Dress Up for the Grown Ups

Boudoir. What a fancy word. It sounds classier than just saying bedroom. It almost gives it a sense of beauty, a sense of whimsical privacy.

To many women as of late it means- I want to wear lingerie and get photographed for my special someone. But to a photographer, it shouldn't mean that. For me, it meant- I want to put on next to nothing and have you photograph me for a long time. When I first started out I just didn't "get it." Not being an overly sexy person myself, I wasn't interested in it. I had some requests for it but never got overly excited about it, and there for, that's probably why I never shot any sessions. Then... I started to get in to pin up photography. It was a FUN version of boudoir for me! But as I photographed more and more pin ups I realized something. It wasn't about the hair, it wasn't about the clothes. It was about 1 thing.

Feeling beautiful.

It was also about being confident, and loving who you are and loving someone else enough to share that.

And slowly, I started to really, really fall in love with Boudoir photography.

First off, what girl doesn't like to get pampered?A morning where you don't have to stress about getting your foundation on right, you don't have to figure out how on earth those models get their hair to look so dang perfect. You just sit back and when you're done- you find yourself looking like you stepped out of a magazine. You feel like you have it going on, because you do! Then you get to go to a studio where you play with shoes, jewelry, lace, pearls, sparkles. I don't care how old you are- playing dress up is FUN! You get to transform. EVERY DAY you walk around in what you probably feel is something that doesn't scream- LOOK AT ME, I'm FABULOUS! (Hey- if you do- you go girl!) But THIS, this is totally a time to do that!! And when it's all said and done, you get that moment that you get to keep forever to look back on in your images! You get to carry that moment out.

THAT'S the part I love.

I get to to help you dig deep and be confident enough to do something daring- because why not- it's just us in the studio!

It's YOUR time. I LOVE THAT!

But the best, best, best part is when you get to see your images for the first time and you literally SCREAM in my studio bc you can't believe what you've been missing out on, inside you, this whole time!

AJBCPhotography_Boudoir

We Can Do It!

As Ricky would say, "Lucy, you got some 'splanin' to do." And I do. I owe it to you ladies to truly explain to you what Pin Up is all about, bc it's not what many of you think, and I think after this little "chat" you will find the inner pin up in you, as I have as well.

Why do I LOVE pin up photography? Is it because I am a sexy girly girl? Don't make me laugh! I am far from sexy! I love to wear tall army boots, high top sneakers, or throw on a back pack and hike into the middle of nowhere. I'm just growing my hair out from a mohawk and I just upgraded my closet from 2 dresses that I wear about once a year to 3. So- do I have some hidden side to me? No. I appreciate Pin Up for what it is- creative, fun, angelic, timeless, and above all else- confidence.

Pin up isn't about being a size 2, it's not about being Vogue cover material, and it's not about being half naked in a centerfold. It's about having confidence in yourself, stepping out of your box, not caring, appreciating yourself, and producing an image even your grandma could enjoy- and I really mean all of that!

Let's have a short history session- pin ups were originally photographs or paintings that men would literally 'pin up' on their walls, next to their bed, or when they were off in the war. They weren't scandalous, they were simply a flirty version of your everyday girl!

This all started last year when I ran my first pin up special. I only did it bc it was close to VDay and I wanted to try something different, plus it was as close to model / fashion photography that I was going to get, which is a passion of mine. I was pretty naive about the true essence of pin up, looking back now, but it has truly taught me so much.

Like what you ask? Well, last summer was the first time in probably 10 years that I have went into public with shorts on. Don't understand what I am trying to say? I'm saying that even at 5 foot 2 and 104 pds I was too self conscious to go out, anywhere, in shorts bc I didn't want ppl looking at my body. I would sweat and die in the middle of summer in jeans before I would put on a pair of shorts- you might catch me in a skirt... Then I started doing these pin up parties. I started dressing up for them too. I started photographing myself for promos. And before you know it, I had bought a pair of high wasted black shorts and wore them out to an event our town has that draws in more ppl than you could ever imagine, and I didn't think twice about it. I liked those shorts, I was going to wear them, I was going to rock them, and I did not have one care in my mind about who saw me in them bc I felt good! And I 100% accredit that to my Pretty Little Pin Up Parties.

Was it because being around group after group of these girls who were booking parties was empowering? Was it because I saw myself in some of these nervous yet beautiful girls? Or was it because it taught me curves are awesome and there is not 1 girl out there with a "perfect" body and that's even more awesome, bc all that means is that we are real, living, human beings that can all relate on the same level- we aren't perfect and you're a joke if you think you are!

Aside from it being a great emotional experience for me, let's talk about you really quick. Sure, you can book a party with me, it can be a girly day, but I want it to be more for you! I want it to be that day when you realize you have the potential to be timeless, a show stopper!! I'm not here to judge. If you do want to get photographed as a nude goddess, well girl, you work it!!! But that's not what I'm offering at my parties. So when you book a party with me, yes, your price includes my set up, my time, my props, your hair done, your make up done, and all that jazz. But it also pays for that first day in your life when you realize you're a women, you're strong, you don't have to hide under that coat, no matter what size you are, no matter what shape you have, and you're going to do it in a way that is SO classy it's going to make even the sexiest of girly girls jealous.

And above all us, keep that inner child alive- no girl should ever turn down the chance to play dress up. <3

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

― Marilyn Monroe

90 and counting.

2012 was a beautiful year.

I turned my love and passion for photography into an official company-  A.J.B.C. Photography

My husband built me my own inspiration get away- what most call my studio.

And I learned MORE than I ever could have imagined about myself.

I also had the support of so many wonderful people- my family and my friends and my dedicated clients, who most now fall under 1 of those 2 categories :) I've had the pleasure of working with SO many great people! And I can honestly say I've had fun on every single one of them!

All 90 of them. 

Yep, that's right. 90.

In 2012 alone I had 90 sessions- which blows my mind.

I know it may not be a lot to some companies but knowing I started this business MYSELF and knowing I did the work alone, well, 90 seems like 2,000 (and believe me, some days it DID feel like that, rushing to meet deadlines, completing last minute orders, driving hours away to return hours later- yeah, I know, I know, I secretly love every minute of it!)

I wanted to post an image with this entry and I thought there was nothing more fitting than, literally, the last couple I photographed in 2012.

Do they know I photographed them on the beach, arm in arm, walking into the sun? No.

And I think that's what makes it even more beautiful for me- how ironic that fact is. 

Thank You, from the bottom of my heart, for an amazing year!

I couldn't be MORE excited about 2013!!

Here's to 180!