***UPDATE: The Workshop is SOLD OUT.***
Enter your email here for free photography tips and to get dibs on seats for the next Online Workshop.
“Worth every penny. This is the workshop for those who want to stand out in the photography community.”
Allie Lindsey, Temecula, CA
Get all the JUICY INFO, read the REVIEWS, watch the SEXY TRAILER and SIGN-UP NOW!
I love silly. Silly is good. In fact, sexy and silly is my favorite killer combo. Ran across this shot from summertime in Italy and wanted to give you a little silliness on a winter Friday. This spontaneous little moment is courtesy of my hilarious good friend, Mrs. J, who I adore.
There will be lots of fun, hilarious moments and so much more as a part of the Online Boudoir Workshop! Participants will join me behind the scenes during video demo’s and watch me shoot models, clients, a curvy gal, and nudes…. how much fun is that! So sign up and grab a ringside seat to the action!
May you all have a little bit of sexy silly fun in your near future!
Christa
IMPORTANT NOTE: You have less than 24 hours to sign-up for the special rate! Price goes up at midnight tonight EST – so Register Now!
So thrilled to have been invited to speak & teach at WPPI 2o12! My MasterClass this year is a topic that I believe is essential and often overlooked in the boudoir industry. Sometimes we get so focused on building a business, that we forget the ART! What makes a photograph so sensual that you want to swim in it? Juicy topic right?! It’s a subtle difference and so well worth exploring! Seating is limited. You can register online for my class when registering for WPPI. If you’re already registered for the conference, you must sign-up for my class by calling 1.877.779.3127. So please join me as we dive deep into:
The Subtle Line in Boudoir Photographs
WPPI MasterClass, Vegas – Feb 22nd 2:3opm
I will share the secrets to creating gorgeous images that are smoking hot, stand out and sell big! Learn the subtleties of what makes a photograph HOT or NOT as I compare my favorite shots with those that just missed the mark from my portfolio and others’. I will also reveal the Top 10 Mistakes Boudoir Photographers make and my complete bag of tricks on how to avoid them.
Inspired by art, subtlety and swanky lounges,
Christa
ps. The response to the new Online Boudoir Workshop is overwhelming! Seats have been selling like hotcakes. We are three quarters full, and you have only a couple days left to book your seat and save $100! Sale ends Fri, 12/16 at midnight, so Register Now.
Capturing emotion in my photographs has become my trademark, and I love sharing simple tips on how you can do this too! Creating emotion in your photographs is all about capturing authenticity, movement, sensuality and mood, not a pose that’s static where the subject is disconnected from the moment. Here are a few techniques to get you started…
COACH ACTIONS
For real women who have never professionally modeled before, it’s easier for her to be real and look natural when you offer her an action to perform instead of asking for a “pose.” An action such as “toss your hair, shake your booty, kick up your leg,” etc. looks more emotive then when someone’s just standing there wondering what to do. Make sure to coach her to push the action to the extreme. Coach her to “Kick that leg higher! and shake that booty faster!!”
SHOOT THE IN-BETWEEN MOMENTS
Unplanned outtakes are awesome. That’s the good stuff! When your client falls over or cracks up, make sure to capture it! Those are often the most beautiful, honest, emotional, moments. You can even try telling her that you’re doing a light test, so she drops her guard.
IT’S ALL IN THE EYE-LINE!
I like to avoid eyes looking directly at camera. This is my personal taste. I don’t select a lot of images with eyes looking directly into the camera – it takes me out of the voyeuristic feel. I personally feel more emotion from the moment when she’s looking down at her body, at the light source, or has her eyes closed. In fact, coaching “eyes closed and a slight smile” always works!
CAPTURE REAL LAUGHTER
The more you laugh and crack yourself up, the more she laughs. Use her nervous energy to work for you. Tease your subject in a good way. Ask for fake laughter and it usually ends up in real laughter. Nobody can fake laugh without feeling like a total ass, so it always provokes real laughter from both of us. Just make sure you press the shutter while you’re doubling over 🙂
RELAXING EVEN THE STIFFEST CLIENTS
If your client is not present and totally nervous, a great way to have her regroup and reconnect with herself is to ask her to “close your eyes, relax, breathe, run your hands along your body and make yourself feel good.” This action alone provokes TONS of different emotions and lots of great shots. Or conversely, get her moving a TON! Coach a ton of actions to exhaust her. Have her jump up and down on the bed and do hair flips like mad. Give her some props to play with and take the focus off of her so she’ll start having fun. If nothing is working, shoot a lot of body shots and details, and move on to the next tip…
ADD THE FAN!
The fan is a MUST-HAVE on set. This is the most fool-proof way to add emotion when all else fails! Turn a fan on, blow it towards your client and watch the emotion pour out of her — or just look like it is 🙂 Trust me on this and just try it. The fan creates motion and sensuality, even when sometimes it’s not there.
EDIT FOR EMOTION
Lastly and most importantly: choose the shot that makes you FEEL SOMETHING even if it is not the best choice technically. Be ruthless and edit out all the shots that don’t elicit any emotion. You’ll know the ones to keep when you feel it.
Now go out there and create a bit of FUN and a ton of EMOTION!
x. Christa
Had some fun in a nightclub recently in LA… very Old Hollywood, circa 1920. Did a spontaneous quickie shoot with one of my favorite models while the maintenance crew was cleaning up. I couldn’t pass up this swanky backdrop! Since I had no lights with me, these are all shot with available light, using the 50 1.2 and 85 1.2. at 1600 ISO the entire time and varied shutter speeds depending if I wanted motion or not.
This is my favorite. Love the motion in her face and the lines created by the drapery.
Have I mentioned how much I love light & shadow?
We had well over 300 entries for a FREE SEAT to the ONLINE BOUDOIR WORKSHOP contest…
…and Winner #1 is: Mary Woe
Mary, congratulations! & welcome to the party! We’ll email you the info on how to collect your free seat.
The contest is still running, and I will pull another FREE SEAT & WINNER #2 on Friday December 16th, midnight EST. So enter now and as often as you wish.
Good luck!
Christa
ps. We are more than halfway sold out for the new ONLINE BOUDOIR WORKSHOP, and the cost of seats will go up to Regular Price of $595 on Friday December 16th, midnight EST, so Register Now to nab your seat and save $100! And if you win the free seat, we’ll refund your money 🙂
Yay, it’s that time again! I am thrilled to announce the all NEW & totally sexy Online Boudoir Workshop! The last course sold out quickly, was such a hit and is back by popular demand!! This is a 6 week course for photographers who want to learn all of the exciting aspects of the booming boudoir market, from home! Join us in your pj’s and enjoy video demonstrations, behind the scenes shoots, tutorials, personal interaction, a private forum, and much more! Gain support, motivation, inspiration and answers to all of your questions, as I expose everything inside my boudoir business that makes it a success – as well as the biggest mistakes new boudoir photographers make and how to avoid them!
YOU’RE INVITED TO ENJOY:
Behind the Scenes access to Christa’s shoots
Video demonstrations & Tutorials
Live Q&A calls each week
Portfolio Critiques
Private Forum for members only
Free Resources & Vendor Discounts
Client forms, contracts and releases
and more!…
HOW IT WORKS
This is a 6 week course, beginning Monday January 2nd. Each week, on Monday, I release that week’s content: behind-the-scenes videos, tutorials, notes and projects! The content is available to you 24/7 during the entire course of the workshop, so you can’t miss a thing! You can view all or pieces of it at your leisure – how cool is that?! PLUS, each Thursday or Friday (alternating), we’ll have LIVE CALLS for Q&A’s and discussion. The calls are all recorded and available to download and listen at any time 🙂
One of my favorite benefits of this workshop is the private MEMBERS ONLY forum – a place of ongoing support, information and motivation. Members will be able to leave comments under each content area, so everyone is sharing their thoughts, ideas, tips and questions all in one place – so we’re all in this party together, all the information is available to you 24/7, and I’m right by your side as your personal coach!
TOPICS COVERED
Shooting On Location & In the Studio
Go behind the scenes of Christa’s shoots. See how Christa styles her sets and works with minimal equipment both on location and in the studio. Watch how she relaxes a nervous client, brings out the best in each woman (from models to moms), creates sensual moments, captures emotion from even the stiffest client, and finds flattering poses for every body type.
Equipment & Lighting
What’s necessary and what’s not – this surprises most new photographers! Learn easy lighting set-ups, how to work with the challenge and beauty of natural light, working with studio strobes, and the ease of video lights. See the results of using different lenses at all budget levels.
Branding and Style
How to create a distinctive brand that brings you into your business. Creating a consistent look that separates you from the crowd.
Creating Raving Fan Clients
How to attract clients and turn each woman into a raving fan who does your marketing for you. This is how I create boudoir addicts who hire me again and again and tell all their friends.
Best-selling Boudoir Money Shots™
Learn how Christa coaches and captures each of her best-selling Money Shots™. These are the shots that every client wants and are absolute must-haves for your portfolio!
Post Production & Workflow
Cut down on your editing time with a workflow that is easy, fast and effective. See Christa take her pics from straight out of camera through Lightroom and Photoshop to final edited images presented to client.
Giving Direction & “Posing”
Learn how to coach actions, give easy direction and create beautiful moments instead of “poses.” See the difference between what’s hot & what’s not – a subtle but huge difference!
Flattering every Figure
Easy ways to flatter women of every shape and body type. Top ways to work with women, from models to moms, breast cancer survivors to body conscious clients.
Fine Art Nudes & Fashion
Working with nude models, see how Christa blends Fine Art Nudes and Fashion with Portraiture to create her high-end Boudoir “look.” Learn the qualities that distinguish each style and how to bring them into your work.
Sets & Styling
How to style a set and a model to create editorial style photographs. Creating an amazing high-end look on a budget both in studio and on location.
Pricing and Increasing Sales
Nailing your price list so you’re busy, happy and well-paid. How to increase sales
Successful Boudoir Parties
Christa’s step-by-step process that gives you all you need to throw a successful (or your first!) boudoir party!
Plus Permits, Releases, Contracts, FAQ’s and more!
If you’re new to this blog, you can read Reviews on Christa’s workshops, see more of Christa’s Boudoir photography and check out her Fine Art Nudes.
Boudoir Photography is about empowering women – helping them feel amazing and celebrating who they are. So get in on the fun now! The boudoir photography market is currently enjoying a huge surge in popularity as more and more women are seeking this service. Boudoir photography is such a fun and fulfilling career, and I want you to be a success!
***UPDATE: The Workshop is SOLD OUT.***
Enter your email here for free photography tips and to get dibs on seats for the next Online Boudoir Workshop.
“Worth every penny, definitely recommend, what a treasure trove of information!”
John P. Dunnigan, Forest Hill, MD, jpdphotoraphy.com
“Don’t hesitate, sign up. You won’t regret it! I got way more then I paid for!“
Heather Gill, Scottsdale, AZ
“Best money and time I’ve spent in my 3 year photography career! Her workshop is career changing!”
Anna Anacolba
“Money and Time well invested! This was an awesome experience. I am SO glad I made the decision to do it!”
Michael T. Sedwick, South Elgin, IL
“Worth every dime. Christa is so passionate about her craft and pushes you beyond what you think you’re capable of.”
Lori Eng, Vancouver, BC, lorieng.com
“THE best money I have ever spent on my business! Do it.”
Erin Brannan, Highlands Ranch, CO, erin-blackwell.com
“Well worth it – It’s what I needed to move my business to the next level.“
Milisa Smith, Riverside, CA
“I more than doubled my income!”
Robin Hultgren, Walnut Creek, CA, espritphotographieblog.blogspot.com
“I had my highest portrait sale ever of $4,700 thanks to Christa!”
Lisa Roah, Orange County, CA, lisaroah.com
“I am in love with my work again.”
Christopher Medak, Manhattan Beach, CA
“I grew leaps and bounds with my business. Highly recommend.”
Lesley Stefanski, Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, adleystudio.com
The Contest to WIN A FREE SEAT is now closed.
Congrats, and I can’t wait to see you online at the workshop!!
x. Christa
I’m so happy and grateful to LensProToGo for choosing me to be in their brand new ViewFinders program! I’m completely humbled to be included in this inspiring group of photographers!
LensProToGo is one of my favorite companies, and I adore their tight-knit staff of smart, generous, and super friendly pro photographers, whose biggest thrill is in helping you decide what gear will best support your needs and artistic vision.
LensProToGo describes the ViewFinders program as “a partnership in which we will bring inspiring photographers and filmmakers to you. Their knowledge, their skill set, their creativity. These artists have been hand picked and have committed to sharing their knowledge to help expand your creative horizons.” Each month LensProToGo will interview a ViewFinder, share with you their recent projects and tips from the field. They will also host contests and Q&A’s with each ViewFinder with awesome giveaways.
Make sure to check it out!
That’s right – it’s almost that time again!
Time for a Boudie Call! wooohoooo! The calls are pretty rad, get kinda wild, spark some delicious debates, and are always PACKED with valuable information, insight, and FUN!
My Boudie Calls are free live Q&A calls for newbies and pro photographers who have some burning questions and want to join a hot conversation. There is no topic off-limit, and I’ve got some provocative issues in mind for the next BOUDIE CALL coming up in mid-November…
You do not want to miss it!
So GET ON MY BOUDIE CALL LIST, and you’ll receive early notification of my next Live Q&A with the dial-in instructions.
Looking forward to chatting with ya soon! and make sure to BYOB 🙂
Christa
***This Boudie Call recording is now available to all – you can listen in right now!
I love a juicy booty!
This week, between Rich Happy & Hot Live (an entrepreneur’s bad ass mega-event), several shoots, Photo Plus Expo in NYC, and friends visiting from out of town – it’s been a whirlwind of inspiration, art, riches, and fun! But I wanted to pause briefly, to share a tantalizing teaser with you from one very lazy sexy cool shoot from Italy.
And if ya missed it, we had such a lively discussion and hot debate on the blog about my recent selection for Pose of the Month! Hurry on over and check it out!
All of the smoking hot pics from this shoot coming later in the week 🙂
Stay tuned!
Christa
ps. I’ve chosen the winner of The Money Shots™ and a complimentary bottle of Grappa from Italy! Check out the Pose of the Month to see the winner!
I recently had the pleasure of photographing the gorgeous, smart and talented Heather Pierce Giannone, who teaches busy entrepreneurs How to Help their Bodies Keep up with their Business.
What I love about Heather is her tell-it-to-ya-straight sassy style. She’s like an Italian grandmother with her amazing home-cooking and nurturing ways, mixed with a bit of Godfather with her slap-ya-in-the-face honesty. Her upcoming product “Go Feed Yourself!” is a perfect example.
Heather teaches deliciously simple cooking classes in Connecticut and provides one-on-one “power sessions” for busy bees like me who want a clear plan of next steps to increase energy and mental focus. Plus, look at how much fun this girl has in the kitchen!
You can catch all the goodness on Heather’s website, where she blogs regularly with useful video demo’s and relevant topics such as Stupid Things that Smart People Eat, and an Easy Strategy for Eating Well without Depriving Yourself.
Smart girl.
Here’s to gorgeous bods and sharp minds!
Christa
I am currently featured on The Photo Life, Pictage’s Pro Photography blog, with my latest article for boudoir photographers.
Here’s an exerpt:
Last edition was of Bringing out the Best in Your Boudoir Client was Part 1: Overcoming Fears and Doubts, and we talked about letting your client know what to expect and making sure she feels you understand her fears and doubts even better then she does.
Now on to the juicy stuff!
Bringing out the best in a non-model, ie. an everyday woman (who is most likely nervous to do a boudoir shoot) entails setting up your shoot for success during the planning stage. Let’s take a peek at how to plan a successful shoot so it runs smooth like buttah.
Make it a Collaboration From The Beginning
Invite your client’s full participation in this experience, which makes it much more meaningful than just a photo shoot and gets her fully invested in the event and the final result. During the initial contact with my client, I like to set us up for success. I make sure to do all of what’s described here for each client – it takes minimal effort truly, and really goes a long way in bringing out the best in each woman as well as juicing up my sales.
Keep reading for ALL MY JUICY TIPS on this topic!
Thanks for stopping by!
Christa
When in Italy, a cruise on a Vespa is required!
(Cute boy also required.)
I just love that face!
A great big THANK YOU to Leo, my little fratello italiano!
…for being such a cutie and letting us use your bike 🙂
zoom zoom,
Christa