying on their own personal modeling skills.

We rotated models quickly as I wanted to make sure everyone got their chance to be in the spotlight. At these parties, you get one pose, maybe two if you nail the first pose right away. Then we have to move on to the next participant. Yes, I would love to spend more time with each one of the wonderful ladies, but shooting 8 ladies in 2 hours calls for a speedy and efficient process. So basically, I spent about 10 minutes shooting each lady. Not a lot of time but enough time to get a great shot in a particular pose. Many of the ladies loved the process and wanted a longer session so they will be contacting me to book a full shoot later.

The women wore anything they were comfortable in, including baby dolls, pretty bra/panty sets, fishnet stockings, high heels, or even just a simple sexy black dress. Some wore fake eyelashes which is always a plus when photographing boudoir! They did their own makeup and hair. The ladies were also in all shapes and sizes – I loved seeing that!!! There were a few vivacious curvy women which made taking the photos even more fun! Way to go ladies!!!

Once all the women had their session, I loaded them onto my laptop for viewing. This was a process in itself, as my luck would have it, my laptop wasn’t co-operating. It froze while booting up twice. And I shoot in RAW rather than jpegs so I couldn’t even use the host’s computer to show the images. So just as I was planning on passing around my camera so everyone could at least see the images on a dinky 2.5” screen, my computer miraculously decided to work! YAY!!! I breathed a massive sigh of relief as I was finally able to load the images and show the ladies their pictures. No one objected to having everyone else see their shots, so all the ladies gathered around to see my work. My heart lept for joy when I started hearing comments like “oohhh, that’s so pretty!” “wow, is that me?” “ohhhh, look at that one!” – it was all music to my ears.

Everyone was thrilled with their images. Instead of being able to choose just one image, they decided to collectively buy a CD of the images. The CD will contain 3 images with full printing rights of each beautiful woman. This is a perfect solution if you don’t mind the other women in your group seeing your images.

I am in the process of editing the photos now. When I get them done, I will post a couple pictures (no faces or identifiable markings for privacy reasons) so that you can see a little of the fun we had.

If you would like to host your own Boudoir Home Party, please visit my website for more information. Thank you!

http://www.bebeautifulphoto.com/HOME-PARTY.html

Pole Dancing

2010-09-25T13:54:00.001-06:00

I just saw a post about how aerobic striptease and pole dancing can boost a woman’s self-esteem. I think this is very true and I have always wanted to try pole dancing. So a few months ago, I gave it a whirl (pun intended).

The classes are offered in Lethbridge by Kitties in Heels so I signed up for the beginner’s weekly class. I quickly found out, however, that I have absolutely no grace on a pole! While my classmates were twirling and kicking, I was flopping and thumping. I wish I had a photo to share of my attempt to be graceful but it’s probably best for everyone that I don’t.

Even though I realized that I have zero skill as a pole dancer, it was still a lot of fun. Plus, it gave me confidence to know that I had the courage to give it a try! This is where Boudoir photography is similar to taking a pole dancing class – confidence – however with a boudoir session, there is no skill required! I will coach you through all the poses. I will tell you where to look, what to do with your hands, how to sit and when to arch. And after the experience, you walk away with tremendous confidence in knowing that you had the courage to give it a try! Plus you will have beautiful photos to remind yourself of the courageous strong woman that you are!

Feel Comfortable with BBP

2010-09-23T17:00:00.020-06:00

I strive to help all my clients feel comfortable and confident with their choice in choosing BBP for their photography needs. And now I have yet another reason for you to feel confident in my quality and service:

Be Beautiful Photography is now being referred by the internationally renowned Boudoir Divas!

The Divas are premiere boudoir photographers out of San Diego and they have listed me as one of the elite boudoir photographers available in Canada! Click on the link below to see my listing. I am listed under Lethbridge however I am available to shoot anywhere... so let’s talk!

http://boudoir-photographer-international.com/canada/

The Loves of My Life!

2010-09-21T20:48:00.001-06:00

This post isn't about photography or my business. It's about my babies - they are Raine & Cocoa - two male siamese cats who I adore with all my heart! They turn one year old in just two weeks so I thought I'd post a few pics of them on my blog, as they are still officially "kittens".

If you were wondering how I came up with their names, Raine is named after Raine Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace. I adore him, his music, his name and all the good charity work he does for the world. Check out this You Tube video to get an idea of why I love him enough to name my baby after him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHdHSmAuk-k

As for Cocoa, I wanted a name that was natural and organic - this was really important to me. And I wanted it to be something that I loved. I'm a total chocoholic so Cocoa popped into my head... and it stuck! And yes, I spell it the proper way, with an "a" at the end!

These are my babies in their stroller. Yes, I have a stroller for them and we go for walks regularily. And they LOVE it!

My babies love going for drives. I have a kitty car seat for them so that they can look out the windows as I drive, plus it keeps them safe and strapped in. It was cold today when I took these pics so they are wearing their brand new jackets to stay warm! Aren't they CUTE?! (Raine is in blue and Cocoa is in brown)

And yes, my babies watch TV (here we are watching the Dog Whisperer)

That is my post about my furry loved ones. Please don't judge my photography skills on the above photos as I wasn't concentrating on the photo quality too much. But as you can tell, I love animals! And I do love taking pet glam photos.

As I'm writing this post, I have one boy purring at my side and the other is hindering my view of the laptop as he purrs on my chest. I guess it's their way of telling me that it's time to get off the computer!

Thanks to everyone for reading! - T

New Magazine and Wedding Trade Show

2010-09-17T22:13:00.005-06:00

The premiere issue of Alberta Bride Magazine was released on Wednesday! This is a magazine based out of Southern Alberta with all local information, columns and advertising. In this issue, you will find my first magazine ad!

Along with the launch of the magazine, there is a new exciting wedding show happening the evening of Wednesday October 6 from 6-9pm at the Exhibition Grounds. BBP will have a booth there AND will be taking boudoir photos of anyone interested in giving it a try! The boudoir photo shoot is FREE. You will have 5 frames taken and one image will be emailed to you with full rights to print (at your own cost) if you so choose! So if you have ever been curious about boudoir but not sure if you want to commit to a full session, then come see my booth where you can give the experience a try for free! I hope to see you there!

Alberta Arts Days

2010-09-14T16:54:00.006-06:00

This upcoming weekend is Alberta Arts Days! Let's celebrate culture and raise awareness of the arts in Alberta!

If you’re thinking that you’re not artistic and can’t participate, I say phooey! Grab your camera. Bake a cake. Buy some paints and let your creativity flow onto paper. Dance in your living room. Watch a foreign movie. Roll around in the mud and create a mud sculpture. Strum a guitar. Draw. Write a poem. Sing in the car. But most of all, be proud – you are part of the arts community!

If you would prefer looking at art rather than creating it, the brand new Southern Alberta Art Gallery is holding its grand opening this weekend. There will be free admission with lots of art to look at along with activities to enjoy.

So do something creative this weekend, whether you prefer actively creating something or attending an art show... “Every artistic discipline is welcome, every medium, every single style, every cultural influence.” So get artsy Alberta!

Boudoir Shoot with Molly

2010-09-11T14:55:00.003-06:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Molly (not her real name) this week, who booked a boudoir session as something special to give to her hubby for Christmas. We had an incredibly fabulous evening of laughter and fun!

The shoot was held at my place in my spare room (which is a good alternative in order to keep the shoot a secret from your significant other). As soon as Molly arrived, I knew that it was going to be a fun shoot. She came with such excitement! What a great energy for a shoot!

When she arrived, we first went through her wardrobe choices as well as her thoughts about poses and what she was looking for as an end result. Her wardrobe had lots of colour plus a super cute black & white bra/panty set. But the best part was that she brought along some of her husband’s work gear! Due to privacy, I won’t be revealing what type of gear, but trust me – IT WAS COOL!!! What a fantastic way to make the shots personal to her hubby!

Molly was the perfect boudoir client – fun, energetic and open to anything, including a few topless (but still covered) shots that turned out classy and super sultry! She made me laugh because before coming to the shoot, she had done research on posing and had a few ideas written down for us to try. I love that in a client! Plus she was patient with me as I changed my lighting and lenses in order to get the shot I wanted. So after a few outfit changes and backdrop changes, we ended up with a great assortment of images.

Once we were finished the shoot, I loaded all the images onto my laptop so that Molly could look through them and choose her favorites. I was apparently extremely excited during the shoot, especially when using her hubby’s gear as props, that I shot over 400 frames! So imagine her difficulty when it came down to picking just 20 for her photo book! This part can be the toughest part of the whole shoot, but Molly managed to get through it and ended up choosing 20 amazing shots! I have posted a couple of the shots on this blog entry. Again due to privacy, they are non-distinguishable cropped images but I think they are beautiful on their own.

Thank you Molly for a fabulous photo shoot. I am sure your hubby will be thrilled with his extra special gift this year!

If you are interested in following Molly’s lead, don’t be afraid to book a shoot! Imagine your significant other’s joy on Christmas when he opens his gift to find a beautiful book filled with stunning photos of the woman he loves! Book your session soon as there are limited spots available and Christmas always comes quickly! Talk with you soon!

(403) 892-4627 or email at tracy@bebeautifulphoto.com

Boudoir Tips!

2010-09-08T16:32:00.004-06:00

Questions regarding wardrobe, hair and makeup are frequently asked by women curious about having boudoir photos taken. I encourage clients to bring a wardrobe that you love and feel most sexy in! I have a few props and wardrobe pieces that we could also use but my selection is limited so please bring your own items. Please note that we do NOT provide hair and makeup as part of your package, therefore please come to your session ready to shoot.

Wardrobe
Fun outfits are great such as corsets, heels and lacy lingerie. I like to tell my clients to bring one all white (or light coloured) outfit, one all black outfit as well as a couple colourful and fun pieces. That way there are a few things to choose from. In order to make your photos even more personal, a crisp dress shirt belonging to your significant other is a great choice, or any other item that screams his name (such as a sports jersey, hard hat, cowboy boots, etc.) Also, if he (or yourself) is into any certain activity (such as golf, hockey, playing guitar, skiing, etc.) then think about bringing a prop to your shoot! A boudoir shoot is all about playing and having fun!

Hair
Wearing your hair down is usually best for a boudoir session. We will have you moving around a lot so it’s best to be in a style that does not require constant fixing. Also, during shots on your back, it’s great to have your hair flowing on the ground.

Makeup
Two words: False Eyelashes!!! They make your eyes POP and are almost a must for great boudoir shots! Also, you should have your makeup on heavier than normal due to the power of the photographic lighting. We highly recommend that you get your makeup professionally done as they should be aware of what is required as part of a photo shoot.

And remember, the most important part to any great boudoir shoot is: HAVE FUN!!! I realize that you will be nervous when you first arrive (see my prior post about my own boudoir experience!) however the nerves will subside! We want you relaxed - the more comfortable you are, the better your photos will turn out! So have fun and just remember to breathe.

Back from Photoshop World 2010!

2010-09-06T16:29:00.002-06:00

I am back from Photoshop World 2010 in Las Vegas! What a week! It was an incredible conference – had lots of fun and learned a lot! I feel overwhelmed with things to do, but also very inspired.

First of all, huge news for me was that one of my images was chosen as a finalist for an award in the Photography category! My name was announced at the opening keynote and my image was shown on the big screen as well as in the gallery during the conference. Even though I didn’t win the award, this is still a major accomplishment for me! I will be receiving a certificate in the mail that I can frame stating that I was one of the three finalists. Below is a photo of my name and image in lights during the announcement!

As a result of all that I learned at the conference, I now have a Twitter account! I can be found at https://twitter.com/bb_photography so if you love to tweet, please follow and tweet me!

Also, in order to spread the word about my photography, I have decided to blog all of my photo sessions. This will help potential clients understand what my sessions are like and what they could expect. However, please know that I will always respect your privacy. Unless I have received your consent to use your name and photos, I will always use a pseudo name and a cropped image that does not contain your face or any distinguishable markings. This will be clearly stated in your contract with Be Beautiful Photography. I hope that everyone understands my need to share the experiences of clients with other potential clients in order to grow my business.

Please stay tuned for a few AMAZING images taken at Photoshop World.
Thanks for visiting!

My Personal Boudoir Experience

2010-09-04T12:12:00.001-06:00

Nausea. Maybe a little heartburn and indigestion, but mostly nausea. No, I am not talking about my latest Mexican food experience. Nausea was what I felt when I woke up the morning of my own personal boudoir photo shoot.

For months I had been planning this day. As a boudoir photographer, I have taken numerous gorgeous pictures of beautiful women. I finally decided that it was MY turn to have the experience of a lifetime! I had attended a workshop at The Boudoir Divas(*) studio in San Diego and fell in love with them and their work. So when the opportunity to travel back to San Diego presented itself, I jumped at the chance to book a shoot with them. I practiced my posing and carefully planned what I would wear. My excitement built with every passing day!

But when I got out of bed on the day of my shoot, I saw my tired face and poorly lit body in the hotel mirror… and this was the point when I first felt the urge to hurl my previous evening’s dinner. All my insecurities came crashing in on me: I’m fat. My arms are flabby. My legs are fat and covered in cellulite. My butt looks like I inhaled the Goodyear blimp. I have three chins and my boobs are non-existent. Yes, this is what went through my head at rapid fire on the morning of my long-awaited, highly-anticipated boudoir photo shoot.

In addition to fighting the urge to throw up, I also fought the idea of cancelling the whole shoot. “Just cancel!” screamed my head. “You’re not one of THEM who look beautiful in photographs. You’re NOT beautiful. Why put yourself through this only to be disappointed? Cancel the appointment!!!” I stared at my reflection in the mirror… and realized that the fact I don’t believe I’m beautiful is exactly why I need to do this. I truly believe that all women are beautiful, and I need that belief to transfer to myself. So I took a deep breath and got ready for the shoot.

I arrived early, which is my nature for everything I do. I sat outside, read my book, and waited for the Divas to arrive. I felt my nervousness again. I tried to ignore all the thoughts forcing their way into my heart about being a big fat blob. I focused on my book. “I can do this,” I told myself. “I need to do this.” And then before I could run screaming from the studio door, the Divas arrived to welcome me in.

I got settled in the studio, still nervous as I looked around at all the stunning photos in their lobby. Thankfully, I felt extremely welcome in their space, which displaced those thoughts about not being worthy of this experience. I got my hair and makeup done, which did wonders to boost my confidence. For those that don’t know me very well, I’m not a “girly-girl” per se. I love boudoir and seeing others being girly and being surrounded by girly things, but I am definitely more comfortable riding a quad than getting makeup done. But when I saw my eyes with false eyelashes for the first time… wow… was that me in the mirror? My eyes were amazing! And I finally started to relax.

The package I picked allowed me to have four set/outfit changes, which was fantastic because we had so much time to just play! I had Kimee as my photographer and was super psyched! She is very quirky, fun, positive and relaxed. I love to feed off that type of energy. And I relaxed some more.

When the actual shooting began, I laughed. I am a photographer, not a model. At least that was what my brain told me as I sat down and got ready to pose. Kimee got the camera ready to snap my first shot, at which point I asked if I could take HER photos instead. I’d be MUCH more comfortable behind that camera rather than in front! She laughed and told me to just relax and breathe. So I did. And it was at that point that a switch went on in my head: Just go with it! I released my fear in that breath. I released my insecurities. I released myself to the experience.

After the first shoot, I went back to my dressing room to change into the next outfit, only to find that I was having makeup issues. Here I was working really hard to feel sexy… and my false eyelashes were falling off! I called out to Kimee, “Help!” and she came to fix it for me – she’s talented – photographer AND makeup artist! I tell you this because I do not want you thinking that a photo shoot, even with the best of the best, always goes smoothly. But through some laughter and a tube of glue, we got through the crisis. Professional and relaxed; that’s how a boudoir photo shoot should be.

We then went through the remaining three shoots, laughing and joking and having fun. The model in me came out and I channelled everything I apparently have learned while watching all 14 seasons of America’s Next Top Model. The posing, the expressions, the arching, the tilting my head toward the light… it all came together. I was in the zone and I loved it! I felt strong. I felt powerful. I was no longer invisible and just taking up space. I was there to fill the room! This was MY moment and I was shining! We played with a few props and a couple really cute hats! I even went topless for a few shots (yet still covered of course) and I felt totally empowered with my female self. I was proud of myself – I was proud to be me! And I felt beautiful, truly beautiful.

After the shoot, I enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch as I waited for my “premiere.” I was very relaxed at this point. I knew that the shoot went well – I knew it in my core. I was not nervous at all anymore. I was just excited to see the images!

When I finally got to see the images for the first time, I initially wondered if they had mixed up my shots with someone else. The person I saw on the screen was gorgeous. Flawless skin, gorgeous blue eyes, curly blonde hair, cute button nose, luscious lips… who was that person? Oh… it’s me!!! The images were amazing – shot after shot of me in lingerie and looking… beautiful! I consciously took another breath. This time it wasn’t to calm myself down though. This time it was to breathe in the sheer joy of the moment.

Of course, there were images that I liked more than others, which was all part of the process to narrow down the shots for my album. I first narrowed them down on a gut-feeling level – yes I LOVE that one, no not that one, etc. – a quick and dirty process. Then we went through them again to choose my final album images. When we finished the cutting process, I felt awesome. I knew that the 25 images I picked were the “crème de la crème” and I knew that my album would forever be a fantastic reminder of my own beauty. A book filled with stunning images of beautiful me. Yes, I said it. Beautiful me. This process helped to remind me that all women are beautiful, and that includes me! What a complete turn around from initially wanting to throw up!

Thank you to The Boudoir Divas for helping me come to this realization. And thank you to myself for loving myself enough to NOT cancel the photo shoot that morning.

Many people think boudoir is just to receive photos to give to their significant other. I believe it is more for the model herself. If there is a significant other to show the images to, then that is simply a plus rather than the whole reason for the experience. Do if for yourself, ladies! Give yourself this incredible confidence boost. Your inner beauty deserves it!

Tracy Somerville
(*) The Boudoir Divas are internationally renowned photographers in San Diego, California. http://www.theboudoirdivas.com/

Alberta Brides Magazine

2010-09-04T12:03:00.001-06:00

Originally posted on Tuesday, June 29, 2010

It has been a very busy summer for me and it's only getting started! I have updated my website with new packages and pricing. Also, I have put up a link to my Flickr account where more of my work can be viewed if you so choose.

In exciting news, I will have a print ad in the new Alberta Brides magazine this fall along with a booth at the trade show in September. I can't wait to see my business in print! When it comes out, I will post it on here!

I am going to Grande Prairie this weekend to visit family and friends. It gave me an idea though. If anyone in the Grande Prairie area is interested in getting photos taken, please message me and let me know when you would need your photos by, then I can assess to see if there is enough interest for me to make the trip up with my gear. I would be glad to come to Grande Prairie for a couple days if I can line up a few photo shoots so let me know if you are interested. Thanks!

Tracy

BFF Party!

2010-09-04T12:00:00.001-06:00

Originally posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2010

And we launch our new package! Actually, this is more like a new wave for home parties! Try a fun and fabulous BFF PARTY!

Why hold a Tupperware or Candle party to only have the items you buy sit in your cupboard? With a BFF Party, you become a cover model with an 8x10 image to be proud of and display! Let's face it girls, this will be WAY more fun than a Tupperware presentation... plus, we come with champagne!

So gather 3 to 9 of your best girlfriends and host a BFF PARTY! Each participant receives a 20 minute boudoir or glamour photo shoot, then chooses her favorite image which gets transformed into her very own magazine cover! It costs only $99 per participant.

Check out the new BFF Party page for more details. And contact us to host this new wave of home party today!

Tracy

Answers to questions

2010-09-04T11:57:00.003-06:00

Originally posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2010

Hi everyone! I hope all is well. I have had a couple reoccuring questions that I thought I would address here and will incorporate into my FAQs section:

1. What backgrounds are available to choose from?

I carry a lot of choices for backdrops so I have now devoted a whole separate page on this website for this very topic! Please visit the backgrounds page for all the details!

2. I don't have a location suitable for a comfortable boudoir shoot. What should I do?

Shoots can be held at my residence. I have a small spare bedroom that can be turned into a studio space quite quickly. It is small great photos have been produced from this space! Just as long as you are not allergic to cats – red puffy eyes is not exactly the look we’re going for!

Thank you!

Tracy

Chamber of Commerce

2010-09-04T11:56:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2010

We are now a member of the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce!

My goal is for everyone to feel comfortable with their decision to book a session with me. By going the extra mile to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce, I hope to bring peace of mind to my future clients. Be Beautiful Photography is now recognized as a well-established business through the City of Lethbridge and is known for its positive business practices.

Now there is no need to worry! Contact me and book a session today! :)

Tracy

Gift Certificates

2010-09-04T11:54:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on Monday, March 1, 2010

GIFT CERTIFICATES are now available!
Give that special lady the gift of feeling vivacious with a boudoir shoot!
Or how about the gift of glamour for the graduate this spring?
Or the gift of capturing loved ones with a family portrait?
Or the gift of true appreciation to your best employee?
There are many reasons to give this timeless gift.
Pick up a gift certificate today!

First post

2010-09-04T00:42:00.000-06:00

This is my first post. Just checking how things work on here.
Tracy