I have been waiting ages to post this session and release these shoots because they are totally amazing and awesome! Since the beginning of the year, birthday cake smashes for adults has become quite the trend and while I was totally on board with the idea, I wanted to shoot these sessions with a high-fashion vibe as opposed to the traditional route that we have seen them coming. The other thing I wanted to do, to set my sessions apart from the traditional, was to make them CELEBRATION focused, instead of just birthdays! Getting divorced and feeling fabulous about it? Let's celebrate!! Graduated uni and feeling adulty?? CELEBRATE IT! Just feel like eating cake and not feel guilty about it?? CELEBRATE IT! We will customize your Sassy Celebration Session during your consultation and help you cover everything from styling to colors and set design! The other fun thing about these sessions? You can invite your friends! EEEEEE!!! Take a look at the shots from our promo shoot and then head over here to find out how to design your own celebration shoot! I got my stellar team together for the promo shoot and Lilli Csuk did the gorgeous makeup and Jill came out to play the part of our party girl!
The Day I Became a Bad Ass In Vegas (Vegas Diaries) ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
So. I did a thing. It involved me wearing very dark eye liner, holding a cigarette (which had broken in half, because I am THAT bad ass), and kind of fighting through my fears. When I went to Vegas a few months ago, I connected with Miss Amy Peacock (whom you may remember from our kick ass shoot here) Well, she also shot me and it was so much fun. I think it is super important that I go through what my clients go through and in true form, I tried to come up with every excuse NOT to do this shoot. We came up with a fun concept for my shoot. We decided that it would be fun for me to tap into my inner bad ass. Usually I am a "good girl". I have never smoked, rarely drink (and if I do it's Arbour Mist kinda wine), and am what the kids may call "a prude." I like to cause trouble in other feministy ways, like fighting against the Beauty Myth, and destroying stupid stereotypes, so it was a lot of fun for me to dig into my inner Joan Jett for this shoot! Thank you to Amy for pushing me outside my comfort zone and forcing me to find my "dark side". I still won't smoke, I will rarely drink, but I LOVED the empowerment I felt from doing this shoot and realized I wanted to incorporate a bit of this into my client's shoots. Push them a little bit and help them see that despite who they are 99% of the time, we all have an inner rebel just aching to get out! Anyhow, check out these sweet photos I got from Miss Amy Peacock!
More Than Just a Mom ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss T walked into my studio a few months ago as part of a casting call and little did I realize just how much this shoot would impact her. (Ps. if you want to get in on the casting call action, come join the VIP Boudy Babe group on Facebook! We kept the session relatively minimalist, aside from the faux fur coat I bought for Vegas. Being a photographer, Miss T had spent her life BEHIND the camera (as many of us do) and so she was a wee bit nervous to take the leap into this shoot! She had forgotten what it meant to feel like a woman as she slid into the role of Mom and started putting herself on the back burner as so many women do. Enjoy her story, of a Mom taking a chance to remember what it feels like to be a Woman and having her expectations thrown all around!
I answered a casting call of Teri's a while back, and was stoked when I got the chance to be in front of her lens. Actually, no - I was terrified. Anyone who knows me, will think that this is bullshit. I had a brief stint “modelling” I come across fairly outgoing and confident, but truth be told, my life and roles are always changing. So my confidence comes and goes. Lately, its been on the lower end of things. So jumping in head first, is pretty much the only way I can do things, otherwise I wouldn’t ever do anything.
I myself am a photographer, and I struggle getting in front of the camera. My current main role, is a mom to a two year old gorgeous, energetic little girl, and my daily life is lived in pyjamas or sweats, no make up and hair in a messy bun. I often am surviving on little sleep, and since pregnancy have developed more anxiety then I ever had in my life. My body image has changed. Any Moms out there will likely relate. Women’s bodies are amazing. They bring life into the world, and are capable of so many things. One day, I will love my body, find an outfit that looks good, and I feel confident in. Another day, I don’t. I feel ugly, I feel old, I hate gravity, my stomach, my thighs that touch, the bags under my eyes, my chewed nails. You name it, I will beat myself up. People don’t see this, because I joke it off with humour. Even worse, I see this so often with other Moms. “Don’t get me in the photos, just the kids” or “ I look fat in photos, Photoshop it out” Life is fleeting and your kids won’t think that you are fat, so I often encourage women to get in photos with their kids, because truthfully one day - that is all their kids will have, photos and memories. I try to practice what I preach, and do family photos, but the truth is: there is more to me than just being a Mom. I am also a woman, under all the PJs and messy buns, there is still some sexy left. If I wait until I lose my ten pounds or my hair done, or my make ups on, I will never get photos done of myself. I will never take care of me. So I jumped in, not entirely ready or sure how I would feel about any of it.
When Teri replied and set up the shoot time, I panicked, realized that post baby, none of my “sexy” stuff fit, and went to the mall. I struggled with what the F should I wear and none of the stuff out there was really my style. (seriously, I couldn’t figure out how to get into half of the stuff) I eventually decided on something simple, a black tank, and underwear, because well, at almost 31, that's what lingerie feels like to me. I lied to my partner, told him I was doing something educationally related to photography, and off I went. I arrived at the studio, sat in the chair and was brought back to that place that I remembered from being younger. Having your make up done, makes you feel like a star. Teri was great. She was very directive, and knew exactly what she wanted, and made me giggle with her pose directions. The shoot itself, was rather quick and painless.
Due to my schedule and little one, instead of a reveal we did an online viewing gallery. Its weird to admit but I had mixed feelings of the photos, some I immediately loved, while others, I am still learning to love. Seeing myself made up was a little surreal to me, it felt strange. When I came home, I think I took the make up off with in an hour, because I don’t consider myself glamorous anymore. Because of the changes in my body, it still feels foreign some days. But I am busy, and distracted, so I don’t have time to dwell.
I actually sent my fiancee a screen shot of one of the images. His reply was “boobbbbs” and I got SO MAD. Why couldn’t he just tell me I looked great? Why did he have to turn into a 12 year old boy!? Why the fuck did this bother me, anyways? Due to my anxiety, I over analyze everything. So I took a break from looking at the photos and looked at them several times after. Instead of saying what I didn’t like about each one I needed to warm up to, I picked one thing that I liked about it. If I felt less confident about the pose, the hair or the make up or expression looked great. If my stomach was showing and made me uncomfortable - well my tits look fantastic. Or in true photographer geek style, if I didn’t like something I’d look at the light. Ive become a master of faking it, until I make it when it comes to my body image. A lot of positive self talk, and switching perspective. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of make up and a pretty dress.. but other times, it doesn’t. And that's ok. But sometimes, you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, which I did. And when I am having a day of feeling less than, I can look at the pictures, and remember that I am not. I can remember that I am more than just a Mom. Women wear many hats, and there is so much criticism in so many forums these days. Its exhausting. You are allowed to be more.
Having people like Teri out there in the world, saying its ok to feel pretty/sexy/confident/bold/
And Miss T nails it right on the head in her last paragraph. "You can think you need the makeup, fancy clothes, etc." and this is the furthest thing from the truth when coming in for a boudoir session with me. I want you to wear what is sexy to you. I have said it before and I will say it again: The less "stuff" you have on, the more we can focus on YOU. In consultations, I always warn people that the makeup will be heavier than you are used to because it is photo-ready makeup and it is not to "transform" you, but rather to make you shine on camera. Again, not every one is comfortable seeing a side of them that has been hidden for so many years, or a part of them that has rapidly changed due to having children, but I think it is necessary to expose yourself to the parts of you that you find less desirable so that you can start to see their appeal. In my experience, the repeated exposure of photos of oneself can lead to a more positive body image and overall experience because we start to see the big picture and don't hyper-focus on the tiny parts of ourselves that are inconsequential. Having photos of yourself look fab, fierce, and confident are a great reminder that A)you ARE still a woman regardless of what life throws at you, B)you ARE worthy of feeling sexy, hot af, and desired, and C)documentation of a somewhat fearless & courageous act, thus further enhancing the fact that you are a bad ass mamajama, capable of looking fear in the eye and proceeding anyway. So, what do ya say? Are you ready to take the plunge and do something your future self with thank you for? If so, hit the contact button up top and let's chat!
Too fat, Too saggy {and all the other lies she told herself} ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Miss D, oh, Miss D. This epic babe came off as quiet and reserved, but as soon as the cameras turned on she tapped into her sensuality and femininity and gave me what I was looking for. This babe has been one of the most active women in the VIP group on facebook and I am extremely grateful to her for that because sometimes I get too busy, but she sees the need to keep people inspired, empowered, and motivated. What a woman! I loved reading her story (though I don't recommend this before going into a meeting, because tears will run down your cheeks and you will look stoned because of the red eyes...) and these women, I tell ya, they just blow me away. For her, this session was about helping her see the babe within so she could be a role model to her kids and help them develop a healthy body image before the world can tell them what is "wrong" with them. But, enough of my yammering, here is Miss D's experience straight from her!!
Boudoir photos were always on "my list" but were never prioritized for some reason or other...too fat, too saggy, too frumpy, too "Mom" and of course the cost - Moms don't spend this on themselves. Coming across Teri Hoffard Photography's facebook page intrigued me. The picture I saw was of a beyond beautiful woman of not so "society sized" portion...like me.
Reading the article, this woman had all the same fears, anxieties and self-consciousness I did but yet here she was, in pictures looking so gorgeous you can FEEL her energy. That is what I wanted, that is how I wanted to feel, that is what I wanted to show my daughters. I booked my consultation! Hair and make up was fun and certainly helped aide in comfort of what was to come next; but it wasn't what made my pictures come to life.
I remember trying to follow Teri's instructions precisely because I kept thinking "I don't know how to look sexy" and "I can't just turn that on!" Her words were assuring and sometimes silly, making me at ease and trusting that she could make "this" look good. I admit I left the shoot still unsure how they would turn out. Reveal day was exciting! I appreciated her guidance and method of viewing alone before showing my husband and turning off the judgmental voice in my head. I was surprised!
The woman in the pictures looked amazing! Beauty, confidence and a sparkle I barely recognized was in these pictures. My pictures. Teri posted one of my pictures on facebook, I shared it so all my peeps could see. (Previously thinking no one but me and my husband would ever see these) The response was overwhelming. One friend in particular commented "You look incredible. And like you FEEL incredible!!" and I had to laugh because it was all very mechanical in the moment. "Point this" "Arch that" was all I had in my head.
Receiving my album was even more special. To see myself in print, a collection presented so beautifully, was my "super-model" moment. My fat, saggy, frumpy, Mom body disappeared. I could feel the energy of the woman in the picture like I wanted. The sparkle I saw in the digitals was there too. That woman in the picture is not a super-model or society sized but she is strong and confident and beautiful. A woman I want my daughters to know. I AM that woman and on days that I forget, I have a keepsake to remind me. Don't think about it, don't wait, don't judge yourself, just do it. Prioritize your well being, find your sparkle, no one is better at helping you show your sparkle than Teri.
Miss D is definitely a sparkly babe and I am so proud of her for diving into her sensual side and empowering herself. Sometimes we have a very one sided and, unfortunately, negative view of ourselves, so to see ourselves as the rest of the world does helps to improve our self-love relationship. Especially as a parent or role model to younger people, it is so important to help them focus on themselves in a bigger sense....love your body, but love ALL the things that make you awesome. Start those conversations early. I know boudoir photographer and friend of mine, Lindsay Rae D'Ottavio has her little, redheaded babe say "I am beautiful, brave, and smart." It is our job to leave legacies, so what better way than to raise a generation more consumed with being epic human beings instead of getting the perfect Kim K butt. Anyhow, if you are ready to start your self-love journey, give me a shout and let's chat about it!!
Our First Real Life Employee ~ Winnipeg Boudoir Photography
Well, guys, things are moving up and becoming a bit more streamlined to make an epic boudy experience for you! For starters, I have made my offerings much more minimalist (like my work) to make life easy for you! You select your images, get a fabulous album + digitals + wall art and call it a day (for more details shoot me an email and I can send you my info guide)!
I have also updated my Bad Ass Guide to Boudoir Styling to better suit my mission in terms of the Classy Sessions. You see, when I first started boudoir, I thought it was important to do things the way everyone did them when it came to boudoir. Dress up the woman, throw on all the jewellery, fancy shoes, etc. but the closer I came to recognizing my goal to empower women, I started to strip away at the suggested articles of clothing/items. I found that women would come to me with society's definition of sexy and they would be extremely uncomfortable. I also found the more "stuff" we incorporated in terms of clothing/accessories, the more the woman was hidden once again. I find that the less you have to hide behind, the more vulnerable and real your session becomes and that's when you tap into the sensuality and what it means to be comfortable in your own skin. It's about highlighting the sparkly bits of you, not the sparkly bits of the accessories that adorn you.
Now, if you want to do a totally dressed up, character-type session, then request a Sassy Session at your consult, because ANYTHING goes for those!! Wigs, over the top styling, crazy lighting, on location, pretty much the opposite of the Classy Sessions! I usually recommend starting with the Classy Sessions for your first shoot and then coming in to play for a Sassy Session!
In addition to the Classy & Sassy Sessions, I will also be offering Celebration Sessions (more to come on these!) These are an epic chance for you to celebrate whatever the hell you want: your self love journey, your birthday, your divorce, whatever. They are completely customizeable and are legit one of the best ways to celebrate momentous occasions in your life! You can also invite your friend(s) to participate, so stay tuned for that later!
Lastly, you have probably noticed a lot of photos of my main gal, Jill. In addition to helping me with modeling for my creative, last minute ideas to keep me learning, Miss Jill has come on as my Director of Customer Relations (like an actual employee now), meaning she will be helping out with consults & reveals in the studio. While I will still be present at the consults alongside Jill, I needed to free up more time for myself to be able to do what I do best: creative stuffs and empowering babes all over the world! I will be doing a lot more traveling coming up and this will allow me to make sure you don't have to wait any longer for your photo reveals, products, and consults! Jill has been with me since the dawn of Teri Hofford Photography's foray into boudoir and she is studying women's psychology at the University of Manitoba so she is on board with the mission of empowerment of Teri Hofford Photography.
I want you to get to know Jill a bit more, so I sat her down for an interview to give you insight as to why she wants to work for Teri Hofford Photography!T: So, Jill, tell me a little bit about yourself. J: I'm 20 years old, I am studying psychology at the U of M, I started modeling when I was 12, and I LOVE cats.T: How did you meet me?? J: I met you back in 2014 when I booked a shoot for my modeling portfolio. We quickly became friends and kind of worked together a lot since then doing fun things. I learn a lot from you.T: I learn a lot from you too! J: We met at an interesting time for the both of us. You were just getting started in boudoir and Winnipeg wasn't really known for anything other than wedding photography and I was getting my foot in the door as far as plus size modeling goes [and yes, in the fashion industry, Jill is considered plus size]. I was told that it would be good for me to work with a photographer that worked with all body types.
T: Tell me about your journey with self image and self love. J: When I started modeling, I was very young and impressionable and I compared myself a lot to other successful models in and outside the city. It was hard on me mentally because I was still very young and was being influenced by negative behaviour in the modeling industry. Back then too, plus modeling was not really a thing (aside from size 8/10). When I started it was when the super thing look was what the agency wanted. It affected me into thinking that I wasn't good enough and my success in other areas was surrounded by how much I weighed and what my measurements were. I tried to get down to what they wanted, but my habits were not the healthiest and I was still not thin enough for them. Therefore, thin enough was never thin enough for me. I found then, that other girls would see me as a role model to achieving thinness, but I was a role model that I didn't want to be. It was very hard up until I was about 15/16. I realized then that I still really wanted to do modeling and had an experience with a photographer from Toronto and was asked if I would be interested in doing plus size (I was at a size 4/6). At first, I was hurt but then they showed me plus size models and I realized that they looked more like my natural body than this cultural expectation. Like, why can't I just be a "model" instead of fitting into a category?
T: So, how have your feelings towards modeling changed? J: Initially, I think I had an unhealthy relationship and had this weird confidence because it was a double edged sword. As soon as I realized that I could model at my natural size, it has become fun again. My perspective on a lot of things has changed as a result of me moving from straight-size modeling to plus size modeling. I had to stop comparing myself to other girls because there were not a lot of other girls to compare to in the Winnipeg market. I had to start looking within myself to model. I realize that I am my own person and that is extremely liberating. Like most people, I'm not 100% there, but I'm getting there.
T: I think everyone is like that. So, what do you like about what we do at the studio? J: I have seen your business grow (we have lots of shoots under our belts LOL) and I have been personally impacted by our work together. I can look back and see how we were figuring a lot of stuff out and this is a safe relationship for us to be creative and play. Of course, there is work...but it feels like play. A lot of the clients that we get in here remind me of how I am and how the modeling industry is...always trying to achieve this unrealistic body expectation for other people. I think having to realize who I am at a young age allows me to help inspire women to accept themselves as THEY are and realize that their beauty is incomparable to any other beauty. Society is bullshit. It's nice to give women a space to realize they are beautiful regardless of where they are in their journey. It's great to work with people who are passionate about overcoming poor body image and seeing the expressions,comments and feedback of clients is really nice and makes me happy!T: What do you want clients to know about you? J: I want to help support women through their journey and help them realize this is a starting point. I want clients to know that when you have a day where you feel super crappy about yourself, to remember that it is JUST a day and it's okay to feel that way. BUT it's not okay to stay there. I want clients to know that despite being a model, I have had and still do have insecurities (if not more!). I think a lot of people judge me based on my looks and think I have it all together, but at the end of the day I am still susceptible to the same shit that everyone else is. I want women to understand and uphold the values of the Boudy Babe Code of Conduct, especially when it comes to not judging others or themselves. Essentially, I want clients to know that I got their back and I am super pumped to help them have an experience they will remember forever!T: What is going to be your role with Teri Hofford Photography? J: I am the director of client relations. Essentially, I will be doing consultations alongside you and then follow up after the session with the reveal. So, I get the fun part of seeing the client reactions after their epic experiences! I also get to help clients select their final images and provide the best information to give them the best display options for them. The thing I am MOST excited about is that I get to connect with and keep in touch with clients after their session to help them continue to stay empowered!
So, that is what is new and exciting for Teri Hofford Photography (for now) but I do have one more exciting situation going down, but it is not complete yet, so all will be revealed soon! I couldn't be more happy to have a growing team of amazing babes to continue to empower the women of our community and beyond!