March 2, 2010 | Filed in: Boudoir, Personal update, Photos, Portraiture
Leigh and I met almost 5 years ago. I knew her friend Heather (now my makeup artist), whom had just nights before gasped in awe when I told her my photography rates, sitting on the curb at a down town skate shop. She demanded I raised my prices, and actually threatened to kick my butt if I didn’t do so. She gave me a set number (which at the time I thought was ridiculous). I flat out told her, “no one is going to pay that price!” She threatened me again, and I pretended to accept it. I wanted to accept what she was saying, but I was scared.
The following week, Leigh called me up and wanted to schedule a photo shoot. An Anytime shoot, she said, just to document her life at the time. “Ok…” and I lingered off. “Well, I, um, I just changed my rates, and it’s…” She stopped me right before I put myself on the line. “I know what it is. I have the money and am ready to go! Let’s do this. Can you do next weekend?” And that was that. I showed up the following weekend, Heather was there doing her makeup (before we even started working together – who knew?!) and we did the shoot. Granted, we got some amazing shots, but I didn’t know nearly as much back then as I do now. And, halfway through our shoot, it started to rain. I didn’t know much about metering then, so I had to schedule the second part of our shoot for another day.
That other day came last weekend. 5 years later, we are both doing what we love and I was back, documenting her life again. Leigh has changed so much over 5 years – but then again, so have I. We have both grown, both lived a little, both broadened our horizons. She still believed in me, though. She remembered me, after moving out of North Carolina and moving back. And there we were, last Sunday, sitting in her beautiful, sunny loft apartment down town. Heather doing her makeup (with her husband and baby playing on the floor!!!) and me checking my metering. I was in a room with two ladies, two friends, that believed in me from the beginning. For that, I thank them, endlessly.
I know not all of these are boudoir. That was the premises for the shoot, but I also wanted to capture some simple portraits. Leigh has given me permission to share some of these photos with you. There are plenty more personal ones from our shoot that will not be shared, but if you are interested in a boudoir shoot, please send me over an email. They’re very fun, personal and tasteful! 
Heather did a stunning job on makeup, per usual.
Heather and I both wanted these earrings. It wouldn’t have worked out if we both stole one each, though, so we let Leigh keep them.
Simply beautiful.
So these rollers were NOT a planned idea. Heather was rolling her hair for the shoot and we decided it looked too cute to not photograph. Put on the makeup, find a pair of knickers from the 20s, pose with bread Heather’s husband made andVoilà!
Leigh, you SO pulled this look off.
I found these glasses in her little cabinet for accessories and KNEW we had to use them. Silly, but cute!
The rollers came out and the 80s rolled in! I think she looks fierce!
Note: This is no smoke machine. Just a simple bottle of hairspray I asked Heather to waste for this shot.
And we’ll end with this shot. Simple, made up on the spot and beautiful.
