The Hottest Look on a Warm Winter Day | Dallas Boudoir Photography

It's 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and we are just strolling the streets of Dallas in a black sheer silk midi skirt on a Sunday afternoon in January.

The life of an editorial boudoir photographer.

Yes, this how I typically spend my Sundays, shooting beautifully designed lingerie on gorgeous women.  

We actually shot this set on January 3rd, a day after my birthday.

This perfect day produced some of the most beautiful photos have I have taken so far this year (considering it was day 3 at the time. LOL).

On this unusually warm January day Celina, Jazzy, and I took to the the streets of Dallas and hit up the least likely places that anyone would find us, a grungy alley and a forgotten about parking garage.  You must find beauty anywhere.

BOUDOIR IN AN ALLEY

Our first stop was a tiny alley between two Dallas staple restaurants.  I wanted to shoot in a place that was super dark and moody.  We originally planned to sneak into a building in the West End District that housed this beautiful 20’s style elevator… but they closed down that building for the weekend.  Good thing Celina shot in this area before and remembered this particular alley from years prior. We squeezed between the cracks of two buildings to shoot some of the best dark and moody images I have done in a very long time.  

We thought were were being so sneaky and clever shooting in this alley.

Keyword was thought.  

Turns out the owner of one of the adjacent restaurants put a camera up in that back of his building.  He came out to tell us about it and how he typically keeps the gate locked but forgot that day.   But he gave us permission to continue shooting.  I guess he saw a beautiful woman in lingerie, a girl with a camera, and a fabulous makeup artist and assumed that we would be no threat.  He could have been a total jerk about the whole thing with good reason, but he was so cool.  

We only shot for about 15 minutes in that super narrow alley.  Honestly it was probably only 2 feet wide, if that.  But it was surprisingly super clean and didn't smell at all.  

I love how the cast of the old stone reflected a moody rainbow on Celina's body.  The whole thing was dank, dark, and beautiful.  

I admire the juxtaposition of such a beautiful outfit against a worn down background really made Celina pop.  

DANCING ON ROOFTOPS IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Next we headed to an empty parking garage in the middle of Downtown Dallas.  Celina brought this BEAUTIFUL black sheer bodysuit for this part of the session. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a good bodysuit.  There is just something so understated and sexy about them.

Celina also brought along a black lace rabbit ear mask.  If you guys remember about a year ago I shot in another lace rabbit mask.  There is just something about the whole rabbit year thing that I love.  (hence the logo)..  

I posed Celina in a lot of power poses because the city of Dallas is such a strong background and we needed Celina to express that as well.  

One of my favorite shots is Celina standing in front of the Statler Hotel. They are rebuilding and reoccupying this iconic building later this fall.  

While Celina and the City of Dallas play such strong characters in this photo story it has to be mentioned that Jazzy did an amazing job softening up the look a bit by doing a bold yet soft eye.  Blue is the color he wanted to play with because the sky was so clear and he wanted the look to pop against Celina's eyes.  

HONESTLY...

I am so in love with how amazing these photos turned out.  Especially since we shot in the dead of day.  In photographer world that is a major no no.  However this year I decided that I am going to throw caution to the wind and shoot in all the ways we are told not too.  I am so tired of following the rules because the people who have made history are the ones who changed it.  I’m going against the grain.

Can we talk about how BEAUTIFUL Celina looked against the Indigo Hotel for minute?  Yes ma’am!  That is ALL her!  I’m sure the guest of the hotel has a blast watching us shoot her  in such a beautiful location.  

I mean CHECK out this video we made.  Can we say love?

BOUDOIR MAKEUP

If you want a rundown of what Jazzy used on the eyes and the rest of Celina’s  then check out his blog post from our shot that day.  

Thank you guys for joining on this beautiful photo diary of Celina’s session.  Be sure to keep following as we will have MANY more sessions planned and popping up this  year!  

If you’re interested in booking with us please contact us using the following block below. Also, feel free to contact me. We look forward to working with you!

We Found Boudoir in a Hopeless Place | Dallas Boudoir Photography

Alexis is one of my favorite people in the world.  She is a fashion stylist and model who recently relocated to New York City for work and love.  She came back to Dallas in late December to visit family and friends for the holidays. While in town she requested that I shoot some photos of her for her new blog, Lone Star in the City.  Since Alexis is amazing I couldn’t say no to her!

WHAT HAD HAPPEN WAS...

If you guys weren’t aware on December 26, 2016 major tornadoes hit the North Texas area demolishing blocks and blocks of neighborhoods while many people lost their lives.

Yeah, we were shooting on that day.  In fact this was supposed to be a twilight boudoir session over the city of Dallas.  However, due to turbulent and unpredictable weather we brought the boudoir session inside of my building.  

Yes, these shots took place in the stairwell of my building!  I love how the moody emptiness is also an unspoken and unseen character in these photos.  These photos emphasize her adult allure and sexiness.  . 

Check out this video we made with Alexis.  It’s crazy how just the most simplistic of places can spark the most incredible settings.  

THE BOUDOIR OUTFIT BREAKDOWN

BOUDOIR OUTFIT

This whole outfit came from Victoria’s Secret.  I just adore gold hardware and exposed zippers.  I feel like exposed zippers are a node to vintage quality and craftsmanship.   This exposed zipper on this corset top proved to elevate the game of sexiness when it comes to seductive designs.

The matching panties to this set were so incredibly tantalizing.  Too bad they are no longer on sale.  It’s so hard to find geometric cut outs on panties, and these were perfect for that.  

The skirt was my FAVORITE part of this whole look.  First of all who doesn’t love silk?  Only crazy people.  There is just SOMETHING about silk that makes you feel instantly high class, sophisticated, and sexy.  Turn that into a tulle maxi skirt and you are asking for any woman to bring out their innermost Upper East side sexiness.  

BOUDOIR HAIR

The hair was just simple.  I wanted to do a high poofy and messy bun that sat on the top of her head, but because the outfit was so slick and Spanish inspired we opted for the more for a sleek look to embrace the aura of the feel. 

Later in our session I asked Alexis to take her hair down because it was "too" perfect (if you notice in my photos I have a thing for messy-sex-in-the-morning hair.  I wanted to something more grunge, real, and could evoke an emotion of relaxed power and longing.  

We leveraged Alexis hair as an element of storytelling.  Look how well Alexis brings in her hair to help elevate the allure of the photos.  

BOUDOIR MAKEUP

There is a reason they refer to Jazzy as the King.  He knows what he’s going.  I love how he took a chance by placing a bold red lip on a woman of such a dark complexion.  He helped add drama to the overall look by creating an intense smokey eye look.  Doing this created a sense of mysterious coy power.  

This couldn’t have been more fitting for such a crazy night.

ONE MORE NOTE

One camera you should ALWAYS have on your shoots is the Fuji Instamax.  We has SUCH a blast with this camera.  You have to check out the fun photos we took below.  

Be sure to follow Alexis’s new blog, Lonestar in the City. It is a fashion and lifestyle blog that documents how Alexis will navigate her way through New York City as a Texas Native.  

Question of the Day!

In the comment section PLEASE let me know your favorite photo of Alexis and why.  Also let me know if you have a Fuji Instamax and what you think about it.

If you’re interested in a session with us please feel free to fill out the form below and a member from our team will reach out to you within 24 hours!

Have a Great Day!

LA Boudoir Model Call

LA BOUDOIR MODEL CALL

Hey Ladies!  I am Wonderland Boudoir and I will be visiting LA for the FIRST time April 28th! While there my team an I want do a Boudoir Model Call! We ALL know LA has THE most beautiful women in the world and we want to see you while we’re on town.  

We will be shooting in a BEAUTIFUL loft in Downtown LA and I personally couldn’t be more excited!

No.  You don’t have to be a model.  We love beautiful everyday women.  Moms, students, teachers, doctors, brides, and wives. We love them all!  Yes, if you just happen to model you can apply too!

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

1. Asian Woman, ages 27-45

2. African-American  Woman, ages 30-65

3. Latina, ages 22-37

4. Classic Beauty, ages 25-65.  Think Kerry Washington, Charlize Theron, & Hye Kyo Song

5. Curvy Woman, ages 22-35 size 14-16

6. Girl Next Door,ages 22-28

7. Red Hair & Freckles, ages 25-32

8. Classic LA Blonde, ages 21-35

9. Persian Woman, ages, 27-40

10.  Future Brides, Women engaged to be married, ages 21-37

THE EXPERIENCE

• Complimentary hair & makeup application with false lashes (if wanted)

• 1 hour photo shoot in Downtown LA Loft

• 5 lightly retouched photos

• Additional $100 credit to use toward any purchase of a Photo Collection or anything on our a la carte menu

• Plus EACH woman that you refer to us that books a regular priced session between the end of your shoot and your in person photo reveal will qualify you to obtain a $100 print credit!  So that means if three of your friends book a session with us you get a $300 credit to go towards a photo collection or anything off our a la carte menu.

THE DETAILS

• This Boudoir Model Call is a steal at only $197! You will NEVER see prices this low for a boudoir call.  Of the total, $97 will be a deposit that can be paid through on our site.  The remaining balance will be due at the time of our session.  You MUST sign a Model Release giving me permission to use the photos in my marketing (website, blog, facebook, printed materials, etc.)

• You will provide your own lingerie

• You will be posing in lingerie

• The Model Call sessions will be held April 28th & 29th in Downtown LA.  Time slots are given on first some first serve basis. 

To hear more about this great opportunity, please  email me directly at info@WonderlandBoudoir.com or click here to schedule a time to speak! CONTACT US!

In the subject of the email type ‘Model Call’.  Please tell me why you are interested and which model you would like to represent.  Please also attached a face shot if possible.  Whenever we host Boudoir Model calls we have a lot of inquires and book fast.  Again, please email us at info@WonderlandBoudir.com
 

*Please Note: This Model Call is being offered in exchange for a signed full Model Release.

PAY $97 DEPOSIT FOR THIS SESSION!

The Ultimate Groom's Wedding Gift + Boudoir Mini Session Winner

Wow!

I can’t believe that it’s been over a week since the Dallas Bridal Show happened.  It was such a fun and incredible experience.  We were able to meet over 200 of you ladies Saturday and Sunday!  Even better was the fact that you guys could see all the work in person and meet hair woman extraordinaire, Jill, from HashtagGlambition.  You also had the opportunity to meet King of all Palettes, Jazzy Baptiste!

Fun was had by all!

For all the ladies that could not make it out to the Dallas Bridal Show I would like to tell you guys about an AMAZING offer!  On February 27th and 28th we are hosting a bridal boudoir mini session.  This will be a 60 minute session where you are able to have your hair and makeup done for a great groom's gift.

The incredible part?

Wait for it!!!!

It’s only $550!!!

I know!  You also get a $250 print credit that you can use towards photos, books, or albums!

Book you Boudoir Mini Session TODAY!

We only have seven spots remaining and I know they won’t last too long.  If you’re interested in booking a session for this special offer PLEASE contact us as soon as possible either by email or phone number.  Feel free to use the contact box below to have us contact you to speak about this session.

Thank you again Dallas Brides for letting us tell you a little bit more about boudoir and this special….

Yeah, I need to announce the winner of a boudoir session!

The winner is Courtney F.!!!!

Please contact us as soon as possible to claim your prize!  

Please use the form below to contact us about your Boudoir Session!

Dallas Bridal Show & Boudoir Mini Sessions!

I have some EXCITING news for you guys!

Which surprise do I tell you first?!...

Okay!  Okay! I will be at the Dallas Bridal Show THIS WEEKEND!  Yes! I will be there with hair and makeup artist Jill from HashtagGlambition and makeup artist Jazzy Baptiste.  If you ever wanted to know what a boudoir sessions is like then you will have a chance to meet Celina!   We at Wonderland Boudoir have worked with Celina for many years, and she will be there to tell you about her shooting experience with us and answer any questions you may have for her!

We are going to have blast!

... You know what makes this even more exciting?!  

We are officially announcing our Bridal Boudoir Mini Sessions that will happen February 27th/28th!!!!!!

Yes!  I know you guys have been asking for them and we are already selling out!  We have a select number we are offering so if you’re interested in booking a session with us please do so quickly because you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!

About the Boudoir Mini Session:

• Price: ONLY $550!

• Location: Upscale Dallas Hotel

• Shoot Time: 1 Hour

• Includes:

  • Hair & Makeup application.  Lashes are included.

  • $250 Print Credit.  Which can be applied to anything off our a La Carte products menu.

  • Light Refreshments & complimentary champagne

You will have same day viewing to determine which photos you would like and what products best suit your needs.  This also helps us get your photos back in a timely manner!

HOW DO I BOOK?

We charge a 25% deposit to hold your day and time.  The remaining balance plus the cost of any print credits over $250 will need to be paid at the time of the session.  

The deposit amount is just $137.50!

YOU CAN PAY THE DEPOSIT HERE!

If you want to get more information about this boudoir session please check our our Current Special’s Tab, call us, or send us an email!  We would LOVE to hear from you and give you all the information you need before booking with us!  

You really can’t beat $550 for a boudoir session!   This is an amazing deal!  Hair?! Makeup?! Print Credit?!  OH MY!

We really hope to see you ladies and gentlemen at the Dallas Bridal Show this weekend.  

To keep up with us at the show please follow us on Twitter!  We'll be updating you guys as the day goes on.  We will be there Saturday and Sunday January 30th and 31st, 2016! The Dallas Bridal Show is open 10AM-5PM each day!

If you need hair and/or makeup for your wedding day please make sure you speak to Jill and Jazzy to help you with your needs!

Have an amazing weekend y’all and see you at the Dallas Bridal Show!

The Dallas Bridal Show

January 30th/31st

Dallas Market Hall

2200 Stemmon Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75207

Please email us with any questions!

Ace Your Boudoir Makeup

Boudoir makeup is a key element in the quest for beautiful and timeless photos.  Today we are interviewing Dallas Makeup artist Jazzy Baptiste on some of the key elements of boudoir makeup women need to keep in mind when planning for their session.  

About Jazzy Baptiste

Jazzy is a published makeup artist that has some worked with Elle magazine and Blitz Weekly.  You may have seen him on Good Morning Dallas showing off his skill.  He was born in the Port of Spain, the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.  He moved to the states at the age of 5 with his mother.  Jazzy fell in love with makeup after leading the production side of theater back in High School.  Some of his favorite brands include Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Ardell lashes, Two Face, and Anastasia eyebrows.  

Basic Principles of Makeup

People confuse makeup with hiding when it should be about letting your true beauty shine through.  “I’m not changing your look.  I’m enhancing what you already have.”

Holy Grail Makeup Items

Jazzy believes in the ceiling to the floor method.  He states that, “Good skin care goes hand in hand with a good makeup application.”  After great facial care then you should make sure you have a good foundation and primer.  After that a great powder or tinted moisturizer should set your face.  If you only have 15 minutes to get ready then a good face is better than a bare face and lavish eye makeup.  “If your skin looks great. Your moisturizer looks great. Your skin will look pretty.”

Elements of Boudoir Makeup

When picking a makeup look… or a series of looks… it’s best to choose a look that best represents you.  The best way to ensure the best face on this important day is to hire a professional makeup artist.  Hiring a professional makeup artist is ideal because they are going to know the best color, shade, and range for your boudoir session.  

Makeup Trends or Nah?

This really depends on the woman in question.  Women more mature in years often opt to have a more classic look while younger women choose to be more trendy when it comes to boudoir.  However, you can rock classic looks with a modern influence.  Jazzy does an amazing job of working both sides of this line for a unique makeup application that will work best for you.  

How to Find the Perfect Makeup Artist?

Finding the perfect makeup artist can seem like a very daunting task, but it will be well worth it.  If you are looking for a makeup artist you can use Google, but a better way is to get on Instagram and #(YourCityName)MakeupArtist or #(YourCity)MUA.  For example, if you live in Austin, Texas then you would search Instagram’s hashtags using the following: #AustinMakeupArtist, #ATXMakeupArtist, #AustinMUA, or #ATXMUA.  

1.) Review their social media accounts and not only look for style look for quality of work.  Search for women who have the same skin type and complexion as you.  Also see if they have any professional photos on their page, not just selfies and before and after pictures.  You need to be able to see if their makeup will translate well in professional photos.  

2.) Check a makeup artist references.  While they may have impeccable work some makeup artist are NOTORIOUS for being no shows or the photographer having to fix a lot of their work in post.  Message the girls in their photos or send a message to the photographer if they are tagged in any professional work.  Don’t be embarrassed to do so.  It’s called doing your due diligence because boudoir is an investment and you want to be able to love your photos forever and not be disappointed in the end result.

3.) Pay for a Makeup Trial Run.  Paying for a makeup trial run isn’t just for wedding photography it’s for boudoir as well.  If you are not going with a makeup artist that is recommended by the actual boudoir photographer then you REALLY need to make sure the artist you personally choose will be able to get the makeup look that you want for your photos. This will allow you to speak about any changes that you need without anything being a surprise on your actually boudoir date.

Can’t I just do my own makeup?

Unless you are an artist yourself or a makeup enthusiast then your everyday makeup look will not work for boudoir photography.  High quality and photocentric makeup is what is needed for your big day.  This type of makeup has been specially formulated for professional shoots.  These makeup applications need to be placed on in a professional manner as well.

With everything that you have to prepare for when it comes to a boudoir session hair and makeup should not be one of them. This is your time before your session to just relax and let the hair and makeup team pamper you before your session.  “Make it easy on yourself. You just want to be memorable.  You want to make it an experience so don’t put so much stress on yourself” states Jazzy.

How should a woman prepare of a professional makeup session?

1. Be Well Rested
2. Don’t Drink the Night Before Your Shoot
3. Get a Facial (optional)
4. Get your Eyebrows Professional  Done (at least 3 days before your session)
5. Don’t come to your session with Makeup On

Favorite Makeup YouTubers

Jazzy has a long list of his favorite makeup YouTubers.  Make sure you watch the video or listen to the podcast to get the full list, but some of the most notable is Beauty by JJ, Jackie Aina, Lyric Rochester, Makeup Doll, and Sonjdra Deluxe.

Favorite Celebrity Makeup Artist

The Pat McGrath and Sam Fine.  These two are living makeup legends.  Honestly, any makeup artist who really appreciates the craft should be well aware of who these two people are.  Even your photographer should know the work of these two artist.  If your makeup artist has not idea who Pat McGrath is then i wholeheartedly suggest that you keep looking for another makeup artist for your wedding our boudoir day.

Contact Jazzy Baptiste

Wasn’t Jazzy great? I hope you guys learned a lot from Jazzy about the basic principles of makeup and how to find the perfect makeup artist for your boudoir session.  Below are several methods of contacting Jazzy!

• Blog: BeingJazzyBaptiste
• IG: @SweetKingJazzyBaptiste 
• YT: SweetKingJazzyBaptiste
• FB:  Jazzy R. Baptiste 
• Twitter: @SweetKingJazzyBaptiste
• e: JazzyBaptiste@Gmail.com

All of the work featured are session that Jazzy and I have worked on together.  If you’re interested in your own session please contact Wonderland Boudoir.  Check out our investment page and current specials!

In this comments below please leave any questions for Jazzy that you have about makeup! 

How to Style Your Boudoir Session

Dallas Boudoir studio Wonderland Boudoir loves to make you feel ready for your boudoir session.  One of the most important elements of a session is your style.  What you wear to a boudoir session can make or break your photos.  Today we interviewed New York stylist Alexis Coats.  Alexis is a recent graduate of UNT.  She is also a model and a freelance stylist in New York.  Today she will speak to us about how to properly prepare your style for a beautiful and flawless boudoir session.

The Basic Principles of Style

Style is not only important in everyday life it’s important for your photos.  When preparing for your boudoir session you need to dress for your body and not for trends.  “All women should dress to their body type and not the trends that are out there… don’t risk looking your best by wearing a trend that may not be flattering on you.”  

Alexis goes on to explain, “Dress for yourself and not what you see in the magazines. You don’t always have to follow every single trend.”  This is very true.  Trends are not classic looks.  They come in and out so fast is can sometimes be waste to try and keep up with every cool look out.  Take careful consideration before fully investing in a piece.  Consider how this trend works with the rest of your wardrobe and how it will fair season after season.  

Black is a color that Alexis suggest that all women keep in their closet.  Black goes with everything and when you're ever in a fashion rut you can always count on black to be a perfect base that you don’t have to think about twice.  

When it comes specifically to boudoir and lingerie you need to make sure that you wear lingerie that fits.  Alexis suggest going to get a professional fitting to get your correct bra size.  Not only will this professional fitting look better in photos it will make you feel more comfortable which will help you to be more confident in front of the camera.  

Favorite Lingerie Brands

Lingerie is an essential part of boudoir photography.  One of Alexis's favorite brands is the Aerie intimates line from Aeropostale.  Victoria’s Secret is also a great source for beautiful boudoir lingerie and can be budget friendly if you catch the right sale.  Alexis also suggested the site Adore Me.  Adore Me is a new subscription site based around the beauty of lingerie.  

When signing up for Adore Me you are first asked take a fashion quiz that helps determine the type of lingerie that best fits your style.  Once you have completed one of the easiest signs up that I have ever been through (It was literally your email and then create a password!  That’s it!)  you are taken to your showroom.  If you order within the first hour your first set is only $20!  

Just like every other subscription based site you have until the first 5 or 6 days to skip the month.  If you don’t you will be charged $40 and that will sit on your account until you use the credit.  Shipping, returns, and exchanges are all free.    

If you want to order but don’t want to do the subscription based services than you can just pay full price for the set, which is $50.  

My First Adore Me Order

Above is my first showroom with Adore Me.  I am loving all these styles! Very sexy and all are very perfect for boudoir! I ALMOST went with Lorelai!  

For my first purchase I ended up going with a classic, Lydia.  It’s a racerback lingerie set.  I wear A LOT of racerbacks (I’m in Texas so sleeves don’t mean much down here) so I think this will work perfectly for me.  I will do a review of it when I get it in the mail… and then speak about it in real a life scenario.  

New York Fashion Week

For Fall Alexis is most excited about the ‘70’s vibe that’s hitting the streets.  She is looking forward to the bell bottoms jeans and comfortable cable knit sweaters.  The best part of this particular revival is that you can find it in just about any thrift store.  This is a great alternative if you want to be frugal while exploring this trend.  

For Spring/Summer 2016 she’s excited about seeing the ‘70’s trend blending over in this season.  Not only fashion, but beauty as well.  The ‘70’s makeup look is way understated and much more natural.

Trends that We Need to Lose

We need to get rid of these sharpie eyebrows!  Not only that but the body modifications.  This is why Alexis is excited about the ‘70’s trend coming back.  “Less is more.  I think this is will help the younger generation accept who they are not try to be something they are not.”

Contact Alexis with any Styling Questions!

Wasn’t Alexis just great?  I have photographed Alexis as a model and a stylist a number of times.  I love her work ethic, drive, and commitment.  She’s is amazing.  If you’re looking for a wonderful stylist please contact Alexis.  She will have a site up soon!  

IG: @AlexisKCoats

FB: Alexis Coats

e: AKC0100@Gmail.com

Remember that you can subscribe to our Wonderland Boudoir YouTube page and to our Soundcloud if you want to list to our interviews in podcast form!

In the comments below please let us know if you have any questions for Alexis!