Miss A in Las Vegas - Las Vegas Boudoir - Do something scary!
The last 12 months have been pretty incredible for me professionally. I have been a photographer for 14 years, but feel that in the past year I have grown more as an artist and person than ever before. Boudoir has become a sensation for me, and has changed my outlook on life, my own personal confidence and the way I view other women. I took a trip to New Orleans last year and I was so nervous. I didn't know anyone and I was staying in a house with 9 women I had never met. I almost backed out. Even up to the day I left I thought maybe I shouldn't go. But I went. What does New Orleans have to do with Las Vegas? Well, New Orleans changed me and gave me courage to go to Vegas. I've been to Vegas before, but not like this!
There's a huge wedding and portrait photography convention in Las Vegas every year and in 14 years I have never went. I decided that this was my year to go. A couple people were looking for roommates and one of my new friends from New Orleans invited me to share their room. I registered, bought a plane ticket and went to Las Vegas. Alone!
Over the course of the next five days I met some of the most incredible women. We were strangers who felt like we'd know each other our whole lives. There was just a great connection with us. Maybe this tired mom and wife just really needed a "girls night out" but whatever it was, my soul and heart felt renewed and refreshed.
One of the people I met was Miss A. She's an incredibly kind and beautiful soul and I asked if she would let me photograph her. She'd never had a boudoir session of her own before, and so we made it happen. The camera loves her. It might be the kind, gracious woman inside, but her fiery red hair and funny personality are the entire package. I just love her! We had a great time doing her photos and we have already begun to plan our trip for next year.
If you are feeling like you are in a rut, or you need a change, or a friend or just... something, I can't encourage you enough to do something scary. In the last year I had a boudoir shoot of my own (SCARY!), took a plane to New Orleans alone where I didn't know anyone (SCARY!) and then took another plane to Vegas alone (Also Scary!). As scared as I was to step outside these comfort zones, I know now that I needed it. I needed to live a little louder and crazier and find myself a bit. I am incredibly grateful to Aroha and the others I met (You will meet them too!) for an incredible week of photography, friendship and inspiration.