Fit Momma of 6: Augusta Beauty & Boudoir Photography

www.augustaboudoir.com




She obviously works out.  She obviously eats clean.  What's not obvious is that SHE HAS 6 KIDS!!
 
After this beautiful and wonderful mom had a shoot with us, I totally stopped using "I have 3 kids" as an excuse for being out of shape.    She is so full of positve energy....simply AMAZING!!!!!!!!

And she is a really sweet lady (but of course all Augusta Boudoir clients are!!!), and I just adore that she is so dedicated.

EXCUSE ME WHILE I STEP AWAY FROM THIS COMPUTER TO GO WORK OUT!!

xoxo, Sharon

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

An Augusta Boudoir Surprise From Afghanistan, With Love

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com


by Sharon....

So at the end of last year we got a very special inquiry all the way from Afghanistan...it was a husband deployed there and wanted to give his wife a gift certificate for a special experience as a gift for Christmas.  He wanted her to take some time just for herself to feel special and beautiful.

HOW SWEET IS THAT!!!

But he wanted to make it extra special by SURPRISING her, so we devised a plan.  He figured out a good date/time when she would be home, and he sent some very very very special wording for a card. 

A store bought card just didn't seem good enough for this special and unique surprise, so I enlisted help from Illustrated Events to hand craft a card and they also hand wrote his words.  And of course we threw in some oh so delish chocolate covered strawberries from our favorite bakery, Sweet Madness.

Okay let me just say that I was very emotional during all of this because it just was so touching.  Even though I often put my own husband up for sale on Facebook when he's in the doghouse, I still would be a basket case if he was away from our family for a year.

Imagine a complete stranger knocking on your door saying they have a gift from Afghanistan.   She was so sweet and had tears in her eyes after reading the card.  

Mission accomplished!!!!

So I really felt strongly about doing the shoot inside their own home because he is a way from home...seeing his own furniture and little glimpses of his own house just makes the pictures waaaaaay more meaningful.

She was very clever timing her session...she scheduled it in time to send her thoughtful hubby a Valentine's Day surprise.  And guess what....his book arrived  in his hands ON VALENTINE'S DAY. 

That was Perfect timing!!!!

And the best part of it for me was bringing this couple a little closer together.  I wish I could show you all of the images from her shoot because there are some that I absolutely love love love, but here are a couple that I do have permission to share...

Professional Portfolio Prep Form

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Arlund Photo Retreat Image Review

Hey!!  I'm back from Chuck Arlund's workshop....better known as the Arlund Photo Retreat.  I'll give you an overview of everything later, but for now I want to throw up some images I shot.  There is sooooo much to share that I will have to put it all into different posts over a period of time.

But I know that some of you are dying to see, so here is a sneak peek of some images...

 Chuck hired several models from agencies, and he flew in one model from Nashville.  I typically have no need for guy models in my portfolio, but there was a male model at the workshop who just absolutely was uber professional.  He couldn't take a bad picture and he pulled off any look that anyone requested.  At one point he even had on heavy make-up and he was so pretty he could have been a female.  I didn't take any of him n make-up, and honestly I didn't take many pictures of him at all because I just really don't have a great need for guys in my portfolio.

But wow was he a hottie!!   When we were first introduced, I was concerned because he had a pickle jar full of clear liquid.  I asked to see his ID and I smelled the pickle jar because I suspected it was moonshine.

It was water.

His "water bottle".  And so, he turned out to be a pretty good guy...he even wrote thank you cards to all the people who did lots of work behind the scenes to make our meals and clean up after us.

He's got a good future in modeling ahead of him, and there is a picture of him and his pickle jar somewhere on this post if you want to see it.  Enough about him though!!  (Can you tell I was super impressed!!). 

So, we played with lots of different lighting situations and gear. Wish I had more time to go into detail now  but you'll just have to wait.  There was an infinity pool that just was amazing.  The location where we were at is a huge blog post all by itself.  Enjoy looking at these, and I will share more information about the workshop...I mean, Retreat...later when I have more time.  xoxo, Sharon

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Augusta Boudoir is Growing!!

Hi Everyone! I cannot believe Summer is almost over. It went by so fast. Goodness, so many things are taking place...I don't have any time to go into much detail so I'll just give you some highlights.

In less than 12 hours I am getting on a plane headed to Kansas City so that Augusta will be a little bit sexier!!

I truly believe that growing and learning in this business is sooooo essential.  I always search for new information that I can find online or from local photography classes, but hands-on  learning from talented, successful and world-respected photographers is most valuable.  Last  year I spent many months devoted to learning and growing...a mentor ship with the lovely and super awesome Kim Mallory, I completed a workshop with Christa Meola (although I wish it could have been her Paris workshop!!), and I traveled to Washington D.C. to get some hands-on shooting time with  Robin Owen...those are all well-known and successful boudoir photographers, and they have all made their mark on the boudoir world in their own BIG special way.

This year I am so excited to let you know I am investing in an Arlund workshop!!

Chuck Arlund has workshops in NYC, Nashville and Lake of the Ozarks, which is the one I'm headed to. It's kind of awesome because only 10 photographers get attend this unique workshop, and someone from as far away as the Bahamas is coming to it. Chuck Arlund is just phenomenal...his style is so unique and it is a real investment for Augusta Boudoir and Scribbletime to have the opportunity to learn from him.

Okay before I leave, I want to let you know that my business is GROWING, and I have added an administrative assistant to handle all my scheduling. Her name is Kristy and her email is: kristy@scribbletime.com   Please give her a warm welcome!!!!

 She is the person who will actually make all the arrangements for your session. I am so happy to have her help, and she will be covering for me since I won't have internet access next week. Please contact her if you'd like to schedule a session and she will get the ball rolling for you!

I am transitioning to a new website for Augusta Boudoir, so hang on until we get it all done. I am not sure how long it will be until you see a different look, so keep checking back! If you know me, you know I like to shoot on-location to get a variety of different looks.

Shooting in the studio gets pretty boring to me, but it occurred to me that I really shy away from posting studio shots. So here are some for your viewing pleasure! I shot this session a while back in the studio. Enjoy!

 xoxo, Sharon

(Hair/Make-up by Grace at Aqua Salon)

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Top 5 Reasons To Show/Not Show Your Boudoir Pictures Online

Hello to the most wonderful Augusta Boudoir friends ever ever!! I say that because my children and I have ended up sick, and we have had so many wonderful well-wishes. Sweet Madness Bakery even made us some of their famous (okay, soon to be famous) peanut butter balls. YUM!! If you haven't had those things, OMG call that bakery and ask them to make some for you. Thank you to my sweet friends for caring. Feeling physically yucky has given me some down time to examine some of my (many) flaws as a Boudoir photographer. One of these flaws is that I am probably a little bit too conservative to be in this line of work. I am guilty of talking some clients out of giving me permission to show their images, and I am also guilty of not showing images in an effort to protect clients. So isn't that a little bit two-faced of me? Nah. I know very well the potential pit-falls that can happen from sharing these types of images, and honestly it is not the same outcome for every woman. So how do you know if sharing is right for you? Here is a guide....a list of reasons to show or not to show your Boudoir images. After I write this list, hopefully I will no longer find myself shielding clients who do not wish to be shielded. Maybe I will include in the model release a signature line to indicate that you've read this blog post. Haha!!

TOP REASONS TO SHOW OR NOT TO SHOW YOUR BOUDOIR IMAGES ONLINE:

1. YOUR EMPLOYER: Obviously if you had to sign a contract with a moral clause, never letting the pictures see the light of day would apply to you. I have a lot of teachers who seek my services confidentially because of this reason. BUT even if you aren't in a current job with this as a problem, think about what your career goals are. If you aspire to be in a field or position that could be jeapordized by the images, then keep them private. If your employer or career choice is something that embraces revealing or edgy pictures, then by all means, show them off!

 2. YOUR SIGNIfICANT OTHER: Even if you are super happy and excited to show off your pictures, HE may not be so excited for everyone else to see so much skin. I like to wait until he sees the pictures before I share them because even though you have the ultimate say-so, the whole point of showing him is to enrich your relationship.....if Both of you disagree about showing the pictures, then the pictures become a sore spot in your relationship, which is opposite of the goal. Let's respect your guy's input so he will be proud of your images and know that his opinion is reflected. I LOVE it when a husband is fine with the pictures enough to let them be seen. But even when husbands are not supportive of it, I do not knock them for it. They have to consider their own position in employment, the community or their future goals as well. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you or isn't proud of you....it means he is trying to protect either you or himself and that's part of a husband's purpose too. Honestly his opinion counts more than anyone else when it comes to showing the pictures. If he is supportive of it, then who cares what anyone else in the whole world thinks? Okay, other than your mom.

 3. YOUR MOM: Moms play a huge role in a woman's Level of nervousness or confidence with choosing to do a Boudoir session. If you are super worried about telling mom, then maybe in the end showing them online is not going to be a good fit. On the flip side, some moms are highly supportive and will share in the excitement that comes with doing a session. Your mom may want to do her own session!! If your mom is on board with these pictures, then show Them off for sure! Passing the mom test is really ultimately a big hurdle. I have actually found that moms end up really loving the beautiful pictures of their daughters because they are tasteful and elegant.

4. IT IS PERMANENT: once the pictures are "out there" they cannot be retracted. I can take them off my blog and website, but that doesn't mean they weren't copied by someone, pinned on Pinterest, or archived somewhere out there in the cloud. If you have a change of heart about it, then the pictures could pop up later and come back to haunt you.

 5. YOUR REPUTATION: Did I just dare suggest that we should care about what other people think of us? Oh well, it's true.....we humans DO worry about what others think about us to a point. But why?!!! I'll share a HUGE secret with you that I am pretty sure my own husband doesn't know (although I am sure he wouldn't mind me sharing this info regardless). More than a decade ago I went to Key West, Florida during a Fantasy Fest event. Okay so the secret is that I participated in the festivities by having some (alcohol-inspired) body paint artwork done....two frogs strategically placed on my front chest area. I am certain somebody somewhere has pictures of that. And short of a family tragedy, my worst fear in life ever has been that those pictures would end up being seen. I have spent more than one night wide awake worried about the fate of those pictures. Eek!!!

 But I am almost 40....after being married for 9 years, having three children and taking on the identity of a boring housewife, some froggy pictures Really might help spice up my reputation some instead of ruining it. I no longer care about trying to show only a squeaky clean image. Being honest and open about our flaws disarms others from using them against us. I am no longer terrified of the frogs. To thine own self be true. I think the only place a reputation ultimately matters is the reputation we have inside our own brain, and If we are trying to do good, to be our best and to treat others with Nothing but love in our heart, then that's all we can do to make others talk fondly of us. I am accountable to myself and to the people in my life who truly love and care for me! Like the people who make me peanut butter balls when I am sick. Love me or hate me for my pictures....in the end, a little bit of skin may be just what the doctor ordered, and if not, then honestly our world has bigger problems to worry about than seeing a little bit of uncovered skiN, frogs or no frogs. Ribbit, Sharon For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Building her Portfolio in Augusta Georgia: A Natural Model

 This very beautiful lady was in need of some shots to start a portfolio for her budding career.  She had an idea of what types of shots she needed, the Michelle James team handled her hair and make up,  I got behind the camera and she did the rest. 

 She is a natural model for sure, and she has her heart set on acting.  The week before she came to me for some pictures, she had an appearance in a movie that was being filmed in Atlanta and she got to be right alongside someone who is a pretty big Hollywood name.  Not sure if I'm allowed to spill the beans about her it, so I'll just keep the rest top secret.  Muck luck to this sweet lady...I hope to see you on the big screen soon!!

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

For Photographers

Since I get lots of questions from photographers who want advice, I'll be writing blog posts sharing free information and tips.  If you are charging money for your photography services, then technically you are looked upon as a professional photographer and these posts for photographers are for you regardless of how new or seasoned you are.      

 

If you're a new photographer, and especially if you want to get into boudoir, then listen up.... the pictures in this post were done with ZERO natural light.  For the most part, it was shot using a flash as my main light source. GASP!!   Oh, and I am about to share a BIG secret  in this very first blog post for photographers.    Yep, you are about to hear a secret I have been keeping for the past few months. Ready?

It's something that has already improved my ability significantly and I think it can do the same for you.....

 

This summer I am declaring my candidacy for becoming a Certified Professional Photographer.   YEP!!!

(I am so excited and nervous to share this news.)

It's crazy because the more I learn, the more I realize how LITTLE I know. If you have had the pleasure of  CRINGING when looking at your past work, then you you know exactly what the phrase "you don't know what you don't know" means.  Having this certification is kind of a BIG thing because only 8% of Professional Photographers have achieved it. 

Of the nearly 200 Professional Photographers in the CSRA,  about 40 of us are members of the Professional Photographers of America, and only four have managed to achieve the certification. 

 I want to be #5. 

Seriously, right now in June 2012, most clients don't care if you are certified, if you shoot in RAW or jpg,  or if you shoot in AUTO or manual mode. BUT that is slowly changing  because with soooo many professional photographers to choose from, clients are becoming more and more savvy and they are starting to expect better photography quality.   Most moms are simply looking for someone to snap decent pictures of their kiddos just to print a little 8x10 print or whatever.

Boudoir is a little bit different though because women want to make sure they will look beautiful in the pictures.  We moms pretty much think all pictures of our kiddos are cute, but we're very critical of ourselves in pictures so technical know-how becomes more critical.

I assure you that at this point, the LAST thing most clients care about is if you are certified because most people don't even know a certification exists (YET).

So WHY consider certification if clients don't even care right now?
 
Honestly, just by deciding to declare my candidacy for certification, my skills have improved exponentially already. That's why. 

I have been devouring every bit of technical photography information I can get my hands on so I will not waste any time becoming certified once the clock starts officially ticking.   Certification is a two step process that has a time limit for completing. The process includes submitting images to be reviewed and taking a very technical and difficult test.
  

I love love love natural light photography, but I also love love love that I can harness and control light to get certain outcomes and looks. Natural light is beautiful but honestly I am limited by so many factors if I am just a natural light photographer, especially with Boudoir.   I completely understand if you don't feel the need to take the certification path, but I think by at least learning what you need to know for certification,  you will definitely  be a well rounded photographer who has the technical skills and "know-how" to deliver a high quality session. 

Okay, so the bottom line is that I am devoted to learning EVERYTHING possible about photography....  I don't want to be a one trick photographer. 

Certification is a good endeavor for any photographer to consider regardless of your skill level. The process for preparing to become a Certified Professional Photographer will challenge you to become a more well-rounded photographer in the process. It's not so much about having a piece of paper saying "I'm certified"...it's about demonstrating enough skill to be certified.  Read more about how you can become certified:  http://certifiedphotographer.com/what-is-certification/

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

$1 per lb SALE

Okay, it's official, Augusta Boudoir is kicking off our "DOLLAR PER POUND" sale!  For each pound you've lost between January 1, 2012 through June 1, 2012, take one dollar off the $250.00 session cost.

A $75 pre-payment is due in the month of June to ensure you get a session, but the number of sessions is limted so they may not last the whole month.  If you want to  hurry up and make sure you can get in on this deal, then here is the payment link to make the $75 pre-payment.


Just enter your email address and put in the password:  sale

Dollar Per Pound Pre Payment Link




Your session has to take place before the end of August, and we will work around your schedule as much as possible.  The remainder of the session cost (minus your weight loss amount) is due at the time of the session.  Please send verification of  your weight loss prior to your session date.

A LIMITED NUMBER OF SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER THIS SALE...once that limit is reached, we will take down the payment link and will stop accepting clients.

All sessions last up to 2 hours and are customized to reflect your interests and personality.  They are  $250 and include a  planning consultation, fitting from Mimi's Boutique, hair/make-up, and retouching that includes skin softening for a signature look.  Products are separate.

What I need is verification either through start and finish weigh in sheets, or verification signed by your physician if you haven't been part of an organized weight loss program.  The $75 pre payment is non-refundable in the event of a session "no-show" (medical emergency situations may be re-scheduled), so make sure you can do it by the end of August.

 After you've paid, please answer the following questions so we can get in touch.  thanks!





For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

DIVA NIGHT at Fleet Feet

Okay,  I had an absolutely fun time during "DIVA NIGHT" at Fleet Feet in North Augusta, and I'm planning on being there again next time.  I was excited to learn that Fleet Feet is moving to Augusta (I believe their new home will be near Riverwatch and Fury's Ferry).  YAY!!!!!!!!


All the vendors at Diva Night were giving away a sample of their products, so I did the same in a very fun way.   I took highly professional pictures using my ipad...I have serious ipad camera skills.

Here are two of Fleet Feet's employees modeling with my ipad....Marcus did all he could to contain his excitement about having his picture taken, and I'm pretty sure Clay almost passed out.....

It was great meeting everyone and I look forward to doing it again soon!!!

Oh, and here is a great picture I took in April with my iphone of me and my husband being silly...how did we do that?....it was like a magic trick!   Enjoy!!!

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Improving Relationships Through Love Languages

Do you know your love language?  If so, I want to know....just take my little unscientific poll at the end of this blog post and let me know what your love language is.  This topic is simply fascinating to me...the idea that our relationships can be improved simply by approaching the people in our lives according to THEIR love language can be a positive change for relationships.

Knowing someone's love language is like tapping into a little secret that helps you connect better and enrich the relationship.  This is true for most relationships...even how you approach your children and friends.  It really helps especially if you are sharing your life together.  It's true...we tend to feel loved and cared for when our spouse approaches us according to our love language.  

I was recently reminded of this when a dear friend and her husband did an assessment to determine their "LOVE LANGUAGE".  What surprised me is that it was the first time my friend realized her love language is Words of Affirmation.  It was already obvious to me that was her love language because my husband and I did the Love Language assessment a few years ago in our church small group.

It really helped to discover my husband is "Acts of Service".  He feels loved when I "DO" little things for him like make him a cup of coffee.  Before the assessment I didn't realize just how much of an impact on our daily life and marriage it has.  Just the simple act of making him a cup of coffee helps him start the day feeling loved and supported.  And if I want him to feel super duper loved, then I'll make some breakfast for him.

How easy is that.

Thankfully he is not a gift person because I do not give nor receive gifts well at all.  My husband has it easy when it comes to Mother's Day, my birthday, Valentine's Day and Christmas.  I am absolutely not offended if he doesn't get me any gifts at all.  In fact, this past Mother's Day I gave him a gift... his favorite kind of cake and I took the kids off his hands for the entire day, so it was opposite day at our house.    

I attribute my "gift deficiency" to growing up poor.  We were so poor that on my sister's birthday...I believe it was her 16th birthday....my mom didn't have money to buy any birthday gifts but she wanted her to have presents to unwrap.  So my mother, bless her heart, went around the house and gathered items we already owned  to wrap up for my sister.  Imagine on your "Sweet 16" birthday unwrapping the family hairbrush or frying pan.  Gift giving is my weak point, but my husband and I try to make a point to give our kids at least one present that they already own at Christmas. 

It is a humbling reminder to appreciate the gifts and blessings that we already have.

My love language is TOUCH and QUALITY TIME.  Then again, Acts of Service must rank pretty high on my list too because my husband looks sexiest on the rare occasion when he cleans the kitchen after dinner.

Here is a link to find out what your own love language is:

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/

and please remember to tell me what your love language is either in a blog post or with this handy dandy submission form. 

Have a great day, xoxo, Sharon

  For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Evans, Georgia Professional Headshots and a Whole Lot of Beautiful

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Just in case you did not know, Augusta Boudoir has a really awesome HEADSHOT package.  Yep.  

It's called the "DARE TO BE MICHELLE JAMES BEAUTIFUL" package.  It's for professional women who want an edgy non-traditional, non-studio headshot and not only does this headshot deal come with your very own rock star photographer, it also comes with hair and make-up by Michelle James Hair Productions in Surrey Center, 5 digital downloads, and a little keepsake book.

I cannot announce the ridiculous price on here because I'd have a thousand ladies lined up for headshots all at the same time.  

So just email me info@augustaboudoir.com  I will tell you the secret deal.  Oh and for some reason this is THE package to get if you're going to end up on the cover of a magazine.  Two clients have already come to me for this headshot package specifically because they were appearing on the cover of a magazine...more on that later....

And I recently had the great pleasure of photographing this lovely woman, and we had fun being silly for her headshots.  She is so beautiful and photogenic, it was easy to work with her.  I follow a specific strategy for the flow of the shoot so we can get some really nice shots.
  

 

When we do a Michelle James Beautiful package, there are up to 3 clothing changes, and the entire session is shot right there at Surrey Center.  Michelle James will give you a different "look" for your hair when you come back inside to change clothes.   

And because it's an Augusta Boudoir shoot, we'll definitely get in some shots with a slight hint of sexy, just for your special someone.  

One male client came to me for this package because he was appearing on the cover of a computer nerd publication.  He didn't look too nerdy after I got ahold of him.

Of course, if you absolutely need traditional in-studio head shots,  Augusta Boudoir has you covered also.  

I recently did some non-traditional head shots for a really nice lady who is about to be the new President of an international organization, and of course I have to keep all the details secret.  She's the VERY FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT of this organization by the way!!!

She originally was scheduled to just do a lifestyle fun shoot for the Dare to Be Michelle James Beautiful package, and she brought her dog.  But then she found out that she was going to become her organization's new president.  

Each incoming head of the organization appears on the cover of the industry's trade magazine, so when she came to me for the Michelle James Beautiful shoot, we included some non traditional headshots.   She needed the headshot for the cover of a magazine because when a new President comes in, they are introduced by appearing on the cover of the magazine.  Well guess what?

We got some great shots, but the magazine editors want a traditional in-studio headshot.  So no problem, I can accommodate that too!  The issue she is being introduced will come out in early 2013.  I'll be sure and keep you updated!!

In the meantime, give me a shout if you want an Augusta Boudoir headshot.

     xoxo, Sharon

Forever Yours Agnes - A Love Story

Nothing makes my heart warmer than older couples who are in love with each other and have been married for decades.   Whenever I come across couples like that, I want to know what their story is and what the secret is behind all those years of a happy marriage.

So when I heard about the story behind a really unique jewelry line called "Forever Yours Agnes", I was deeply moved.  It's a love story that spanned decades, but started with love letters written by Agnes to her future  husband while he was deployed in WWII.  She wrote to him daily, and he saved every letter she wrote.  They were married when he returned, and now their grown granddaughter is turning those love letters into works of wearable art.  I contacted the jewelry creator, Meghan Coomes, about featuring her in a blog post.

She takes parts of the hand written letters and creates jewelry. She says "The letter that stands out the most is the one from New Years Eve 1943; a copy of it is on my website. It was written so beautifully and truly encapsulates the love and longing my Grandma felt for him while they were apart".  Her favorite piece is this one...she calls it her "winged friend".

  

What I like the most is the still vivid impression of her hot pink lips that she pressed against the letters as she signed off "Forever Yours, Agnes".

What Meghan is doing to capture the words of her grandmother's letters really brings to life their love story, and it is a reminder that love is enduring even through hard times.   

Those older couples who are happily married after decades surely went through their ups and downs and they may have even been at the boiling point with each other at times!  But it is the thick and thin over the years that makes true love even stronger.  I want to be 80 years old and be deeply in love with my husband...not in spite of the ups and downs, but BECAUSE of the ups and downs that we share together. 

Even though this jewelry isn't really boudoir-ish (although those hot pink lips on the letters are pretty cool!!), many of my clients are military spouses whose husbands are deployed.  If you want to preserve your own love letters in this unique way, Meghan can help.  She can take your own letters and make custom jewelry just for you.  Wouldn't that be a special gift to pass onto your children!

To contact Meghan and see the options/pricing, visit the Forever Yours Agnes website:

www.foreveryoursagnes.com

photo by Meghan Coomes

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Bridal Boudoir Outdoors

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

(On-location Hair/Make-up for this session was provided by Kayla at Michelle James Salon in Surrey Center)

When you have your bridal pictures done by Augusta Boudoir, beware because you may just end up loving your boudoir bridal pictures more than your regular bridals!!  It's just a risk you'll have to take.  

 Brides are so beautiful, and this is especially true when it comes to boudoir.  This particular bride and her groom love the outdoors, so an outdoor session was in order.  She said her groom loved the pictures, but does that really come as a surprise?  

 I love when clients come to me with a specific vision in mind...it makes my job easier in some ways and it also presents a good challenge as well.   In addition to her veil, this bride grabbed a great hat from her closet especially for a specific image she had in mind.  I think she pulled it off very well. Congratulations to this bride an her lucky groom!!   xoxo, Sharon

 Oh and by the way, when you two have kiddos, we can document the next phase of your lives through  The Birth Project.  Check it out:  www.thebirthproject.com

If you are a bride who wants to give your groom an extra special surprise gift on your wedding day, it's best to schedule your session at least 60 days in advance of the wedding date.   On your wedding day, coordinate with your wedding photographer and someone you trust to deliver the book to your groom before the ceremony begins.  Make sure your wedding photographer photographs your groom looking through the book in awe over what he is seeing.  Since you won't be there to see the look on his face, your photographer will be there to capture that moment for you....what a great bonus!!

Dare To Be Nice: It's a Challenge

I'm on a journey to become a better human being...a more lovely woman, and I invite you to join me. Sometimes when we are frustrated and when life seems to throw us for a loop, it's easy to become negative and to act ugly. I don't like acting ugly, and I want to act nice. We females can be so catty, and we are moody. Sometimes it's truly a challenge to be nice. I'm guilty of acting ugly and I don't want to leave this world with an ugly legacy.

So, every so often....possibly every week if we're super lucky....I'll be posting a new Dare To Be Nice challenge for myself and I'd love for you to take the challenge with me. I'd LOVE to hear your personal triumphs with the Dare To Be Nice challenges as well, so please share your personal Dare To Be Nice story in the comments section each time I post a challenge.

There is power in numbers, so please take this challenge with me so we can be stronger together. I am daring myself and daring you to be nice with me. It's my "Dare To Be Nice" challenge. Pretty easy, right?

Today this desire to start this Dare To Be Nice challenge grew inside me more than ever before.

I had to pick something up from a business in Columbia County and witnessed some really bad public behavior. A lady was acting like a jerk towards the store owner because of something incredibly ridiculous and so minor.

The big problem that she threw a fit about was that the wrappers weren't fancy enough on the items she was buying, and the store owner didn't have anything to upgrade her to. She was ugly to the owner and she threw a tantrum that would rival my two year old daughter's behavior when she hasn't had a nap.

There are children somewhere in the world who did not get to eat one morsel of food today and who are literally starving to death and this lady today was a jerk because of un-fancy wrappers. We are spoiled beyond belief, but we don't have the right to act like spoiled brats when things don't perfectly go our way.

I wanted to tell her to just be nice.

I wanted to just let her know we should thank God that we have the luxury of living in a nation where her biggest concern of the entire day was a stupid wrapper. Compared to other countries, we live like kings, queens and princesses. Let's have a little bit of flexibility....let's have compassion....let's be nice.

So challenge you...and I am doing this too....in the next 72 hours let's Dare To Be Nice when something minor isn't going our way. Let's be aware of our negative emotions. When we feel the urge to act on our frustrations (i.e. to act ugly), let's instead just let it go and be nice to others around us. I'd love to hear about what it is that YOU do to be nice in the next 72 hours when you really feel like being ugly instead.

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com

Exciting News for the Best Week of the Year in Augusta

For a consultation or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com



I just want you to know this is my favorite week of the entire year!! It's the time when thousands of adoring golf fans visit Augusta and the entire mood of the town changes to excitement. Lots of celebrities are also in town, and my week began by hanging out with one of those celebrities. I had the fortune of helping another photographer on a big shoot for a belt buckle ad at a beautiful mansion.

One of the models was on a TV show that we all know and love. You know I'm a confidentiality freak, so I'll keep details like his name and pictures of him top secret (I know, bummer). But it was definitely an exciting start to an exciting week.

Another big thing happening this week is that I am transitioning between studios. Augusta Boudoir has grown right out of the space available on the 2nd level of Mimi's Boutique. I am sad and happy about that all at the same time. Mimi's has been so good to Augusta Boudoir and I adore them and will miss having a home there. They need the space too, so it's a win-win. Mimi's opened its SECOND LOCATION TODAY!!! They are located directly across from Augusta National, right beside Elegant Bridals.

Augusta Boudoir will soon be relocating to another studio location that will be able to accommodate our boudoir needs for a little while longer.

My dream is to grow so big that we need to move into a large warehouse to transform into a wonderful boudoir studio with lots of different sets. That's my goal to reach for next year...hopefully it will become reality.

All the contracts are in place for the Augusta Boudoir Spokesmodels and we're not wasting any more time. They're getting fittings from Mimi's and I have started working on putting together the vision for our shoots.

So many of my clients come to me because they know I respect confidentiality and they want their images to be private. The two main reasons that my clients want their images to remain private are because of either their employment or because they are in the public eye and have a high profile position in the community. I don't get to post my boudoir pictures too often, but I promise I really do take pictures! haha!! That is one reason also why I needed spokesmodels....to have permission to post images!

Thank you to my many friends and clients who have supported Augusta Boudoir. It really is an honor to serve so many beautiful women in the CSRA.

Have a great week of watching the golf tournament. xoxo, Sharon

Wedding Second Shooting - Georgia Boudoir Photographer

It's the start of wedding season, and Augusta Boudoir is jumping into action.

I am so happy to share with you that I've found a new love that really gets my heart pumping!! Jennifer D. Miller is totally to blame for this spark of energy that is making me tackle a new challenge.

Yep, it's her fault that I am second shooting weddings this year!


Nope, I'm still not a wedding photographer and I am not going to become a wedding photographer anytime soon...that's just not in the cards. But I am striving to be the absolute best second shooter photographer for weddings Augusta has to offer! But not just any best second shooter...I want to be a storybook second shooter who really conveys the meaning and emotion of the day.

Hey, it's good to be the best at second sometimes!!

So here are some images from a recent wedding....I traveled to Missouri for an absolutely delightful trip with Jennifer D. Miller Photography as a second shooter for a lovely and very historical wedding. It took place at the oldest courthouse West of the Mississippi River and it was the very first wedding ever held in that little courthouse. Jenny and I really put our heart and soul into shooting this wedding. These books have sat on the courthouse shelves for 134 years.

How often do we get to come face to face with something that old which is not in a museum?



Jenny of Jennifer D. Miller Photography is a true master at telling a story, and it is an absolute honor to be entrusted with helping fulfill her vision and meeting her high expectations. She is great at capturing the big picture, but with all the frenzy and fast pace of the big day, it's impossible for a wedding photographer to single highhandedly capture the big picture along with all the little behind the scenes details that unfold as the wedding day progresses.

The details help really fill in the blanks of the big picture story. If you are planning a storybook wedding, it is a MUST to hire a storybook wedding photographer to bring the day to life in a way that will forever be archived in your own family's history.

You've put your heart and soul into planning your wedding, but memories of the day will fade with time. Photographs that your children, grand children and great grand children can hold in their hands 134 years from now will help them experience the emotion and meaning of your storybook wedding too.

That's why it is essential that wedding photographers have second (and sometimes third) shooters to help tell the story of the day. It's a day that can never be repeated, and all the emotion and essence of that one single day will never happen like that again.

So, while Jenny was with the bride photographing her getting ready for the 2:30 pm wedding, my job was to be with the groom and his crew to tell the story of his wedding day too....those little moments that the bride would never get to see otherwise. And keeping with the historic feel of the event, this groom did not rely on his smart phone to keep him on track...he simply pulled out his pocket watch.

Aaahhhhh, the wedding details are so well thought out and so meaningful....it is my job as second shooter to bring to life the meaning behind all those small thoughtful details!! And my personal style is simple and clean.



If you know me, you know I am super secret and really don't like to put information about people on the internet and I'm very cautious with the images I put on my boudoir blog as well. I mean, it IS a boudoir blog afterall!!!

So, I'm not putting images of the wedding party or guests on my blog....which means we get to fast forward the story a little bit....still capturing the historic simplicity of the day....even the rings are simple.




After the wedding, me made a pit stop to a plot of land where the bride and groom are building their home. They're standing where their future home will one day be filled with baby giggles and the pitter patter of little feet.

And then we drove down a long dirt road and up the driveway to a mansion where Mark Twain once stayed. The family moved into the mansion for the wedding weekend and everyone enjoyed an elegant dinner after the wedding to celebrate a historic new beginning for this very sweet couple.




And the storybook wedding wouldn't be totally complete without one detail from the reception that is very special....the Grolsch keg!! This keg was shipped to the wedding full of beer straight from the Netherlands. The groom moved here from the Netherlands to marry his bride, and his entire family flew to the United States for the wedding. Having a keg shipped full of his favorite beer is one of those details that HAS to be document in a photograph to believe!!



And I will leave you by sharing a little project I've started especially for wedding photographers who hire me...

I am a PPA member. If you are a wedding photographer looking for someone dedicated to helping you tell a very special wedding story, there is bonus for hiring me. You are going to be too consumed with the big picture to do this yourself, so count on me to deliver this one last WOW memory for your bride.

I am now offering wedding letter art as signature Augusta Boudoir service to wedding photographers when I second shoot. Here is a letter art sample I created pretending that Jenny Miller is the bride...I don't want to tell you the bride's real name because I'm such a privacy freak, but Jenny gave me permission to use her name since you know it anyway. haha!

Every image was shot with something meaningful directly using a combination of images from wedding, the location where her groom proposed to her, and the city. This is such a cool thing to display and each letter has a story all by itself. The "M" is from the courthouse where they were married...the "i" is from where they had the rehearsal dinner, the first "L" is from the courthouse where they were married, the second "L" is from a building, the "E" is from a door at the reception hall and the "r" is a rock formation from the "Lovers Leap" location where he proposed to her. Awwwwwww!!!!



For a consultation
or to reserve your Augusta Boudoir Experience, visit the website: www.augustaboudoir.com