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?

Things are always a-changing around The Boudoir Divas’ photography studio. Wanna hear about our newest biz changes???… watch the quick, somewhat-crappy-quality video! Ha ha. Hey I have a lot to do today, wish I had time to whip out the MarkII! Anyway TGIF to you all and say “hi” below please! I always love to know who is checking in. It makes my day! -M

Ps. I cracked up at the thumbnail YouTube chose. I know I can change it but it’s so bad it’s good. Lol.

The February workshop has been full for awhile and we have quite the wait list, so we figured it was about time we sat down and finalized the April workshop dates! The next workshop will be held April 12-14 at our San Diego studio. Spots are already being reserved, so don’t delay if you have been considering attending a workshop. The first eight attendees will receive the add on photo shoot for FREE ($75 value!).  Details and a time line are below:

You can go to our BOUDOIR SHOP to register today!  If you have any additional questions, feel free to email Ashley at info@theboudoirdivas.com

Is it just us or is 2010 FLYING by? I swear we just got back from the Imaging USA Conference in Nashville and now we are already planning our October San Diego workshop! The October workshop will be the LAST one for 2010, so if you have been thinking about attending one, we still have spots left! Here is a basic outline on how our boudoir workshop is structured.

If you want to hear from an actual attendee, check out this awesome blog post from Denise Birdsong, a June San Diego attendee, about her experience at our workshop: You can click the image below to be taken to Denise’s Blog, and yes those are her beautiful images taken at our workshop!

So, here I am again, convinced that this IS exactly where I am supposed to be. As I have stated previously on this blog, it is a little scary, a whole lot of exciting and nothing short of AMAZING! I have to say though, that today It is a lot less scary than it was six months ago when I decided to jump into this head first………

Oh yeah, did I mention the amazing gals I got to photograph? Enjoy!

If you have questions about our workshop, feel free to email Ashley at info@theboudoirdivas.com. You can sign up for the workshop by going to our Boudoir Shop.

Hey fabulous photographers!
Just wanted to let you know that we only have ONE more workshop available for all of 2010! We MAY be just a little biased, but we believe that this is the best boudoir workshop out there. ;) We’ve been leading these boudoir workshops since 2007, and we absolutely LOVE sharing with other photographers all about our business. Our boudoir workshops include everything from shooting and posing to advertising, marketing, post-processing, and MORE! More than just leaving you with inspiration… we want you to leave with an action plan! Check out this video for more info, as well as a few glimpses of the fun action from past workshops here at our boudoir studio in San Diego!

Next Boudoir Workshop: OCTOBER 5-7, 2010! (CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!)

Also, don’t forget to check out the Boudoir Shop for awesome boudoir workshops, boudoir books, photoshop actions, and more!

***Music in this video used WITH PERMISSION from the amazingly talented, fabulous musician, miss Stacy Clark!
***Workshop attendees we mention in the video: Joey Nicole & Courtney Delafiora (go check out their sites!)

BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR SPONSOR: BAY PHOTO!

Our February Workshop is just around the corner and we can’t wait for all the attendees to join us in our San Diego Studio! Here is a little information on each attendee so you can get to know each other before you all arrive. :)

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop? I’m looking forward to learning more about lighting and poses, in addition to marketing a unique photography business like this. I feel I really need help understanding how to light EVERY woman in a way that is flattering. So far, I’ve dealt with glasses, wrinkles and rolls and puckering of the skin. I need to know how to improve on de-emphasizing those details without losing who she is. Also looking forward to meeting other photogs.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? Better marketing techniques, proper posing and lighting of my boudoir clients.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO? Never. But my 17-year old daughter has been and she loves it so she’s coming with (to San Diego — not the workshop :)
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph? Women first. Weddings second. Children third. I also have a love of photographing animals…especially dogs. I have two diva dogs myself.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)? Either one is great. If you are asking about coffee for the workshop. If you are asking for my preference of coffee to find out who I am — I actually prefer tea.
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod? Lady Gaga
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? My lenses…especially my 50mm 1.4 and my 24mm 1.4
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food? Chips and salsa.
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? An artist. Nothing has changed much…guess I was a smart kid.
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? Reflecting Christ in how I act, speak and respond.

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop? Meeting the Divas and checking out their fab studio!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? How to create an amazing business and incredible customer experience.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO? Just once on a business trip. I have no doubt I’ll have more fun this time!
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph? The sky. I am a complete geek in search of the perfect blue sky with fluffy white clouds shot.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)? Starbucks is a definite no.. Coffee Bean – hmmm…
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod? Jill Scott “Crown Royal”
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? My Canon 50D.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food? Peanut M&Ms (favorite colors: blue, yellow and green – in that order).
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? A librarian – I love books!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? Having a kind, joyful, generous spirit.

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?Oh my gosh. Everything. Learning from THE experts in the industry… developing my portfolio… and just learning all that I can so that my boudoir photography will rock my clients’ world!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? I’m super excited to learn some lighting technique, as I mainly use available light, and sometimes my external flashes, but I’m not experienced with studio lighting. I also am eager to learn posing techniques and ideas on how to make the ladies feel most comfortable during their shoot.
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO? 2… the first time was when my husband proposed to me, so I love San Diego :)
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph? I love engagement shoots… I can learn so much about people from photographing them, and it’s great to learn a couple’s chemistry together through my side of the lens.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)? Used to be Starbucks, but I’m making my own Coconut-Milk lattes at home these days. And tea, I love tea.
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod? Ke$ha’s Tik Tok
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? My camera. I know that’s generic, but I am seriously and deeply in love with my Nikon D3. I know it is the photographer who makes the great photos, but my D3 helps me do my job so very well.
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food? Beef Jerky
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? Wonder Woman. I even split my forehead open and also broke my arm trying to be her when I was little… still working on it!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? Making people feel good through their photos. Everyone deserves that bit of self-appreciation, and if I can help them get it, that makes me smile.

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop? I cannot wait!!! First I have never been to CA! I am looking forward to soaking as much information in as possible!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? Posing, lighting, how to talk to clients when they feel vulnerable, business techniques… and well…. absolutely everything!
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO? 0
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph? I really love it all, but mainly women. I love to see their faces light up when they see just how beautiful they are.
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)? Coffee Bean
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod? Michael Bubble
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? my 18/200 lens and my 50mm…. its pretty equal
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food? snickers :)
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? nurse
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? This is a hard question for me. I am also a full time hair stylist. I am very well known for fusion extensions in my area and women travel from all over to see me. So I guess mine would be that women/clients of mine would remember that I am the 1 person that made them feel amazing inside and out… Through photography and hair.

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop? Oh my goodness -too much to pick one! Well excited about building a portfolio and getting hands on experience shooting boudoir.
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? How to make EVERY woman look BEAUTIFUL!
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?lots
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?generally whatever I’m photographing in the moment but -dogs, children and nature/landscape especially
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?neither! bottled water :)
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?nothing, love the silence whenever I can get it!
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? my 105 2.8 macro lens
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies!
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? I really cant remember!!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? for being kind and gracious

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop?Everything!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS?Posing!!! Oh, and lighting… and of course marketing…
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO?once
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph?Engagement sessions
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)?There is no Coffee Bean where I live, so it’s gotta be Starbucks for me!
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod?Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag?my 85 1.8 lens, Canon of course :)
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food?fresh chips & salsa
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up?a lawyer (I loved to argue)
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for?being a loving mother

1. What are you MOST excited about for the upcoming SAN DIEGO workshop? Getting to check out that Amazing studio and meeting the other photographers!
2. What do you hope to learn from the DIVAS? Lots! But mostly marketing ideas and business info!
3. How many times have you been to SAN DIEGO? Once in high school and I loved it! Beautiful!!
4. What is your FAVORITE thing to photograph? That’s a hard one- I would have to say brides! They just radiate!
5. Starbucks or Coffee Bean (or neither)? I’m a starbucks girl:-)
6. Who are you listening to RIGHT now on your ipod? David Gray
7. What is your FAVORITE piece of equipment in your camera bag? 50mm 1.2
8. What is your all-time FAVORITE snack food? Cut up veggies and ranch- or sour candies!
9. When you were a child… what did you want to be when you grew up? A singer on Broadway!
10. What one thing in life would you want to remembered for? Being a great mom and living my life passionately.

*NOTE: we no longer have any $100 off workshop seats available – they’ve all been snatched up! We do still have some regular priced boudoir workshop seats available, so if you’re interested, go to the Boudoir Shop to register!

The San Diego boudoir studio staff! From left to right…
YULIANA (client concierge) | CRYSTAL (photographer & studio manager) | DEENA (photographer & in-house designer) | KIMBERLEE (photographer & co-owner) | MARISSA (photographer, co-owner, founder) | WESTON (Supreme Czar… photographer for Boucher Photography, founder of the SD studio, Marissa’s hubby). CLICK ON OUR NAMES TO FOLLOW EACH OF US ON TWITTER! [Coming soon: the newest addition to the Diva Family, Miss Ashley! Check back later today to meet her!]