An epidemic of confident women

“An epidemic of confident women.”

That’s what Kara Marie Trombetta calls it.

Like Kara Marie, I’m on a mission to build a world full of confident women: women who can see through the lies we’re told by media (both mainstream and social media) that we’re somehow “lesser women” if we’re not perfect. You know what? None of the images that are thrown at us through advertising and other people’s “highlight reels” that we see on social media are actually true. You know that, right? Those perfectly tanned legs propping up the laptop on the ever-so effortlessly crumpled bed linen? The tan is from a bottle, the linen was sent on loan to the ‘influencer’ for a bit of free advertising and just out of shot is an over-tired toddler tearing a box of tissues into a thousand little pieces and pretending it’s snow.

OK, so that might not be exactly what’s going on behind the scenes, but you get my point.

You know the saddest thing? The lies we tell ourselves: That we would be happy if we were just thinner/more tanned/younger/fitter/better dressed/more muscular… The list is almost endless. None of that is true, either. What is true is that you are perfectly fine just the way you are, and that you deserve to know that from the deepest cells within your body. I want you to come in for a shoot with me, and experience for yourself what it’s like to have all the same styling and fussing that goes into making a cover shoot for a magazine, to have someone tell you exactly what to do in front of the camera to create the perfect image, and then to see the resulting images that show just how incredible you are, right now, just as you are. The confidence that comes from an experience like this is simply amazing.

And you know what else? Confident women then go about their lives building up the confidence of those around them: their daughters, their friends, their bosses, their employees… eventually creating an epidemic of the right kind.

black and white image of woman laughing with her hand in front of her face

Facebook Share|Tweet Post|Email Post|Contact Me|Top of page

Since when did loyalty go out of style?

Since when did rewarding loyalty go out of style?

I’ve been with my insurer for decades, and I have had multiple policies with them for most of that time.

Then comes the renewal notice, with a premium so high it nearly made my nose bleed!

Being a loyal customer, I called them to see whether they’d maybe forgotten my no claim bonus, or my multiple policy discount… No. They hadn’t.

So I did what they were teaching me to do, and I rang their competition. All of them. And saved hundreds of dollars in the process for being a NEW client. Effectively, my disloyalty was rewarded, and the insurance companies are doing nothing but encouraging me to change provider regularly.

Well, here at vividity I’m the OPPOSITE of my insurance company. I actually reward loyalty!

From this year on, if you’re a returning client you will automatically receive an additional $200 print and product credit. Unless, of course, you’re a LUXE client.

LUXE clients receive $660 in gift vouchers (for themselves or to give away to friends) each and every year.

Looking forward to welcoming you back in 2022.

Jen x

black and white image of lady

Facebook Share|Tweet Post|Email Post|Contact Me|Top of page

Quite a haul! Does this mean I can call myself an ‘award winning portrait photographer’?

Do you hate it when people brag? Well, you might need to look away, because I’m about to brag BIG time!

Here are some images that were awarded bronze in the most recent Portrait Masters Awards, a competition I enter from time to time, judged by a panel of top level photographers from around the world. It’s tough! Anyway, here they are:

Asian woman wearing dark lipstickwoman wearing pink gown, seated with gown hitched up to show paisley boots.collection of portraits with bronze award badges

Ready to book a shoot for yourself? There’s a $100 off voucher, and a super sweet deal if you book within seven days waiting for you here: TAKE ME TO THE VOUCHER

Facebook Share|Tweet Post|Email Post|Contact Me|Top of page

Such a dirty word! {Sydney boudoir photographer}

So… I did a thing and introduced boudoir shoots into my studio.

I’ve done lots of boudoir style included in other shoots, of course — lingerie AND LinkedIn profile pics? You betcha! — but I’ve had so many more people asking for boudoir of late, that I’ve now introduced full boudoir sessions as a stand alone offering.

“Is there anything that you brought along that we haven’t photographed that you’d really like to do before we wrap up our shoot today?” I ask at the end of most sessions.

“Well,” says my client, shyly.  “I did bring some lingerie…”

________________

I must say, though, I do have a problem with the word “boudoir” for the style of photography I’m offering. It sometimes seems like such a dirty word. Boudoir photos are often so tacky. Check out the hashtag “tasteful boudoir” or “classy boudoir” on Instagram, and you’ll find anything but classy and tasteful images! (I’m on a mission to change that!) They have a tendency to be all tits and arse, doing nothing more than continuing the objectification of women’s bodies. And that’s NOT what I’m about. Not at all! But I have no idea what else to call it… so ‘boudoir’ it shall remain.

black and white image of woman lying on her side on a bed wearing balconette bra and pantiescollage of black and white boudoir images, brunette with shoulder-length hair

I went to my Instagram followers with my problem and one of them, Steven Fleming of Pride Swimwear (an ex-academic like me! And from my home town of Newcastle, NSW!) suggested that I should stick with boudoir because it’s what the genre is already known as. Keep the word and redefine it. AND he very kindly went on to say that my style of boudoir (which I describe as cool rock chick meets Greek Goddess) is “boudoir the way it ought to be done”.

Thank you Steven! I’m pretty chuffed with that! So much so that I think it will become my tagline. What do you think?

Boudoir photography, the way it ought to be done.

black and white collage of boudoir images of a young woman with shoulder length brunette hair

Of course, you can still combine things into one shoot like you always could, because when you book a shoot with me the whole day is set aside just for you. Did you know that?

Yes, I will book out the whole day for you so that if we need an extra half hour or so to get that one killer shot, we can take it without stressing about running late and bumping up against the next client walking in the door for her shoot. You, my dear, are my only client for the day when you come in for your session. What luxury!!

Unless, of course, you decide to share your shoot. (Your booking fee covers hair and makeup for up to two people…)*

Did you know you can do that?

All standard shoots are shareable.
That means that you can:

  • come for a shoot and make it entirely about you, if you want, and not share it with anyone. This is the perfect way to go if you want to, say, update your business photos and then do some glamour or boudoir looks, too.
  • come in and take care of your work portraits and have your family join you at the end. That way we can create some great pieces for your wall, or an album maybe, and some gift prints for Grandma for Christmas too.
  • bring a colleague along to share the shoot with you, and split the cost with her
  • share the day with your sister, or your best friend, and we will run two parallel shoots: one for you, one for her

Want to find out more?
Drop me a note using the “talk to me” tab at the top of this post.

Want to book a shoot?
Great! I have a really great offer on boudoir shoots at the moment** that saves you $740. You can grab yourself one of those here (if there are any left! There are only 10 on offer at that price.)

Jen x

PS: Leave me a comment below to let me know what you think of the word ‘boudoir’ and the new tagline, ‘boudoir photography, the way it ought to be’

________________________________________

*Prices and pricing structure subject to change. The information in this blog post is accurate as at 1st March 2021.
**At the moment = March 2021, until sold out.

Facebook Share|Tweet Post|Email Post|Contact Me|Top of page

NOTHING to wear? No worries. We’ve got you covered. (Or not, if you prefer that option!)

One of the biggest things that stops people coming in for a photoshoot — OK it really only stops women —  is the belief that they have nothing appropriate to wear.

What a load of BS that is!

I bet if I came and stood in front of your wardrobe I’d find plenty of things that would photograph fabulously on you. And that’s a service that’s included in your booking fee, by the way. Yes, I will come to your home and help you work out what to bring to your photoshoot so that you don’t have to stress about it. Once we’re done, you’ll have a range of outfits all laid out ready to go. Snap a few pics of them with your phone and voila! packing for your shoot’s a breeze!

And if my styling skills aren’t enough, then I can happily put you in touch with at least three fabulous stylists who will work with you to create the perfect outfits for your shoot with me.

AND if you’re still not overflowing with clothing options, you’re more than welcome to raid the styling rack at my studio.

AND IF THAT’S STILL NOT ENOUGH we can actually make clothes on you specifically for your shoot.

Yep. On the spot.

Of course, when I say ‘clothes’, you probably wouldn’t want to leave the studio in them because they’re held together with clips, pins and loose tacking stitches… so probably not what you want to wear to school pick up at the end of the day BUT they look fabulous in your photos!

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at this:
This little black ‘dress’ is actually just some black sashes that I have in my studio wardrobe. The beauty of sashes and bits of fabric is that I can make different looks to suit different body shapes and sizes, all from the same piece. Brilliant, no?

6 images of asian lady wearing different variations of a little black dress

 

The same piece, used a different way:

Dark toned black and white portrait of girl with long wavy hair with black fabric draped to make a loose sleeve

 

And of course, the option to wear (next to) nothing at all is always there, too:

collage of various women in boudoir style photos

You’re welcome to book a shoot with me at my St Leonards portrait studio any time. You can get in touch at the top of this page, if you like. Happy to answer any questions you might have about having a photoshoot with me, including sending you my full price list prior to you booking in.

Jen x

Facebook Share|Tweet Post|Email Post|Contact Me|Top of page
S E A R C H
C A T E G O R I E S
A R C H I V E S