Finding your fierce, men need it too!

I recently did a talk for a group of Photographers in Connecticut called 'Find Your Fierce'. Being a Boudoir photographer who focuses much of my time on women, and of course, being a woman myself, I can speak of the feminine side of finding your fierce, well, fiercely! But I realized putting my talk together that I needed to reach men as well. About a week prior to my talk I was speaking with a great friend of mine about what he's looking for in a woman, being that he is an attractive, successful, intelligent man who happens to be single, I wanted to help him out. I know so many amazing single women! But in talking to him I learned so much about the male psyche, how men are truly feeling the same way women are, they just don't always vocalize it. They're insecure with their looks, and their bodies in every way women are. They need to find their fierce as much as women do.

I have also been working with a publisher to provide better images of men for books. It seems there is a bit of a lack of great male photography. And when you look on forums for models and photographers, sure enough it happens to be mostly female models everyone is looking for. Where are the great photographers of men? There are a few, Michael Stokes being one of my absolute favorites at the moment. But by and large, there aren't that many opportunities for men in our area. I've decided I'm going to change that. I'm starting a series of male portraits and I am very excited to share the first in that series. My first model has never modeled professionally before and was a blast to work with. (and don't worry! I won't feature only perfectly handsome, fit, young men. I'm looking for character!)

Introducing Michael M. Enjoy!

Connections, this is all about beautiful, sensual connections...

The connections you make in life are so incredibly important. They can make or break you. They can help you grow, enable you to see yourself in new ways, make you feel safe and loved. Those connections can make you know, without a doubt, that with your partner at your side, you can take on the world. This is one of those connections.

I've been wanting to do add Couple's Boudoir sessions to my website for quite some time. Finding the right couple, a couple willing to share that side of themselves with the world, took a bit of time. When I met J + H, I knew I'd found the right couple. They are loving, sweet, free, and so fierce. He adores the ferocity she has, and she adores everything about him. Their comfort level with each other is mesmerizing. This is what a couple's session is about for me, that intimacy, that comfort and love that binds us to one another. I adore them both for trusting me and their willingness to share. Here are two sneak peeks. Enjoy!

PS My job is, to put it simply, quite freaking awesome.

Finding MY Fierce!

Yes, I too need to periodically find my fierce, remind myself of that deep seeded ferocity which I know is there, but sometimes seem to misplace. I have to remind myself of who I am and what I want. I need to reinvent myself, find my ground and hold it.

The first place I started to work on that was with my website. My website has not represented me for a bit now. It was lovely, and showed lovely images, but it didn't feel Fierce. And no, my website is not who I am, but it's definitely a reflection of me. So I've been working hard along side my amazing web guy, Josh Currier of Neon Thoughts to recreate my site and have it reflect me and what I believe in. I believe in YOU! I believe in your ferocity. I believe that every woman deserves to be able to walk into a room and feel confident in who she is. I want to help you remind yourself of that. You have it in you, you may just need to find where you have hidden it. I'd love to help you do just that.

Check out my new site! Ciao Bella Boudoir

I will also be starting to speak about Boudoir Photography and finding your fierce this April. I am so excited to start this new adventure!

And one final way I've pushed myself was to submit to a print competition. What I love about print competitions is that these are not based on how pretty your model is, but in the technical merit of the image. I chose a black and white, high key image. My model was of course lovely. The gorgeous Marie sat for me. She is perfection and certainly has the ferocity I admire. But to  get the tones as they needed t be, the posing just right and the edit perfect, that takes skill. So much of my work is never seen. I submitted my work and waited. We went to the WPPI conference in Las Vegas, a photographer's conference where the judging would take place. The day arrived when the images that won would be put on display. I was so nervous walking around, looking at all the work. I rounded a corner and there she was. My Marie, with a silver ribbon. Holy crap! Seriously! It was such a HUGE honor to see that! To receive such validation from an incredibly talented group of world renowned photographers is beyond words.

So here she is, Miss Marie, looking fierce and lovely.

Find Your Fierce!

I watched this video and all I could say was OH HELL YES!

Ladies, get it, claim it, OWN it! We women are amazing creatures of power. We have power in our minds, we have power in our hearts, we have power in our souls, and we have power in our bodies.

Do not underestimate yourself. You are Beautiful, Powerful and Amazing. You Are FIERCE!

This video made me so proud to be a woman. This is perfection. This is why I photograph women. To help them find their fierce. It's not in the photos, it's in you. You'll find it before you leave my studio, but you will not forget it. That's the feeling I want you to remember when you walk into a room, when you feel uneasy or frightened, when you are challenged.

You are fierce. Find it, claim it, own it.

FIND YOUR FIERCE.

Ciao!

~Teri   

Branding and providing the best for my clients

They're here! I'm so happy with my new flash drives for my Boudoir clients! When you purchase my largest package (which most of my clients are doing! :)) you receive your files on a USB for personal use along with your gorgeous 10x10 Art Album. These are so perfect! Sending one out today, delivering another at the end of the week. I'm looking forward to feedback from my ladies!

These come from Photo Flash Drive. Their variety is fantastic!

The beauty of a mother rivals the beauty of mother nature. I love photographing mothers, especially when their little one is still safely harbored within their womb. The love, joy and connection a woman feels with the child in her womb is undeniable and undeniably beautiful. It brings a glow to every woman I've known while she was pregnant. To be able to photograph a woman while she's busy creating life is a complete honor. I was able to do that recently with a gorgeous woman I have had the pleasure of knowing now for about 5 years. I've watched her grow into a gorgeous, strong woman, who will be an amazing mother to the son she's currently carrying. I look forward to meeting him in a couple of months! I was able to do this session on A's land that she and her partner recently purchased. What an amazing backdrop to help create gorgeous portraits!

Thank you A for entrusting me with such an amazing moment in your life. Much love!

Celebrating a Woman's Beauty and Power with a Gorgeous Blonde

She sent me a message asking "Should I keep my hair natural and wild or tame it?" My answer was natural and wild, of course! We get wrapped up everyday in what is ideal for everyone else, but forget to consider what is ideal for us? What makes YOU feel beautiful, what makes YOU feel powerful? The sexiness that will shine from every pore of your being comes from those two feelings. A woman empowered by her own beauty and power will empower those around her, she does not need to be told she is 'sexy' by anyone else or on anyone else's terms. My goal with every one of my sessions is to help each woman realize her beauty, her power and to leave her session with those feelings. I want every woman to know those feelings and carry them with her out into the world.

This woman? She came to me already there, already full of her own power and beauty. It was a complete pleasure working with her. I fed off her energy and she off mine. There is nothing like it in the world: two creative souls working together to create magic. Miss Fredua was a natural, wild beauty and it was my pleasure creating gorgeous images with her!

What makes you feel beautiful, powerful and sexy? A session at Ciao Bella Boudoir may be just what you need. ;)