We LOVE WPPI!!!! Cannot WAIT for WPPI 2012, and it’s coming up so quickly! We will be speaking (Boudoir Divas Platform Class, heyoooo!!!) on Sunday February 19, from 3-5pm, so be sure to register and then sign up for our class through the WPPI Pre-boarding option.

We will also have our booth at the Tradeshow again this year, and we’ll be showing off our new Posebooks, along with some other awesome products – so stop by to see us! In case you are wondering if we ever have fun at our

LOL. Literally… L.O.L. I am working on our new studio site, it’s 11pm and I am having a freakin’ blast. Albeit my eyes are half shut, my back is slouched and I am hungry, but who cares, this is way too much fun. I lost focus for just a sec and wandered into the interactive internet world and I saw this and literally laughed and laughed. It reverberated through the very empty studio. This couldn’t describe me more at this moment.

I LOOOOVE branding and marketing. It gets me up early in the morning and keeps me up late at night. Hence the fact that I can call my 14 hour day one of the best days this week. I know my Bitner Kimberlee is with me. What flippin dorks. Who’s else is with us? I know we aren’t alone out there. -M
PS. Sorry I keep cussing on our blog Moms (Cecelia & Carol). I know you hate it. And we don’t typically cuss. But every once in a while it make for a very effective an convincing point, does it not?

Kaitlyne Green, GreenTee Boudoir!!! CONGRATS Kaitlyne! You get to choose your prize… either a) 60-minute Skype consultation with Kimberlee, b) a $100 gift certificate for the Boudoir Shop, or c) $75 gift card to Victoria’s Secret! Congratulations, and thank you again to EVERYONE who participated and sent in a video! xoxo, K&M

I don’t usually get into the resolution hype. I am a goal setter in general so I feel like the the whole new year resolution concept is just a way I really hope live my life in general… but, something happened this year. I think I allowed myself to be a little bit lazy the past few weeks in anticipation that I knew that I was going to work 2012. Kimberlee and I always say to “Dare to Dream” and to “make shtuff happen” and so as this new year is upon us I have so many ideas and goals that my head is abuzz with excitement. From studio set revamps to Boudoir International to re-doing our “Workshop in a Book.” But from past experience I know that I really need to focus my time and energy every day in a strategic way to make those things happen, and with that said I need to start every day organized and with a game plan. So I wanted to share with you what my to-do list looks like and invite you to use it if you wish. Here is what it looks like…..

A few tips on how I like to use this thing. So the bottom four blocks are my list of all the things I want to accomplish this week. Then every morning I decide what I will tackle that day, and I add to the day’s to do list. I love feeling like I met my goals at the end of the day, so I select my day’s to-dos without being too overzealous. I try to be realistic. It keeps me calm and then I feel more satisfied at the end of the day. If at the end of the week you haven’t finished all the to-do’s in your four boxes at the bottom, you can always move them over to the new week’s to-do list.

The long term goals are things that take a substantial time to accomplish. I put the overall larger goals there with due dates. Then every week I assign myself smaller tasks to chip away at those.

Another little tip is that I love to put photography goals in my “major goal this week” area. For instance I wanted to improve my “wide open” technique and set an intention to try to get
sharper images at the time I chose to shoot at 1.2 that week. Another week I wanted to master my black and white presets making them look more film quality etc.

So as I sit at my desk for the first time in 2012 I feel so grateful and blessed to be where I am right now; so many of my dreams realized. But I know that God has more planned for K and I, and I am eager to get started. I pray this is new year finds you refreshed, invigorated and ready to make 2012 your bitch! Make it be the vehicle for the life you envision for yourself. And if you are brave enough to commit to your big goal, we would love to hear them! Let’s encourage each other as we start the new year with a serious bang. Love all you fellow Bou photographers!

Just got this email, and it made me smile. So, I thought I’d share it with you all. :) YES, we DO still have spots open for our January workshop – if you have any questions about it, please feel free to shoot me an email (info@theboudoirdivas.com). And be sure to check out our boudoir workshop website for more information!

“I appreciate everything you guys had done for me and my business. You guys are simply the best, and every time a client asks me how I got into boudoir your name undoubtedly come up in the conversation. I remember couple years back stopping at your booth at the WPPI at Vegas and falling in love with all your work and the whole concept. I attended to your workshop back in April and so far it has been one of the best experiences in my path as a photographer. Stay fabulous!” -Viriginia Valdez, Le Dolce Boudoir

Chelsea is so, so cool. Here is why… she flew into Cali to have a boudoir shoot done by yours truly, she bought most of her amazing outfits on Pinupgirlclothing.com , she added a “Cinema Short” to her Supermodel Package, she is comfortable in her own skin, AND she let us show her boudoir video with you. Oh and best of all she is also a photographer! You rocked it Chelsea!

This morning I had a WONDERFUL Skype consultation with a new friend (who was the winner of the Thirst Relief Auction for a mentoring session with me!) One thing she mentioned was that she had come up against some opposition from someone recently, who made it seem as though boudoir photography is sleazy. This is just SO not true!

We are boudoir photographers. We take gorgeous pictures of women in a classy, tasteful way. We give women a piece of art that is beautiful – and something that they will treasure. It is not sleazy. As one client said: “This isn’t about sex, it’s about confidence! It’s important that I feel beautiful and it’s something I am working on to change my perspective on everyday.” Boudoir photography is NOT about objectifying women. It is NOT about reducing a woman’s worth. It is NOT about trying to fit women into a particular ‘mold’ that the media, & society as a whole, has created for a ‘perfect’ woman. It is NOT about having a makeover and trying to be something you’re not. It is so much more.

It is EMPOWERING. CONFIDENCE-BUILDING. BEAUTIFUL IMAGES OF WOMEN. Helping a woman feel sexy and beautiful is not wrong. I (Kimberlee) am not ashamed of my profession. I am PROUD of what we do. I am thankful to have a job that affects women in a positive way. Every single client who comes to our studio is given the chance to see herself in a new light, and to have an experience that shows her just how beautiful she truly is. What could be more rewarding than that?

There is no better way to explain this than through the words of a client. We just got this email yesterday, and as soon as I read it I just got chills! I couldn’t wait to share it here on the blog. Susan, THANK YOU for putting your experience into words, and thank you for giving us permission to share your words here on the blog:

“OMG Erin!! :-D I got my album and CD’s in this afternoon’s mail! You guys r-o-c-k in getting your work out so damn fast (less than 24 hrs, sheesh!)!! I was once again, stunned speechless as I beheld my beautiful photo album in my hands. I felt, and still feel, choked up in gratitude, appreciation and sincere thankfulness. Emotions that are welling up from the soul because of giving me such a deeply personal and truly unique gift that no other person has. Your lovely team that day has shown me a beautiful side to myself that I’ve never seen. And now that you’ve allowed me to peer behind the heavy curtains of self doubt and dancing threads of insecurities, a mystical force of confidence has seared itself into my character which allows me to fight those horrible thoughts, perhaps forever! :-) If I were to wish any one thing for all of womankind, is to spend the afternoon with your girls, such as the wonderous day that I had, all for the sake of “gifting” unto them what I have been blessed to have received. Please, please, please pass onto the entire staff my heartfelt thank you! ♥ Forever stronger, Susan”

Happy Friday everyone! This post is specifically for all of our past workshop attendees… I’ve been alluding to this on Twitter & FB, but now I’m making the official announcement of a new contest! The winner will get their choice of the following three prizes:

First choice is a 60-minute Skype consultation with me (K), where you can ask me ANY type of follow-up question that you’d like to chat about. After the workshop, I know that a ton of questions probably come up as you get your business up and running. This is your chance to pick my brain & ask anything you’d like. I love brainstorming ideas about business, marketing, etc, so I am really excited about offering this (and, hint hint… this MIGHT be something that we will start regularly having available in the future!)

Second prize choice is a $100 gift card to The Boudoir Shop!

Last prize is $75 for Victoria’s Secret!

So, what do you have to do to win??? All you need to do is:
1) Film a short video of YOU talking (2.5 minutes max, keep it short & sweet!)… In the video, talk about what has happened with you and your business since coming to the workshop (we just want to know an update on you and how things are going for you since the workshop!)
2) And then post your video on Facebook, and TAG the Boudoir Divas (you have to ‘like’ our page to do this)


DEADLINE: You must film your video and post it on FB by December 16 (that’s two weeks from today!) Please keep in mind that the video doesn’t need to be anything fancy! We are HUGE proponents of getting your face on video and putting it out there for your clients/potential clients to see you, recognize you, and get to know you. As you may know, we have hundreds of silly/dorky videos on our Boudoir Divas YouTube Channel, and from the time we launched this business, we haven’t been afraid to put ourselves out there. When we were first starting with posting videos, we would just grab a point & shoot camera, hold it out, and film ourselves. So just do that! Or, sit in front of the built-in video camera on your computer, press record, and upload that video. You can make it whatever you want – but we just want to make sure you know that it doesn’t need to be anything crazy. If you don’t know how to edit video, don’t worry – don’t let this project intimidate you! Just go for it, film it, and upload it!

We really just LOVE hearing how our workshop attendees are doing… we love seeing what they are up to, and how their businesses are thriving. So we want a quick update on each of you! We’ll choose one random winner (so it’s not based on your filming skills or based on what you say)… anyone who posts a video will be entered to win!

Have fun – and we can’t wait to see your videos and hear what you’ve been up to!