Bou-whaaat? // Tulsa Oklahoma Boudoir Marathon

If you follow my Facebook page or subscribe to my newsletter, you’ve probably heard the news by now: I’m coming to Tulsa for a boudoir marathon!

Many of you are right there sharing my excitement that there will be a boudoir marathon in Oklahoma this spring, but a few have asked in the same breath—“I’m excited, but what exactly is boudoir?”

In short, a boudoir session is a day of... diva. You get to sit back and relax while you are treated to an hour of pampering by the hair and makeup artist, then when you are all dolled up and feeling like a million bucks, you get to jump in front of the camera and have that feeling documented so you can keep it and show it off forever! First, let me show you a short video of my last boudoir marathon so you can get an idea of just how glamorous and fun these events are:

Here are a few questions I have been hearing a lot of—and, of course, their answers!

What do I have to wear for a boudoir session?

Nothing.

I'm just kidding... but really! You don't have to wear any certain thing. You can choose to go the traditional lingerie route, or maybe a loose fitting sweater with boyshorts, or a little black (or white!) dress. I fully encourage you to get creative with it! What you wear is entirely up to you, but it should be something that makes you feel comfortable and pretty or sexy or beautiful--whatever look it is that you want to achieve. We will go over wardrobe during your session planning meeting and pick out some great options for you to bring that are tailored to your style.

What can I expect the day of the marathon?

First of all, you get to show up to your session comfortable--no makeup, no tight clothes, no worries! Feel free to get to the (beautiful private downtown Tulsa) location a little early, snack on some gourmet treats and enjoy a glass of wine while you wait for your turn with our fabulous stylists.

The stylists will already have a pretty good idea of what look you're going for after I report back to them from our session planning meeting, so you don't have to worry about making too many decisions the day of your session! Just sit back and enjoy while somebody else does all of the primping for you.

Once you're all dolled up, we'll go through your outfit selections and have a look at the location to pick out what we want to shoot. Then, we have some fun! During your private photo session, we'll blast your favorite music and I'll direct you into poses that show off your favorite features and minimize the things you're not so crazy about.

Once your session is over, you don't have to run! You're welcome to hang back and relax with the other girls while they get ready, too! One of the best things about participating in a boudoir marathon is the "girls day" vibe. You'll not only get a gorgeous private photo session, but you'll get to enjoy some time to just hang out and chat with other fabulous women throughout the day.

What if I want something other than what's offered in the package?

I have many fine art quality prints and products available in addition to the products that come with your package! You will receive a full product list during your session planning meeting and I will show you samples of everything that is available so you can get an idea of what you might be interested in. About a week after your session, we will meet back up and I will unveil the finished images for you to select your package items. At this time, you will also have the option to add on anything else you might want.

Do you have more questions for me? Head over to the Facebook event and post them on the wall, or you can contact me directly! I can't wait to see you at the marathon, Tulsa! (If you haven't booked your session yet, you can snag your spot at this link.)

xoxo
Emily

2015 // A Year of Growth

2014 was an awesome year. It was the year that, after 7 years of pouring my heart into my photography, I finally took the leap to license my business and start taking clients. This was a huge commitment--not just the investment of time and money, but the enormous responsibility of delivering valuable, once-in-a-lifetime artwork to paying clients... and without ending up treading water.

There are a few things I want to talk about as we begin this new year, as I will be making some big changes in my business. First is my pricing. In the spirit of being transparent, I'd like to explain my recent increase in prices.

I have always regarded photography as more of an art and a creative outlet than a service, so for years, I made myself a hobbyist instead of a professional. Because of this, when I first crossed into professional portrait photography and priced my sessions, I missed the mark. I greatly undervalued my work and my business. I didn't realize my expenses, and I completely forgot about paying myself for my time! This, unfortunately, is a mistake that many photographers make in their first few years of business. This is why, especially in a market as saturated as the one here in the Puget Sound area, it is so easy to find a photographer with decent skills and prices so low that you could afford to use them every month. But a person can't build a successful business on those prices. A $100 session doesn't even cover overhead, never mind a salary or profit. When, at the end of 2014, I was totaling up my sales for the year and finding that I still had nothing substantial to show for it, I knew I needed to make a change.

Provided I meet my goals, my new prices allow for enough to cover my overhead, a modest hourly pay for myself, and a small profit to help build my business (including furthering my photography education). For me--for now--this is enough. Should I meet my goals this year, I will make enough for a few equipment upgrades and adequate marking materials to help build my business. Yes, as my business grows, I will need to raise my prices again. However, now that I've based my prices on numbers and necessities, rather than how I feel about my own work, I am much more confident in what I'm offering. I know that my products are worth what I'm selling them for, and I hope my clients will agree!

Second is an even bigger change--a change in location. In 2014, my husband and I were faced with the difficult decision that comes around every few years in an Army career. As his separation date was approaching, we knew we needed to come to an agreement on whether we would stay in the Army and move again, or leave the military and make one big move home. We finally decided that this year, we will leave the Army and relocate to our hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

We don't have a definite move date. It will be sometime between July and September of 2015, and I will surely keep everyone posted in the meantime. As of now, I am only accepting Washington sessions through July 1 and I am not taking Oklahoma sessions until September 1. As our move gets closer and we have more information, I will open up more summer sessions.

I'm going to miss my wonderful Washington clients who made my launch year such a smooth and memorable experience. I'll miss watching your babies grow up, and I'll especially miss getting up in the middle of the night to help you welcome your soldiers home! I will always be grateful for the amazing clients that I got to know here.

However, on the flip side, I'm thrilled to be going home. I have many clients back in Oklahoma who watched my work change and grow from 2007 until now. I love and appreciate that so many people back home are already looking forward to booking with me in the future, and I cannot wait to work with you!

So, here's to 2015--another year of growth, change and love. These, after all, are the things that the human spirit thrives on, and I can only hope that my art and business will do the same.

Yours,
Emily