Strike a Pose! How to Pose During a Boudoir Shoot.

 A wise woman once said, "Strike a pose, there's nothing to it."

Well, we love you Madonna but...

What's a hard angle? What are soft hands? Why am I breathing through my mouth? Speaking of hands; what the heck am I supposed to do with them?

Never fear because Clique Boudoir is here!

First of all, relax. And I mean relax; your mouth, your neck, your chin. Do not however, relax your hands or your shoulders (this leads to slouching and fidget fingers, lol).

Let's first understand one another. Are you looking for a fun and flirtatious session or are you looking for a seriously sexy bombshell session? How comfortable are you with showing a little skin? Remember we strive to keep our boudoir classy rather than trashy, but a little skin goes a long way!

Second, we want you to feel comfortable with our photographer guiding you into poses that may be a little uncomfortable to achieve. If at any time you are uncomfortable, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Now let's get started.

So, let's concentrate on those hands. Have you ever seen pictures of women who look like they were born to pose? Well, trust me, they were not. They were in fact coached—they had awkward fidget fingers and rigor mortis necks until someone stepped in to show them how.

Yes, we want you to "touch" yourself. We are trying to capture a perfect image, to bring out that goddess, that beautiful and playful seductress. So we are paying close attention to every detail. Sharp angles such as elbows and knees, pointed toes, an elegant chin angle (no one likes a double chin) and of course soft hands. While you are feeling like a prop we see you as an inspiration.

Your hands can be used as magnificent props if used properly. If used incorrectly they can turn your photos into an epic fail.

Here are some examples of the dos and don'ts of hand posing courtesy of Marlen James.

Let's explore some yes and no facial expressions for perfect posing. See the photos below.

Work your #selfie face!

We all know that chin out and down/tilt to the side/look up at the camera perfect angle. It's in all of your Instagram photos because it shows you at your best, right—bright eyed and jowl-free? We love that angle!

We will use several props to help bring your poses to life, such as chairs, window sills, floors, beds, pillows, jewelry and hats. Or guitars...

Of course, our photographer will be there to coach and guide you into gorgeous poses from relaxed head to pointed toes.

And remember dolls: CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY!

So go ahead ladies—get your vogue on.

xo,
Clique Boudoir

Behind The Scenes (what really happens in the boudoir)

Have you ever looked at pictures from a boudoir session and wondered, "What is really happening here?"

I know there was a time when I did. So I have decided to go behind the scenes on a recent photo shoot and document what is actually happening.

I give you: Behind the Scenes with Clique Boudoir Photography & Crystal Gargani.

Upon arriving at the boudoir studio I was able to watch as Crystal had her makeup professionally applied by one of Clique Boudoir’s makeup artists. During this time, the two of them were talking and laughing while the photographer, Michelle, was busy setting up the boudoir for the shoot.

When you look at Clique Boudoir’s pictures you see gorgeous props and perfection, right? Well, I am here to tell you that they get creative!

I noticed a few lighting props, a fan, a colorful ottoman, a couch, a bed, and a back drop.

Michelle (the owner of Clique Boudoir and our photographer) is running around in her bare feet getting all of the last minute details together.

It is a very laid back atmosphere. Today we are shooting an ad for a local swim suit and sportswear company. So while we are keeping a certain elegance in place, this shoot is not going to be as "glam" as most of their boudoir sessions. However, the atmosphere is always the same. Warm, cheery and inviting.

We will be shooting inside the boudoir as well as outside today so I see several different outfits laid out on the bed. I also notice a few hats, a pair of heels, and a couple of swimsuits.

After hair and makeup, Crystal is ready for her first wardrobe change. At this time we are shooting in front of a backdrop and need minimal props. With our makeup artist on standby (for any touch-ups that may be needed), lighting in place, and Michelle with her camera in hand, I aim the fan at our model to create atmosphere and Michelle goes to work.

She talks to her model patiently and guides her, directing her into postures which show off her figure and the sportswear she is modeling.

Click, click, click and boom! We have some amazing shots in the first fifteen minutes of the session.

After a few perfect shots and some laughable situations (such as hair getting stuck in  Crystal’s lip gloss) we are ready to head outdoors.

Being that this is a summer shoot we are now poolside. Michelle drags a lounge chair over to the pool and just before I can hop into it and request a margarita she is instructing her model to use this chair as a prop. And it was FABULOUS!

In some situations the model knows exactly what the photographer wants. And in other situations the photographer has something particular in mind that that needs to be explained to the model. And then there are times like these where it's just, "Go with the flow."  Even the makeup artist was in on the fun!

I guess what I am trying to say is that this is an experience that you will never forget. There is no need to feel awkward or to feel like you are among strangers because even though you may enter a stranger you will certainly leave as a friend. This is a bonding experience.

From the first meeting, through to the makeup and then the actual shoot and reveal, it's a learning process for everyone involved and a fun way to experience boudoir.

So get rid of that hesitation and come see what boudoir is all about!

(Swimwear, workout gear and accessories featured in this blog can be found at Swim 'N Sport in the Annapolis Mall or www.swimnsport.com)

What to wear for a sexy shoot

Congratulations—you finally did it! You booked your boudoir session and are ready to get your sexy on.

Now what? No need to panic, trust me.

You are looking at the shots in our studio of gorgeous women who resemble professional models and thinking, "Umm, but I don’t look like her!"

Stop fretting. Guess what ladies? Before those gorgeous women stepped into the studio they all felt just like you. Most of the women who go to a boudoir studio are NOT professional models. They are everyday super women just like you.

So, you are probably wondering what you will be wearing for the shoot session. Should you bring something? Do they provide wardrobe changes? How do I show my own personal “sexy”?

Clique Boudoir does carry a few items such as corsets, stockings, thigh high boots, scarves and costumes; however, we strongly suggest—no scratch that—we insist that you bring a few things from home that you feel comfortable and sexy in.

Wait a minute…comfortable and sexy? Now you are really confused, huh? I bet you are picturing yourself in yoga pants and a pair of stilettos, right?

Well, if that’s what your man goes for, I’m not judging… No, what I mean is that we want you to feel comfortable and confident in your sexiness.

Once so you have shaved, waxed, exfoliated, had your mani/pedi done, and even stopped at your local salon to touch up those roots and are standing in front of your closet staring into the abyss of un-sexiness that is your wardrobe, don’t panic.

Stop right there!

Of course we want you to bring a few sexy pieces of lingerie and a nice pair of heels, but before you max out that credit card at Victoria’s Secret I ask you to take a look around your own boudoir (not that we don't love VS).

Be creative! Grab your favorite pair of jeans, your honey’s work shirt, a colorful tie, a wife beater, cotton panties, even your kitchen apron. Anything around the house can be made into "sexy". I bet you have "sexy" hiding all over your house and you don't even know it!

We once shot a session for a woman whose husband was a plumber. We put her in a pair of ripped fishnets, tied her hair up in a bandanna, handed her a plunger, stuck a Marlboro (not lit of course—lol) between her bright red lips and sent her to the kamode! And let me tell you, those pics were HOT!

So ladies, there is really NO LIMIT to what you can do and certainly NO RULES to being sexy!

And if you really need some advice on what to bring you can always give me a call and talk it over.

Here is a list of some of my favorite accessories:

Jerseys

Hats

Gloves

Pearls

Hoop Earrings

Ribbon

Wife Beater

Cotton Panties

Floral Cotton Knee Highs

Stockings!

Shoes and Shoes!

Ripped Jeans

Panties and Bras

White Button-down Shirt

Neck Ties/Bow Ties

Kitchen Apron

Glasses

Now stop fretting and start strutting!

xo

Clique Boudoir

Why is a boudoir session so $$?

Okay, so I want to talk about a rather touchy subject that I know is weighing on your minds. Whether you speak about it or not, I know that everyone is wondering why a boudoir session is so darn pricey. I mean come on, really; if you can go to Shutterfly and Snapfish and order prints for $xx why do professional photographers charge hundreds of dollars for these sessions and products? I hope to shed some light on the question!

Not only are we professional photographers with years of training and experience, but most of us are working folks just like you. And if we are lucky, some of us get to live our dream through our work; meaning that this is our only means of income (that's me). I mustn’t forget to mention the children, husbands and wives who see very little of us anymore. So, it has to be worth it, right?

Have you ever thought about the time it takes to upload a picture and then "edit" it? Next, you need to order it or print it out, right? Well, multiply this by 300 shots per session across multiple sessions per week. Consider the countless hours of editing and you might just get a glimpse at a very small part of my job as your photographer. I live and breathe this job. Making every image into a work of art—a masterpiece—is what I strive for. Each image is stared at and tweaked, over and over, to get it just right so that when you get the final reveal, VIOLA! Your breath is taken away! That is why I pour myself into every image. After the dinners and dishes and kids and husband are tended to I spend HOURS not sleeping, not relaxing on the couch—but hours staring at you, and perfecting your session.

Now, let's talk about the rest of what goes in to making you the vixen/goddess/hot mama you always knew you were.

There's studio lighting; classes to keep us current on style and new technology; expensive editing software; our studio space and furniture; our hair and makeup artists' salaries—they're pros too; and pose coaching—have you ever looked at a picture and thought, "If only she arched her back a little more.."No? Well we do—all...the...time! We pay to take the classes and use the tools necessary so that we are prepared when you step in to our studio. We can guide you and coach you to perfection.

Michelle – working her magic

We are a luxury service; we cater to our clients and this is why our clients leave bragging about how much fun they had and how great they felt!

As the the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for," right?

 Bye bye Snapfish. 

 Hello gorgeous!

xo

Clique Boudoir

www.cliqueboudoirphoto.com

Introducing Boudoir Slideshows!

New Logo New Attitude!

Meet Miss S...soon to be "Mrs"..we hope.  I have known Miss S for a very long time.  She is my sister's best friend.  When I look back, I always remember her being beautiful and having a smile on her face. Despite knowing of her, I never really got to know who she was.  Finally I had the chance, and, it happened in my studio through my camera lens...

Yes, she is beautiful...

and kind...

and vulnerable...

and loving...

and an amazing mother.

Thank you, Miss S, for giving me the opportunity to really get to know you!  I wish nothing but success and happiness for your future!

XOXO

Michelle

Clique Boudoir Photography

www.cliqueboudoirphoto.com

P.S.
What do you think of the new logo??

NOW FEATURING: The Boudoir's Signature Drink! ;)

Did you know one of the best things you can do for your body is drink Water with Lemon? It can help with bloat, weight loss, and skin tone, in addition to hydrating with a delicious twist. A lot of people skip sipping on water when they are bloated, when in reality they should be doing the opposite. "People tend to think that when they're holding on to water they should cut back drinking it, but that's not the case," says David Grotto, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life and The Best Things You Can Eat. Retaining water is actually your body's way of holding on to fluid so you don't dehydrate. If you're having a bloating problem, that's the time you want to push fluids, not restrict them, says Grotto. Since lemons are a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative when added to warm water, consuming the liquid can help reduce the amount of salt retained in the body. Just make sure you drink from the glass and not through a straw, so you don't take in any extra air. Need More Benefits of Lemon Water? Lemon is an excellent and rich source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system deficiencies. Lemons contain pectin fiber which is very beneficial for colon health and also serves as a powerful antibacterial. It balances maintain the pH levels in the body. Having warm lemon juice early in the morning helps flush out toxins. It has a synergizing effect on the body as it helps soothe the digestive system. It aids digestion and encourages the production of bile. It conditions and clenches the liver. It is also a great source citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. It helps prevent the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria that cause infections and diseases. Need MORE STILL? Click HERE! TO book a session: www.cliqueboudoirphoto.com or www.facebook.com/cliqueboudoir