Tag Archive: christa

Soccer Moms are Sexy! No. 2

Hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving. The new book is complete (wooot!), and I’m back after a blissful few weeks holiday.

To put into practice all of the tips and techniques I covered in the first eight chapters of my new book, I thought it would be fun to pull everything together in a single shoot for the last chapter, a step-by-step illustrated guide on how I went from the first conversation with my subject to the final edited photos.

Karen is a 40 year old soccer mom with two kids and is a middle school teacher. She is a typical nonmodel subject who had no experience on a professional photo shoot, was not adept at posing, and was unsure how to move in front of the camera.

She was excited to do a shoot because she thought it would be a blast to let her inner sex goddess out, put on some sexy lingerie (which she did not even own at the time), get pampered, and escape reality for a while. She had never done anything like this before and said she was definitely nervous as the shoot date approached.

Karen mentioned that although she’s playful and silly most of the time, she wanted to show that she can be sexy and provocative, too. She said she felt like she has never really “oozed sexiness” overtly, and that she’d really love to capture the serious sexpot woman she knows is in there in addition to the playful girl.

Damn! I think she nailed it, no?

I included this outtake shot in my selects because not only does she look gorgeous, but it triggers memories of a fun shoot (this was the moment after I had just teased her for gripping the couch for dear life) and shows Karen’s sense of humor about herself. Her playfulness is a key part of her personality.

Karen wanted to use these pillows as props in a shot, and the makeup artist had the cheeky suggestion of placing the “V” between her legs. Saying “yes” to suggestions from people on set fosters the collaborative effort and invariably brings about something unexpected and awesome.

Writing The Art of Boudoir was an incredible journey – thank you for taking the ride with me!

Let’s end with a quote from Karen…

“I think strength in all forms is sexy. It helps us endure and carry on. A strong, confident woman is beautiful.”

Well said. What a perfect ending for the book- may it bring beauty and confidence your way.

Have a beautiful week!

xoxo Christa

ps. For those who have asked – YES! you can have the book delivered by Christmas! Make sure to choose the appropriate shipping method, and order now here.

Chic Brunette, No. 2

Picking up where we left off with Racy Blonde & Chic Brunette, No. 1

Mrs. C ditched the blonde wig and we rocked out the rest of her session together as brunettes. If you take a peek at the previous post mentioned above, you’ll see the same sets – the patterned couch, the bed, the balcony – but all with a different look, in terms of styling, pose, mood, and post. No matter what location I’m shooting in, I hustle my butt off to create variety and tell an interesting story.


That last shot is one of my favs- such a fun and sexy session!

Do you have any Q’s or tips on how to create variety? Share them in the comments! I enjoy hearing from you.

Thank you as always for stopping by and contributing!

Lots of love,

Christa

ps. want to see the inspiration for two of the above shots? Follow me on pinterest, check out my boards, and see if you can spot the shots.

The 5 Boudoir Poses You Need to Know and Master

I’m loving the beautiful fall weather we’re having in NYC, and I have an extra skip in my step because my new book is nearly complete! Yaaaaay! Which means we’ll all have to celebrate (details on that will be forthcoming), and you’ll see more of me on the blog.

This week, I want to give you a fun glimpse into the posing chapter from The Art of Boudoir, which includes the 8 Biggest Posing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, Principles of Sensual Posing, My Posing System: Putting It All Together, and more. One section is called:

The 5 Boudoir Poses You Need to Know and Master

Why Five?
When it came time to write about specific poses, I knew I had very limited space. I thought about it for months. (Obsessed about it really.) I kept asking myself: what instruction would give you guys the biggest bang for your buck? I scoured my archives for the critical poses that I couldn’t do a shoot without. After going through every single past boudoir session numerous times, it became quite clear which poses I was using to create stunning, yet varied, results again and again.

I realized that these five poses bring me the greatest amount of success because they fulfill the following criteria:

  • Most flattering to the widest variety of women
  • Offer the most variety out of a single pose
  • Easiest for non-models to perform
  • Easiest for the photographer to manipulate
So without further ado, here’s one of the five for you…
No. 4 The Serpent

24-70mm, ISO 200, f/2.8, 125 sec

Oh this is such a sexy and slinky pose! It’s a great one to start a session with because even nervous women feel more relaxed and safe in this position. The Serpent will take a bit of coaching and continued reminders for her to hold this extreme posture, so keep encouraging her to push that hip up and arch her back even more than she thinks she can, to create what I call the “triangle of awesomeness” between her hip, upper thigh, and lower abdomen. Ask for the arm facing the camera to be moved out so that we see the side of her breast. This creates gorgeous symmetrical curves and a lot of pleasing triangle shapes.

24-70mm, ISO 320, f/2.5, 125 sec

 Note: to really see that “triangle of awesomeness” characteristic of The Serpent, you must be on a surface that has a bit of firmness, whether it’s a bed, couch or the floor. If it’s too soft, her body will sink into it.

There are so many incredible angles for this pose. Shooting from where her feet are produces a saucy point of view, and depending on the position of her legs, the pics can vary from mildly hot to super erotic. You can have her peek over her shoulder at you, and then walk around to the opposite side and capture some gorgeous close-ups, which is what I did to snag the first pic in this post.

Just by changing up your position and/or slight adjustments to the model (such as differing hand gestures, eye-lines and actions), you can create so much variety and every shade of modesty. Add to that a variety of focal lengths from which you photograph her, and we increase variety from the same pose even more! And that’s a whole ‘nother how to section in this book: ways to easily create variety on a shoot, which dramatically increases sales.

Thank you as always for tuning in!

It’s such a pleasure to share how to make women look and feel sexy with you!

Please post a comment to ask any questions about posing, the book, or The Serpent, and I’ll answer them the best I can.

Enjoy using The Serpent this week, and let me know how it goes! (Even if you’re not a photographer, but a woman who wants to look damn sexy 😉

Lots of love,

Christa

ps. and if you are a photographer or a woman who wants to look damn sexy, pre-order my book now! It’s only about 26 bucks during the pre-order stage on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Peachpit Press.

 

Racy Blonde & Chic Brunette

On a recent client shoot, this gorgeous 40 yr old mom and I had a blast in New Orleans! This woman loves wigs and enjoys rocking the blonde as much as the brunette.

The pic above celebrates the naked and energetic vibe of New Orleans, with the Jazz image in the background and the subject’s blurred movement – standard mood for the French Quarter 🙂

For this first set, we were inspired by the 70’s and Michelle Pfieffer’s blonde/gold look in Scarface.


And then, she went brunette!

Classic, chic, and sexy brunette.

Adorned with Chanel, Christian Louboutin, and Agent Provocateur…

I highly recommend wigs as an easy, sexy and fun way to create variety in a session – and in your daily life!

Why decide if blondes or brunettes have more fun?…

Choose both!

Love,

Christa

Making it Work: A “Noir” Lighting Setup

It’s been nose to the grindstone time as the deadline for my new book is less than a week away, and I’ve been writing and shooting up a storm. That, in addition to my normal boudoir client work, travel with my man, and a whirlwind week in Mexico for a business retreat (more on that soon), and the summer went by in a flash.

Today, I wanted to share a super fun lighting set up from the chapter on creating beautiful light. The new book shows eight different simple and sexy lighting set-ups I use to flatter women using only one light.

The photo above was shot for the new book this past Saturday, and is a perfect example to show how every shoot has its “make it work” moments when things don’t necessarily go as planned.

(Project Runway fans will recognize the mantra “Make it work.” Don’t you just love Tim Gunn? I repeat his mantra all the time. He lives on my block in NYC, so now I feel pressured to dress up even when walking the dog. But I digress.)

To create the look above, we needed a narrow beam of light. The reflector attachment that goes with this monolight would have helped do the trick , but was not packed in the box. Yikes. We had only this one strobe and two softboxes. Yikes again.

There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, and here’s just one that we chose:

Lighting Equipment used:
Elinchrome BXRi 500watt Strobe with 27”x27” Rotalux Softbox
Elinchrome Skyport Speed Transmitter
Impact Multi Boom Lightstand
Two Flats used as Flags
Grey Seamless Backdrop

Shot with:
5D Mark III
50mm 1.2 with Tiffen 77mm Neutral Density .9 Filter and 72-77mm Step-up Ring

Settings:
100 ISO, f/2.8, 100 sec

We decided to use this small softbox with the diffusers removed, exposing the bare bulb and silver lining inside, as well as two large flats to act as flags to block the light from spilling onto the subject and background where we didn’t want it to. We kept the model bright and the background dark without blowing everything out by exposing for her fair skin. I am kneeling down, so I can best lengthen her legs while shooting full body. I used an ND filter to take my exposure down 3 stops without changing my aperture setting. You can create lighting modifiers out of almost anything in a pinch, and those crazy boards we used as flags are large wallpaper flats we lucked out finding in the studio we rented… a total gift.

Here’s the shot SOOC.
Notice any adjustments done in post? (…speaking of Tim Gunn 🙂

Thank you to Robert and Kathy from JohnsonSarkissian, my dear friends, for being an enormous help while shooting behind the scenes pics and footage. I couldn’t have finished the day without you, and your enthusiasm, positivity and creativity helped make it a success and so much fun! I am so enormously grateful to you both.

And a huge thank you to each of you as always for stopping by!

Post any questions about this set up or the equipment used in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

We’ll have more updates, tips, giveaways and news coming soon!

Lots of love,

Christa

 

 

 

Your Face, My Book

Are you a huge fan of the underdog and stories of dramatic transformation?

Me too!

This post is for you, or a woman you love. I’m searching for real women as I shoot a series of personal transformations for my new book!

I want YOU to be my next transformation story. 

Do you want to create a dramatic shift in your life?
Want to create a positive change and build momentum?
How about a jolt of confidence and a bolt of sensual prowess?
Or maybe you’ve been through a traumatic experience recently, or you’re just not feeling so beautiful.

You’ve got a story. And I want to hear it.

And I’d LOVE to photograph you!

Your Photo Shoot Details:

This opportunity is open to women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds with no modeling experience, who’s story and photos may be featured in my soon-to-be-released book, The Art of Boudoir Photography.

You’ll receive a free Boudoir Photography Shoot with me, all the pre-shoot planning, professional hair and make-up styling, and all your favorite photos.

To be considered for this unique opportunity, just tell us a little bit about you (we promise to keep your info confidential).

Also, you must sign a full Model Release form, be available in NYC on a date between Sept 1st – 10th, and pay for any travel to or accommodations in NYC.

Deadline to apply is Friday Aug 31st midnight est. You will be contacted directly via email if selected by Sept 3rd.

Lots of love and gratitude,

xo, Christa

ps. If you know a woman who could use a wonderful opportunity such as this, please forward her this link!

 

An Ordinary Couple, An Inspiring Story

My recent boudoir shoot in New York with Julie started as a perfect example of my typical shoot and client.

Julie is a mother of three, has been with her husband for 25 years, and was traveling to NYC to do a shoot with me to celebrate turning 41. Her husband, Jim, had wanted her to get boudoir photos done for several years, but she resisted. She’s a self-described plain Jane, and had all the same hesitations and doubts that all women do who eventually approach me for a shoot.

The day of the shoot, the make-up artist and I came to the couple’s hotel, the husband begs to stay and watch, I refuse, he takes off, and the usual silliness, sexiness and girly fun ensues.

We were having a blast, and I was just posing Julie on the bed, adjusting her arm and saying “Move your arm more to the right so I can see more boob,” when all of a sudden from behind me a male’s voice says “That’s what I like to hear!” I turn to see Jim peeking out from behind a wall, crashing our party. 

Here’s the look on Julie’s face when that happened:

 

Jim’s jaw was on the floor, startled and thrilled to see his wife half-naked and loving it. We all cracked up for a bit, and I began to notice Julie getting even saucier with her husband present. He promised to watch quietly from the sidelines, so I agreed to keep shooting with him there and see how it went.

Well it went beyond great – it was the most gratifying shoot to date. To see Julie strut around half-naked in front of her husband with bold confidence… to see Jim smile from ear to ear and watch his wife so lovingly with such adoration and barely able to keep his hands off of her… that’s the most rewarding part of my job.

To couples everywhere:
Julie and Jim wrote letters to me describing their experience because they wanted to inspire all couples out there thinking about doing a boudoir shoot to do it! 

Here’s Julie’s letter to all women:

First, let me say, that I am a 41 year old, mother of three and librarian, living in a suburb of Boston – typical in every way.  My husband had been talking about having Boudoir photos taken of me for several years, and I was a bit resistant.  This summer, I suggested we spend a few nights in New York City, and he suggested that I book a photo shoot with Christa.  I thought about it and decided that if after 19 years of marriage, he wanted to look at pictures of me in sexy lingerie, rather than other women, that was a good thing and what the hell, it might be fun.

I spoke with Christa on the phone.  She asked me tons of questions about myself, what I love about my body, what I want the pictures to say about me, what activities my husband and I enjoy together, etc.  We talked about different set up possibilities and what to expect.  She also spoke of the importance of doing the photo shoot for myself as much as for my husband. After our first phone conversation, I felt totally comfortable and was actually getting excited about the shoot.

 Two weeks before our trip to New York, my husband and I went on a date to a lingerie boutique, where I tried on different sets and we picked out a few.  A fashion show ensued once we got home and it was at that point that I realized what a great idea this was.  

On the day of the shoot, my husband had the foresight to leave behind a bottle of white wine to calm the last little bit of nerves. The make-up stylist and Christa arrived, and we toasted the day’s adventure to come.

Once Christa started shooting the time flew by.  She was a great coach, telling me exactly what to do, how to sit, where to look, what to do with my hands.  I changed outfits, hairstyles and makeup several times.  We even snuck out into the hallway and stairwell for a few shots with the make up artist standing guard, ready to throw a robe over me.  

It was an absolute blast.  Honestly, more fun than than I had ever imagined.  I felt beautiful and sexy and confident in a way that I haven’t since before our kids were born and It was nothing less than magical.

The pictures were everything we had hoped for and more.  Christa did an amazing job capturing everything that was physically and emotionally on display that day.  I love my new photos and will treasure them and the memories of that day for a long time to come.

A letter from Jim:

Dear Christa,

The whole experience from beginning to end was so memorable for both of us.

A couple of weeks prior to the shoot, we went shopping for her various outfits she wanted to wear. Julie had so much fun trying everything on and I had a great time watching her in all of the dresses and sexy outfits!  There might be a couple of stores we can longer go back to but it was worth it. 

Julie spent some time before the shoot looking at a lot of images of other sexy moms on your blog as well as your coaching articles, which really helped.  Soon, she was looking forward to the shoot even more than I was! 

When I joined you at the end of the shoot, it was so thrilling to witness my wife transformed from the girl I know and love into a sexy vixen.  Seeing her confidence in herself build was so wonderful to see. 

Just as you tout, Christa, sexiness is not about being a perfect ten, it’s about assuredness and attitude. You made her feel so relaxed, comfortable, sexy and beautiful. 

We went out that evening while she was still all made up with one of her new sexy dresses.  It was such a wonderful night and the shoot was just about all we talked about. 

In fact, we’ve been talking about it for days and wondering when we can do it again!

This is the kind of experience that, unfortunately, not many couples get to have.  We are so lucky. Not only was it fun but it was intimate and it made a very strong marriage even better. 

Being over 40 or not a supermodel is not a reason to deprive yourself of having this amazing experience.  We’re so grateful you were able to capture her beauty and provide us both with a day we’ll never forget.

All the best,

Jim

Having the man present is now something I will consider for future shoots. There are fun ways to incorporate the husband… I asked Julie to flirt with Jim off-camera while I shot, and those pics are some of my favorites. We even had Jim holding the fan at one point, to which he said “I’m glad this fan is between me and my wife because I would attack her right now.” 

A big thank you to Julie and Jim, for a memorable experience, making every moment of my time with you so fantastic and fun, your heartfelt letters, and your generosity in allowing me to post a couple of images here.

I hope their story inspires you!

xoxo Christa 

 

The Money Shots™ Giveaway Pinterest Contest

Summer is heating up and my birthday is coming in August, so I’m doing another hot giveaway!

Many of you know that I celebrate my birthday with a personal boudoir shoot, and I’ve begun to plan this year’s festivities by posting pics to My Bday Boudoir Shoot board using Pinterest.

I believe deeply that every woman and photographer can get so much value from doing her own shoot, so join me in the fun and start planning YOUR boudoir photo shoot! If you’re male, plan one that you’d love to do with your next client. 

As part of the fun, we’ll give away two copies of The Money Shots™ posing guide for BEST BOARD (most inspired collection) and MOST FOLLOWERS for the board with the most followers.

The Money Shots™ are THE shots that sell. Part Pose Book and Part Coaching Guide, this is a set of inspiring poses and ideas with my instruction so you can easily capture these Top Ten Best-Selling Boudoir photographs with enormous success every single time!

You ready to plan your Ultimate Boudoir Shoot and win The Money Shots™? 

Using Pinterest, create the Ultimate Boudoir Photoshoot pinboard using content from christameola.com and around the web. Choose your favorite poses, outfits (or lack thereof…), props you love, fantastic settings, and any element you’d love to include in your shoot. 

CONTEST DETAILS

Contest ends this Monday, Aug. 6th at Midnight EST.

ENTER NOW:

  1. Follow Christa on Pinterest
    New to Pinterest? Request an invite here using this invite link.
  2. Create an “Ultimate Boudoir Photoshoot” pinboard
    Select “+Add” and then “Create a Board” at the top-right hand corner of the Pinterest page.
    Make sure to name your board “Ultimate Boudoir Photo Shoot.”
  3. Start pinning!
    Search christameola.com and the web for pics that inspire you and pin it.
  4. Share the board with friends to increase your chances of winning The Money Shots™

Christa and Team Meola will review all the boards and announce the winners on Tuesday, Aug. 7th.

Good luck and happy pinning!

***UPDATE: There was such wonderful participation and phenomenal boudoir shoot boards, that we chose 4 winners!

Michelle Young, We love the idea of Sexy Beach Glam.
Jaime Baxter Martin, A board full of soft, beautiful and sultry inspiration.
Pamela Mullins, Just plain HOTNESS! Love the bold implied nudes.
Amie Adams, rocked the follower count

xoxo Christa

ps. I also use my Pinterest page to post Lighting I love, Rocking Boudoir Poses, How To Tips, Art that inspires me and so much more! Join me, and I’ll see ya on there!

 

How to Look Great Naked, No. 2

This week, I’ve got my sleeves rolled up and am diving even deeper into writing the new book

I am loving the challenge of pulling forth and putting down all I’ve discovered and learned about how to create stunning photographs of women. The book I’m writing goes beyond photography , to also include how to help women look and feel great by cultivating their sex appeal and coaching a bit of sensuality in their movements in addition to using your photography skills to capture it all.

As we discussed last week in How to Look Great Naked, cultivating sex appeal and looking great naked is not about crash dieting or Photoshop, but rather is about a woman’s attitude, confidence, playful personality, and feeling good in her own skin.

Honestly, that’s 98% of looking and feeling great naked.

So today’s post contains the other 2% to put you over the top with practical and immediately actionable tips to make you look great naked and boost your confidence for when you want to feel simply amazing in your birthday suit. 

How to Look Great Naked, No. 2!

1. Smile and Make Eye Contact
These are two of the most immediate, simple and powerful things you can do (at any given time really). There is nothing quite like the irresistible sex appeal of a confident woman smiling and making eye contact. Nothing else needed. But feel free to read on… 

2. Strap on Your High Heels
Want to add a bit more muscle definition to your legs and instantly feel sexier? Strap on a smoking hot pair of high heels! Obviously, heels make you appear taller (and therefore slimmer, if that’s your goal), but shoes with a slender heel that’s at least 2” high also make the calves appear muscular and much more defined. Nude shoes that match your skin tone are a fantastic choice to make your legs look even longer. However, avoid shoes with ankle straps, a square toe, and chunky shoes which all make legs look wider. Note: of course, this effect only applies when you’re standing. But if you ask me, high heels are the perfect accessory for looking great naked, in any position. 

3. Style Up A Great ‘Do
Everyone knows a good hair day makes a woman feel amazing, so don’t underestimate what a good ‘do can do. When prancing around naked, it’s the one thing you can wear styled, so invest time or money in making it great. Most men love hair that looks shiny, soft and touchable. No time for a polished style? Go for the sex appeal of bedhead. Run fingers through your roots with a scrubbing motion, use a spray wax, spritz all over hair, and then twirl random sections around your fingers. Naughtiness. (ps. I’m loving big hair. The bigger the hair, the sassier and slimmer my body appears.)

4. Get Glowing Skin
When you’re sporting nothing but your birthday suit, you want to make sure your skin feels and looks great. Moisturizing is key. I love Neutrogena Sesame Oil. Not only do I love how it makes my body glow and feel soft and silky, but I’m crazy about the seductive scent as well. A tip: put it on in the shower so it’s absorbed nicely and you don’t end up greasy. Use a moisturizing lotion on your face, and add a bit of  gel stain on your cheeks to get a gorgeous flushed look. Longer term, make sure you’re drinking your 8 glasses a day, exfoliating and moisturizing daily.

Beyond moisturizing, try a tinted moisturizer, self-tanner, or body make-up, which can all hide a multitude of sins, make your bod appear slimmer and give you a healthy glow. Restraint here is a good thing – just enough to give you a healthy glow and make you feel more confident.

5. Find Your Best Light
You can’t underestimate the power of light to flatter a figure. Two things to consider when choosing which light makes you look and feel great naked: the light’s quality and the direction of the source. The most flattering quality of light for your nudeness comes from soft glowing sources, such as a candle, the moon, and pink-tinted bulbs. The least flattering (and frankly, horrifying) light is fluorescent. Yikes.

Ways to create flattering quality of light:

  • Install dimmers. So you can adjust the lights to a level that’s most flattering to your skin and that suits your comfort level.
  • Try candlelight or firelight. The warm glow makes skin look amazing and casts beautiful shadows, not to mention the inherent romantic appeal. Light as many candles to make the room as dim or bright as would please you. 
  • Swap out regular light bulbs for pink-tinted bulbs. Pink-tinted light is the most becoming to skin and casts the most flattering shadows.
  • Place colored plastic gels (pink or orange) over a lamp. You can purchase gels at photography and art stores, or you can use a sheer fabric.
  • Get naked by moonlight. This soft light is another flattering choice with romantic appeal.
  • Go au naturale in early morning light. This scenario is a bit brighter for those who are bolder, but still a soft and flattering even light source.

Ways to position light that flatters:

  • Avoid overhead light. In terms of placement, a light source from behind you, to the side of you, or in front of you are vastly more flattering than the distorting hideousness of overhead light of any kind. Avoid that at all costs.
  • Side light – enhances curves and throws teasing shadows onto other areas. Illuminates less of your body, so it’s great if you’re a bit body conscious and want to have parts of your body “disappear” into darkness. Place lamp to the side of you.
  • Back light – is the least illuminating, throwing your bod into silhouette. Place lamp behind you. 

6. Practice Great Posture
Good posture can take you a long way and is another instant fix to looking great naked. Poor posture sends the wrong message. Excellent posture not only makes you look taller and leaner, it makes you feel and appear more confident. So when we talked about faking confidence until you have it (Tip #2 from last week’s post), this is a great way to do it – through great posture.

Ways to achieve great posture that flatters:

  • Great posture is easy to achieve, but difficult to sustain without constant reminders. Unfortunately most of us go through the day with poor unappealing posture. So practice the following tips while standing in front of the mirror and see how incredibly dramatic the difference is!
  • Stand up straight, pull your shoulders back and down, elongate your neck, tilt your head and chin slightly out and down, pull your stomach in and up and let your back settle into a natural but a bit of an extended arch that pushes out (and plays up) both the butt and chest.
  • Sit on a diagonal, with a slight twist at the waist instead of facing someone head-on. This will naturally cinch in your waist.
  • Place your hands where you want attention to go. If you like your hips, décolletage, or face, put your hands there.
  • When standing, turn a bit sideways, shift your weight to the back leg, and put the other leg out in front of the other, knee slightly bent, and toe pointed, lifting your heel.
  • If you don’t love your arms, position them so that they are away from your body. For example, placing a hand on your hip immediately thins out your arm.

7. Pay Attention to Details

  • Give your hands and feet loving attention. A mani/pedi is a must for good grooming.
  • Style up your nether regions – whatever style (or lack thereof) suits you. 
  • Feel free to accessorize a tiny bit which may make you feel a little less naked, such as a gorgeous statement piece of jewelry on your wrist or around your neck. 
  • A slightly chill room or glass of ice water will do wonders to keep you, um, standing at attention.
  • Lastly, choose make-up to suit your style: minimalism keeps your look au naturale, or you can go bold with smokey smoldering eyes or simply just red hot lips. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below… What’s your single best tip for feeling great in your own skin?

Lots of love and nakedness,

Christa

ps. If ya missed it, here are more great tips on How to Look and Feel GREAT Naked!

pps. If you’d like to get your copy of my book The Art of Boudoir, it’s now available for pre-order!

How to Look Great Naked, No. 1

I am absolutely loving this summer! I’m just back from a blissful two week vacation filled with plenty of summer loving with my beau, sunsets and skinny dipping. So in honor of this smoking hot season and nakedness, let’s talk about How to Look Great Naked!

As you may know, I got a book deal to write a new boudoir book, The Art of Boudoir: How to Create Stunning Photographs of Women. I’ve been writing up a storm and super excited to share all the juicy new content with you.

I’m particularly excited about several sections in the book, which I created for all women who want to feel comfortable with their bodies and cultivate sex appeal, whether at a photo shoot or in daily life.

Today’s post is a little taste of the book’s content that focuses on the art of sensuality, which is truly the answer to…

How to Look Great Naked

1. Know What “Looking Great” Means

The quickest shortcut to “looking great” naked is not actually in how you look. A woman may be a beauty on the surface, but no amount of visual perfection can create sensuality and sex appeal, which is more truly what it means to “look great.” Sensuality is in a woman’s attitude. So, whether you are a photographer striving to create stunning nude photographs or you are a woman who wants to look great naked: The foundation is a woman enjoying herself and her body.

2. Be Confident

Step one in creating allure is to brim with confidence. In fact, confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can wear. Confidence in how you move, how you look, how you feel, and what you do. Remember to stay focused on your postive attributes and know that you can pull off nearly anything if you do it with self-assurance.

I know being confident is easier said than done. As you move through the rest of these tips and techniques, being confident becomes easier. In truth, no one feels 100 percent confident, ever. We all have insecurities and fears. A useful tip that has always worked for me is, if you don’t feel 100 percent confident, then fake it. Merely pretending to be confident will often be just what you need to manifest the real deal.

3. Practice Being Naked

Comfort with your body takes practice. Get very familiar with your body, paying particular attention to the parts you love. Practice being naked. Walk around your home naked. Try posing in the mirror naked. Appreciate and admire your body from all angles. Make sure you focus on the good stuff, and be grateful for the gift of your body.

4. Have Fun

Men (and women) are attracted to women who are genuinely enjoying themselves – that quality matters more than any individual physical attribute. Although this seems simple, it’s often neglected. Have fun! Enjoy being a woman. Enjoy being admired. Be playful. Have fun strutting around. Especially during a photo shoot, it’s important to remember to not take ourselves too seriously. After all, we’re posing in our underwear. Make sure any doubts or concerns take a backseat to having a good time.

5. Focus on Feeling

When a woman feels sexy, she looks sexy. When cultivating sex appeal, make sure to focus on pleasure and feeling good. How you move and how you flirt, dress, undress, and touch yourself—even how you breathe—should be guided by what feels good to you. Sometimes putting on your favorite music or closing your eyes for a moment can help you focus on feeling good.

6. Slower is Sexier

I was photographing a burlesque dancer in LA, and when I asked her to perform a few dance movements faster for me, she refused. Slower is sexier, she said. She’s right. Sensuality has a slow tempo. Take your sweet old time with your movements and gestures. Walk slowly and deliberately. Move your hands along your body languidly. When taking off clothes, tease and do it slowly. Take your time in between each piece. Hint at removing the item before removing it. Teasing out your movements is not only more sensual, but also gives the photographer more time to catch a movement she loves.

7. Flirt!

Move like you can barely contain your desire. Be playful and allow a bit of shyness to come out now and again. Look at your viewer or the camera with a teasing glint in your eye. Let your inner good girl and naughty girl come out to play and duke it out.

8. Know the Innate Power of Attraction

Men and women have enjoyed looking at women since the dawn of time. Stretch marks, cellulite, or some extra pounds are not going to change that. A woman’s attitude is the most important aspect of feeling and looking truly beautiful and appealing, not physical beauty. Trust that your viewer loves it all. Know that any boldness, playfulness, and enjoyment of your body will be appreciated and enjoyed.

9. Know the Tricks of the Trade

Finally, cultivating sex appeal and looking great naked is not about dieting or Photoshop. It’s about working what you’ve got and knowing a few tricks of the trade to enhance what’s already there, which brings us to the upcoming How to Look Great Naked, No. 2!

So stay tuned for more key tips that make a world of difference in feeling and looking great naked!

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below… Did you find these tips useful? Do you find a person’s attitude their most attractive quality? or What are some of your tips to looking great naked? I love this topic, and can’t wait to hear from you!

Lots of love,

Christa

Marketing with Mobile

My Favorite Product, plus $400 Cash Giveaway!

Woooot! I have another smokin’ SUMMER GIVEAWAY for you!

$400 CASH money, honey.

That’s 4 winners of $100 each. Details below on how to enter!

This contest is to introduce my favorite new photographer’s tool for not only adding so much value to my client’s experience, but also delivering exceptional word of mouth marketing… STICKYALBUMS!

Watch the video to learn how I use this hot new product to thrill clients, market myself and create tremendous positive word of mouth marketing.

Plus, you’ll hear about ways to further brand yourself, stand out from the crowd, and further personalize the shoot experience for your clients using this easy and inexpensive new product, Sticky Albums.

Click Play to learn more…
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Details:
Use the widget above to earn several entries into the drawing.
4 winners, each will win:
$100 coupon towards StickyAlbums Pro!
If winner is already a StickyAlbums Pro member, you will win $100 in cash paid via PayPal.
Contest & Discount Ends Friday 6/29 at 11:59pm EST.

Important Info:
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You will not be notified publicly via Facebook if you are a winner. You must be 18 to participate. By entering this giveaway, you are providing information to Stickyalbums.com and not to Facebook.

Celebrating Curves! Plus WPPI Giveaway

It’s Celebrate Curves Week on the Meola blog!

One of the Q’s I get asked most by photographers is “How do you flatter curvy gals?”  So here ya go!

My Top 8 Tips to Flatter Curvy Gals

1. Read the #1 secret about shooting curvy gals most beginning photographers don’t know.
2. Ask your subject what she loves about her body. Focus on that.
3. Ask her what compliments she receives a lot or what her partner loves. Focus on that. 
4. My favorite Q to ask: what does she love about her personality? Do your darndest to bring that out.
5. Read my lighting tips to flatter curves. 
6. Walk around your subject to look from ALL angles to find the most flattering ones. Go high, go low, and go waaaay beyond shooting from your height. Just because you’re 5’7″ doesn’t mean you should shoot from there 🙂
7. Use lenses that flatter, such as the 85mm 1.2 (my fav) or the 70-200mm.
8. Most importantly, know that essentially the only thing you really need is to truly observe and appreciate the woman in front of you. Ask: what’s beautiful about this woman? And focus on that.

The only thing I like as much as enjoying my own curves is photographing another woman enjoying her’s! Today, the lovely Tru is gracing my blog. This was a mini-session, and I was captivated by Tru’s laugh, her rocking hourglass shape and her gorgeous skin. She told me that she also loves her feet and her man loves “everything.” Ha! You gotta love that.

Tru is a prime example of my belief that sensuality comes from within!

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In her own words: “Once I embraced my curves, I gained the freedom to be me.”
-Tru www.trunettaatwater.com

Now onto a GIVEAWAY!

I have TWO FREE WPPI TICKETS for you!

Join me at WPPI in New Jersey – my home state! I’ll be speaking and teaching alongside some of the industry’s best, such as Sal Cincotta, Doug Gordon, Lindsey Adler and more. Such a great line-up!

Registration includes the two day workshop, seminars, a personal portfolio review, mini trade show, and a free conference & expo pass to WPPI 2013.

Here’s my juicy topic:

How to Add Boudoir (& Big Bucks) to Your Business
If you’re not shooting boudoir, you’re missing out on a ton of money and fun. Whether you’re a wedding, portrait, boudoir or aspiring photographer, Christa will show you how to develop your unique and highly profitable boudoir brand. Learn the biggest mistakes photographers make when breaking into this market and get a step-by-step guide to swiftly grow your ideal boudoir clientele. She’ll tell you exactly how to bring out the best in every woman before, during and after the shoot. Plus, she’ll share her proprietary “booty” sales boosting technique. Christa will tackle the biggest questions, myths and mishaps about this highly lucrative field. 

New Jersey // June 25th & 26th
Register Now
$149

To WIN a FREE TICKET to WPPI, Leave a Comment below with a Q about adding boudoir to your business, photographing curves or let us hear how much you loooove curves!

***UPDATED : Winners of this contest are Shannon Lery and Lea-Ann Wadleigh!

Got a friend who could use a bit of curvy celebration or a free ticket? Forward this link

Lots of love and boudie hugs,

Christa

ps. More giveaways on the blog all summer long! Sign up here so you don’t miss a single one 🙂