Today we bring you an editorial shoot from Boudoir International member, Tamara Paskey- Alexander of Paskey Photo & Boudoir. Tamara is a boudoir photographer in Kansas City, Kansas. She was very much inspired this past year by model, Molly, who is featured here in multiple shoots. Thank you Molly and Tamara for your contribution to the Boudoir International blog!
Hair/Makeup Artist:
Molly did her own on the field shoot. For the greenhouse shoot I did her makeup, and Sammy Roberts did the hair.
What was your overall vision for the shoot, or – how did you decide to shoot this concept?
I always shoot boudoir with lingerie so I was wanting to change it up a little and go for some glamour this time. I love fashion inspired shoots with gorgeous makeup and a soft setting.
When I moved to Kansas in November I came across the field and fell in love. The grass was dead and the perfect height to shoot in. I knew it would be the best back lit with a sunset with a vintage feel. The greenhouse is something I’ve always wanted to shoot in, but never had access to. Not sure where the idea came from, but I knew it had to be with a dress that was over the top amazing and curve hugging. I wanted it to feel like a Chanel ad in a magazine.
Did you work with a stylist, or did you style all the outfits/accessories yourself?
I always style my own shoots. They wouldn’t feel like mine if I let someone else do it for me. I’m a big fan of antiquing and thrift shopping so I have a great collection in my “studio closet”. Everything in the “Winter Glamour” shoot is vintage and paired for a 40’s feel. I think the cool pastel of the green satin offsets the warmth of the sun to make a subtle contrast.
In the Greenhouse shoot we used one of Molly’s old pageant dresses! She was an avid pageant contestant and always loved that dress. The second she brought it to the studio for my opinion, I fell in love. I’m glad my 2013 representative has great taste! It ended up being perfect for an old Hollywood glamour feel. I asked Sammy (hairstylist) for old Hollywood waves and I think she hit the nail on the head!
How would you describe your typical style, was this a departure or were you playing into your typical inspiration?
These are definitely my style. Working with Molly and other models allows me to let my creativity out. While I don’t typically do these types of shoots with my normal boudoir clients (they arent requested as much as the sexy stuff), outdoor glamour is definitely a passion just as much as boudoir with lingerie in a studio. I think most would say my style is easily recognizable because I use the same techniques to pose and work with my clients whether its for boudoir, glamour, fashion, or pinup.
If you could choose the most important pieces of the styling or set in your images that you would say set the tone for the whole shoot what would they be?
I would have to say the colors and fabrics of the outfits I use have the biggest impact on the feel of the shoot I’m trying to create. I wanted to use pastel satin for the field shoot to create a natural flow of colors drawing all the focus up to her eyes. The gold sequins of the pageant dress to stood out against the bright greens, pinks, and yellows at the greenhouse. It was much more bold and focusing on the curves of her hips.
Photographers always know that nothing goes to plan in a editorial shoot where there are so many elements that have to come together, overcoming them and still getting killer images is what makes us pro. 🙂 What challenges did you face?
We luckily didn’t come across to many challenges with either of these shoots, since we work so well together. I also like to plan everything out as much as I can before hand. I suppose you could say the wind was something we weren’t expecting for the field, but it worked so well in our favor! I couldn’t imagine that set without her hair blowing now.
The greenhouse was also fantastic except for photo bombers. Haha. A few older women were being nosy and stood in the background of our shots trying to figure out what was happening. 🙂 We asked one woman if she wanted to be in our photos and she quickly walked away. 🙂
Describe the setting of the shoot/location, and how it inspired you:
Both locations were the original inspiration for each shoot, then everything else is added in afterwards.
Would you want to recreate this shoot for your clients? Or was this a one-of-a-kind original?
I would love to! I would customize it for their style more though so it didn’t feel like a copy.
Anything else you want to share about the shoot?
Molly is my 2013 representative for the year. I moved to the Kansas City area within the past year from Lexington, KY and basically had to restart my business. Working with Molly has helped me a ton by allowing me to create images to share for advertisements and online, and even more important, she tells EVERYONE about me. She’s been an amazing addition to Paskey Boudoir.
If you’re searching for a boudoir photographer in the Kansas City area, check out Paskey Photo and Boudoiron Boudoir International. To see more from Tamara, visit her website.
