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!

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. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR BOUDOIR SHOOT

NEW YORK CITY AND NEW JERSEY BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER SHARES THE FASTEST WAY TO GET YOUR BODY READY FOR A BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT in 2015

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New Year's Eve is upon us. How about a little game of... TRUTH OR DARE? 

TRUTH=  

I believe, wholeheartedly, 1000%, irrevocably, that you are perfect to me, and I can photograph you right now. You do not need to prepare at all.

Every individual has an element of beauty that is invisible to themselves. I can see it. I always see it. EVERY SHOOT, EVERY CLIENT. I want to capture the beautiful sensual person you are TODAY. And then again tomorrow. And maybe even next year, if you'll indulge me.

But time and time again, my new and prospective clients hit me with that old cliche...

"I am just nowhere near boudoir-ready."

Boudoir Ready? What is that? To me, it is NOT about perfection. It is not about looking like a Victoria's Secret model... 

It IS about celebrating confidence. Allowing yourself to feel a little vulnerable. Taking a leap of faith that you just might be pretty spectacular. And, it's a chance to open yourself up to something extraordinary. (Not to mention kick one off the bucket list). 

Ok, so "I'm not boudoir ready"... That phrase might be YOUR imagined truth. (I still don't believe it, but OK.)  So then, I offer you this... 

DARE=

I dare you, to book your shoot, and in 21 Days, get into amazing shape...Feel as gorgeous and confident as ever. Go ahead I dare you. Seem too hard? If you think you need more than 21 Days, go ahead and take it. To me, progress is about having goals and just plowing through them. 

Not being a huge risk taker, I usually go for the TRUTH rather than the dare. But it's New Years, so let's "go streak the quad" and go all out on a limb. To help you, I've brought in a DARE MASTER....

Anna Vega is a Professional Fashion & Runway Model, a devoted Mom of a 4 year old toddler, and ... A BeachBody training coach.

Starting TONIGHT, December 29, we are daring you to create your "Boudoir Ready Self" with Anna as your Coach. She will help you get on track with a healthy effective diet, fitness plan and personal support. You will be immersed in a BOUDOIR DARE challenge group, which starts JANUARY 5, 2015. It's includes a group of motivated, supportive people who just like you want to prep for their photo shoot with me.

Here's what You Need to Do...

1. FIRST, TAKE THE LEAP. YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS SESSION.  
Click here to pre purchase your 2015 BOUDOIR OR GLAMOUR PHOTO SHOOT. (Clients who are already booked with a date skip this step!)

2. GET READY FOR YOUR BEST CONFIDENT BODY in 2015. Click HERE to purchase and get IN ON ANNA'S 21 DAY CHALLENGE.  Just look for the orange colored JOIN link, and create your free account there.  Log in, and ORDER your 21 DAY FIX. This will include: 

•The 21 day fix 30 min/day workout programs

•A full meal plan and grocery list

•The color coded food containers that go with the program

•30 days worth of the nutritional shake shakeology in your flavor of choice (30 breakfasts)

•A to-go shaker cup for your shakes

•A calendar of different shake recipes

•A free health and fitness coach (PRO MODEL ANNA VEGA!)

•Free 30 day club membership to to the team Beachbody site to track meals, workouts and tons more

YOU WILL BE BOUDOIR READY. I DARE YOU! 

xoxoxo, 

Cate

NJ AND NYC BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER APPEARS ON REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY | Cate Scaglione Life As Fine Art

On October 12, Cate Scaglione of Life As Fine Art made a guest appearance on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Season 6 Episode 13, while photographing her client Amber Marchese. 

This very special episode commemorated Amber Marchese's positive prognosis of her 5-year Cancer Free Mark after aggressive form of Breast Cancer.  Cate's work was later displayed at the A.J. Dillon Gallery of Fine Art, which was also featured in the show. 

"While it was an honor to be featured on the show, the real significance for me was being able to document this profoundly joyous milestone for my client here in Colts Neck, her home. I think her scars tell the story of what she and Jim went through, and that beautiful detail became a focal point throughout the session," Cate said. In addition, Cate hand painted two fine art paintings of Amber, which were symbolic of her journey. 

"Amber is a very spiritual person and her faith and optimism were clearly part of her healing process. In consulting with her husband Jim, I wanted to really create a visual metaphor for both these emotions. That is what you see in the shining light, the path, the open skies and Amber as my subject."

Miss this episode? You can catch Cate's scenes with Amber here. 

Amber also shares her breast cancer story, here on The Real Daytime talk show. 

BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT SEXY. I'LL TELL YOU WHY. | LIFE AS FINE ART BY CATE SCAGLIONE

BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT A SEXY BUSINESS, AND NJ BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER CATE SCAGLIONE IS ABOUT TO TELL YOU WHY.

My business is about Life as Fine Art. That means, acknowledging art as a celebration of your passions, and that the mere art of living on your own terms ...It's an art form in and of itself.

People often mistake that I am simply a "boudoir photographer". I am not. I'm a photographer for anyone who feels brave and passionate enough to express themselves through art.

Most of the time, this happens to be women. I think this is because we often feel suppressed expression. We crave it. We are so busy filling other roles, tuning into other channels, that we lose our channel of self-expression.

So many roles...Wife, Mother, Executive, Friend, Counselor, Referee, Enforcer, Planner, Strategist. I am not suggesting we do more than our male counterparts. I am acknowledging that as biological nurturers, it is a multi-faceted role we are born into. It just like being born into royalty (without the pomp and circumstance or servants, unfortunately).  

We are a different kind of Royals. We are Queens of what we choose to nurture in life.

Even if you were to consider yourself an "Alpha" woman, (we all know who they are within our own lives), you'll find you too, are Nurturers. Because...

Being a woman is not simply a sexual orientation. It is a spiritual one.  

You can Nuture a child, a pet, an employee, a career, a house, a plant, an art form. We are born to do this (or all of it simultaneously). It makes no difference if we are a mother or not,  single or married, gay or straight. We still have these womanly X chromosomes and we will find something to nurture. That is a beautiful wondrous gift from nature. 

Men are nurturers too. They just do it differently. That's also a beautiful unique thing. I can devote an entire blog post to the awesomeness of a nurturing male. But today, it's about our Queens. 

The role of "Nurturer" both enriches and destroys me as a Queen based on what I choose or don't choose to nurture. 

I've made some unquestionably fabulous moves as a nurturer: 

• Prioritizing my family's, and especially my young children's happiness and confidence above all else
• Treating clients like my own family in the spirit of fulfilling their needs 
• Choosing to do the right thing by people and stand up for what's right. Even when it's unpopular. (Sidenote: Good karma is the most powerful force in the universe). 

I've made some risky moves as nurturer: 

• It was probably not nurturing my career when I once told off a senior-level, highly influential but chauvenist pig boss, then quit with a huge smile. (Sidenote...that's an utterly amazing liberating experience.)
• It was probably not nurturing my Photography business's success when I kept quiet during a major business conflict and let individuals smear my name throughout my industry (Sidenote: High road always, eventually prevails, y'all). 
• I am not nurturing my bank account by sometimes putting my clients' priorities and well-being before my own and treating profit as a secondary priority (...Or does it?) 

I could argue the merits of any of these moves I make.

But the point I am trying to make here ...is this: 

Often times as women there is one person we forget to nurture... That is OUR SELF.

Some people find themselves embarassed to book a boudoir session (and really I like to call it Intimate Portraits not "boudoir" due to that stigma).

Or, they book it in secret.

Or, they feel selfishly overly-indulgent to invest money on themselves. ("3 pairs of back-to-school Air Jordans costs a LOT").

Or, they feel they aren't "perfect enough" yet for the session. (Huh?)

^ ^ There is NOTHING sexy about that.

And, meanwhile, a large portion of my miscrocosm on Facebookland is afraid to even look, acknowledge, or comment that I shoot this style (and yes it is simply an individual "style") of sessions. Because they view it as overly sexy, shameful or trivial. It is none of these things... 

I am in the business of Nurturing. Nurturing my clients, their self-image and their view of self-intimacy. I am in the business of reinforcing happiness. This is for all the Queens who nurture so many other things and all too often forget themselves. Nothing more, nothing less.  

xo, Cate
LifeAsFineArt.com 
cate@catescaglione.com 
732.676.3700

There's More Robin Williams In Us Than We Believe | LIFE AS FINE ART by Cate Scaglione

My business is called Life As Fine Art. ...It seems appropriate to honor someone who portrayed a life as a fine art form as much as the great Robin Williams. And, notably the others you may have never even heard of...

It's a day later and, I found myself leaving the Starbucks this morning in slow motion. My household cherished him like a joyous icon;  He has lived on my mantle for over 10 years, as seen in this picture of a NBC-TV news interview my husband Chris did with Robin in 2003. He is one of the only non-family members we were proud enough to put up on our pedestal.

My husband Chris and Robin Williams at Yankee Stadium during the 2003 World Series. Though he often meets with many athletes and celebrities,  this was his most exciting, favorite interview of all time... He HAD to get a pic that day. 

I sipped my morning iced coffee, like I do every single day...but today I felt the sting of tears just at mere thoughts of a man I'd never met. I think it's because there is a little Robin Williams in all of us than we want to believe.

The pain was brought on as I began to think about another funny, kindhearted and adventurous guy... a family member, who also lived a brilliant life. Silently, and in desperation. We lost him 2 years ago to the same fate.

Honoring another amazingly funny and adventurous guy most days. Picture taken by his sister...

I emailed his sister to let her know I was thinking of him today. And her too.

My mind then wandered over to one of my oldest and closest friends, who also lost a relative around that same time to suicide.

I messaged my friend. And I was right...She was feeling the exact same way I was, at the exact same time.

And then it hit me... how enormous and ominously impossible it must have been for all of them...The perception that one is left without options. Here we stay behind, guilt ridden and confused for not recognizing their infinite depths. Not soon enough...or as it may be, not even at all. Simply just too late.

We both began to ponder the fact about WHY some of the funniest, most successful people and intelligent are prisoners to depression. It's a disease that is so common, so invisible... a silent killer, often wrapped in humor and a sense of adventure.

It's like a cancer, but it afflicts the soul. 

That might sound like a good articulation of it, but there is a reason both of us could define it so easily... we'd both felt it too, in years past.  

I used to be ashamed to admit this, it was both a burden and a horrific embarrassment that I carried for about a year or two. It was brought on by forces I really felt I had no control over. But the only way to gain control of it was to stop feeling ashamed about it. One of my doctors actually thanked me when I finally admitted the burden of what felt like a slow moving freight train. The doctor admitted also to have lived these feelings in the past.

And then, in my Facebook news feed, tweets, etc, suddenly seemed like a microcosm, and I could decipher who also has lived with this burden. They were exposed by their all too obvious empathy of the situation. Their articulation of it was just all too perfect. And, it was way more people than I thought... speaking a secret language and separation between those who knew how it feels, and those who did not.

Rather than focus on the means of how we lost a man who brought us so much joy, I like to think this tragedy opens a door to a dark room...

Just removing some of this shame depressed people bear lets some light into that dark room, and begins a first step to healing. 

We all know the feeling, at some point or another, personally or by proxy. 

It's a blind situation where many of the people you know, right in front of you, may be living with depression:

"In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 13.7 minutes, claiming more than 38,000 lives each year. It is estimated that an attempt is made every minute, with close to one million people attempting suicide annually. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. among adults 18-65, the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults, and individuals ages 65 and older account for 16 percent of all suicide deaths. This is a public health issue that does not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status."

Get help. Or, look a little harder at someone you know. They might just be the one who is laughing just a little bit louder than everyone else.

My cousin Tara, in the wake of her brother's death has become a fundraiser for Out of the Darkness, a charity dedicated bringing awareness and suicide prevention. If you choose, please support her efforts and donate in the name of Timothy J. Larkin.

I leave you with this EXCERPT FROM TIME MAGAZINE by JIM NORTON:  

"...The funniest people I know seem to be the ones surrounded by darkness. And that’s probably why they’re the funniest. The deeper the pit, the more humor you need to dig yourself out of it.

Years ago, I was told that one of the most important attributes humans don’t have is the ability to see themselves the way others do. This is normally what I think of when people behave like an ass and don’t realize it, or think they’re smarter than they actually are. It’s rare that I think of it in the terms I have been after hearing about Robin."