Beauty by Boudoir Coterie | San Jose Bay Area Beauty and Glamour Photography

I have mentioned in the past that I offer Beauty sessions for those women who would like some gorgeous photos but want to keep their clothes on. These sessions are just as fun as boudoir, they are pampering and make you feel like a super model! Beauty by Boudoir Coterie is a personalized session, designed to meet your needs and are done at our San Jose studio. I recently did a trade shoot with a photographer friend, Paula and we did some Beauty shots during her session. They are gorgeous so I decided to make a magazine folio with them to show everyone just a hint of what a beauty session can be. Next week I will be shooting a couple gorgeous ladies as full on Beauty sessions with cute outfits and gowns–  I can’t wait!

I figured the best way to let you all know what I mean by Beauty sessions is to show you examples. So here is that little folio sample(and a gift with purchase in the back).

Would you like gorgeous images of yourself? Maybe yourself and a friend, sister, mother, daughter? From now until May 30th, book a double beauty session with a friend or relative for only $100 more(a $100 savings). Mention this folio and you will BOTH receive the special gift! Don’t wait any longer, come in and let us make you look and feel magnificent!

How To Choose A Boudoir Photographer | San Jose Bay Area Boudoir Photography

The three MOST IMPORTANT factors in choosing a boudoir photographer… in the order that I believe is most important.

Step 1. Like the photographer. Yup, that’s right, you first priority should be your comfort level and the vibe you get from the photographer. No matter how awesome their work might be, if you don’t feel comfortable around them, then it’s not going to make for an amazing experience and it will show in the resulting images. Meet them, chat with them, make sure it’s someone you are willing to prance around in your skivvies with. Feeling relaxed, confident(a good photographer can bring this out of you when you are nervous) and happy will make for the best images and most enjoyed experience.

Step 2. Love their work. If you don’t love their style, then don’t invest in them. Make sure you see lots of image samples and that it is in fact their work. **Just a side not that sadly there has been an increase in deal site boudoir offers that have been known to use stolen images or images provided by the deal site, NOT the actual work of the photographer. So meet them and make sure they can show you samples of their work. Choose a photographer whose style you want reflected in your images… don’t choose a pinup photographer if you want soft, natural light images and vice versa. If you want artistic nudes, find a photographer who shoots artistic nudes. Make sure what you want in the end is what that photographer can provide. Make sense?

Step 3. Investment. The old saying “You get what you pay for” is around for a reason. I understand we all have a budget and must stick within it but if you find a photographer whom you really want to work with and you love their style, then see what can be done. Maybe they offer payment plans? When you find something you REALLY want, take your parents advice, don’t settle for less and save up for it!  There are some things worth the bargain and some things that are not. Cheap and boudoir should never be uttered in the same sentence. Believe me, you don’t want to look “cheap” in your final images. It’s definitely worth paying more for an amazing experience and fantastic images than to pay less and be left feeling blah about the whole thing.

Boudoir sessions shouldn’t be done willy nilly and neither should you choose a photographer without taking some time to decide what you really want out of the whole thing. You should feel relaxed and excited. It’s all about YOU and you should be feeling like a million bucks when all is said and done, not like you have just been herded through a process.

With all that said, I know I am not for everyone. I encourage prospective clients to shop around, take their time before making a final decision. If all three pieces fit what you are looking for(sometimes the last one is stretched a little because the first two are so important) then jump in with both feet. You won’t regret it. In fact you may want this “once in a lifetime experience” to happen again… and you wouldn’t be the first.

Because every post needs a pretty picture, here is a before and after of my gorgeous friend, Miss K. Yup, you too can look this good. So go on… follow step one and give me a call. Ha!

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855

Studio Space | San Jose Boudoir & Glamour Photographer

Okay, as promised we were finishing up the floor painting last night and I snapped a few more shots and actually remembered to bring the camera home!

Here is a basic floor progression…

Out of time constraints(read- laziness) I am not going to edit the spelling mistakes on the images below and reload the thing.

Here’s a better shot of the texture… big windows+glaring light+point and shoot does not a great picture make. The “milky” color on the boarder is the clear glitter glaze drying.

So here is what the current space looks like right now. All my *stuff* is in the middle of the floor. We still need to do some drywall, painting walls/ceiling and add floor base boards. Then comes hanging lights, my backdrop sliders and change room. But all that has to wait until the floors are complete and because we have to do the Urethane in stages, it will still be another couple weeks.

So there you have it… more updates to come. Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

P.S. Anyone want to trade drywall and painting for a shoot and images on disk? 

Sweet & Sexy | San Jose Boudoir Portrait Photography

A few months back I had the honor of photographing this stunning gal. When I asked her if she had modeled before she admitted that she had not and thought she was not loved by the camera. What??? She was a total natural and we both had a chuckle when she confessed to practicing some facial expression in the mirror. To that I applaud her as I recomend this to my clients but few head my advice. Miss R nailed it, from coy to sex kitten she was throwing different looks at me and the camera was eating it up!

Last week we had a much anticipated meeting at a coffee shop so she could finally look through her gorgeous album. I love seeing a client’s reaction to how beautiful they look and the almost nervous giggles that they get while looking at sexy images of themselves. Miss R. had such a genuine, almost disbelief at how beautiful she is when she saw her images for the first time but seeing her album was even better. Heck, even I wanted to keep flipping through the pages! Hahaha. We parted with her having plans to gift her lucky man on the weekend… maybe. A few days later I received a lovely email from her with his reaction:

“Hi Danea,

I could not wait to give him the album, so I ended up giving in and giving it to him that day. I am so glad I didn’t wait. He absolutely loved the Album. He was so touched that I made him a gift. He couldn’t stop looking at the album. He really liked the close up picture of my rear end lol and the surf one. He kept reminding me through out the day how much he liked them and how the photos were really hot ! I hope its okay that I used one of the photos as my profile picture on facebook. My mom loved the pictures I shared with her. She thought you did a fabulous job and she loved my hair and makeup. Thank you Danea for a wonderful and unforgettable experience! I felt so beautiful that day.  I really can not wait to do it again and bring a few of my girlfriends a long as well.

Gratefully yours,

Miss R.” -Yes, I changed her name as she doesn’t normally go be Miss R.

Sizzling Summer Boudoir Special | San Jose Boudoir & Glamour Photography

Let’s Celebrate!

Summer is just a few short weeks away and it’s already getting hot in here at our San Jose Boudoir Studio. We got the fans going and that’s just fine- it makes for some sexy hair shots. But I want to turn up the heat a little more and get some of you gorgeous girls into Boudoir Coterie for your own personal pampering day. What? You think your too old? Too fat? To thin? You don’t feel gorgeous? You’re lacking that sexy feeling? Nonsense! Just call me Stella and I’ll help you get your groove back. I promise. It doesn’t matter if you want a glamour or boudoir shoot, ah heck, do both! You will have one of the BEST experiences from our first consultation to the day of your shoot with one of my fantastic MU artists and the magic done by a divine hair stylists from Atelier SalonSpa and Studio in Santana Row.  That’s right Atelier has joined our team(FYI, I am so stinkin’ excited about this!) and they do such a rockin’ job keeping every hair in place during your shoot. The best part is your reveal session when you come back to the studio to see just how sensational your session really was! Oh, and of course the day I hand you a pretty package with all your goodies and you get to touch and feel your fabulous products!

Still need a little more incentive? Okay, I hear ya. How about this…

Book any package by June 15th to take place between now and August 18 and you will receive a marvelous booking bonus! Each bonus can be used towards any additional products we offer. Maybe you want a canvas print or a bedside folio? Or maybe you want to use it for a package add-on or album upgrade? It’s yours to spend however you choose!

Here’s the details on what you will get with each package:

Starlette- Receive a $500 spending bonus

Dutchess- Receive a $400 spending bonus.

Contessa- Receive a $200 spending bonus.

Mademoiselle- Receive a $100 spending bonus.

That’s right free money to spend on anything in our boutique! Contact me to find out more information on what each package entails. The starting package is our Mademoiselle, it’s $900 +tax and includes hair, makeup, one hour behind the camera, 25 fully edited images to view and a 20 image 6×6 Little Black Book. Book page designs are customized to fit your style.

From here packages go up to 2 hour sessions behind the camera and include our custom leather Luxe Albums, digital files and more(depending on your package choice).

I do not allow package substitutions and hair and makeup is mandatory. If you choose to have your hair done elsewhere it must be done professionally and no moneys will not be subtracted from your package price, it is what is, my dear. But hey, it really is one of the best parts of the day… sipping a glass of wine while being primped and pampered, who’d refuse that? Not I! LOL.

Here’s one last little push… since we all love a Before & After.

The lovely Miss R came into the studio with the belief that she simply wasn’t photogenic but really wanted to do something special for her boyfriend. She had one of the greatest reactions of any client I have seen and I was quiet surprised that she genuinely was shocked at how gorgeous she is. Yesterday I delivered her album and she couldn’t stop flipping through the pages, smiling and giggling. It was AWESOME!

 Making women feel this good, is THE BEST part of my job!

Call me now 408.460.155 Shoot me an email: bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or fill out this Contact Form. Yup, it’s that easy!

P.S. I am NOT a high volume studio. I choose to limit how many clients I book each month so I can give them my devoted time and attention. This means that sadly, spaces are limited for this deal and it’s first come first serve. And, as always you can always come in for a complimentary consultation to see if I’m the right photographer for you.

Bare It All… Or Not | San Jose Boudoir Photographer

What you wear for your boudoir session is up to you, feeling amazing afterwards is non negotiable.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… sexy has nothing to do with what you have on, but how you feel in what you have on, even if all you have on is your birthday suit!

Sexy is a frame of mind.

Anyone can rock sexy.

In the words of Justin Timberlake – ♪♫ “I’m bringing sexy back…”♫♪

You know how I know I’m bring sexy back? My clients tell me so. They tell me how amazing they look and feel. That’s how. And THAT is the best compliment I could ever receive… making someone feel so good about themselves.

Here’s another fabulous gal who rocked her sexy. I love me a good before and after, don’t you?

Miss K really worked it and was clearly having a blast in front of the camera, we were constantly cracking up!

Are you ready to..  ♪♫ “Get your sexy on…  Go ‘head be gone with it… ” ♫♪

Give me a call and we’ll make it happen, I promise! 408.460.1855

P.S. Did anyone catch the 40 Year Old Virgin reference in this post? I’ll give a special little sumpin’ sumpin’ to anyone who books a session and can tell me what it was! LOL.

How Brave Are You? | San Jose Boudoir Photography

Do you want gorgeous pictures of yourself?

That might sound like a silly question, but how many of you would be brave enough… let me rephrase that. How many of you are willing to allow yourself to look and feel beautiful?

I hear a lot from woman who are hesitant to have a boudoir shoot done and I TOTALLY get that. I do. I’m sure you can imagine all the reasons, from weight issues, confidence issues all the way to financial. I’ll be honest, the only excuse that doesn’t make me want to pull my hair out in frustration… is the money but even that can be accomplished with some desire and planning- make sure to read to the bottom of this post! But girlfriends, you can ALL rock it in front of my camera, no matter what your excuse might be… I promise you!

Last month I was so very lucky to have my best friend come for a visit. She lives in a different state so we rarely get to see each other. When I first started boudoir she stated that there was NO WAY she would ever get in front of my camera for “sexy pictures”. That all changed last month. I told her to come prepared to do a little shoot at the studio. “You don’t have to be in your underwear if you don’t want to. We’ll do some modern glamour shots, something sexy and playful.” She agreed… with a heavy sigh and eye rolls. Oh yeah, I can “hear” eye rolls through the phone.

This very hesitant lady was soon actually enjoying having her picture taken and even though it got late and dark and I had to pull out my trusty soft box light, we had a blast! Now I’ll admit, that I don’t want clients seeing their unedited files. I don’t want them seeing a dimple or little bulge that might make them feel self conscious or negative about their appearance in anyway. Again, I don’t do drastic editing, just some basics to smooth things over. However Miss S sat next to me as I showed her my selected images and began the edits. She got to witness how little I actually did and how it really was her, no magic on my end, just her. When all was done we sat together, scrolling through her beautiful gallery. She then broke the silence and softly thanked me for making her feel pretty again. “I haven’t felt this way in years” and for a moment I didn’t know what to say. Crap, now I’m all teary eyed just thinking about it, but it’s the truth and in her words “It’s the best Christmas present ever.”

I am not exaggerating when I say that these comments from clients(in this case my BFF) makes my heart soar! It is the reason why I have shifted gears and decided to put all my photography efforts into making women feel beautiful. I love this job, I really, truly, love it!

Miss S was so awesome she even let me take a before… I know how ya’ll love a good before and after!!

Shhhhhh, but I did get her in her undies. I’m skilled like that. *Wink*

Now let’s go back to my original question… Do you want gorgeous pictures of yourself?

I’m pretty sure you do, so I am offering a *very last minute* party session. Just in time for Valentine’s Day or simply do it for yourself(this get’s my vote).

Book with two friends and you will each receive a complimentary gift!

So come and spend a day getting beautified. No more excuses, muster up that courage and let’s make this happen.