Miss Liz is probably one of my favorite people in the world. I have only seen her in person twice in my life, but each time it's like no time passed between. Another beauty brought to me courtesy of my colleague and friend Lindsay Rae Photography, Liz has been our curve model on 2 seperate occasions! The first was in Vegas, the first time I attended WPPI and played in the desert, the second time was just recently in Florida, where Lindsay and I hosted our Florida Curves Workshop, inspiring and educating photographers to improve the diversity in their boudoir portfolios! Just like in Vegas, Liz never disappointed. She got crazy with us, letting me put her in the pool, going skinny dipping with us in the ocean, and making us delicious dinners.
Florida Curves Workshop 2017 ~ International Boudoir Retreat
While Lindsay and I had done a previous workshop in Vegas, Florida Curves was going to be our first 2 day workshop where everyone stayed in the same house and while we expected it was going to be awesome, we were blown away. This workshop was intimate, emotional, vulnerable, creative, and full of education. The girls that came to the house brought amazing energy, bonded over life stories, and we got deep into what it means to be boudoir photographers and WHY it is so important to showcase a diversity of body types. While Lindsay and I come at boudoir from 2 different approaches, we merge together in style, execution, and business. As far as the workshop is concerned, we both teach the importance of running your business from a place of passion, hard work, and consistency. For both of us, having had less than desireable experiences being photographed as plus size babes, we both knew how important it was to show every woman that they are capable of feeling sexual, sensual, beautiful, powerful, and more. The work that both of us put out is beautiful, of course, but more importantly it is a reminder to women of all shapes, sizes, colors, orientations, and abilities that they are worthy. These are the main principles we teach at our workshops and to have 2 days to dive deep into it was amazing. There was wine, belly laughs, tears, big smiles, and skinny dipping (Shit, there was almost an accident with 2 guys in a golf cart thanks to Miss Molly's chest!!) It was incredible to see what can happen when women come together and support each other. If you are interested in joining us on our next adventure or partaking in a mentorship with myself or Lindsay, feel free to join our Facebook group to keep up to date with our travels!
Calvine {San Francisco Travel Diaries} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photographer
Over the next week and so I am going to release the images that I captured while in San Francisco, learning and getting inspired by one of my mentors: Denise Birdsong, owner of Modern Love Photography & Stripped Down. First up is the beautiful and captivating Miss Calvine. This little beauty is French and gave me every emotion I ask for, but more importantly she has the sweetest and kindest aura ever. See below for the gorgeousness that is Miss Calvine.
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Before Trump Builds The Wall {Minneapolis Diaries} ~ International Boudoir Photography
We decided it would be a smart idea for us to head to Minneapolis this year seeing as next year it may not be a possibility if Trump decides to build the wall to keep us scary Canadians out. Just kidding, but we DID go to shoot some MPLS boudy babes and hang out with a babe to help her with her budding boudoir business! While we were in Minneapolis I also brought a whole bag of clothes to photography Jill & Nicole because I certainly wasn't going to waste an epic location by NOT shooting. Aaaand, seeing as we were there for July 4th, we wanted to get into the spirit of things and do a patriotic inspired shoot to celebrate the red, white, and blue!
The Hardest 3.5 Minutes of Her Life ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
I think my makeup artist Nicole said it best when she told Miss K "It's like you have happiness shining out of you." This gorgeous woman bounded into my studio with such excitement that it couldn't be held in. Her infectious smile, sparkly personality, and sassy self definitely fit the "boudy vibe" and I knew that for her it was going to be important that she saw herself as a sexy woman. She kept saying she "didn't know how to be sexy" (If I had a dollar for every time a boudy babe uttered those words....) I also advised her that for some people, smiling IS sexy. I think we have this stupid idea of what sexy is, but it (like most things dictated by "society") is bullshit. Sexy is you in your most natural, unapologetic, confident state. Anyhow, I will let Miss K take over the blog now, with her feels about boudoir. I love this babe.
At first I was rather nervous to do the shoot wth Teri as its something outside of my comfort zone as I was (not so much anymore) self conscious about my body. Growing up as a bigger kid those feelings of self consciousness don't go away and tend to linger regardless of working out a fair amount and losing weight it's hard to shake those negative self thoughts that you've had for such a long time.
The only thing i regret is doing my consult so early from the shoot as I was dying from excitement waiting over two months to do the actual shoot. The day of the shoot itself I was certainly nervous but after some delightful directions from Teri and tons of laughter I definitely became more confident and comfortable!! No second thoughts when she asked "Sooo you wanna do some topless pictures" or "do you want to get naked now" it was just yup! Let's do it!
Throughout the actual shoot as well Teri just makes you feel so amazing. It literally pumped my confidence and self love so much I'm almost still bursting!
AND THEN THE REVEAL!! That had to be the hardest 3 and a half minutes of my life looking at all those pictures and seeing myself in another light - I am gorgeous. Amazing. Confident and no longer care to or want to strive to be anything but myself and love the body I have the way it is. I can't thank Teri enough for being such an amazing eye opening support and laughing with me, passing me the tissues whilst crying like a blubbering baby and for aiding me in my self love quest!
Miss K also showed her images to her momma and here is what Mama K had to say:"LOVE YOU and I must say, I’m very proud of you, Kasia – you are very beautiful – inside and out and I rejoice in your discovery of you!!! I say that from my heart not just because I’m your Mam!!!"I asked Miss K if I could share her images and her story, not only because they are beautiful, but also because I think it is important for people to realize that women of ALL sizes struggle with body image and feeling okay with themselves. We are all just trying to fit into these stupid boxes that the world tries to put us in (even though regardless of how much weight we lose, gain, or change, we will just be forced into another box) and I think that the more women take the time to show themselves some self love they will start to realize that they ARE enough and all along they WERE enough...and the people that can't get on board with that?...well, they can just fuck off.