Just because you don pastels doesn't mean you have to be sweet and innocent. Miss B proves otherwise in the Sweet & Sassy inspiration session. The outfits you see in this session are available for your own session, so if you see anything you like, just let me know! My fabulous makeup artist Nicole took my inspiration of sparkle and sweetness and killed it with the shimmery eyes and beautiful lip which capped off the entire look I was going for. Miss B was also one of the first babes to get to play with my ring light, which we used to create some awesome colored lighting as well as beauty shots. It's always fun for me to play in the studio and this session was no exception!
Becoming More Me {and finally owning up to my glitter addiction}~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
I am going to assume that you have noticed the changes on my website, since you are here reading this blog, but what you don't know is why the heck did I change my site...again?? If you have been following me for awhile you will know I am no stranger to rebranding and the more I follow this amazing path to empowerment for women, I feel growth and change happen, therefore I feel that my site and branding must reflect this. So, I am here to answer some fun questions about the current site because I want to look back in a few years and laugh at why I thought this was a good idea (#alwayschanging).
First up, is the Classy vs. Sassy galleries that I have put up to display my work. Why 2 galleries? Because they are 2 very distinct styles and I feel that when people come in for a session they usually have a particular reason for it. If it is a first session and to explore a woman's sexuality, confidence, and to see herself as the fine art Goddess she is, then I would highly recommend the Classy Sessions. These are what I would consider to be me "typical" boudoir session. Minimalist in the lingerie department, darker, moodier, and more emotional, and perfect for someone wanting to get vulnerable and reconnect with their femininity. On the other hand, we have our Sassy Sessions and these are designed with fun, fearlessness, and play in mind. The Sassy Sessions are the complete opposite of the Classy Sessions in that they are standardly over the top with styling, creating characters, and playing with epic sets and styles. These sessions push the boundaries with evocative, sexy, playful and fierce posing and energy and you will be asked to do some crazy shit and make some fun faces. The Sassy Sessions are the ones that would be similar to an editorial shot for a magazine. So, you can see why I wouldn't interwine the two in one session. They are complete opposites and achieve completely different results and it is very difficult to change moods, sets, etc. What if you want both? Awesome, if you have shot with me before, you already know what to expect so I would recommend either/or, but if this is your first time with me (unless you have a particular theme in mind) I highly recommend starting with a Classy Session and then pushing yourself further for a Sassy Session later on down the line.
Next up, let's talk about the homepage, the one with all the prints and my lovely, sparkly shirt. Why? Well, I wanted something represent the way my brain feels when I am in the "creative zone" and it looks very much like that front page, slightly chaotic, sparkly, but ALWAYS positive. I also have to address why I have curse words on the very first page, my very first introduction into the world. Well, for me, it is important to let prospective clients know exactly who I am. I swear passionately, but like a sailor. I love to use the work Fuck (as in Fucking Awesome) and I love to throw bad ass around in there too. The last thing I want is for someone to have a different opinion of me, come down to the studio and see that I am not a representation of who I claim to be online. I am not in the business to catfish anyone....it wastes their time, and it wastes mine. You best know that if you are working with me, it won't be fun....it will be FUCKING fun (because sometimes only a curse word can exaggerate enough to get your point across.). *side note: it literally took me 2 days to sort out the prints the proper way to take a photograph for the background.*
Up until this month, I have been doing promo sessions 2 days/month with a theme. While that was great, I found that by scheduling particular dates it didn't always work for people, or they didn't like the theme, or what have you. So, going forward limited Promo Pricing will be released 1 day/month where you will have 24 hours to scoop up the booking, but you have 2 months to use the session. So, for example, if today I released a promo session, you would have 24 hours to claim the booking, and then apply it before July 15. The other positive to this is that you are going to be able to choose whatever outfits you want to bring to shoot within the allotted time frame. So, start keeping an eye on Facebook/Instagram/Website/maybe even Snapchat for the monthly releases!!
The third thing I want to address is the number of babes that you will come across on my website. I wanted to create a clean website, but I wanted to put the focus on the inspirational babes who come in for their sessions and give me permission to photograph & share their stories! I have always said that I am the drop in the ocean and it is these women and their stories and help to inspire other women, so I figured who better the represent what I do at Teri Hofford Photography, than the women who have lived it, loved it, and are here to tell their story! The website layout is similar to how I would lay out an album, with white space to put the attention on the women in the images. As a body positivity activist, I have made it my mission to show every woman that every body is beautiful, sexy, and fearless, so as you peruse the website you will see women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and so on. So, take a poke around and see if you recognize anyone!!
Lastly, I couldn't finish up without adding a touch of glitter...it just wouldn't be me if there wasn't a bit of sparkle! So, I updated ye olde logo & watermark to reflect my currently sparkly (yet classic) addiction! I always say if you leave my studio and have no glitter on you when you get home, I clearly didn't do my job. The fonts I chose as well are representative of my brand and myself as a person. I found that a lot of scripts out there are very pretty, flirty, and swirly and just weren't....edgy or raw enough for me, until I found this script. It's still nice, but has a bit of a roughness to it that I enjoy and in fact this is the same font that I used for my Empower tattoo on my wrist!! As for the font used for Teri Hofford portion of it, that is my standard "magazine" style font because I want you all to feel like bad ass supermodels. Lastly, you can see my script goes out of the boxes. Why? you may ask. Well, if you know me, I am always thinking outside the box, but more importantly, I love to push the envelope and I REALLY love to push people outside their comfort zone, so this was indicitive of that mission.
So, yep, that's pretty much it (for now!) Take a look around and if you notice any problems, shoot me an email and I will get it fixed asap! OR, even better, now that you know EXACTLY what you are in for (a kick ass time of fun, empowerment, and incredibly hot photos of yourself!!!) then let's set up a time for our "first date" (or complimentary consult, if you will!)
On The Edge {NYC Diaries} ~ International Boudoir Photographer
Last month I had the pleasure of visiting the "Big Apple" to meet up with fellow boudy photog, Lindsay Rae Photography. She arranged for us to shoot at 2 hotels and brought her entourage with her, one of those babes being her epic makeup artist and stunner. Miss E and Lindsay had decided upon styling before coming to the city, but I was super excited to see what they had planned, especially since her outfit was exactly one that I had been wanting to stylize for a shoot in Winnipeg! High waisted panties over fishnets? Yes, plz. Anyhow, take a look at this gorgeous city shoot with Miss E! For a lot of women out their, they blame having children on their lack of sex appeal and I call bullshit on all of that. Miss E had a wee one a few months prior to this shoot and she had NO trouble at all bringing out the sass and sexiness. Stop using that as an excuse and accept the fact that you are hot, amazing, and in very many ways, super woman.
Ugh. I love NYC. If you live in an awesome location and would like me to visit, I am available for national and international travel and I usually offer travel-specific pricing! Nowhere is off limits, so shoot me a message as I am always up for an adventure!!
Your Empowerment Playlist ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photographer
Music has a way of reaching your soul and speaking the words that you have a hard time doing. I have compiled a list of my favorite female empowerment songs that get me hyped up and loving myself! Of course there are a ton of others, but I wanted to showcase some of the less than thought of empowerment songs. If there are any you think I should add, let me know in the comments!!
1.Elle King ~ America's SweetheartApparently, this song came out last year, so I am a year late to the game, but I absolutely love it. Plus, Elle slays with that gold sparkly eyeshadow. With lyrics like:No there ain't nothing that I gotta prove You think your words will make me black and blue But I, I think I'm pretty with these old boots on I think its funny when I drink too much, hey You try and change me you can go to hell 'Cause I don't want to be nobody else I like the chip I got in my front teeth And I got bad tattoos you won't believe What do you want from me, I'm not America's sweetheart So beat the drum with me, I'm not America's sweetheartWell they say I'm too loud for this town So I lit a match and burned it down What do you want from me, I'm not America's sweetheart But you love me anywayyou can't help but start to love your bits! Also, if you don't start dancing (even sit-dancing) this whole list will be lost on you.2. Hailee Steinfeld ~ Love MyselfAaaah! I love this song oh so much! And again, the video is killer and I am in the process of asking my mom to make me a sequin hoodie because it looks fucking amazing! Plus, that bodysuit? Mmm yes please. Never mind that the whole song is about being able to please yourself with a partner...that's pretty empowering if you ask me!!3. Alicia Keys ~ Girl On FireAs a photographer, I appreciate the cinematic quality of the video, but more importantly I love the lyrics because Ibelieve that every woman has a fire burning deep within her soul. Some of us were born into the world with a killer support system to help foster that fire, where other women are brought up into a world where water is being thrown on her fire every turn she makes. This song is for those women to remembe that the flame is always there, regardless of how small it is. Let it burn, babes, let it burn.4.Kacey Musgraves ~ Follow Your ArrowNot a country fan? Well, you may want to skip this one, BUT the message in it is awesome. Essentially, just do you and "Follow your arrow wherever it points" because people are never going to be happy and judge you anyway.5.P!nk ~ F**kin' PerfectAn oldie, but a goodie. P!nk is always there to set us straight when we start to veer down the negative thought path. This video brings about some serious feels, so if you haven't seen it before prepare yourself. Remember, babes, you are stronger and more amazing than you think you are. And there will be times when you feel less than perfect, but please know that I KNOW you ARE fucking perfect as you are. Shoot me a message just to vent if you want.6.Shakira ~ Try EverythingSure, it's for a feel good family movie, but the lyrics are pretty good. Too many adults are afraid to go for it, to live their dreams, to achieve their passion and I think it's important to remember that everyone starts at the beginning and it's in the failure that we become empowered to succeed and grow. Moral of the story: Whatever scares the piss out of you, maybe give it a try and see where it takes you.7. Empire Cast ~ You're So BeautifulOkay, yes, yes, maybe I binge watched Empire on Shomi, but hey! This song came out of that effort. This is just a fun, boppy song to remind you that you are fabulous when you may not be feeling it yourself. Remember, you're so beautiful!8.Sarah Bareilles ~ BraveAnother oldie, but I frickin' love the lyrics to this song and the whole musical composition. It makes me want to dance, sing, and do the things that scare me the most! 'Nuff said.9.Misterwives ~ Not Your WayOver being told to be undressed to look our bestEverywhere my eyes go, our figure is less, voice suppressedBut look how very far we have comeCast a vote, wear pants and prop up a gunNo, it's not your way, not your wayNot going to obey, to obeyThis is my body, bodyAnd you don't have a say, have a sayThis is my own life, own lifeNot growing up to be a trophy wifeSo don't parade us 'round, 'round we goIn your twisted world and I'm saying no, noNo, it's not your way, not your wayNo no no no, no no noLower and lower our standards go as your money growsFill us up with plastic and cut us up and tie a bowBut look how very far we have comeStrip us of our width, disguise it like we have wonLike, c'mon....these lyrics are pretty epic...10. Eurythmics ~ Sisters Are Doin' It For ThemselvesWe are taking it way back to when women put the power in "power suit." Props to these babes for helping to move the female empowerment movement forth. Annie & Aretha killed it.
Too Much of This, Not Enough of That ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Trigger Warning: eating disorders, bulimia, etc.Miss C has the features and body that young women on Instagram and other social media platforms, quite literally, die for. But it doesn't come easy and it definitely comes with a price....and that price is her freedom. Miss C has given me permission to share the story of her eating disorder with you, in hopes that it will inspire OTHER young women to face these issues and take them seriously. I am doing my due diligence to learn more about eating disorders and why they happen, how we can combat them, etc. and the research I have found implies that more than 80% of documented cases of eating disorders are genetic, usually following closely to depression, anxiety, and OCD. What does this mean? It means eating disorders are usually the result of a cocktail of brain chemicals and environmental factors and every case is different enough for there to be no "one answer" to fixing the issue.
So, where does Miss C fit in to all of this, aside from just "having" an eating disorder? Well, she came to me in response to one of my casting calls and told me about her progress in her recovery program. I was hesitant to put up images of her on my social media (not just because it would get me banned from Facebook) but because I know the internet is a crappy place and people would say some extremely demeaning things about her petite body. So, before anyone comments on the fact that she "needs to eat a sandwich" or "put some meat on those bones" or implies that "men like women with curves, not bones" please note that you have NO FUCKING CLUE about someone's journey. For Miss C. she has made great strides from where she was a few short months ago and has not only started making gains to get to a healthier weight for her frame, but is also battling with the mental game that eating disorders provide EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
For me, it is extremely important that I represent women of ALL shapes and sizes and journeys because ALL women deserve to feel good about themselves at whatever point they are in their journey and I am very happy to have met Miss C because she can shed some light onto a different part of body image that I have no experience with and hopefully her own journey to self love will help change even one girl's life.
Now, my reason for sharing Miss C's story is not so that you will take pity on her or say "awwww, poor girl" but rather, so you will think twice before wanting to achieve a particular "body type" which is deemed perfect by stupid social media challenges and society and also, so you will think before commenting on a woman's body that she is "too much" of this or "not enough" of that. 
So, even though the casting call for Miss C's session was supposed to be an inspiration session, it ended up being more of an empowerment session. Boudoir sessions for Miss C are a good way for her to express herself and get in touch with her body at whatever stage in her journey she is at. Photos are a fab way to document her life changes and see the progress that she is making, because sometimes it may seem slower than she would like. In any case, Miss C is one hell of a young woman and she is extremely bright, beautiful, strong and full of spark and I will continue to walk beside her in her journey to understand her self. {Ps. scroll down to the bottom to watch our behind the scenes video from this shoot!}
Here is what Miss C'story and experience with boudoir:"During my session I felt on top of the world I felt like the sexiest women alive. Teri made me feel so comfortable with showing off my body that I worked hard for. My fear of seeing my photos was not even that my body was going to look bad, it was that I would have weird facial expressions and be unhappy but when I saw my photos I felt beautiful. I felt perfect I wanted to show them off to everyone. I've been bulimic for half a year and my confidence is at an all time low. There are days when I feel beautiful and confident in the skin I'm in but other days when I want to lay in bed all day and not look at myself. I needed a confidence boost and I knew that Teri always gave me the best ones. And I was right. She made me beautiful and confident just like she did the first time and whenever I'm feeling insecure I look back on those photos she took of me and just smile. Thank you for all your help, Teri!"
