Boudoir for him...or for you?

This January I've had the privilege of working with a couple young ladies who wanted boudoir sessions to give their beaus. For those of you who don't know what boudoir is....Boudoir is a french word and when loosely translated it means Bedroom. Therefore boudoir photos usually feature articles of clothing you would wear to bed, like lingerie. They are usually focused on the beauty, glamour, and sexiness of the female form, though occasionally and with growing popularity men do indulge in this kind of photography as well.
I'd read before on other photographer's websites about how women do this kind of photography for themselves. And I have to say I thought it was just marketing spill. I couldn't fathom why a woman would take romantic sexy pictures and keep them to herself. To me the only way I'd ever thought of boudoir photography was as a wonderful intimate gift for the one you love. Well, one of the women I worked with this past month really opened my eyes.
She told me, (and forgive me if I adlib here I don't remember the exact wording), 'I was really nervous about doing these pictures for my husband. I'm not that comfortable in my own skin." I assured her everything would turn out great, She was a beautiful desirable woman even with a young son, and her pictures would make her husband drool.
Then I finished the first of her pictures and she dropped by to take a look on her way home from work. Her face lit up with the very first picture. She loved they way she looked. Later on she told me, "I had alot of fun doing the shoot anyways, but now that I've seen the pictures I'm so glad I did it. They make me feel beautiful. They make me feel like every woman wants to feel."
And I began to realize that the marketing spill I had so callously dismissed wasn't marketing spill. Women really do have these sessions for themselves, even if they don't realize it at first. They want to look glamorous and beautiful, they want their inner sexiness brought out into the light and defined. Of course they want to look like models on the cover of a magazine. And in a small way that's what boudoir photography does.
In light of this new information, I think we'll begin offering boudoir photography packages all year long instead of just on Valentine's. This magical boost of confidence should not be reserved for just one day out of the year. And here at Fairytree Photography we're all about the magic. :)
Check back after Valentine's day when I'll share some of our favorite pictures from these boudoir sessions with you, with permission of course.

A New Logo....or Not?

So I've been fiddling around with a new logo design for the past week or so and I think I'm ready to take it out for a test drive...

This is the original logo, that was created for Fairytree back in 2009

And this is the new logo idea.

Which one sparks your interest more? Which one seems more classy, professional, and artsy? Do they both go along with the name of the company equally well? Is one more legible than the other?
I originally wanted to create something that would go good on a tshirt or hat or folder whatever marketing what have you, you can think of which is what started the new logo idea. But now that's its finished I wonder if we should just ditch the old one all together. Please let me know your opinions on this one, either here or on our facebook page.

Fairytree Photography is Branching Out!

Happy 2011! Fairytree Photography has put its roots in deep and has now started to reach for the sky. We hope that 2011 will be a wonderful year for you and for us. We're looking forward to making new friends, and sharing in many more magic memories. Now that the new year is here I want to announce something we've been working on for the past month or so our new website! 
 www.fairytreephotography.yolasite.com
We are so excited about branching out on the web. It's a great place to see our picture galleries, prices and packages, and up to date specials. We'll be working on it all the time and suggestions are always welcome.
 Also another new branch for 2011, we're now offering picture packages that include prints. We've scoured the photo labs to find great quality and affordable prices that help us keep our promise to you that we won't gouge or take advantage of you ever! We've got all the staples and then some, from die-cut wallets, (the wallets with the rounded corners) to hardcover photo books to canvas gallery wraps. We've got packages to fit everybodies budget and even allow for the formulation of your very own package with our pixie dust! We just know 2011 is going to be great year.
So go visit us, check out our gallery, and maybe contact us to book your own magic memory shoot.
January is offering Boudoir Specials, book and complete your session by January 31st to give your significant other a unique and sexy gift he'll love on Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Magic ~ Boudoir Photography

    Boudoir photography makes a great gift for your significant other whether its a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or valentines gift. Alot of people wonder what exactly is boudoir photography and I think the definition wavers between each person. However what doesn't change is the strictly intimate nature of the style. Here at Fairytree Photography we believe boudoir photography can be tasteful and elegant while still retaining its sultry appeal, so in that tone we do not do nude boudoir, focusing instead on implied nudity, lingerie, and seductive outfits. Some people feel that it limits the style, we however agree with Sophia Loren, an Italian actress who was still considered an iconic sex symbol well into her seventies! "Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got, and fifty percent what people think you've got."
     In this vein of thought it becomes clear that a little bit of mystery is appealing. You want your man to be left wondering, thinking, "What does she have on under this sheet...towel...whatever...nothing?" Whether or not you were actually bare skinned underneath your cover up is not important, only that he thinks you were.
     There's plenty to consider when booking a boudoir session, including the place, props, outfits, makeup, and the intended impact besides worrying about whether your pictures will turn out tasteful or not. Are you going to ashamed of your pictures if your mom happens upon the album, will she shocked and/or horrified, or will she smirk and say, "Wow! You look really good! Maybe I should try this!" We are obviously going for the latter here at Fairytree Photography. Your gift will be a subtle seduction not a bold assault on his senses.If however you are still interested in nude photos we will be happy to refer you to a wonderful photographer with whom we work on occasion that can assist you in making your nude  boudoir dreams a reality.

With that in mind we would like to offer you some tips for your Boudoir Photography session
   These are just suggestions, when it comes to your boudoir session its all about you and your photos will show that. We'll work with you to highlight your best features, and make some of your body phobias disappear as well. Tattoos can be hidden, stretch marks, zits, birthmarks, etc, your photos are going to be picture perfect. Imagine the magic memories you'll have to look back on for your shoot and the magic memory you'll be gifting your lover.

•  Water, Water, Everywhere: Drink lots of water the day of and before and use lotion to make your skin look its most supple.
• Beautify: Get your hair and makeup done before hand, either at home or at a professional salon, for an extra fee we can usually arrange a stylist on site if you wish, if you have long hair, considering wearing it down, it makes for an easy extra prop in a pinch
• Look Ma no Lines!: For several hours before your shoot consider forgoing tight clothing, everything from a too tight bra strap to the elastic in your socks can leave marks on your body.
• Pucker Up: Bring the shade you come in for touch-ups and then another color to shake things up
• Nifty Nails: Paint both your fingernails and toenails before coming, alot of women recommend getting a mani-pedi as part of your salon experience before coming to the shoot. When choosing your color think about what image you are trying to project.
•  Bring the Essentials: Black bra and panties...you can bring other colors as well but black is a necessity
• Sky High Heels: The higher the better....you know that pair you bought that you can't even walk in but couldn't bring yourself to take back, bring'em they're about to be in the spotlight
• Boots : High heeled, calf high, knee high, thigh high! There is definitely something sexy about a good pair of boots
• Lingerie: Bring all different styles and types, we'll use as many of them as we can fit in, and don't forget the fish-nets!
• Something of his: A clean pressed button down work/dress shirt of his will look stunning on you, and as an added bonus he will never look at it the same way again or without thinking or you.
• Covering up: A robe for in between shots and as a prop if its pretty enough, a strapless bra or bandeau top, and some boy shorts
• Props: Is there something you think is just super sexy? Or something of special significance to you and your intended? Bring it along, we'll work it into a shot. Also consider your hobbies, pose with your guitar or a cooking apron on for added effect.
• Support: Bring your best girlfriend along for moral support, we are an all female team but a familiar face never hurts when it comes down to getting comfortable in your own skin.

Contest Results!

The contest is over! Courtney Steere is the winner of our free photoshoot! He has won a free photoshoot at a location of his choice, unlimited outfit changes, editing, props, and all the prints on cd. with a release form: to use himself or give as a gift.
Keep checking back from time to time, we'll be giving away more free stuff from time to time, so keep an eye out. We'll be posting our faves from the shoot when all is said and done! Also got some big ideas in the works for Fairytree Photography where Your memories are Magic!

We're Having a Contest!

Fairytree Photography is having a contest for a free photoshoot! Want in on this wonderful opportunity to get your magic memories captured for Free? Here's how you enter and play. The first thing you have to do is go to our facebook page, the link is on here. Then you write on our wall....tell us when was the last time you had photos done, what kind of photos you want now, and why you think you should win the contest! The next step is very important, tell all your friends about the contest and get them to 'like' your post. The person with the most 'likes' wins! In the event of a tie, we'll have a judging panel of 5 look at the comments sans pictures and names and go from there. The runner up in this situation will receive a discount good towards a future shoot.
You'll be winning a free photoshoot at a location of your choice, complete with editing, outfit changes, props, and a cd of your prints with a release form allowing for unlimited printing!
The contest ends on Midnight of Dec 11th so hurry up and get your entry in. The winner will be notified the next day and we'll start planning your free photoshoot!

Welcome Home Emily

 The newborn shoot was amazing, I have so many good pictures from it that's its actually a little hard to pick out my favorites to share with you. Little Emily was exactly 10 days old at the time of this shoot, she still had her little umbilical cord stump and everything. We took all of the pictures in front of a window in her nursery, and I couldn't have been more pleased to discover my little model didn't mind flash AT ALL. She was such a happy baby and it was a pleasure to be invited into the family's home during this special time and to be the one to take Baby Emily's first ever pictures outside of those taken in the hospital. If you'd like to see more of baby Emily's magic memories go to Fairytree Photography's facebook page and look under 'Welcome Home Baby - Newborn' .
Now here's baby Emily....

This first picture is my all time favorite. The bright vivid colors really pop! And little Emily looks so comfortable and happy to be surrounded by soft red feathers.

My next favorite also features a feather boa, except this time its a white one. I know every body's little baby is their little angel and that's exactly how this picture turned out. Doesn't she look divine? And she absolutely adored the feathers, smiling and clutching at them...it was so cute to see in person.

This one features the whole family. And what makes it special to me is the daddy. He's kinda to the back and the side letting the mother and his daughter take up the spotlight but at the same time its like he can't resist touching her, and really admiring her tiny little hand.

This ones kinda the quintessential 'I'm a little girl!' picture. Everything has to be pink and soft. And it looks like she was holding a little flower and went to sleep.

This ones very similar to the one above it but has a completely different feel even though all the elements are the same. But here it looks like she's sleeping on the flower and I allowed the flower to stay its original color, for a bit of contrast.

The really special thing about this picture is the look on the baby's face. She has this quiet little smile, like 'ah this is perfect all is right I'm with mommy' . It's an irresistible picture.