WHAT TO WEAR IN YOUR BOUDOIR SHOOT | WARDROBE WEDNESDAY

LINGERIE INSPIRATION: 
GORGEOUS GOLDEN LINGERIE & ACCESSORIES FOR A LUXE BOUDOIR LOOK 

"I'm the kind of person who would have liked to have lived at the Plaza. I love crystal chandeliers and gold leaf, velvets and mirrors, Oriental rugs and marble."
- Candace Bushnell
 

Gorgeous Glamour Gold by aibp featuring a queen bed

Calypso St Barth cashmere cardigan
calypsostbarth.com

Oscar de la Renta jacket
$1,325 - net-a-porter.com

Rosamosario bath robe
$515 - net-a-porter.com

I.D. Sarrieri Rhapsody metallic lace bodysuit, Gold, Women's, Size: XS
$340 - net-a-porter.com

Wolford tight
pret-a-beaute.com

Agent Provocateur body suit
$485 - agentprovocateur.com

Dolce&Gabbana white boots
$940 - farfetch.com

Sophia Webster heeled sandals
matchesfashion.com

Sophia Webster strappy sandals
$555 - net-a-porter.com

H M diamond jewelry
hm.com

Pearl jewelry
shopakira.com

Chanel long necklace
1stdibs.com

Chanel belt
1stdibs.com

Chanel perfume
neimanmarcus.com

Dolce Gabbana nail polish
$28 - harrods.com

Queen bed
ikandi-interiors.co.uk

Though my design sensibility has always been somewhat tailored and tame, all that changed during my first trip to Venice, Italy in 2003.  I fell in love with the romance of it all -- this ancient, complex water world, gorgeously wrapped up like an ornate dream. Luxe gold carvings, beautiful metallic details and delicate lace surrounded me, along with thick, velvety fabrics. I found that the Venetians had such an amazing ability to combine the ancient, the rustic and the lush into one gorgeous element. 

I found myself beginning to incorporate more gold into my home and my wardrobe after that trip! I also loved seeing the jewelry and fashion trending toward gold looks in the past few years.

When women ask me what to wear for a boudoir session, I like to refer them to some more of the differentiated, unique lingerie wardrobe ideas.

When I say "Go for something gold!", I sometimes get the sideways look. But imagine yourself at my Red Bank boudoir studio, this elegant ivory setting, with a gorgeous glittering pop of gold against the backdrop of the many soulful antiques! SIGH...Simply stunning.

Gold makes me think of Venice.

It makes me think of old-world romance and ancient Roman goddesses.

I'm reminded of the golden age of The Great Gatsby.

These are things that make my heart swoon! And if you can't envision it, let some of these gorgeous lingerie, shoe and accessory gems guide your light the golden path.

Guess what? I also carry gilded album covers and golden craved fine art frames so you can enjoy a fully coordinated boudoir album or boudoir gallery wall.

Go for the gold, baby! 

xoxo, 

Cate

RED BANK + NYC BOUDOIR | A SECRET BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY CONFESSION

SIGH. Excuses. Excuses.

As a New Jersey Boudoir Photographer, I hear them all. I hear them all the way across the bridge from NYC, too. Women want to do a session. They want it badly. But they won't allow themselves. 

BUT Not until… (fill in the blank)

"I figure out how to lose 10 pounds".

"I feel sexy again"

"I have a boyfriend"

"I'm getting divorced"

"I'm getting married"

"I get plastic surgery"

The list goes on and on and on. I have heard them all. It's not that I want to "corrupt the world" into thinking that everyone needs to do a  (although I wish I could). It's really not for everyone. (Like complete Type-A control freaks, for example.) But it IS for everyone else. 

What I want to encourage is to let go. Let yourself be photographed. Allow yourself the honor and celebration to be at one with yourself. For once. 

There are a lot of fears and misconceptions about photo shoots, and I shatter them here.

You can help me shatter a few more of your own.  Want to discuss? Contact me today!

NYC + NJ BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER | WHAT TO WEAR FOR YOUR SHOOT | ART DECO

Sheer Art Deco by aibp featuring DwellStudio

As a NYC + New Jersey Boudoir Photographer, I get the privilege of working with some exceptionally stylish women. Despite their excellent fashion sense, they still always seem to seem nervous about shopping for their boudoir session...and want to know how they can look tasteful and sexy in their boudoir pics. 

CHECK OUT THIS BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT LINGERIE BUYING GUIDE BELOW! 

One question I like to ask clients in their pre- boudoir photo shoot consultation is, "What's your favorite era?"  Meaning, I am very interested to know what style they identify with in women's fashion history. For many, it is the Art Deco period, characterized by vintage boudoir of the mid to late 1920's. 

Flowing gossamer, sheer silks and luxe lace all add to the details of this terrifically styled session. With the beautiful work of my hair and makeup artist Miranda Richards, the look is retro yet uniquely contemporary. It's one of my favorite ways to style a session.

Sheer Art Deco by aibp featuring colored leather dining chairs

Silk lace lingerie
btslingerie.com

Lacy slip
btslingerie.com

Sheer Romance Tap Pant in Peach | Couture Silk Lace Nightwear |...
btslingerie.com

Lace halter bra
btslingerie.com

Agent Provocateur intimate
$510 - agentprovocateur.com

Sergio Rossi zipper boots
shopbop.com

Casadei nude sandals
casadei.com

Chinese Laundry beige shoes
dailylook.com

Faux fur shawl
simplybe.com

AERIN lips makeup
bergdorfgoodman.com

Colored leather dining chair
kathykuohome.com

Art deco fireplace screen
lampsplus.com

DwellStudio round bar cart
dwellstudio.com

NYC + NEW JERSEY BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER | SO I MADE A LITTLE VIDEO...

Recently I embarked on a mission to add more video to my boudoir repetoir. I have tons of footage, photographed by talented cinematic friends, just waiting to be compiled into juicy goodness. While I will always prefer still images for the magic of making time stand still, motion boudoir picture is still pretty gorgeous. This is a demo promo reel. It's a start. Enjoy

FIFTY AND FABULOUS | BOUDOIR PHOTOS FOR FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY

BEING FIFTY AND FABULOUS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A CATCH PHRASE. 

"There is a uniquely female wisdom that ripens with age. It is nonjudgmental. It is inclusive. It knows love without ownership. It nurtures and it teaches. It bends but does not snap. It is more concerned with the legacy it leaves than with the personal treasures it amasses. Our society needs this wisdom but it will not be available to us until we put our energy into being what we are rather than wasting our energy on the impossible task of being what we once were." - Jaki Scarcello, Author and blogger

When I got the call from the lovely Ms. Stephanie, who just celebrated her 50th birthday, she seemed a little anxious and apprehensive about doing her boudoir session.

She had been referred to me by our local philanthropist and urban socialite, Carla Murino. Carla, a well known swimsuit designer of C-Girls Swimsuits designs for Sports Ilustrated and other noteworthy showstoppers. Carla knows all about female confidence, in fact exudes it herself. She had done boudoir sessions throughout her life ...and she wanted the same for her bestie. 

Since Carla was familiar with me and my work, she talked Stephanie into contacting me. After much discussion of a birthday gift ideas for boyfriend, we settled on a beautiful image box to be presented to him on his 50th Birthday. I explained to her that in the end, it would truly be a gift for HER. So, I encouraged her to do this boudoir photo shoot for herself and the boudoir pictures would be for both of them. 

Stephanie was still a bit nervous...but it was clear to me that she loves who she is TODAY and was ready to take the plunge. 

She arrived to the shoot, with tons of gorgeous wardrobe -- and Carla in tow for moral support. While I normally like to shoot on a "closed set", I could not lie. I was pretty excited to see Carla again and knew we were in for a lot of laughs that afternoon. They did not disappoint. 

I sifted through wardrobe and explained how we'd take a comfortable approach, beginning with glamour portraits in a beautiful gown, and slowly progress towards the grand lingerie finale.

After Miranda Richards (MRMAKEUPARTISTRY.com) finished the hair and makeup work, I left Carla behind and closed the door to get Stephanie in her groove. The laughter didn't stop. BUT... something else started...

This was a favorite must-have shot from our session, featuring a fur inherited from her dear late mother, who was quite glamourous. We dedicated this moment to her Mom, knowing she'd be so proud of her beautiful confident daughter..

The quiet, accepting confidence of FIFTY YEARS OLD. 

Confidence is utterly gorgeous. I don't have much else to say about how wonderful this session was, so I will let her boudoir pictures do the talking for me. 

Christian LeBoutin heels perfect for any session!

Antique pearls and jewelery honoring her late mother.

Would you or the Fifty Fab lady in your life be interested in a Boudoir or Glamour Portrait? Contact me here or call 732.676.3700. 

THE ULTIMATE GIFT FOR GROOM | YOUR WEDDING DAY GIFT

SOMEWHERE ON YOUR WEDDING DAY CHECKLIST, the  "GIFT FOR GROOM" MAY BE WEIGHING HEAVILY ON YOUR MIND....

A few years ago, I began to notice a trend in in brides searching for unique and highly personal grooms gift ideas. In the past year especially, Google searches for Bridal Boudoir have increased significantly. And, it's with good reason... It's the best gift for grooms and it's also a bachelorette gift for the bride herself. 

In these highly personalized New Jersey And NYC Boudoir Photo shoots, I do a lot of work before the session to ensure it matches the unique vision of each bride as well as for the groom gift. We discuss the unique aspects of their relationship, how they met, how they envision intimacy and how the bride feels most beautiful. We work these attributes into the boudoir pictures we create, for a perfect outcome.

Typically, we do these sessions 3 months in advance of the wedding date, so that we have plenty of time to plan, shoot and select the boudoir pictures for her groom's gift.

Typically displayed in book form as an album, or with my beautiful handmade image boxes. Quality is paramount, because like true love, these are meant to last a lifetime. I import my albums from Italy, or from the world renowned Queensberry Albums, which many brides demand for their own wedding albums. The pages are pristine and layouts, to perfection. 

In fact, I was recently named one of the Best Boudoir Photographers of 2014 by Queensberry Albums and will be published in their first-ever boudoir photography display book. 

If you're getting married and would like to consider a boudoir session as your ultimate grooms gift, please give me a call at 732.676.3700 or click here. I look forward to creating the best day of your life (next to your wedding day, that is!)

xoxox,

Cate