Dirty 30's Series, post 1, Maggie

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Maggie, a 37-year-old woman who had gotten mixed messages about self-worth through out her life. Still struggling to love herself more, she wanted to come in and celebrate her Dirty 30’s before they were over. As a bigger lady wanted to heal some of her stuff with an empowerment session.

We met for her style session and hit it off, I knew her session was going to be epic, and man it was hot for sure. She wanted balloons as part of her session, I was happy make it happen. We had so much fun just doing hair and makeup it ran over, her session lasted a bit longer too because she pre-paid and selected more outfits as one of the bonuses, along with a 11x14 print. This is why I do one session a day, for the extras I can provide.

Like we sat one set for almost an hour playing with balloons. She had so many images with so much variety she had a hard time narrowing it down. She was so happy to get her images the same day since she pre-paid, she got her digitals later that same day. Her album and wall art a week later. Now that’s what I call service. Here are some of her favs from her session:

Here is what she had to say about her session in her own words:

Boutique vs. Shoot and Burn....

Have you ever heard the saying boutique run studio, a luxury or full-service studio, and wondered what it meant? How about a shoot-and-burn, or all-inclusive studio? Does all this sound like Greek to you? I mean what does all of that even mean anyways? Does this leave you feeling confused?

What is shoot and burn?

A ‘Shoot & Burn’ photographer does exactly that – “shoots” beautiful images, taking multiple angles of very few poses.  They will do quick re-touching or simple “bulk” editing many times washing out details and making skin look plastic.  Their last step is to “burn” the images to a disk or flash drive.  This allows the client to take their images to any printing firm or use their home printer.  At the end of a brief photo session, you will receive 30+ images of similar-looking, poorly edited photos.

‘Shoot & Burn’ photography can be likened to a fast-food restaurant or a production line – where the photographer serves a high volume of customers, spending only a short while with each one and providing a limited choice of medium to low-quality products. 

Although they seem to have a successful business, they have the ‘quantity over quality’ model of business, aiming to get a couple of hundred shoots a year.  But many ‘shoot & burn’ photographers struggle to make ends meet because in order to get the necessary volume of customers through their doors, they are not charging appropriately for their time and talent.

What is a Boutique?

1. Personalized Care- The photographer takes the time to get to know you, your family, and your needs. We provide a high-end service that we customize for each client. We only take on a small number of clients each month because of the time we spend on each family.

2. Printed Artwork- A big part of providing a boutique experience is delivering finished artwork. And not just finished artwork but the artwork of heirloom quality that will live with your family for generations. Again another food reference, fast food verse that fine dining at a steak house or 5-star restaurant.

3. Specialty- If you’re working with a boutique photographer, you are likely working with someone who has specialized in the type of portraiture you are seeking. For example, I specialize in Boudoir, and fine art nudes, with emotive photography.

4. Pampering- I am still working on this one as I build out my studio space but a boutique experience will provide you with the option of hair and make-up and potentially a wardrobe. This way, all you have to do is show up and the rest is taken care of for you. We do have a small client closet for use and it grows every year.

5. Fully guided sessions, from styling to hair and make-up, to expert coaching and direction during your session, not just smile and look pretty, full coaching and direction to get amazing images that showcase the different flavors of you.

For some consumers, this level of service is not what they want or need. Some consumers are happy with receiving high-resolution digital images and creating their own albums or artwork. Some don’t see the value in this level of service. Some need to prioritize other expenses because hiring a boutique photographer is definitely an investment. As boutique photographers, we are here to serve as guides to our clients and do the creative work for them. We’re the photographers for the busy family who prioritizes service over doing it themselves.

Is Boushie Babes Boutique or shoot and burn?

I am a Boutique studio, I love to pamper my clients more, and I love collaborating with each client to create artwork of them that they want to hang up for all to see. I love giving you the finished product, not just digitals, I serve you more, and I wouldn’t do it any other way, it feels too cheap for Boushie Babes to be anything but boutique.

Marco...

Did you know we offer men’s intimate as well? We do, I have offered them since the begging I just don’t get model releases for much of it as it can get steamy.

This is macro, just a normal guy, who struggles with his self-image. Usually in the band on stage, but totally shy in front of the camera. Men need love too!!! He volunteered to help us out during the Stripped Down workshop this fall. He was nervous as could be at the start of the day, but by the end, he felt like a new man, he felt handsome, and attractive for the frits time in a long time.

Here is a behind-the-scenes from the stripped-down workshop I went to in September this is a clip of the 2 times I got to shoot with Marco, a total of 10 minutes.

So, regardless of gender, here at Boushie Babes everyone gets pampered. In fact, most of the time men need a bit more pampering in the way of compliments than most of my woman clients.

Whether you need a new headshot, social media content, branding, or only fans, I can help you get images you will love and so will everyone else. I only had 10 minutes with Marco, image what I can do with more time..

40 Over 40 Series, Post 1, Sandi

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Sandra, or Sandi as she prefers, she came in to celebrate herself and to get pampered after one hell of a year. She lost her husband this last summer after taking care of him while he was sick. She also is a social worker and works with adults needing more help. So, you can imagine she really needed the day to just find herself again. She is just doing her best to raise her son, grieving a major loss, and trying to live life to the fullest as tomorrow is never promised.

She isn’t used to taking care of herself, so her style session was fun, at first she was shy, unsure, and maybe a bit timid, but in the end, we were chatting like old friends. We found a few good things and talked about how she wanted makeup and hair.

Her session was amazing she showed up with her hot rollers in ready for makeup, and her hair was easy just a quick brushing out, then we got to play. I got to see different faces of her, and show her so many sides of her she doesn’t get to see, and at 50 she really needed to see how beautiful she still is.

So without further a do, here are some her favorites from her session:

What she had to say about her session in her own words:

Client Closet Feature...Flower Bra with a twist

In this series, I will showcase our client’s closet wardrobe. We do have a client closet, with robes, body suits, and other pieces for use during your session. We are always looking for and taking good condition outfits or accessories.

In this post, we have our Flower bra with a twist, our steampunk hat!!!! Our brand ambassador really loved playing with these 2 pieces. She felt fun and flirty, and she loved the hat, the flowers were easy to pose with one hand.

We got so many good shots with these to show how much variety you can get as well with something so simple as a pair of jeans and a bunch of flowers.

Stay tuned for our next feature our big robe….

Love Yourself Series post 20, Tiffany

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Tiffany, this naturally curly and curvy woman who had struggled to love herself and her body her whole life. She grew up in a house that valued work and money over time with loved ones and living life. She in her adult life she has strived for lots of love, lots of experiences, and so much living. She wanted to push her boundaries and come in to see if she too could look and feel more confident and loving towards herself.

She really need to see and invest in herself by having a session, like all of us she really struggled to feel sexy and beautiful most days, she would pick apart her appearance. She needed this, so we got her scheduled, and did her style session she got a few different looks, and we added some pieces from the client closet too the day of her session.

Her session was amazing, we got tons of images. I could tell during her viewing she was still struggling to love herself more, so we stopped and talked more about it for a few, we went deeper, and then we continued, she found the ones she loved the most and we planned her album, she needed payments this was still close to covid early days, so we set that up, though post-payment plans are becoming a thing of the past, and replaced with pre-payment plans. As it’s been a year since her session and she only a few weeks ago got her order, I want a faster turnaround after your session. I want you to get your images faster, and your albums.

Below are some of her images, her Love Note, and her reveal.

She even left a google review, here is what she said:

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

Great rapport and excellent instruction during the session!! Would highly recommend it for your boudoir wants and needs! Amazing experience, tons of quality photos that I really love!

-Tiffany

I did fix the spot she pointed at in the wall art, this is why I prefer to do in person reveals so I can fix it right away, she loves her wall art and is hanging it up.

Client Closet Features.... Sparkly Undies...

In this series, I will showcase our client’s closet wardrobe. We do have a client closet, with robes, body suits, and other pieces for use during your session. We are always looking for and taking good condition outfits or accessories.

Featured here is our Bra and pantie set that sparkles….. We love to use it for those clients wanting body scapes, our red light vibes, and if you just want to feel all dolled up and like a million bucks.

We do require all clients to have on a body suit or nude undies underneath this piece, and we clean after each use as well. You know. This is available for use during your personal session as well, just ask.

Our brand ambassador had fun with this outfit, though it does take more adjusting than our other selections.

Stay tuned for our Flower Bra set with a twist…

Payment plans, what about those?

Payment plans, do I offer them?

Yes, of course, I offer pre-payment plans, these come with bonuses such as an extra set and outfits to wall art valued at over $400. I know tons of you wouldn’t be able to have this luxury experience without payment plans which is why I offer my pre-payment plans, I don’t want you to have to wait after the session to get your images back, and I love having a fast turn around time, one of the fastest in the northwest, what I call a win-win.

What are the details of pre-payment plans?

1. All in-house plans only go 12 months of equal payments.

2. For larger collections(queenly and up) 1/2 is due as a deposit, then 12 equal payments of the remaining amount.

3. For smaller collections(blush-Princess), 1/3 is due as a deposit, and then the rest is broken into 12 equal payments. This keeps monthly payments doable for all.

4. Late payments, there will be a $20 fee per late payment.

5. Products are delivered after final payment.

6. All sales are final, due to the personalized nature of the work.

7. Financing is available through PayPal, Klarna, and Afterpay. (This is your responsibility if you need more options than I offer in-house, I need poof pre-approval for those listed here).

8. Payment due dates are dependent on when your session is so plan accordingly.

9. Prices and terms are non-negotiable.

Do I offer Post-payment plans?

Quite simply, very limited. I had to limit the number, ladies, in total honesty, because in the past clients have stopped paying after about 6 months because they have moved on to the next thing, something came up, or life got in the way, and they have lost interest in their images, which leaves me hunting them down, bugging them, leaving me feeling icky, and getting in trouble with my accountant. Not a win-win scenario and I want a win-win in my life and yours.

Ladies, I do what I can to keep this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as affordable as I can. I am glad to say I only had to raise my session fees this last year. I am grateful for one of you and your continued support.

Much love,

Accalia

Boushie Babes Photography

Love Yourself Series post 19, Melisa

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Melisa, she works at the local hospital here in town. She is a mother and a wife. She survived an abusive marriage, worked on herself, and now is married to the best man for her. She is also part of our 40 over 40 campaign as well as our Love yourself campaign, she is 50 this year.

She had to rebuild her mindset after her crappy marriage, and when she finally felt ready she came into celebrating herself, and give a gift to her fabulous hubby. He even came in at the end to help her pick images because she can still be harsh on herself, how many of you are harsh on yourself? She even lost weight but found it made her body image worse, who else has had that happen, I know I have. So, she worked on her inner mindset and still is, progress over perfection. She needed to see the changes, she needed to see herself as sexy and confident.

She gets her lashes done, and gets pampered by taking trips too, but this was more to see herself in a healthier way, a new light. She wanted to see what her hubby is always going on about, and during her shoot, we accomplished just that, she now has a better outlook on herself and her beauty, cause dam she ages like a fine wine. So, below are her love notes, Reveal, and some of her images. She plans on coming in again and again to boost her confidence when she needs it.

Client Closet Features.... The Crown

In this series, I will showcase our client’s closet wardrobe. We do have a client closet, with robes, body suits, and other pieces for use during your session. We are always looking for and taking good condition outfits or accessories.

This outfit is using our Golden Goddess crown, and our small Fairy wings, along with our golden arm cuffs. Our brand ambassador had so much fun channeling her inner tinker bell can you tell?

This is included in your session when you book in with Boushie Babes, Our client closet is there for you our client. Pieces not featured yet included: furs, robes, crowns, feather boa, tulle robes, and more…

Stay tuned for our sparkly Bra and panty outfit up next…

Love Yourself Series post 18, Teresa

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Teresa, one strong badass woman, who runs her own business, and struggles with her looks and body after tons of surgeries, she at one time was a weight lifter, but she so really struggled after 2 kids and health issues. She does Cleaning and maintenance, and some remodeling, over in the Valley and Post Falls area. Oh, and she is a grandma, too.

She had always wanted to do a session but after years of abuse, and rape, she had to heal and work on her mindset, which she is still working on. She did the session for herself, and to prove to herself she could still look amazing even with body changes, health issues, and not seeing herself as beautiful anymore.

We met up for her style session and instantly clicked, we chatted for over 2 hours while trying to find her outfits at the mall. I love it when clients and I become instant friends. She wanted a Smokey eye look, she always felt like a raccoon every time she tried it or had it done by someone else. So, I showed her that there was a level of Smokey eyes, and we found one she loved.

Her session was amazing, we did a few extra outfits, because we did the all-black set as well, which run the session later than expected. We were having so much fun we didn’t notice. She loved her images!!! She was amazed at how beautiful she looked and felt. Below are some of her images from her session, her love note, and her reveal of her collection.

Giveaways, who does those?

Well, I do for one…..

I admit, since covid, I haven’t done them often enough. I wanted to share today about the last giveaway we did, right before we do another giveaway for the holidays!!!

So, what did the winner get? A fully guided boudoir session, professional hair and makeup, professional editing, and 50 digital images valued at over $5,000!!!

Say What!?!

mhm….That’s right she won a prize of over five grand!!!

So next week when I release the deets of my next giveaway you better be on it!!! Or this won’t be you.

But let me tell you about her session, she has come in before and comes in often to work on her self-love more and more. Since she has been in and her first session we got witchy, and I knew it would be hard to top, so we went outdoors to a waterfall, and then came back to the studio for the all-new black set!!!

We got over 1,000 images for her session, she called in reinforcements to help us narrow them down. So below are some of her images and a few links to the behind-the-scenes blogs I wrote about this session.

New sets...

Today, I want to share a few of our sets, mainly the newest one, our all-black set. I have seen different versions of this around for years. After the workshop last April, I knew I had to make this happen this year. So I found a way.

Looked on amazon, and shopped around. Found 2 10x10 black cloth backdrops, then went looking for ways to hang that disappear in photos. I ended up ordering curtain wires but they were stripped out when they arrived so I sent them back and went to Walmart. No luck at Walmart so went over to home depo and found exactly what I needed, wire, and wall mounts, and they blend in and don’t show.

Then we had to hang up everything and try it out, so I did selfies of course,

And I didn’t stop there either, every client who has come in lately has gotten to use the new set, I have to say they love their images as much as I loved my selfies!!! Below is a behind-the-scenes of a session we did recently. I mean this is now my favorite set to shoot on!!

Love Yourself Series post 17, Tammy

In this series within my blog, I will share individual client stories, that they have allowed me to share with you, in hopes of encouraging you to love yourself more right now not when. These are real women, with real stories.

Meet Tammy, She is one badass mother, grandmother, and even a great grandma!!! She also is 54 years old!! You are never too old. She works in the medical field, giving back to the communities. She always wanted to do one of these sessions, just never did. She listened to others, got in her head, and finally, she started healing and growing after years of life, kids, and a career.

When we meet at the mall, she was still in her scrubs just fresh from work, and so was I. She had amazing long beautiful hair, and her smile was charming and bright. We shopped for a few things, found a few things she loved, and chatted about life, about how she always took care of others, and never spent time or money on herself. She jumped in when a kid she loved needed her and adopted her, so this badass woman not only raised her kids, but helped her daughter, and her granddaughter raises the next generation all while raising her 4 yr old daughter.

She got to the studio, and she wanted natural makeup and more curls in her hair, so I started to pamper her. She brought a few really amazing pieces, and some we found we didn’t like. We did the session, she got out of he comfort zone, she even did in the sheets!!! Which is implied nudity if you didn’t know. these turn out to be some of my client’s favorite images every time. Less is more, more emotive, more vulnerable, I love showing my clients an image of themselves as the subject, the center of the image. She loved her bombshell image above, one of her favs. Below are a few more of her images.

She even jumped on my pre-payment bonuses and got both studios, and more time in the studios with me, we got so many it was hard to stay in the collection she had already paid for, and yes upgrades are totally allowed!!! She even agreed to let me use her images in my new 40 over 40 series too….stay tuned for more info.

Behind the waterfall...

In this blog, I will show you a few videos of my waterfall session with our Giveaway winner. She had come in before for a full session in the studio, and I knew we couldn’t top her witchy session, so we went outdoors, which was perfect for both of us, we needed to get out and reconnect.

We planned for the end of August, so water levels weren’t too high, fall and later summer are the best times around north Idaho usually. For waterfall sessions. Unless you go south a bit. We headed out early that morning for the waterfall it was an hour away.

We got their storm clouds everywhere, it was chilly and the water was cold, but I knew e could still have an amazing session and we did!!! We laughed, slipped, got wet, and got dusty, but so much fun, and so many good shots too!!!

She bought outfits from Sheen.com, for hella cheap, and they look amazing!!!

Tips for waterfall shot:

1. cloudy days of summer are your friend, golden hour or blue hour as well, depending on the looks you want.

2. Stay away from noon, unless you love a good white-washed image.

3. Zoom lenses are your friend, use them.

4. Know your camera.

5. Have poses in mind or practice beforehand, over the water you hear nothing.

6. Tripods are a wonderful tool to use especially for selfies.

7. Carry towels and robes.

8. Late summer and early fall are the best times around here, avoid spring runoff.