The Expert Files {All About Veils}

When I first started wedding planning, I was pretty adamant I wouldn't dare wear a veil on our wedding day. Yet the minute I placed one on my little head I was instantly smitten; and for a while contemplated buying the veil first, and then the dress second since I first found this stunner of a mantilla. Then I ended up buying a different veil a year before our wedding only to return it to buy a cathedral weeks before the big day, then last minute exchanged it for the lace-trimmed fingertip veil you've all seen in my photos. Sigh. It's official I love veils. And with that I am extremely excited to welcome the gorgeous (yeah that's her above, be jealous) and talented Tessa Kim to the blog to spill anything and everything veil-related. Read on for more, below!

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{Tell me about you and your business} I created my business when I was planning my own DIY 2009 August wedding to my lovely husband Choon. I really just fell into it though when I was looking for the perfect birdcage veil and fascinator and was not having any luck. I'm a crafty person so I started making a few different styles of veils and flowers fascinators which brought me to etsy since I had many more veils than I actually needed and I thought I would put them up for sale; just to see what would happen. They sold out the next day and from there I kept creating more and then slowly expanded the styles and options of my veils. I now carry a huge selection of birdcage veils, bridal veils, flower facinators, feather hair combs, head bands and dress sashes. All my headpieces and veils are hand dyed/painted and the headpieces are also hand cut/shaped with a vintage millinery iron. I also like to incorporate vintage millinery aspects to all of my pieces for a unique look.

{Should a bride pick her gown based off a veil or vice versa?} I think it depends on the individual bride. For myself, I knew I wanted to wear a birdcage veil no matter what so I made sure to find a dress that complimented that style. Although since there are so many types of veils and materials that can be used I believe you can always find a complimenting veil for any dress.

{Traditionally, what's the meaning behind a veil?} There are a few different meanings behind the classic bridal veil although it depends on who you ask. Some people believe that it was meant to represent the innocence of the bride, some believe that it is used to shield the beauty of the bride before the groom married her and others believe that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before exchanging vows. There are unlimited styles of veils like a birdcage, blusher, mantilla, flyaway and a traditional chapel, cathedral, fingertip, and elbow veil, that all offer different looks to compliment different gowns and weddings.

{What alternatives are there for brides who want a less traditional bridal look?} There are so many options for brides today who do not want to go the traditional route. A few of the choices would be a floral headpiece, a bridal hat, a tulle and veiling puff, a mini veil, a feather hair comb, a simple headband,  bridal hair pins, a simple rhinestone brooch comb, a decorative comb, even a decorative piece of lace. Right now I am in love with one of my newest floral headpieces "Grace." It's a double flower fascinator that is cream, blush and ivory in colour. It also has vintage millinery leaves from the 1940s which I just adore. 

{What trends are you predicting this summer and fall, and what do you believe will forever remain timeless?} I believe you will start to see a lot more colour being incorporated into bridal headpieces. I also believe the statement pieces will still be popular although complimented with smaller and more dainty hair combs. And it never goes out of style to be yourself and not always go with the trends. Make sure to be comfortable with the style of accessories you choose and truly love them :)

Thanks so much, Tessa for stopping by the blog! And all of you can check out Tessa's website and shop for more information, items and goodness. Top photos by Deyla Huss and product photos by Candice Benjamin.

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The Expert Files {The Nitty Gritty on Wedding Invitations}

Paper, paper oh sweet sweet paper. Kind of like I have a sweet spot for full bloomed flowers, and delicate cakes, I have an equal admiration for pretty paper. Kraft paper, embossed pieces, the paper from the heavens above (also known as letterpress) I really adore it all. So for today's instalment of the Expert Files it only seemed fitting that I asked Sarah from Truly Smitten to share a little insight with all of you about everything invitations for your big day. Truly Smitten, which launched in 2007 is an all around graphic design studio that offers branding and identity design, interactive (web/blog) and print design as well as creative consultation process. But here's the best part, they carry a special torch for custom letterpressed wedding and social stationary as well as other refined paper goods and above all, have a deep love for simple and elegant designs with great typography. Sign me up please and thank you. Read on friends!

{Is it true that the invitation sets the tone for the wedding?} Very true! The invitations is essentially the very first thing the guests will get to have a peek at of what your wedding will be like. Visual presentation has a profound impression and the more unique, beautiful your invitations are, it will probably be leaving the guests itching to find out more about how your wedding will be put together. Invitations and paper goods can help your bridal branding, themes, colors and designs can be carried throughout your wedding consistently and tie it all together nicely.

{What are all the different printing options available? Letterpress, offset, embossed, diecutting; help!} I get asked this a lot and I can understand how it can be a bit confusing. But out of all of these printing methods, letterpress is hands down the most sought after and everyone knows what letterpress is; so that's an easy one :) Letterpress is a relief based printing of text and image where either movable type or a plate is n a raised surface, then inked and pressed onto paper. So the text and image indents into the paper creating a pressing" look. Because this printing involves doing things by hand that has that unique artwork feel to them - truly gorgeous. Offset printing is what is referred to as "flat" printing and is a very commonly used printing technique. This is where the inked image is transferred or "offset" from plate to a rubber blanket then to the printing surface. There are no indentations or raised lettering, it's just printed on a completely flat surface and usually used for mass printing. Embossing represents pushing the image up above the paper surface level and Debossing is pushing the image below the surface level of the paper and both are really neat effects. And Die Cutting is a process of using metal-edged blade die or laser to cut custom shapes from printed sheets to wood, or other-materials.

{How can couples infuse unique details into their invitations without being too cheesy?} First and foremost, of the couples wants to be equally involved in the wedding invitation process, they have to agree on which details they want to have on it and what not to include. I'm working with a couple right now that is going through this and they can't agree with each other. If the bride-to-be is more detail orientated and wants to include an image she wants to use, then perhaps they can compromise by having the groom-to-be choose the color he may want included. There are many details that can be incorporated without being cheesy. You can do things from their initials fused into one design that can look very modern or vintage, or one element of the invite can be more the "bride" and an other element be more "groom."

{Name your fave font, colour palette and design style?} My style tends to gravitate towards clean, simplistic with understated elegance with a classic feel to it. I do like spaces, clean lines and clean combinations of typography. I have so many favourite fonts/types but my top faves are engravers, gotham, archer, mrs eaves, bodoni classic and burgues script. As for colour palette, I'm a huge fan of yellows and grays. I think it's because those were my wedding colours! I'm really liking deep plum/fig colors with blues, orange and turquoise.

{What are ways that couples can make other pieces of their invitation really stand out? Envelopes, liners, bellybands, etc} I'm a firm believer of "less is more" - at least in terms of the design. If the design of the invitation is loud and very eye-catching, I would choose more muted envelopes with muted but patterned liners and go with a classic hand calligraphy on the envelopes. If the design of the invite is more subtle and classic, I'd probably embellish more on all the extras; go with a bold envelope, even a die cut bellyband edging, wax seals/stamps, and even put it in a box mailer - make it look like a mini gift!

{What are some ways couples can still have beautiful invitations without breaking the bank?} Just because it's not printed using a fancy method doesn't mean your invite won't be beautiful. It all boils down to good design. Hire a designer/stationer that you know you can trust and that he or she has the same aesthetic as you. It may be a challenge for a designer/stationer who's only used to designing a certain style and you ask the designer to create something completely the opposite. So find someone who's work speaks out to you in more ways than just one. Also, it really helps when a client and stationer/designer share great chemistry and are on the same page.

Check out some of Truly Smitten's stunning work:

Truly Smitten {The Blog}

Truly Smitten {On Etsy}

Truly Smitten {The Studio}

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The Expert Files {How to Pick Your Wedding Cake}

Happy Wednesday blogettes! Hope you're sitting down to read this addition to the Expert Files on an empty stomach. Because I've got everything you need to know right here about cake, cake and more downright yummy delicious cake from super talented baker and cake artist Erica O'Brien. From what to expect from a cake artist to the common misconceptions about wedding cakes I think Erica has done a fabulous job of covering all the basics for you brides-to-be who may be stuck in sugar-induced state of confusion. Now if only I could sink my teeth into her delectable cakes. Scroll on to catch all the goodies. And I'll be off over here drooling on my key board.

{What are the most important things clients need to know when selecting their wedding cake?} Make sure you prioritize. If you're a foodie and cake is very important to you, know that you will likely pay more for a cake from an artisan who makes everything from scratch than you would at a typical bakery. Wedding cakes can and should be delicious, but like many things, you get what you pay for. When it comes to design, select a baker whose style works for you. You wouldn't commission a modern, abstract artist like Picasso to create a painting in the style of Monet. The same is true for cake design. Look at the designer's portfolio to be sure his or her style meshes with your own. If not, you should probably move on. 

Also, always request a tasting, and expect to schedule one several weeks in advance. Cake designers are busy people, particularly on weekends. The best days for a tasting are earlier in the week - Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday - before the weekend rush when the designer has a lot of time to sit down and chat with you. Be on time for your tasting. Appointments are usually schedule back-to-back, and you don't want to cut into your allotted time by showing up late. Bring some designs ideas to the table. They need not be other cakes that you like, although that helps give the cake artist a feel for your style. A good designer can use anything for inspiration: your wedding invitation, the print on a swatch of fabric, your grandmother's lace doily; anything.

{What are some common misconceptions you find people have about wedding cake?} One common misconception is that wedding cakes don't taste good. Your cake should be as delicious as the best dessert in the finest restaurant. Here's the problem: many bakeries - but not all and certainly not ours - use shortening instead of butter. Shortening is a lot cheaper and has a higher melting point, so the heat of your hand won't melt if you are piping a design, but neither will the heat of your mouth. If you've ever eaten a bakery product that gives you that greasy film on the roof of your mouth that you just want to scrape it off, it's not butter and that's usually a sign that the product has been made with shortening. Real butter has a lower melting point and is therefore melt-in-your-mouth delicious. We make all our cake with real butter and we make a French butter cream to fill them, so they're absolutely scrumptious.

{Name three big wedding cake faux pas} One Asking a family member or friend to make the cake. Wedding cakes are best left to professionals for many reasons. To decrease the chances of food-borne illness, you want a cake that's been baked by someone properly trained in food handling in a commercial kitchen approved by your local Health Department. Also, transporting and assembling wedding cakes is tricky business and it helps to have someone experiences. Lastly, you'll have enough stress - and so will your sister, your mother and your best friend - on your wedding day. Don't add more by having one of them bake your wedding day cake. Two Setting expectations too high. The best way to avoid disappointment is to be realistic about your budget and what kind of cake your money can buy you. Check prices in your local area before you get your heart set on a cake you can't afford. Three Assuming guests won't eat the cake. Although this might be true for some cakes, we find that even those who usually pass up the wedding cake can't resist our cakes' buttery goodness. You wouldn't have a dinner party for eight guests and only prepare food for six. Don't invite 100 guests and order a cake for 80, or you could end up with 20 upset (and hungry!) people at your wedding.

{What is your favourite design, colour palette, and style of cake? Do you have a design speciality?} My style is recognized for its clean lines and edible interpretations or graphic designs. I take a lot of cues from fabric, stationary and other art forms. I've pioneered several techniques, such as my ruffle cake, fondant "fabric" flower and painted appliques that define my style. I love cakes that offer a modern viewpoint while still maintaining the integrity of the traditional wedding cake.

{What is the difference between buttercream and fondant?} Buttercream is essentially eggs, butter and sugar and is spread on with an icing spatula. It is silky and creamy and compliments almost any cake well. Fondant was originally used to covered fruitcakes in England for shipment to the new world. A sugar paste made with powdered sugar, glucose, glycerine, and gelatin, it is rolled out like a dough and placed on the cake. Fondant firms up when exposed to air and forms a seal around the cake, keeping it fresher than buttercream would. A lot of people say that fondant doesn't taste good but I don't actually mind the taste. What I object to is the gummy texture of the fondant against the crumb of the cake. It is however impossible to get buttercream to look as smooth and pristine as fondant, so it's usually worth the trade off.

{Are there any helpful hints brides can benefit from if they are looking to save a bit of money?} Faux cakes which are Styrofoam dummies covered to look like real cakes, can be an economical option and no one will know the difference! Designers can decorate faux cakes in advance since no one will eat it (and fondant isn't perishable), saving them precious time. Clients who get a sheet cake (intended only to be served not seen) save them the time-consuming process of filling and icing smooth a real cake, and save themselves money in return. Think about your venue and where the cake will be displayed too. If the cake table will be against a wall, you might consider a design down the front of the cake only, since no one will see the back. The fewer details, the less time the designer spends on your cake, and the more you save.

{Explain a bit about the process of making a wedding cake} Oh the process! Here's just a glimpse of what you're paying for when you commission a wedding cake: the designer's experience and expertise, the cost of ingredients, labor t o set up and clean up, torte, fill, ice and smooth your cake - and that's all exclusive of design! Cakes can take upwards of ten to forty hours to decorate. Some sugar flowers must be handcrafted petal by petal. One rose can take even an experienced artisan an hour to create so a cascade of gumpaste roses might take 60 hours to make. Also, we always provide a sketch of the cakes (a necessary but time consuming step) so we can ensure that we are creating the exact cake the client is ensuring. Finally, think about how much you would pay an artist to create an original painting for you. When you purchase a custom cake, you are commissioning an edible piece of art.

{What is the most memorable cake you have ever created and why?} I'd have to say my wedding cake just because it was so close to my heart. I tried not to obsess too much about the design. I just sat down with my coloured pencils and let the design flow naturally. It wasn't my favourite design, then or now, but I felt like it represented the bright, fun, happy feel of my wedding. We had three cake flavor pairings: vanilla bean cake with blackberry buttercream, chocolate chip cake with vanilla bean buttercream, and chocolate cake with chocolate hazelnut ganache. Many of our guests said it was the best cake they'd ever had.

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Lavender cake: Lane Dittoe / Pink and gray cake: Henry Chen / Blue floral cake: Jessica Claire / Gray and beige, and blue and red cake: Ashley Johnson Photography / Yellow and gray cake: Ja Tecson / Cherry blossom sketch and cake: Courtesy Erica O'Brien Cake Designs / Four tier floral cake: Courtesy Erica O'Brien Cake Designs

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The Expert Files {Renting Vintage Furniture and Props}

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to another installment of The Expert Files! I am super stoked about today's feature from adorable bride-to-be and business owner, Amanda Reapsummer. A one stop-shop for Northern California brides seeking vintage-inspired wedding decor, her biz One True Love Vintage Rentals has dozens and dozens of inventory items ready to satisfy your vintage-loving heart. Amanda's love for old found items combined with her event planning background and her dwindling wedding budget is what really kick started her journey into collecting vintage treasures. After endless trips scouring flea market she figured why not rent out her collection of vintage treasures to save others from the headache of having to find pieces themselves. With that OTL was born and I have to say I adore her thinking! I sure could have used OTL during my wedding planning as a bride-to-be. That darling yellow ladder has left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Read on my sweets!

{How can a client benefit from your services and what you have to offer?} There are two main benefits to working with One True Love Vintage Rentals when planning an event. First of all, you're going to save time and money. Our number one goal is to give brides a convenient and affordable way to add one-of-a-kind pieces to their big day. Secondly, it takes the stress out of your wedding day. You don't want to have to worry about renting a truck, transporting your rentals, setting them up and then returning them at the end of the night. Let us do that so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your wedding day!

{What types of items make up your inventory?} We have an extensive collection ranging from small decorative elements like skeleton keys and old medicine bottles to large furniture like tables and sofas. And many of our pieces are actually family heirlooms! My great uncles electric fan from the 1930s, my grandmother's coffee grinder and copper kettle, and my dad's wooden cathedral radio are just a few of those heirlooms. In terms of the items that are my fave, aside from my family heirlooms, which are near and dear to me, it's a tie between my teal coat rack and my yellow ladder. The coat rack was my very first purchase after moving to San Francisco and the ladder is a one of a kind beauty from Loire Valley, France. I just can't resist the fun pop of colour and character that they bring to a space.

{What are your main sources of inspiration?} My main inspiration comes from places filled to the brim with vintage wares like estate sales, flea markets and antique stores. What can I say, I love being surrounded by fabulous old stuff! I also get tons of inspiration from design and wedding blogs. I follow about 50 blogs and I'm constantly in awe of the beautiful ideas and images that I encounter daily.

{How can a DIY bride use vintage rentals to spice up her big day?} One True Love Vintage Rentals is a great resource for DIY brides who are looking to get creative and put their own spin on a classic. For example, maybe you have a fabulous homemade dessert table planned out. Why not use something like our rustic garden table or shabby chic vanity instead of a table to hold those homemade goodies? Or how about those guest favor bags that you spent weeks creating? Those would look great in our rustic wooden wagon. 

{How does the process typically work in terms of renting from OTL?} All of our inventory is viewable online and divided into categories so your first step should be to browse through our inventory and take note of specific pieces that catch your eye. Once you've selected your favourite pieces just e-mail us to reserve those pieces and send in a 50% deposit. Our rentals work on a first come first serve bases so the earlier you reserve the better! If your desired pieces aren't available we will add those items to your "wish list" and keep you updated on new inventory and cancellations. And what if we get in a new piece that you like better than the one you already reserved? No problem! Just let us know and your deposit can be used towards reserving the new piece. Photo concepts, design and styling by Esla Events and Leigh Okies Designs.

Here are some of the fabulous pieces from One True Love's inventory:

Thank you Amanda for sharing your insight and inventory with all of us! We can't wait to see how you incorporate your fabulous finds into your big day this September. Are any of you brides-to-be out there using vintage props and furniture in your wedding decor? For all of you married chicks out there, were they are pieces of furniture that you rented and used for your big day and how was the experience?  

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The Expert Files {How to Prepare for Your Engagement Session}

You may want to grab a seat for this one guys. Not only do I have dozens of gorgeous images for you to pore over today but I have some incredibly helpful expert advice from talented vintage modern, New York City based photographer, Maggie Harkov. I've been a huge fan of Maggie's work for such a long time and she takes some of the prettiest photos I have ever laid my eyes on. Here she dishes about absolutely everything you need to know for your engagement photo session. Read on blogettes for all the goodness.

{What are the benefits to doing an engagement session? Both for the couple and photog?} Engagement sessions are a really valuable time for both the couple and wedding photographer to get to know one another. Weddings are such an intensely personal act, and it's so important to me that my clients not only feel comfortable around me, but even more so, feel like a friend is showing up to document their day. In order for that to happen, we have to spend some time really getting to know each other and an engagement session allows us to do that on a different level. Having this time to get to know the couple enables me to capture them and see who that particular couple really is, as individuals and as a couple and all the tiny little intricacies that make them unique so that I'm better able to capture every moment on their wedding day. I really believe that all photographers capture a subject they know better than someone they don't and I believe I'm able to capture what I do because of the way my clients and I get to know one another.

{Does the engagement session pay off on the wedding day?} Since most people aren't used to having an unobtrusive paparazzi following them around for 8 hours a day, engagement sessions give couples the opportunity to really get comfortable in front of the camera so by the time the wedding day arrives they forget I am even there. Couples always tell me they feel like models for a day and that they can't remember the last time they laughed, kissed or snuggled so much. We always follow a fabulous engagement session with dinner and drinks and it's just a really fun time together with great images and new friends as a result. What's not to love about that?

{How far in advance should a couple get their photos done?} I typically recommend that couples have their engagement session 2-3 months prior to their wedding date. This allows us to have another opportunity to see each other again and get to know one another more closer to their big day. This time frame is close enough to their wedding date that they'll still remember what it feels like to be in front of the camera a few months down the line and be able to use their photos for projects they may have in mind. If a client wants a certain session to be captured, or to use the images for save the dates, than we'll arrange for the session to take place earlier, but then we'll meet up for coffee or drinks as their date approaches just to catch up.

{What can a couple do with their engagement prints?} Couples use the resulting images for lots of things. Some couples just want to have professional everyday photos of themselves that they might feel more comfortable having in their home than they would having dozens of wedding photos where they are all dressed up, or they'll have an album made of their prints. Others order individual prints and have them displayed at the reception for their guests to see or they'll order a sign in book with their favourite images and their guests leave words of encouragement as a beautiful keepsake.

{How can a couple really personalize their experience to have unique and memorable photos?} It's my absolute favorite thing when couples get really involved in their engagement sessions and want to incorporate elements of themselves. The more you get into it, the more fun it can be! It can be anything in the world, just make it about you and your relationship. If you are a homebody couple that loves pizza and beer every Friday night, order in a pie and do the session in your home. Or if you had an awesome first date, recreate it. If you love coffee and met at Starbucks, bring props or ask if they'll allow your engagement photos to be taken there. If you're both obsessed with certain hobbies or a TV show or movie, use that as a theme. You can get super creative, just make it about you and your relationship. What makes you guys unique? Anything that has significance to you - a place, an object - anything can be incorporated and the photos will instantly mean that much more to you because they are true to you and your relationship.

{What helpful hints do you have for guys (and girls!) that are nervous about being lovey dovey in front of the camera?} Have some inside jokes to get each other to laugh. Bring props or buy an ice cream cone and just be in the moment with each other; forget that the camera is there. If you feel stuck, ask your photographer what they want you to be doing or tell him/her that you're uncomfortable. It's their job to make you feel at ease, but it's natural to feel strange at first. Just remember that the happier and more smitten you are with each other, the happier you will be with your images.

{What can you advise your clients not to do before their sessions? (i.e. avoid a new hair colour)} I definitely wouldn't advise any drastic new hairstyles or colours, or anything that doesn't look like you. You want the images to be reflective of you, so don't try to be something you're not. If you have a great make-up artist set for your big day, it's worthwhile to have your make-up trial beforehand so that you not only have a great look for your photos, but so you can also see how the results look in photos and if you want more/less a different look entirely, but you don't want anything too over the top, unless you're after a more styled session. 

{What is the most memorable e-session you ever did and why?} Wow. That's a hard one! I don't think I can come up with just one. I really love all engagement sessions because I have the chance to get to know my amazing clients better and have a ton of fun with them without the time constraints of a wedding day. Some of my favourite images resulted from my couples really sharing themselves and incorporating elements of their relationship: a first date, a love of the city/country, picnics, winter, gardening, football, etc. Anything that represents my couples and enables them to be themselves and laugh is what makes me smile and feel lucky to be part of and document.

A huge hug to you Maggie for sharing your expertise and wisdom with us! I heart you and will forever be one of your biggest fans. Looking forward to a possible meet up this summer in the Big Apple with you :) To everyone else, if you decided to do engagement photos, how did your experience pan out? For those of you that didn't do an engagement session, why not? Would love to hear your thoughts!

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The Expert Files {Boudoir Photography}

Welcome to a new series on the blog friends! Dubbed the Ex-pert Files I'll be sharing with you at least once a week, an interview-based post directly from the mind and mouth of an industry vendor. Packed to the brim with helpful hints, tricks of the trade and more enlightening inspirations than you could ever imagine, it's my hope that these posts will become a stand out staple on the Hey Gorgeous blog. Even better, hopefully you'll learn a thing or two from people that constantly inspire and keep me motivated in my own work. Enter the Expert Files contestant numero uno, my fab friend Beth Kaye from Elizabeth in Love. Beth is an incredible wedding photographer in Hamilton, Ontario and today's she dishing on everything you need to know about boudoir photography. And let me tell you, this girl knows how to rock these kinds of sessions; I would know as she did my boudoir session in December!

{What exactly is a boudoir session?} I'm sure there is an exact definition when googled but I will sum up what I feel it is. To me, a boudoir session is a portrait session with pretty undies, amazing make up and a little bit of skin where a woman gets to feel like a super model for the day. She dresses in her hottest attire and works with the photographer to get sexy, confident images. My idea of a perfect boudoir session is when a woman feels completely confident in her body, her shape, what she is wearing and overall who she is. I want to make her feel beautiful and reveal a side of her that she may not have known existed. I really do feel that every woman has such unique beauty and I want to capture that. I not only want her to look at the photos and feel like she can take over the world, but I want the session to reflect that in her too. Yes, it's for the woman herself, but I love when my clients are so excited to surprise their boyfriend, fiance, or husband with the images! Every man loves this - trust me, he'd be crazy not to love hot photos of his lady!

{How can a woman who wants boudoir photos find the fine line between classy and tacky?} I think you need to look at the work of the photographer and make sure they fit your personality and style. What they put on their website is their best work so if there are photos you don't like or you feel are super awkward, chances are they aren't for you. When I shoot, my goal isn't to copy poses I've seen on other blogs with boudoir sessions but it's to work with the poses that best suit the model I am working with and to make her feel confident while doing so. I get my inspiration from a lot of fashion magazines and though most women I work with aren't exactly models, I want to show them they can look like it.

{What types of things do you do as the photographer to guarantee tasteful photos?} I find that grabbing inspiration from other sources can be beneficial in creating unique images for the client rather than looking at other local photographers work. In my opinion, having a model lay on her back with her feet up while looking into the camera upside down just isn't flattering. Some people like that and that's awesome - I'm just not one of them. When looking to find the perfect photographer for your session, make sure that they will know how to find your best angles and how to make you look flattering. Sometimes, it's the more simple, beautiful, soft portraits that turn out the best. Each shoot is so unique as each woman is. I coach them though the process of picking outfits, to finding the best poses for each girl. I LOVE the candid moments also, the ones that show the adorable laughs and the in between, natural moments.

{What do you suggest women wear for outfits and accessories?} I really enjoy soft, sensual images. Classic, pretty, and elegant. I suggest lacy lingerie, nighties, off the shoulder shirts with frilly undies etc. I like a more neutral colour palette preferably but bold and vibrant can work too! Again, whatever suits the woman's body type and looks fabulous will usually photograph the best. I'm not really into the kinky accessories or the stripper heels in my sessions. I love elegant lingerie and amazing make up. Having a make up artist and hair stylist on set for a hair and makeup makeover really helps to create a more polished imagery. Having everything come together will assist in the super model experience. It just takes it to a whole new level. I love when clients bring make up (as a prop), accessories, perfume bottles or other details for me to shoot to help tell the story and incorporate some props that relate to women.

{What are some helpful hints for women to loosen up and not be so nervous in front of the camera?} Find an outfit that you feel sexiest in. Something that compliments your shape and makes you feel on top of the world. Make the session all about you! It's okay to pamper yourself,  to get your nails done before, to get a makeover. Have fun. Also remember the photographer is there to capture another side of you that you may not be aware is in there so be open and trust their vision. If you feel awkward in a shot or a pose that just isn't you - tell them. Just like in any relationship, communication is key. Communicate with the photographer to give them things to work with and share any ideas you may have. I like to shoot a few frames and then show the model so that she can see how good they look. Once I do that, I can automatically feel her confidence level rise and she will trust me and be more open and laid back. By the end of the session I feel like we're old friends.

{What's your fave part about boudoirs?} My favourite part about a boudoir session is making women feel their best. I love knowing that I can bring out a woman's confidence and help in upping the self-esteem. To me, that is priceless in itself. Every woman deserves to feel her best. I also have a complete blast shooting them and love that each session is so different yet so much the same! To view more of Beth's work be sure to check out her site. 

And because I promised you all that I would share some photos from my own session with Beth, here are a few shots of yours truly. I really debating sharing these with you since it's sort of like baring my body and soul to the rest of the world but then again I'm proud to be the woman I am and I see these photos as nothing different from a shot of me in a leotard (which I happened to wear for more than 20 years of my life!) They day of our shoot I actually spent the night at the ER with an incredibly terrible case of bronchitis. In between an awful fever and sipping on my bottle of Buckleys Beth still managed to make me not only look beautiful but allowed me to truly feel it with every ounce of my being. I adore you Beth.

I created a Shutterfly book of all of the images and gave it to Apb as a Valentines Day gift. He.loved.it.

Have any of you girls done boudoir shoots? What were your experiences?

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