My random skill set | Tacoma Boudoir Photographer
I used to think of myself as a "jack of all trades, master of nothing". That is, until I found boudoir photography. Boudoir lights my fire! It is the one thing I have found, that taps into so many things in my life that I have a passion for.
Over the course of my life, I have always found joy in the beauty industry, as well as in the arts. Here are a few things that have had a strong influence on the boudoir photographer I am today:
01. I was a dancer for 20 years. Even though, I haven't graced an “official” stage in almost 10 years, I still find ways to choreograph and make cameos here and there. AND if you take into account that for the past 10+ years I have been an avid, self proclaimed, at-home-judge of So You Think You Can Dance AND add in my countless impromptu karaoke performances…then heck—I am still totally a dancer!
02. In college I was a theater major. However, I quickly changed it to my minor the second I realized that there are no flashing lights, sequins, and jazz hands involved in greek tragedies, Chekov, and Shakespeare (unless you are Baz Lhurman—I’ll leave that job to him!).
03. While in college, my part-time job was working in various salons throughout Tacoma. I have always been pretty obsessed with any kind of transformation story. Whenever Oprah did a “make-over” episode, you can bet your buttons that I was watching! Each shift I worked at the salon, I never felt like I was actually working! I was getting paid to see amazing hair come in and out of the door! And don't even get me started about being surrounded by hair products! I am a product junkie, and would start drooling when a new deep conditioner graced our shelves.
04. Right out of college, I was in desperate need of gaining management experience. I totally hit the jackpot when I became the Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Counter Manager at Nordstrom. Another job where I could be a part of pampering women, total glamour, and more products! Even though I rarely wear make-up anymore (one of the perks of working from home), my eyes still light up when I see a really amazing make-up palette!
05. Following my job with Nordstrom, I found myself managing for a weight loss company. Now, I’ll state the obvious…it has been a LONG time since I have personally put any of this weight loss knowledge to use! That being said, at the time, I found myself in a similar position that allowed me to help women celebrate their accomplishments and beauty.
Over the last 15+ years there has been a whirlwind of events ranging from becoming a wife and mother, to working a boring desk job, quitting said desk job when my photography business really took off, and finally settling into a life where I am truly happy.
On November 25, 2011, I shot my first boudoir session. From that moment on, I knew that I had found something special. I no longer have the worlds most random skill set. Boudoir is a natural fit for me. It is all of the things I love, wrapped up in a pretty package—jazz hands, sequins, big hair, glamour, drama, and helping women to see and appreciate how beautiful they are!