Wonderland Boudoir, Boudoir Party, Dallas Boudoir

As you guys know this month is dedicated to friendships and boudoir parties!  A boudoir party is a great activity for bachelorette parties, birthday celebrations, or just a fun Girl’s Night Out event.  Today I want to give you guys a behind the scene glimpse of a boudoir party.

Late last year we put together our first boudoir party with these four beautiful ladies. Each lady has different comfort levels with the idea of boudoir so each of them wanted something different.  Some wanted to be more subtle while some of the other ladies wanted to bare it all! 

You may have arrived with a group but everyone gets 30 minutes of individual time with the photographer. Remember this is YOUR time.  Make the most of it and get the photos that you have always desired. 

Today I will showcase the whole party and for the rest of the month I will show case each of these ladies independently so you can see their individual sessions.  No two will be the same and that’s the fun in a boudoir party! 

About the Party

The party was AMAZING.  After all the girls showed up to our studio the drinks and food started to flow.  While we do provide champagne I believe that you should only have one glass prior to your session. While the champagne may give you liquid courage you don’t want to have drunk eyes.  Being coherent is an essential part of a boudoir party. LOL we want to make sure you’re getting the best photos in your 30 minute session.

Hair, Makeup, & Styling

The hair and makeup team will speak to each girl about their hair and makeup goals.  Hair and makeup will also be determined by the outfit that you choose. Styling is such an important part in good photos.  We will discuss what we think will be the best for you based on what you bring. 

You will need to have day old hair for your session.  Hairstylist prefer that.

While the makeup artist will most likely have your foundation sometimes it better to bring your own because some people have sensitive skin and the makeup artist foundation may break you out. 

When it comes to styling please remember to try on your clothes before your session.  I have a post that identifies the 7 things that you need to do before a boudoir session.  The rules found in this post also apply to boudoir parties.  Take this post and make sure you SHARE it with all your friends.

Wednesday’s post covered what a boudoir party actual is and the benefits to it.  As pointed out  in that post, at Wonderland Boudoir, each person in your party is allotted a 30 minute shoot time the photographer.

The 30 minute sessions include:

Hair & Makeup

• 1 outfit
• Private Gallery with 30 of your best photos
• Of those 30 photos you get to pick your favorite (one 8x12) digital photo that you want fully edited
• You do have the option to buy additional photos or your entire set

Without further ado let me how you guys how much fun a boudoir session with you and some of your girlfriends can be!

Wasn’t that so much fun?!  If you’re interested in booking your own boudoir party please check out our investment page.  Then head over to our contact page to give us a call or send an email for more information!

Remember we are offering 25% off out Boudoir Parties this month!

In the comments below let me know please let me know if you have any questions about boudoir sessions that I didn’t cover!

What is a Boudoir Party and How Does it Work?

Some girls want to have a boudoir session but they don’t want to do it alone.  Some people just do things better when they have their partners in crime in tow.  This is the beauty of a boudoir party.  They allow you to take part in an intimate form of photography with without the fear of doing it alone.  

Today’s post will touch on why Boudoir Parties are awesome and why you and your closest friends should book a session as soon as possible!

5 Reasons for a Boudoir Party

1.  Bachelorette Party: Boudoir parties are a great Bachelorette gift!  They can even be a wonderful bonding activity for the bride and her maids before the big day.  Not only do you have a great time with some of your closest friends, but you will also create a wonderful groom’s present for you future husband!
2. Girls’ Night Out: Sometimes girls just want to have fun (okay. That was cheesy).  Spend the afternoon being pampered by an amazing artist and allow the photographer to make you feel like a supermodel.  After your last girlfriend finishes her shoot you guys can catch a Lyft and celebrate a night on the town while looking like celebrities.
3. Birthday Celebrations: What better way to celebrate a milestone!  Are you turning the Dirty 30? Perhaps the Fabulous 40?  The 50 is the new 25? (Hey! Even Madonna kissed Drake!) This is a great venue for a birthday party.  Why not celebrate the woman you have become over the years?  A boudoir party is a great way to really embrace your beauty and see the hot girl your friends see in you every day.
4. Bonding Events:  Bonding events are great team building exercises.  Women own companies book boudoir parties to help teach their teams to let go of any flaws or insecurities they have about themselves.
5. Girls’ Day: This is a lot like Girls’ Night Out… expect it’s during the day.  Lets be honest, some women are mothers and don’t have the ability to stay out all night when she has mouths to love and spend time with.  Therefore book an early boudoir party and then finish the day off with brunch. During brunch you guys can chat about your personal experiences and still be home in plenty of time to have one on one with your kids and husband.

5 Reasons why Boudoir Parties are Important

1. They are fun!  I know boudoir sounds super intimidating but they aren’t.  They are really fun and allow the subject to let loose. 
2. Great bonding experience with your friends:  Boudoir Parties are enjoyable because ladies are often laughing and cracking jokes on each other while simultaneously cheering each other on.
3. Great start to a wild evening: Plus you won’t have to worry about hair and makeup. Bachelorette Parties or Girls’ Night Out can be super exhausting because you have to do your hair, makeup, and then decide on what to wear.  After you look at yourself in the mirror the only thing you will want to do is go out and show the world how amazing you look. 
4. Your friends can be your biggest cheerleaders:  I know I mentioned it before, but it’s not something you should look over.  Lets’ face it.  Having supportive friends around you will be amazing boost for you confidence.   Just imagine having  your BFF cheering you on, making you laughing, and just having a good time. 
5. Get out of your comfort zone:  There are times we just need to get out of our comfort zone.  We have to do things that we never thought we would do. A boudoir session with you closest girlfriend in a safe and controlled environment is a great way to do that.

How Does a Boudoir Party Work?

• Every boudoir studio is going to have a different process.  When booking with Wonderland Boudoir you must have a minimum of 4 girls with a maximum of 6.  If you have a total of 6 girls each person pays about $100 per boudoir session! 
• Each party is given a complementary bottle of champagne (as long as you are of legal age.  We do reserve the right to card anyone who looks under 40 years old or cut anyone off.). 
• Each girl will have their hair and makeup done by our amazing team. 
• The background we use is our regular White Studio. 
• Each girl is given a 30 minute session. 

When do we get our Boudoir Party Photos Back?!

After everyone’s edits are complete (usually 30 business days) each person is given a private gallery to pick their final photos for editing, albums, and frames.

Depending on the number of photos purchased the photos will either be emailed or you can come back to the studio and pick up your USB file and any additional products purchased.  All digital copies can be printed up to an 8x12.

Please Note: I DO NOT SNAIL MAIL BOUDOIR PHOTOS!  There have been too many times were USBs have been lost by the USPS and due to the sensitive nature of the photos I require clients purchasing 6 or more photos to come to the studio and pick up their digital copies.  Wonderland Boudoir is not responsible for any lost or stolen photos. 

 

How much is a Boudoir Party?

Prices for boudoir parties are going to change from studio to studio.  For Wonderland Boudoir our prices for a Boudoir party start at $650, The Queen’s Court.  This $650 amount can be split amongst attendees. 

The deposit for a Boudoir party is 25%, $162.50 (prices are valid as of 05/04/2015. Prices are subject to change without notice).  The remaining balance will be due at the time of the session.  Prices for additional photos, albums, and frames can be found on our investment page.  Any additional products purchased (such as additional photos, alums, and frames require a 50% deposit). 

The Moral to the Story?

Book a boudoir party session!  It’s a great bonding experience for you and your closest girlfriends.  Rather if you are getting married, celebrating your dirty 30, or just want to have a girls day a Boudoir Party is a great way to have a fun and memorable time with you and your friends.

To learn more about our Boudoir Party, the Queen’s Court, please check out our investment page.  Please contact us to secure your spot for this fun  ride!

In the comments below please let me know if you have any additional questions I did not answer about a boudoir session!

Real Friends Stab You in the Front, Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde penned my favorite quote of all time, "Real Friends stab you in the front."  

Real friends, I mean ride or die friends, are SO hard to find!  I have been so blessed in this life to have some of my closest friend with me for the past 20 years.  I trust these people with my life, and I know I can come to them with ANYTHING because they will always have my back.  They aren't looking to gain anything from me, or I from them.

 They are my BIGGEST cheerleaders and my most honest mirrors. 

 I know my friends will never talk behind my back because they will always say it to my face.  If I ever have someone come up to me and say, "So and So said this about you" I can easily reply back, "I know.  She told me about myself yesterday."

 Why?

 Because real friends will stab you in the front. They will look you dead in the eyes and express to you their honest opinion.  While their words may sting for just a second it's always for the better because your friends have your back, so they will tell you to the front.  

 Any friend that talks about  you behind your back needs to cut off immediately.  Those types of people are caustic to your mental and emotionally stability.  Never keep someone around that does not make you feel like a good person.  Don’t keep a person around that does celebrate with you when goods things happen or doesn't console with you when bad things do... even if you did break up with your boyfriend for the 15th time (even after she told you 14 times to leave the guy alone) she will still be there for you.  

 I had a person in my life that was truly caustic.  One of my best friends from high school met this person and then looked at me dead in the eyes and gave me a slow bink.  She then she says to me is, "You couldn't find any better people in Dallas to hang out with?" 

However, I kept making excuses for this person.  I knew this person couldn't keep any friend due to a piss poor attitude.  This person consistently claimed that all his/her friends changed when they got into relationships, but even I knew at the time that couldn't be the case.  I mean this person got jealous when I hung out with other people or if invited other people to hang out with us.  

 One day I made a new friend in my complex who ended up becoming mutual friends with both if us.  Well, this person told me that the other person was not a real friend to me and was talking crap behind my back.  My friend also said that the more I hang out with this person the worse my attitude got.  I appreciated this talk because only a true friend would call me out on getting a terrible attitude   I have to respect the realness of a person who would sit me down and tell me about myself.

 I confront this individual about it and we settled it. 

Then one day we got into the stupidest argument.  He/She wanted to keep drinking by the pool but I wanted to go home and lay down.  This person was drunk and I clearly was not.  The argument escalated and in a drunken stupor he/she threw my keys across my apartment and broke them in half! Who the hell does that?!  GAME OVER!  I PUSHED this person out of my house and told them never in her right mind to contact me again.  

 Let me tell you something, that was the BEST decision I have ever made.  Once I kicked this person out of my house my life started getting better immediately.  I started feeling happier in my life.  It’s true, when you take bad things out of your life good things begin to happen.

 Nowadays, I am way more selective who I deem as my friend.  I only have a handful of really close friends who I trust with everything and I know who will keep it real when no one else does.

 The Moral to the Story?

 Keep real people in your social circle.  Don't keep people in your life just to have them there.  Keep people in your circle who really love you for who you are and only want to see you succeed.

 In the comments below please tell us how you identify who is a close friend.  

Dallas Boudoir Photographer: April Overview

Thanks for another great month guys!  

I want to thank each and everyone one of you for visiting, subscribing, and supporting the blog.  I get so happy when I receive personal emails from y'all advising me that you found my content super helpful.  

I also have to thank all the other boudoir photographers’ around the United States and the world for supporting me as well by tweeting, retweeting, and pinning all of my boudoir articles.  I am so happy that you guys find them helpful for both yourself and your clients.  

April has been a very hectic but amazing month.  I won't lie; we will have some JEWELS for you in the month of May.  I can't tell you what but if you follow Wonderland Boudoir on the Gram (that means Instagram) you may have an idea of what I have been up to lately in the studio.  Spoiler Alert: Nothing but goodies!

In fact I have been collaborating with tons of great brands, stylist, and artist in the Dallas area and I cannot wait to present to you guys all the great projects that are too come.  I'm screaming from the inside with excitement.  

Thank you to ladies who have either booked or shot with Wonderland Boudoir this month.  Each session is super special to us.  We have a ton of fun with our clients.  My favorite part of shooting boudoir is letting the host see all her gorgeous photos!  I get a natural high off the excitement in her eyes.  Yes, you can be THAT girl.  

For the month of May we will be discussing the importance of friendships and why boudoir parties are amazing way to bond with your girlfriends.  Boudoir Parties are also a great idea for Bachelorette parties.  

 Remember to read the blog post and to comment.  One post each month will have a special gift certificate attached to it to one lucky commenter!

Just in case you missed anything this month I wanted to share with you some of the most popular post of the month.

Check out our beautiful clients and their personal sessions!

My favorite quote of the month:

Look in the Mirror, That’s Your Competition

If you would like to book with us please know that if you sign a model release which allows us to use your photos on our website, social media, and etc you will receive a 10% discount off your ENTIRE boudoir production.   This savings extends to albums, frames, and additional photos.  

May Boudoir Special

Remember this month we are offering 25% off the Queen's Court which is the Boudoir Party!  It's the perfect idea for an amazing bachelorette party.  The Queen’s Court is good for you and up to 5 of your girlfriends.  If you like to know more about each production please visit our investment page.   Once you decide which production works best for, or you just want more information, please visit the contact page!  

Lets all have a Wonderful May!

You are Far Too Smart to be the Only Thing Standing in Your Way.

As humans we have made it this far on the planet because of our reasoning and critical thinking skills.  However we do have a tendency to just over think things.  My friend had a great saying for this…  I don’t recall the exact phrase he said, but it was something like Analysis Paralysis.  This means analyzing something so much that we don’t end up making any move.

I had a problem with doing this.  I am what you call an INTJ.  It’s one of the rarest forms of the 16 personalities and even more rare if you are a woman.  I also had to take a test to see what side of my brain I use a lot.  I use 51% left and 49% right.  Therefore I’m a pretty logical person.  I always look for the most logical answer… but sometimes that comes with the price of over examining every single angle to the point you don’t make a decision.  I can’t tell you how many times I used to say, “fuck it” and lay in bed to fall asleep.

Then there comes the other side of this (I told you I think with both side of my brain), the people who say fuck it and don’t do anything at all.  They know what they need to do but see that it requires “too much work” and don’t do anything at all. 

Both these extremes can be harmful to how you live your life.  Yes, it is important for you as a person to look at the whole situations and make a decision, but over analysis can stop you from making a decision.  Sometimes you just have to cannon ball into that pool and call it a day.

If you are just bumming around toying with the idea of doing something with your life you need to just do it. Why spend your life on what if analysis?  Attempt to make your goals happen. Don’t get discouraged if you fail 29 times.  All that matters is you getting back up 30.  If your friends are bummy I’m sorry dude then you probably should let them go.  Often, the people surrounding you will have an effect on how you are living your life.  Find people who motivate you and have them in your corner.  Once you change your view I will guarantee the air will be fresher.

Nothing can stop the right view and mindset from achieving its goal. 

Hotter than Hell, Dallas Boudoir

Jessica Rabbit has nothing on Mrs. B.  While I love the clients who come in with an open mind and like for me to plan everything I also appreciate when a client knows exactly want she wants.  This was Mrs. B.  She came in to our Dallas Boudoir studio with a definite idea in her mind.  Typically I tell clients to build a Pinterest to help streamline the ideas, style, hair, and makeup they really want from their session, but not B.  She came to me with all that information. LOVED IT!

The inspiration for her session steamed from a Vicotoria's Secrets holiday ad with Bank's Waiting Game playing in the background.  Check out the video below!

After this session I just fell in love with this song. 

Mrs. B wanted to go for a very classic bombshell look.  Therefore Jazzy, the makeup artist,  gave her a classic red lip and amazing face to draw focus to her beautiful eyes.  The hair game was ON POINT! *snaps* Dominique Dai from Mane Affair located in Mesquite, Texas is master when it  comes to hair.  Let me tell you something.  I did not know that one could do pin curls with someone with so much hair.  WOW!  I’m still floored… but I guess that’s because I can barely do my own hair… moving on. 

The day started with Jazzy and Dominique getting in super early to set up.  Not long after that Brian the owner and videographer from BKM Films came in and set up.  Watching a videographer work is just so amazing.  I really felt like I was on a movie set.  I really enjoyed seeing the work it takes to make a professional video and then the final product.

Mrs. B first look was a little black dress.  I’m not sure who made it, but for future post I will see if I can get the designers of the clothes for all you fashion junkies out there.  The shoes were Louboutins.  Her second and third outfits came from Victoria’s Secret.  The shoes from the second look (in the red piece) are from Betsy Johnson.  They are one of my best buys from 2014!  The necklace in the third look was by forever 21. Yes!  Another wonderful purchase made by Wonderland Boudoir! 

Mrs. B did not choose any of the productions. She actually chose to do her session al cart.  She booked a glam squad, 3 sets, a videographer, and wanted 75 digital photos.  

The first set was on the beautiful Colette couch that I actually purchased from Pier 1.  Another amazing buy in 2014! 

The second set was a simple white studio theme.  This is where she did a lot of floor and bed work.

The last set was the Moroccan set.  This whole set came from Pier 1 as well. Yes, Pier 1 has A LOT of great items there that you should check out and purchase. 

We had so much fun shooting with Mrs. B.  I loved how she came in with a plan and how she wanted it executed.

Without further ado please enjoy the photos!

I hope that you enjoyed this post  and all the photos series!  I’m going to TRY and do one every Friday.  While I do stay booked it’s really hard to tell because many of the ladies like to keep their photos private.  That is why I offer a 10% discount if you allow us to feature you on our blog and other social media accounts. 

If you like to book us for a session please check out our investment page HERE and then feel free to contact us HERE! 

In the comments below let me know which photos was your favorite and why!

7 Things you should do Before a Boudoir Session

Your boudoir session is booked but you still don’t know exactly how you should prep for the big day.  Today we have seven things that you should do before your boudoir session.  Following these seven rules will help you relax and get you ready for your important day.

1. GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST

You want to look refreshed before your boudoir session.  Yes, you may have hired a hair and makeup artist, but being alert and well rested before you session is where you want to start.  When you are well rested you are also more relax which.  Being relaxed before your session is always a great idea. 

2. DRINK WATER

Yes, I know this is cliché, but the last thing you want is to look dehydrated in your photos.  The skin is your largest organ and it needs water to survive.  Do yourself a favor and make sure you are hydrating yourself very well a week before your session.  Drink a cup of water first thing in the morning and right before you head to bed. 

3. HAVE YOUR NAILS DONE

I know!  With all the planning, and purchasing the one thing that a lot of girls miss are the nails.  We use our hand everyday and take them for granted.  Even if you don’t like to get faux nails nor have they painted make sure you have them manicured and polished to least a natural color.  I am very hard on my hands so when I get a mani-pedi I always ask for the natural pink clear coat.  It’s typically the clear pink they use for French manicures. This version of clear makes your look more natural and healthy!

4. MAKE SURE YOU TRY ON YOUR OUTFITS BEFORE THE SESSION

I am a person who is 110% guilty of buying off the rack.  You know what ended up happening?   Over spending on at least 50% of my wardrobe that didn’t fit correctly.  What at waste of time and money.  Once I started trying on clothes I started saving A TON of money… and buyer’s remorse.  I say all this to say… try on the lingerie before you buy it.  Make sure it’s going to match your heels and it looks the way you want to on your body.  When lingerie is ill fitting you may not feel as confident so make sure it fits exactly the way you want it too. 

5. REMOVE THE TAGS FOR YOUR CLOTHES

I know!  It sounds like a no brainer, but you would not believe how many times I have had to photoshop tags out of photos.  Again, removing the small things like tags takes a little longer and really unnecessary work on the photo editors’ behalf.  We like to get everything right in camera to avoid any additional photoshop or airbrushing. 

6. HAVE YOUR WARDROBE READY AND PACKED

Again the last thing you want to do is rush the day of your session.  The day before (if not two days before) make sure you pack everything you are interested shooting in.  It’s better to have too many outfits than not enough.  When you pack a day or two early this gives you time to think about other things you may want to bring.  This all happens to us, when we gather our things in a hurry we tend to forget items.   The last thing you want to do is forget to bring that one important prop you needed for your photos. 

7. BRING PHYSICAL PHOTOS OF THE HAIR AND MAKEUP LOOK YOU WANT

I cannot express enough how important this is.  My dad used to say this John Lennon quote all the time, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.”  Hair and makeup artist are super busy during the week so while you may have emailed them the photos beforehand of what you are looking for I would also suggest you bring a copy of the photo with you and really discuss your needs  and make sure you are getting the look of what you want.  Now most artists cannot copy completely, but they will use the photo as inspiration for what you are looking for.

Doing these seven things before your boudoir session will help you in have a successful session that will cause you to relax and look amazing in your photos!

Leave a comment below with additional ideas of what a person should do before a boudoir session.