I am so pleased to announce the launch of my new photography business,
Joey Nicole Boudoir. For the last month solid, I've been working on my portfolio and new website and am so pleased with the results. There is nothing better than making people feel beautiful through my photographs, and I am so excited to be able to do this through Boudior photography. Every woman should do a shoot like this at least once in her life!
Also, I am offering up a huge Grand Opening special right now to help get the word out, so if you've been considering a Boudoir shoot, now would be a great time to book one!
Email me for details and package specials. I need 15 clients to be able to offer the special - and am looking to start shooting in April. First come, first serve for the special!
And if you haven't seen it already, please take a moment and browse my new website & share with anyone else you think might be interested!
Also, I must give credit where credit is due! I couldn't have pulled this all together without the help of wonderful
The Boudior Divas in San Diego (for their fabulous education on both business & shooting), and my fantastic Web Designer,
Jonnathan, of Jonnathan Paul Creative. I'm still amazed at how beautifully he pulled together all of my crazy ideas. And that frame and headboard you see? All hand-sketched. Yep, he's just that talented.
I hope you enjoy my Boudoir :)
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Many of you visit my blog because you love the romance and the love story of our couples, and to see how that plays out in the photographs. I am so lucky to have the job that I do... seeing people at the very height of their happiness, so in love, and so eager to have their love photographed.
So I apologize for my blogging absence... there has been so much going on
here, lots of good, but a bit of sadness too. Our family said goodbye to my
grandma on Sunday. She passed away, peacefully, from complications
after a stroke she had a few weeks ago. She would have been 94 this
month, and while she lived a fantastic life, she wasn't afraid to tell
anyone that she was ready to go. She always was a strong woman. As we've been pulling family photos to
share at her service next week, I thought this was a great opportunity
to share a beautiful love story with you all.
I thought you might like to meet my grandparents, Grammy and Pa, we called them, my father's parents. Julie and Richard were married on my grandfather's 18th birthday. (How cute is that?!) They were married 65 years before Pa passed away several years ago. As a grandkid, I never knew the details of their marriage, but it was so obvious that my grandpa just adored his Julie. I used to catch him looking at her, with a small smile on his face, and he always seemed so content, so warm, as if her presence just lit him up inside.
They used to dance... Julie was a ballerina and they actually spent several years traveling and dancing on cruise ships together. In the basement of their home was a small room that had dance steps laid out on the ground, and sparkly costumes and fancy shoes lined up along the walls. I used to love looking around down there, their lives fascinated me.
Their home was on Lake Washington, where we would go for family dinners, or just to hang out on their huge grass lawn, pick fresh raspberries, or go on the boat. We would celebrate the 4th of July there, and at Christmas, watch the Christmas-lit boats go down Lake Washington. Both Grammy and Pa would always welcome us with huge smiles and hugs, and always made us feel so loved.
After Pa passed away, while I was in college, I think we all feared Grammy might simply die of a broken heart. It was the saddest sight I've ever seen, she wore his jacket for weeks... it was so hard for her after being together for so long. You could just see how much she missed him. I believe that being surrounded by family helped pull her through. But, now that they are both gone, I picture them dancing together again, laughing and enjoying whatever life comes next.
These are just a few of the images my parents pulled together of Julie and Richard, Grammy and Pa... and they make me so happy. They look so full of life and love in these photos, and it is how I will always remember them.
So to you, dear reader, cherish your loved ones. Take their picture today. And if someone asks to take your photo, let them, it truly is a compliment when someone wants to take your picture. It means they want to remember you as you are today, for always. Thanks for taking a moment to meet my grandparents. I wish you all the kind of love that they had.
This, below, is that "look" I was telling you about earlier...
Seriously, how cute are they??!
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Four years ago today, at this exact moment as I type this, I was in my wedding gown in a small room at the
Wynn Las Vegas wedding salon, nervously munching on pretzels and sipping champagne, palms slightly sticky, making small talk with my mom and bridesmaids, just waiting for it to be noon.
We set our wedding for noon because we just couldn't imaging going all day without seeing each other... we wanted nothing more than to be married, and to be celebrating with our family and friends. As noon approached, I watched my bridesmaids enter the huge white doors of the wedding salon, and disappear one... by... one. All that were left behind the scenes were Ann Marie (our fabulous wedding coordinator at the Wynn), and my dad and I, arms linked... I think we were both holding each other up for support. I had been excited all morning long, and felt my first and only twinge of nervousness as those huge white doors opened and I heard Canon D playing by the live string trio.
And there you were.
Up at the alter, waiting patiently, looking more handsome than I had ever seen you. You reached for my hand, and held it the entire time... you knew I was nervous to be up in front of everyone, and I knew you were too. The look in your eyes made me feel so safe, so excited. You handed me tissues as I needed them, which was often. My Aunt read aloud the poem I had written for you, and I was mortified because the officiant told the whole crowd that I had written those words, and I had meant for that part to be private, and as a surprise for you. But, I got over that quickly as it was time to exchange our vows. You surprised me with an unexpected wedding band, and for so much of the ceremony, I really don't remember anyone else even being in the room. The photograph of us walking down the aisle after the ceremony is still one of my favorites. I was the happiest I had ever been.
We took photos while our guests dined on the appetizers at
Daniel Boulud Brasserie, and then we joined them for drinks, lunch, and the most fabulous cake we had ever tasted. I really was so disappointed when we went back the next year and the pasty chef had moved on! That night, we threw a party in our suite... our groomsmen bar tended and made sure everyone had a good time. Our time in Vegas was busy, a bit exhausting, but the most fun I have ever had. I will remember the details of our wedding day forever, and am always so proud to be on Team Jacob.
And while this T-shirt was given to me by your sister as a result of Twilight-mania, I wear it for you today in honor of our anniversary. I'm so cheesy, I know, and I really don't care. I just love you so very much :)
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And Tish & Ashley, I hate to disappoint, but really, in the Twilight books, I am team Edward... But, in life I am Team Jacob, and isn't that what really matters???
Because I had such a hilarious time this morning trying to take a photo of myself in this t-shirt, I thought I'd share some of the outtakes... this first one is my favorite. What was I thinking??
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