Meet Your New Favorite People
So this is a story all about how your life's about to get twist turned upside down… Just kidding we’re not going there. I couldn’t really figure out how to start the blog/newsletter and Fresh Prince seemed appropriate.
Since this is our first blog we’re focusing on the people that will start you on this journey. We are your hype team, your girl gang, your cheerleaders. We can’t wait for you to have the very best experience. We do everything we can to ensure you have a great time.
Kelly is the woman behind the make up chair. She’ll help you to look your absolute best and feel fabulous while you’re at it. I got together with Kelly to ask her some really ridiculous and also kind of awkward questions just so you guys can get a feel of how we interact with you and the kind of people that we are before you book your shoot.
KELLY
Here are her answers... (buckle up!)
Age: 33
Description of your personal style: Hobo Chic
Favorite thing in the world: My boyfriend, my dogs, a perfect fall day. That’s more than one. Oh well.
Thing you’re most proud of: how much I have grown since my 20s. I was living with my mom. Spending my life in bars. Waking up in the morning with no recollection of the night before or who I was laying next to. Drove a lot of friends away. Now I have a good job, am in an end game relationship, we are buying a house, and I only drink socially. I have a select few friends who mean the world to me.
Biggest regret: Not going to college, but now I have no desire.
What do you like about boudoir: The sense of empowerment it gives to women. How they go into it thinking it’s for someone else, but realize the strength and admiration they gain for themselves in the process.
How did you start doing makeup: I was unemployed and my friend called me and said they were opening a new Ulta in Midland and needed muscle for set up. They were impressed with my work and I got hired to the Saginaw store for shipments and display set up. I gained an interest and went from there. Completely self-taught.
How long have you been doing it: close to 10 years.
Makeup hack: For almost fake-looking lashes, I apply mascara(2 coats) and use my hair dryer on cool blast and tilt the dryer upwards, blowing my lashes up. KEEP YOUR EYES CLOSED THOUGH. I also work for an optometrist and you don’t want dust particles getting in your eyes.
Favorite low budget product: ELF camo concealer and Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara.
Favorite splurge: Radiant Glow primer by Laura Mercier.
Favorite makeup tip: First color correction, then foundation, THEN concealer. Also-less is more. I used to be a total cake-face. Now I have embraced myself and the power of a 10 minute application.
Where is your happy place: Sitting on the edge of a cliff @ Canyon River Falls in the Upper Peninsula. Nothing but the water roaring below and the birds in the trees.
What did you want to be when you grew up: A veterinarian. Unfortunately I’m an emotional mess when it comes to animals. I could handle the ups, but not the downs.
If you could relive one day of your life Groundhog Day style, what day would it be: The morning I brought my Luna girl home from the shelter. She is my first dog of my own and we went through so much to get her.
Describe yourself using 3 words: Unfiltered, Unapologetic, Artistic.
Introvert or extrovert: Introvert until I get a few drinks in me.
Favorite quote: “Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” -Mulan. (Hope you weren’t expecting something inspirational)
ALICIA
Funny enough, writing about myself has been significantly harder than I thought it would be, and what caused me to hold off on publishing this for longer than I wanted. In the end, I decided to answer several of the same questions I asked Kelly (leaving out anything to do with makeup, because honestly I don't know shit about makeup). Without her, I'd be lost. I'm super thankful she's a part of this team, because she sets everyone up and eases their nerves right away. Ok, that was about as sappy as I get. Here we go....
Age: 36
My style: t-shirt and jeans or leggings. I'm real basic and you'll never be underdressed when I'm around!
Favorite thing in the world: My kids. I have two girls- 16 and 7. They're part of the reason I do what I do. It's super important to me to try to set a self-love example for them. Do I always succeed? Hell no, but being conscious of what I'm saying is half the battle.
Thing you're most proud of: I got pregnant at 19- so there's that. I'm super proud that I've raised both of my kids, but most proud of the way I was able to raise my oldest at such a young age myself. Also- this business. Business is hard. There are lots of rules, and things you "should be" doing. I've so far managed to figure it all out on my own (with lots of mistakes along the way).
Biggest regret: I honestly don't know. I think all of my choices (good and bad) have led me here, so I'm ok with that.
Photo Credit: Miranda Parker Boudoir
What do you like about boudoir: I love the way people see themselves once it's over. I'm not trying to say that a boudoir shoot will "fix" you if you hate your body. It won't, but it's a step on the path towards that goal for sure. Sometime when I'm feeling really bad about myself, I look at my own photos, and remember, "ok, I'm not so bad." I think all of us have varying degrees of body dysmorphia, where we are hyper focused on our "flaws." Boudoir helps people to see that number one- those flaws aren't so bad, and number two, there are so many more beautiful things to focus on. If I can bring that into someone's life, I want them to experience it. It's a very freeing feeling to let some of that shit go.
How long have you been shooting boudoir: About 6 years. Real talk: I shot it for about a year, feel into some kind of depression/funk and quit for about a year then my fire reignited. Now we're going strong and we're better than ever. In order to help fill your cups, I needed to fill my own and find my own light. It's ok to not be ok for a minute.
Where's your happy place: On a beach on the ocean with a book and a fruity drink. Nowhere else I'd rather be.
It was lovely to "meet" you. We can't wait for you to book your boudoir experience with us.
xo-Alicia & Kelly