Oh, and… in case you were wondering… YES, that IS Tenley Molzahn from The Bachelor! We’ll be posting more of her images SOON – so check back!

The Divas have so graciously asked me to tell you all a bit about boudoir marathons! More specifically what a boudoir marathon is like with Molly Marie Boudoir. So, what is a boudoir marathon you may ask? Marathons are a day planned exclusively around making each and every woman that books a session feel as beautiful and sexy as possible. These marathons take place in a fancy hotel room, which is included in your session fee with your boudoir photographer. Many women like to book marathons because the fancy room is included, and then they also have the option to book back-to-back sessions with their girlfriends! Boudoir marathons generally take place around holidays (perfect for presents!) and it gives gals a full day to feel beautiful!

I start out by researching interesting hotels in the areas where I plan on having my marathons. I look for hotel rooms that are outside the norm; rooms with personality that can be transformed into beautiful backdrops. For example, I found a room at a local hotel that had a Parisian Room. So, I had a Paris-themed Boudoir Marathon! All the ladies loved the room, feeling like they were in Paris, and all the props in the room made the photos that much more unique and sexy.

I then find out the hotels check-in/check-out times and plan out a schedule of 1-1/2 hour slots throughout the day. I do 1-1/2 hour time slots for several reasons. First off, I want my clients to walk in, relax, and have fun. I want there to be enough time for hair and makeup, and then the main even – the shoot – without my clients feeling rushed at all. When a client walks in the door, she gets her hair and makeup done by a local professional hair and makeup artist, which is included in the price! I also send out a questionnaire beforehand that many of my clients find extremely helpful – this helps me tailor the shoot to each individual. Some women just leave it up to me, and others have very specific idea, such as a pinup shoot. Either way is perfectly fine! I want your shoot to be the most relaxed, fun, and personable experience it can be!

Speaking of relaxing, many women mention how hard it is for them to relax prior to the shoot. I will admit that most of my clients do feel a little nervous until they meet me. Once they meet me, we start chatting and working together, they always tell me they feel so at ease. Although you have nothing to be nervous about, I still try to prepare to calm your nerves as much as possible. I have some music videos playing on the TV, we listen to fun music (I also allow clients to bring in their own), and we have just an all around FUN time!

When its all said and done, what my clients can’t wait for is the finished product. I allow about a 5 to 14 day turnaround time, but for the people who just can’t wait, I always have a sneak peak preview on my blog. Please feel free to check out my website and blog – I can only hope this little article helps persuade all the women reading that they too need to do a boudoir shoot!

Article & photos by Molly Keyser of Molly Marie Boudoir

Bridal Boudoir by boudoirdivas on Polyvore.com

So many gals are wanting to do a shoot to give a boudoir album to the groom the morning or evening of the wedding. I love it when gals incorporate some of their priceless wedding momentos in the photos. It makes the shoot and album itself even that more personalized and special. Some ideas for the bridal boudoir shoot is garter belts, vintage veils, wedding night lingerie, and jewelry.

I mean she is on a bed right?! I just love this image. This could be a great idea if you want to ask your photographer to maybe customize a special package for you that includes an interesting on location twist like this. Too fun.

(PS. not sure who took this image but would love to know. If you have an idea please comment.)

I love the first minute of this video because Hilary Duff talks about how she loves to have people dress her up and make her feel special and girly. So even a big time celeb loves to have the boudoir photo shoot treatment. Her set looks so fun, if you pay attention you can even see a boudoir inspired chair off to the left! Everything cool has some sort of vintage boudoir touch to it. Yummy!

www.lingeriediva.com

WHAT IS MICRO FINANCE?
Micro finance is an amazing way to change our world. It is a hand up empowering people living in poverty to create small business and jobs. It’s not just a hand-out. We have chosen Opportunity International, a reputable charity that we have trusted with our money for years now. We are going to let them explain why they claim micro finance can “END GLOBAL POVERTY.” A bold statement but very exciting when you hear the concept. Here is what they say…..

“You will frequently hear us say that we can help “End global poverty. Faster.” A bold statement, but what does it mean, really? If you’re serious about it, it means you have to approach the problem in a whole new way.

You have to believe in new things. You have to make each step work smarter, not harder. And you have to ignite the passion we believe is inherent in every human being on earth.

We call this approach the “Multiplier Effect.” Everything it touches is compounded and transformed for good. Every act creates a new chain of good that reaches well beyond any physical constraint.

When you give your money to OptINnow, we call that “funding a loan” for good reason. We don’t just hand that
money off to a person in need. We use it to empower entrepreneurs. With greater support in hand, businesses grow. Entrepreneurs hire others in the community, allowing them to provide for their individual families, affecting change where it is needed most. We look for people with the passion to make a difference and a vision for success. We train them on business principles that help them work their way out of poverty.

But even this alone doesn’t end global poverty faster. It’s a matter of starting something bigger than you are. Starting something that never ends. Everything you do compounds. Every person you touch expands. The multiplication is exponential, reaching more families and transforming more lives.

The Multiplier Effect isn’t about money. It’s about people. It’s about taking a simple tool like a donation and empowering an entrepreneur. That person makes an impact on the community: church, school, bank, store… you name it. Those outcomes seed larger outcomes. Our repaid loans in turn help more entrepreneurs. And you have the power to start it all.

And the next thing you know, we do “End global poverty. Faster.”

So we say… LET’S DO IT TOGETHER!!!! Those of us who love boudoir photography and small business, let’s come together and share our love and passion with needy, hopeful entrepreneurs who aren’t even given a chance to pull themselves out of poverty because there are no jobs and the small business they want to start is just an impossible dream. Impossible because banks refuse to lend them needed start-up funds. Sometimes all they need is a simple $50 dollars. So let’s lend them the money together!!!

HOW WOULD THE PLEDGE WORK?

We would ask that you commit to giving $5 from each boudoir shoot that you do, put that money aside and then the first of every month (or a date you choose) you update our donation page http://www.optinnow.org/fundraisers/boudoir . We have been doing this same thing with our clients, and we have labels we have printed that we stick on their invoice so that our clients know that a small portion of what they have paid is going to an amazing cause. Here is an example of what the label could look like. You can adapt ours or make your own.

If you commit to the pledge email us at info@theboudoirdivas.com and we will add your link to the Opportunity International post. Note: You do not have to be a member or Boudoir International to participate, you don’t even have to be a boudoir photographer. You can just commit if you love the cause.

There is no written contract saying that you are going to participate. If you even need to stop donating we will completely understand. If you are more comfortable making a one time donation we welcome that as well.

$10,000 IS A CRAZY GOAL? CAN WE DO IT?

Our studio (www.theboudoirdivas.com) has earned $3500 in the past for World Vision’s Girls in Crisis Fund and now we are ready to push with fellow boudoir photographers for a larger goal. We love to dream big and believe that God will meet us halfway if we humbly trust him and are in line with what he loves. So let’s do this together everyone!

WHY MALAWI AFRICA?

Opportunity International allows us to choose the country that we want to donate the money to. We love that because Kimberlee and I (Marissa) have some ties to Malawi through church and family and feel strongly that, Lord willing, we will have many opportunities in our life to visit that special country. Opportunity International Int is so amazing because once there, they will set up a visit so we can see specifically how our donating has helped small businesses, and therefore families and communities, thrive. We love the idea of being able to do photo and video and show off exactly how your generosity has helped.

IN ACTION

Millicent Wahiga one of our two million clients working their way out of poverty through access to Opportunity’s microfinance services. Millicent runs a business making and selling children’s clothes out of a shop at the Uhuru market in Nairobi, Kenya. Loans from Opportunity have enabled her to increase her income, which she and her husband use to provide food, clothing and schoolbooks for their two children.

Those Below Pledge to Help by Donating $5 per Shoot to our OPT IN NOW Page:

THE BOUDOIR DIVAS

THE BOUDOIR MAVEN

LIFE’S MIRROR IMAGES

We love this new boudoir-wave. And we love it when people make boudoir their own and put a fun twist to the typical sex-appeal. Below is a quirky pirate inspired boudoir shoot by The Boudoir Divas. We encourage you to chat with your boudoir photographer about putting a fun twist on your shoot to give it that editorial boudoir vibe, and while they may not be cool with dragging a bed to the ocean with you, they may love it if you bring it some special items to personalize your shoot.

First, what inspired you to write Hungry?