His & Hers Valentine’s Day Gift List 2012 – Part 1
It’s getting close to crunch time, ladies & gents! Valentine’s Day is now only 5 days away! Less than a week. If you haven’t gotten your sweetheart a gift yet, you need to start cracking! So from us to you, a little Pre-Valentine’s Day present because we love you so. A 2012 His & Hers Valentine’s Day Gift List. Travis came up with a list for men from a man’s perspective and I came up with a list for women from a woman’s perspective. Enjoy!!
Men’s Valentine’s Day Gift List
#1 A little mini vacation just for the two of you. Pick a B&B and get out of town for the weekend. We stayed in The Olcott House in Duluth, MN, and thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The rooms were so incredibly nice, the linens were divine, and breakfast in the morning was very delicious. The owners were also very accommodating and friendly, this B&B would come with very high recommendations from the 2 of us. Don’t miss out on this one, with rooms starting at $140 per night including breakfast and a cozy, luxurious, and beautiful room you won’t regret your decision!
Both photographs were taken in the days of my Canon Rebel XT, before the start of my business. The top one was handheld at dusk…I should definitely have used a tripod ladies and gentleman…it’s a little shaky. But you still get the grand glory of the place!
2. A back massage. Who doesn’t love a back massage? And for men, they work so hard providing for us, that they deserve it! They might not show stress like we do, but it’s there! Make it fun and pay for a couples massage! Contact Carla at Time to Heal Massage and tell her Bobbie Sue sent you!
3. A man looooves his protein, and nothing says I love you on Valentine’s Day for a man, than treating him to a big, fat, juicy steak dinner. Houligan’s Steak & Seafood in Eau Claire is a great place to go for a great steak. The link I provided will take you to the Specials page on their website. I’m sure the special doesn’t apply to Valentine’s Day, but restaurants are always crowded on Valentine’s Day anyway. Pick a day before or after or even a couple days so you can really enjoy eachother.
4. YOU is some Lingerie. I was surprised by this one…Travis isn’t a sexy lingerie type guy. He likes the plain jane t-shirt bra and panties type undergarments. But I suppose any man likes some lacy eye candy every once in a while. Trying to stay local with all of these, but unfortunately we don’t really have a local intimates shop in Eau Claire, that I know of! If you know of one, please let me know. For now, Trousseau Intimates out of Milwaukee, WI can probably help you out with some scandalous under things.
5. Surprise & happiness at whatever he gives you in return. This might seem like a given, but no matter what he gets you…even if it’s a new kitchen appliance, a vacuum cleaner, office supplies, or drugstore chocolates, the fact remains that the man thought of you. He might not be particularly gift shopping savvy, or he just really has no idea what you want. He may even feel that by buying you something you truly NEED that he is showing his love for you better than flowers, diamonds, or chocolates could. He’s not far off the mark…when you open up that kitchen appliance, remember how much easier it is going to make your life. You already have lots of jewelry, the chocolates are never THAT good, and the flowers are over-priced and vanish quickly. A sturdy present will be a testament of how much he loves you, far longer.
This post has gotten longer and more involved than I thought possible, probably because once you get me writing I never stop, so the women’s Valentine’s Day Gift Guide will be a separate post. Keep your eyes peeled. What are you wishing for for Valentine’s Day?
Boudoir Photography on Good Morning America, Tuesday February 7, 2012
This morning on Good Morning America, you would never guess what was covered! Okay, yeah…well the title gives it away I suppose. Yes, BOUDOIR! Boudoir photography has become all the rage in the last 5’ish years. Thanks to an onslaught of celebrities bearing their bodies and sharing their photos in their sexiest lingerie, this trend has made it into the mainstream and I think it’s here to stay! I have to say, I love the “new” look of boudoir photography in comparison to the boudoir of the 90’s. Personally, I feel there are more women entering this industry and as a result, images are done more tastefully, and really capture the softer side of a woman. Not that a man can’t be a fabulous boudoir photographer…but unfortunately there are many in it for the wrong reasons.
One of my all time favorite celebrity boudoir sessions is Jessica Alba’s shoot for the April 2005 issue of GQ magazine. It was so well done, and really showed her soft, innocent side. The images were extraordinarily beautiful!
ABC News Tracey Marx Reports:
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and most women are expecting flowers, chocolate and jewels from their loved ones.
But what if you want to give your significant other something a little on the racy side?
Boudoir photography is an art Hollywood beauties have used for centuries to bring their sexy back, sitting for portraits as a celebration of the female form.
Now women not on the big screen or walking the red carpet can still feel like they’re hot enough to land on the pages of glossy magazines like Maxim and FHM.
“I saw how popular Maxim magazine is, and FHM and, even, Playboy, and how gorgeous women want to feel,” Jennifer Rozenbaum told “Good Morning America.” “I would look at those magazines too and say, ‘I want to look like that. I want to feel like that.’”
Rozenbaum, a former stay-at-home mom, opened her own boudoir photo studio, Jenerations Boudoir, in New York City.
The average price of a boudoir photo session at the studio begins at $1,500.
“Seeing how you look is empowering and just celebrating womanhood,” Rozenbaum said. “There is nothing to be ashamed of to want to look beautiful and feel beautiful and to show off your body.”
A boudoir photo session is not the kind of photo shoot where you sit down and just have shots taken. Clients are pampered with hair and makeup and wardrobe choices, just like a real photo shoot to make you feel like a sultry supermodel.
“It’s literally so much fun,” Lisa Hastings, a 30-year-old client of Rozenbaum’s said. “I’m giving the album to my husband. I think it’s just something that is great to do, for him to see me in that kind of light.”
The photography is a trend women are embracing. From New York to Missouri, Wisconsin, Colorado, Texas and Oregon, boudoir is big.
“I would say that maybe about 40 percent of the brides I’m currently working with are now booking boudoir sessions this year,” Janelle Brooke, owner of Janelle Brooke Photography in Northport, New York, told “GMA.”
“I think it’s a trend that is not going to go away,” she said. “It ignites confidence in women. It celebrates the beauty of women and the romance in the relationship.”
Valerie Mazarowski turned to Brooke to photograph her engagement session, her wedding and the day after her wedding nearly two years ago.
The thirty-one-year-old then wanted something intimate, beautiful and sexy to last a lifetime and to represent a different time in her life, so she again turned to Brooke for her boudoir photo session.
“Having that personalized relationship with these brides is really also the driving force,” Brooke said of the photos’ popularity. “It is such an intimate shoot that you want to have that closeness, that trust with the person who is taking such intimate photos of you.”
The gift of a boudoir photo can be given not just for Valentine’s Day but for a wedding, or even a birthday, photographers like Rozenbaum and Brooke say.
And the women in front of the cameras say a boudoir photo session was also a great gift for themselves.
“That was so much fun,” Mazarowski said of her shoot with Brooke. “I enjoyed every second of it.”
“At this point in my life I’ve really found great confidence that I’ve never had before,” she said. “I kind of want to freeze this moment in my life so that 30 or 40 years down the line I can look back at it and say, ‘Oh my God, I was a good looking girl. And my kids can say, “Wow, my mom was really hot!’”
(LINK TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
Consider doing a Valentine’s Day session for the love of your life, this Valentine’s Day! We have a special deal for all you ladies to make this work in time for February 14th! Contact us for more details!!
Talk to Me About the Safety of My Boudoir Images
When women have boudoir images done, one of the first things on their mind usually is (and should be) the safety of themselves and their images. There are many people out there who will take advantage of a woman’s vulnerability, and more importantly; they are LOOKING for the opportunity. Unfortunately many women have blinders on, or are flattered by someone asking them to pose for them as “models.” The term modeling makes many women feel special, which they should but not at the expense of having unflattering or unprofessional photos taken of them. When you’re in your most special lingerie and you look your best, you want someone who will make you FEEL the best. Someone who will present you with images you will be very proud to share and excited for others to see. Tasteful & classy.
Another important detail, is you want those images to be displayed beautifully, you do not want those images floating around all over the place with no respect for your privacy. I know personally of a few photographers in this industry who have websites that they charge men to come on and view their images of women in vulnerable positions. In fact, a friend of a friend of mine had her images on one of these sites and had no idea until I brought it to her attention. This is such a lousy way to do business, and no woman should ever, under any circumstances have to find herself on one of these websites.
With The Boudoir, you have our word, promise, GUARANTEE… We will NEVER display or show your images, unless we’ve discussed that option with you and had a signed release form. We will never allow a third party to view your images in any way, shape, or form without your written consent. Even if written consent is provided, we will gladly remove any and all images from our website, Facebook page, etc. Our number one goal before anything else, is to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment in which you can feel your best and leave with more confidence than you came with.
However, we still need to share the work we’re doing so other women will feel comfortable and KNOW that this is a respectful business we’re running. One whose utmost, number one concern is you as our client, and your peace of mind. With that said, if you trust us with your images and presenting them in a classy and tasteful manner we will gladly give you a $50 credit to put toward prints or editing.
Ask us today how to book a special session just for you that will be in a safe & secure environment, and will make you feel like the lady you are. Thank you so much for considering The Boudoir.
Valentine’s Day Ladies Boudoir Marathon! | Eau Claire, WI Photographer
Last chance for Valentine’s Day! Your choice, book with 2 or more girlfriends for a Valentine’s Day Boudoir Marathon on Sunday, February 5th for $150 per person -OR- book for you and you alone for $300.
What do you get??
-1 hour portrait session
-2, 3×3 mini albums. You keep one, give one away.
-2 Fully edited poses
-champagne & chocolates
-AND you keep the hotel room for the night.
Stay with your girlfriends for a girls night or surprise your loved one with the room for a romantic stay away from home.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal! Must be booked and deposit paid by February 3rd!!
