and the rest is history
PART TWO:
The continuation from our guest blogger Serenity.
”At this point in the story Chantel and I just clicked. Y’all know I’m outspoken to a fault, lol, I’m working on it. Well, I started bringing things to the table for the business and Chantel was bouncing ideas off me. We started working more closely and really integrating me into the business. I love talking to people and I love a good business system. I believe in Chantel, her work and her vision, whole heartedly. I believe in her HEART for this mission of ours. She wants to create for every human who wants it, this experience. This uplifting. This way of seeing yourself that is like, WTF?!?! Who is THAT?!
Babes, it’s you okay. You have it. You have the spark, you have the magic, you have the POWER. You do. And we’re here to support you on your journey to boudoir for so many more reasons than the final images. Although, let’s not lie, the images are fire! Lol. You will look at them again and again and CHERISH them. Trust me. Just take a look at this recent session!
Well now here we are, we have a community, and we are in this together. I really can’t imagine my life without Chantel and this mission we’re on. I can’t imagine my life without boudoir. I fully intend on figuring out a session MINIMUM every five years until the day I part from my physical body. Boudoir is for us all. Each and every one of us. We’re here to prove it to you. We’re here to help you shine that light of yours even brighter. We’re here to see you. We’re here to hold space for you. We’re here for YOUR story. We’re here for you.”
and the rest is history
PART ONE:
A guest blog written by my girl Serenity. For those of you that don’t know, she is my office manager, assistant, model, hair and make-up artist, amazing friend, sister from another mister gal. Let’s see how she describes the somewhat boring beginning of this now fucking epic journey.
“A lot of people ask Chantel and I how “we” came to be. It’s not THAT exciting of a tale to tell, we had a mutual friend introduce us, and as they say, the rest is history.
At one time in my life, I felt comfortable saying “I’m a pin up model” or “I’m a vintage model”. This is why our friend introduced us. Chantel had decided to fully dive into the world of boudoir after always wanting to, and I helped her model a session. The images are gorgeous, still some of my favorite ones. Her style has evolved and changed since then, but the amazing thing about heirloom quality work is that the images capture that time in your life and are a forever time capsule memory. I love looking over all of our sessions we’ve had together; but something about that first session will always have my heart.
Was that my first introduction into the world of boudoir? Well, kind of! I had been doing pin up work and other styled sessions before that, but nothing like this intimate experience. We had fun, captured my personality, and then experimented a little too with costume jewelry I had brought, and even my favorite giant beanie I break out every winter. I think Chantel and I just clicked! Kindred hearts know one another, you know what I mean?
As a professional hair and makeup artist, I did my own for that first session, which led to working some of the other sessions with her. Of course, when a good thing was meant to be, it’s usually about timing and things just fall into place. Eventually, I was in a place in my life looking for something extra and by then I was ALL IN for boudoir. What it is, what it means, and what it is doing for people in these sessions. I had stayed to help assist a few times during a session and to see the magic, just pure fucking magic, these humans were experiencing during these sessions…I mean, it’s hard not to be hooked. Just take a look at our first session together. We have no doubt you’ll be hooked too.”
This is my body. This is my pride.
I had the pleasure of working with devinedeception last month and instantly fell in love with his energy. Seeing him share his photos, knowing how special they are to him… ahhh the trust I share with my clients means everything. Here is a little something he wrote. I thought it was beautiful and just had to share. With his permission of course. XO
*pro tip: click on “read more” and you will be able to see the full images. you’re welcome.
This is my body
It used to be a cadge of other expectations
The gaze of fantasies projected into my essence
But I’m not a fantasy
My body is a collective of all my biggest mistakes bonded with the stitch work of all the lessons I have learned over the years
Though some of the scars are obvious to the eyes others can only be felt by the looking into my eyes
My body is the strongest shield ever used in battles my heart is sharper than any weapon used against me
I stand in this body because it is MINE
This is my pride
@devine_deception
she came in quiet
Her. She came to the studio feeling nervous, like most clients do. As soon as I saw her I knew she would be incredible. We shot. Her confidence grew. But she was still cautious. I know she was wondering… but also knew she knew. Deep down. She knew she was amazing. When she came in to see her photos it was almost as if she was holding her breath. The slide show started and she was wide-eyed. She had never seen herself like this. She needed to to take it all in. She questioned her body. She was torn. Was she good enough? Did she look like the other woman who had been in front my lens before her? She asked herself, why, even with all of these amazing images, was she looking for her perceived imperfections? I knew this session was so much more than pretty photos. They all are… She selected her images and left the studio. It wasn’t until later I received a text. We talked, like really talked. She called it a pep talk but I called it nothing more than a series of reminders. Reminders of what she already knew. Deep down. Before society taught her how to unfairly judge herself. Fuck those beauty standards. Standards that are near impossible to live up to. Standards created by corporations whose goal is to manipulate you for financial gain and emotional ruin. She was perfect. She was worthy. And most importantly, she has permission to love her self, all of herself, exactly as she is. For her, this is more than just a photoshoot. And for me, this is more than just a job.
When you know, you know, right?
Yesterday was our 19th wedding anniversary. We met in August, spent every day since our first “date” together, and we were pregnant just a few months after. We just knew. We got married at the courthouse and used origami folded dollar bills for wedding rings. We had no vows written, no fancy dress, and a witness with a disposable camera. But, again we just knew. People talk about soulmates. Now I don’t think there is only one person for everyone but I do believe in soulmates. The ones you are meant to walk along side. No one knows for how long, and for some of us it’s even forever. We are working on forever. Happy anniversary to my love.
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Look I get it. You can’t post boobs on facebook. And now facebook owns instagram, so you can’t post boobs there either. I’ve gotten shadow-banned, issued warnings, and nearly put in fb jail. I mean, what’s a girl gotta do to post boobs around here?
No but in all seriousness, the images I create are works of art. Our bodies are works of art. The love and connection I capture in a couples session, it’s a work of art. I just want to share that. As an artist, I NEED to share that. I get excited about my work, I am passionate, it inspires me, and I want you to be inspired by it too!
So unless I want to pay for big money ads or until I have Victoria’s Secret clout, I’ll just play by their rules and save my more intimate work for the blog. I hope you will all check back frequently and leave your comments if you have any (and hold me accountable when I go too long in-between posts). And without further ado, allow me to show off one of my favorite sets - the shower.
Thanks for the love - loves.
The right one for the job.
I’m thinking back to all those times I said to myself “if only I had my own studio, I would design it just like this.” I thought I had it all figured out you guys. But moving into my own space this month I’ve realized that actually, I don’t. (Insert heart palpitations and surge of anxiety here.) I know I have a creative eye, and nothing makes me happier than a beautiful design, but dang! This is hard! My wayfair cart is full of things I can’t commit to and the rabbit holes I have been down on facebook marketplace are deep. Like I’ll never get those hours of my life back kind of deep. Fear of commitment. The struggle is real.
Here’s what I know. I love vintage. I love all things hippy with a little glam if that’s even a thing. I love mixed metals. Textures are everything. I love clean lines and appreciate the calm in simplicity. And no, you can never have too many plants. I balance that with what I know about photography. For example. Mirrors are amazing until you are forced to photoshop yourself out of them. You can never go wrong with jewel tones. Always use faux animal prints and furs. And yes, the ever so obvious, lighting is everything.
Then it hit me. Why am I trying to do this myself? Give me a beautiful human in a beautiful space and I’ll make magic. Ask me to put together said beautiful space from scratch? Nah, nice try, lol. I’ll spend too many hours and too much money while I second guess my decisions and literally trial and error my way through it. I coach people on hiring the right person for the job all the time with photography and it’s actually time to take my own advice! Taylor Richardson, I’m coming for you! Between my knowledge of photography and your knowledge of design, I have no doubt we will nail this!
Bottom line is, you need the right artist for the job. Period. There is a reason why I don’t take photos of my husband’s remodel projects for him. Unless someone is naked in that kitchen, it’s just not my bag. And neither is interior design. Time is money and it’s time to suck it up. I can either continue to waffle over my wayfair account or I can continue to run my business. I choose run my business.
And while I am doing that, if anyone wants to see what the lovely Taylor Richardson has going on you can follow her on instagram: @fringe or see her beautiful space @thatbrickloft. The photos below are in her studio. Enjoy! And I can’t wait for you to see what we come up with!
XO Chantel
