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!

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. 

SEE THE MOST ROMANTIC MARRIAGE PROPOSAL IDEA IN NJ: CAPTURED BY NJ PHOTOGRAPHER CATE SCAGLIONE

CATE SCAGLIONE OF LIFE AS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHED A VERY SPECIAL MARRIAGE PROPOSAL ON LONG BEACH ISLAND... AND THE REAL SURPRISE CAME AFTER THE PROPOSAL!

For those who follow my Life As Fine Art Facebook page, you may recall one evening in September I was headed to Long Beach Island, New Jersey to photograph a secret surprise marriage proposal.

So many people expressed interest, I thought you'd love to hear the full story and see some pictures from Dan's best marriage proposal idea to Nicole. 

Uploaded by Cate Scaglione on 2014-10-16.

I had received a call from Dan about a month before the BIG DAY. He explained that he was going to propose to his girlfriend Nicole, and how he wanted to have the whole, big emotional moment captured through imagery. Now, I'm not typically a wedding or event photographer, but I do love doing artistic photo documentaries. 

When Dan visited my website saw the nature of my work, he decided he'd rather keep the elation of the engagement going long after...through some beautiful wall art which he'd gift to Nicole in the weeks AFTER the proposal.

But there was one catch...Nicole could NOT know I was there or see me shooting them.

I could not have been more excited. Also, it totally changed my view how to capture the engagement session. I wanted a dreamy, monumental moment in this beach haven.

We planned a meeting spot during their weekend getaway to be their Long Beach Island, New Jersey photographer. There, I waited on the lookout for Dan and a very unsuspecting Nicole. 

A storm was rolling in and I saw lightening in the distance, so I knew we didn't have much time. I was standing behind a fence and they walked along a path right past me. I smiled, pretended to be talking on my cellphone and headed straight inside a patch of dense bushes. 

From a distance, I captured a series of moments and watched the whole thing unfold. After, when it started to rain, they walked past me again. "Excuse me, can you take my iphone and get a shot of us?" she asked, "We just got engaged."  Um... "Oh wow! Congratulations!" I said, doing my very best Meryl Streep acting performances and tucking my camera bag behind my back. 

As they walked on, I hid in playground structures, bathroom buildings and even a stranger's car to get more epic shots. (Thank you to those lovely strangers who gave me shelter in their Ford Explorer). ;) 

A few weeks later, Dan presented Nicole with two huge gifts of my metallic finish painterly wall canvases. Now, this epic moment was immortalized, long after the joyous engagement.

Nicole surely has landed herself one sweet, terrifically romantic guy in Dan. And Dan, could not have found a more beautiful loving bride. Best wishes.

Congratulations to Dan and Nicole. Wishing you love, happiness and a whole Life, As Fine Art...together.

xoxo,

Cate 

WARDROBE WEDNESDAY: THEATRICAL COUTURE ENSEMBLES | LIFE AS FINE ART

LET'S PLAY PRETEND...

Let's Play Pretend by aibp featuring dutch furniture

I love doing creative sessions that push things beyond the expected. 

For a bold, dramatic type of client, a wardrobe like this daring collection could make an interesting, theatrical debut. Staging it in a rather unexpected manner, I feel this wardrobe could be amazing featured in an outdoor setting, perhaps even on the cobbled streets of NYC's Meatpacking District. With a very couture hair and makeup look, designed by Makeup Artistry by Miranda Richards. I could also envision this inside a museum, with high ceilings and dramatic light streaming in.

As a boudoir photographer, I love to style and shoot fashion-inspired sessions, making you feel as fit to be in any glossy magazine as you would in one of my couture-styled albums. 

 Working together with me and my collaborative team, you can let your imagination run wild! Stylized sessions is one of the many ways that we create a different, unique choice for women looking to explore their "Etoile". When it comes to NYC and NJ boudoir photography, we will make it happen and exceed your expectations 

(Items available on (Polyvore.com, search the AIBP Board). 

GRECIAN WARDROBE LOOKS | LIFE AS FINE ART BLOG

IT'S WARDROBE WEDNESDAY...
curated by AIBP & LIFE AS FINE ART by CATE SCAGLIONE | NYC and NJ BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER

Grecian Goddess by aibp featuring rococo style furniture

An increasingly popular wardrobe look requested by my boudoir and Dreamworld portrait session clients is the "Grecian Goddess".  I often love to shoot in dreamy light and surreal settings. This classically-inspired, other-worldly look is a perfect wardrobe choice for my stylized session. Beautiful for both the fair-haired and brunette goddesses, it's elegant, beautiful, and upscale. 

With a focus on whites, touches of gold and sheer fabrics, it is demure and alluring all at once. 

I carry several silky, Grecian-inspired, and gold pieces to adorn your shoot, or you may bring your own. With expert styling by one of my truly talented hair and makeup artists, you'll see yourself as if in another world. To learn more about my Dreamworld sessions, or an Etoile Boudoir session, just reach out... I'll be waiting for you.

xo,

Cate