The Realm of Fantasy Art

This is an art category that wanders into the surreal -- extra-terrestrial landscapes with sometimes vivid colors, whimsical realizations of timeless myths, and completely unique, dreamy interpretations of pure fantasy. It is a specialized category of the visual arts, promulgated by masters of the realm. There are many realms of the arts I admire, and this is no exception.

The combined power of digital photography and software such as Photoshop provide easy passage into this realm. This is one of those arenas that are easy to enter, but quite difficult to master. Many a photographer has pushed the boundaries of "normal" photography as a rite of passage in exploring the capabilities of editing software. Indeed, its almost unavoidable, since learning such powerful tools requires testing the extent of their control. It is during this process of exploration that a photographer comes to a definitive decision -- are they purely a photographer, or a "digital artist"?

The former is concerned with making the most of what the camera can capture. Photoshop is not verboten, but is used to enhance the power of the image which at core represents a decidedly "real" scene. A digital artist on the other hand is almost a painter using technology as a canvas, palette, and brush. Restrained only by their imagination, the digital artist transfers that which has already been conceived in their minds without limitation. Digital artistry does not come without penalty however. Where a photography-minded artist might set a scene and capture potentially hundreds of images, a digital artist's production is significantly more modest, perhaps a handful of images or less of a certain type or scene. It is painstaking work, crafted with care and precision.

Years ago, I decided to focus on being the best boudoir photographer I could be, leaving behind my attempts at digital art. My market generally prefers many beautiful images rather than a handful of highly processed works, but there does exist a certain fantasy-oriented clientele which desires and appreciates the surreal and elaborate. Recently a couple of clients requested fantasy type images which now fall outside my typical style. Doing anything outside your comfort zone can always add a bit of adrenalin and anxiety to your day, but I'm gratified to say that the results were stunningly beautiful. I'm grateful to be given the opportunity to expand my domain a bit, though I plan to stay well grounded in the realm of the traditional photography of feminine beauty.

Nevertheless, if a client has a desire for this sort of thing, clearly INFINI can deliver the goods.

INFINI
800-941-6640

What If I Want to Shoot REALLY Sexy Photos?

It does depend on the photographer of course. Certainly you can't go to a Sears Portrait Studio and ask to do Playboy style shots. After turning red they would politely ask you to leave and threaten you with security if you didn't.

But aside from the standard policies of retail photographers, professional photographers operate more on the basis of personal limits. Some photographers won't shoot nudes or Playboy style images (or beyond for that matter), some will. If they don't have a formally stated policy on their website, you'll have to judge from the content of their portfolios whether to even ask.

At INFINI Boudoir, it is our position that it is inappropriate to suggest a certain level of nudity to our clients. On the contrary, each client has their own comfort level and for a positive photoshoot experience, the client needs to be the person that sets the tone for the shoot. We have found as well that a client's comfort level may change during the course of the shoot and they may decide to do more risque shots. In order that we meet our client's expectations, we always ask what their modesty level is.

Some thoughts to consider for your own shoot:

Getting What You Want

You don't do a boudoir photoshoot every day, and it doesn't come cheap, so you should walk away with the shots you want. If you want super sexy shots, you should say so. Remember, it is inappropriate and borderline unethical for a photographer to suggest shots of this type to a client, so it is up to you to indicate if you want them.

You Are Not Committed

You can change your mind either way, even at the photoshoot.

At INFINI Boudoir, we strive to capture the client's vision whether they want to shoot in a shirt and jeans, nothing at all, or anything in between. And we always apply our artistic brand of photography to the process.

Dario

INFINI Boudoir

800-941-6640

The Power of Black and White

Color is an interesting component of our vision. The ability to see color is like salt and spices on our food, providing an explosion of visual flavor. We experience this every spring when the grey shades of dead landscape bloom into the vivid hues of colorful flowers and vibrant green foliage. We've enjoyed the universal availability of color photography since the 1950's (though experiments in color photography had been going on since before the turn of the century).

But our common visual experience of the 1940's and before is through a black and white filter. We see the quaint history of a simple and sometimes gritty America through a nostalgic lens. Common scenes were filled with meaning and drama, or alternatively were imbued with a certain campy charm, often seen in old carnival photos.

A cache of color photos from the 40s floated across my email recently and I began looking through them with interest. The initial intrigue of seeing a more accurate representation of what old America looked like eventually gave way to a certain disillusionment. What I had become accustomed to as a beautiful era of hardy, hopeful Americans in drab clothes driving charmingly antique retro vehicles was actually a very ordinary, every day reality. The beauty of nostalgia it turned out was conveyed in the shades of grey.

Color was like a harsh light, exposing the almost contemporary mundaneness of their lives. Old America was minted, idealized, and glorified in the drama of black and white imagery. We created an alternative visual memory of our history which was greater than the reality. The mundane was augmented to the height of drama through the removal of color.

Color is in a sense, a distraction. Relating back to the food analogy, it is like ordering filet mignon and dousing it with ketchup. Not that there's anything wrong with ketchup -- fries without ketchup is almost a travesty! But the complexity of a fine steak, or a powerful image, can be undermined with the distraction of color. And hence, black and white imagery is still with us today despite the obvious technological advancement of color.

To be sure, black and white is not a cure-all for injecting drama where there is none, or forcing "artistic interpretation" on a patently bad image. But for some images, their true power is revealed when the mantle of color is removed.

We at INFINI sometimes incorporate a process where the essence of black and white is entreated into an image though a color tone remains. It is a blended treatment that enhances the drama but also provides a hint of visual "flavor", a pleasing compromise between the vibrancy of color and the mystique of black and white.

Dario

INFINI Boudoir

800-941-6640

Getting the Most out of Your Session

By now you've surely heard about our 100% customer satisfaction record. Its one we're very proud of and we try very hard to keep that record. Because its definitely not as impressive to say a 98% customer satisfaction record. We'd hate to have to explain that a handful of women were not happy with their shots. And because we love what we do, we don't want to live with that knowledge of failure.

Our shoots have a consistent level of success because its a team collaboration. And YOU'RE the star! You have to work with us to create the beauty that we capture. Here's how:

Send us a headshot and full length shot of yourself

The headshot helps our makeup & hairstyle team know how to plan for your shoot. More on that in a future post! What I *can* tell you as photographer is that a full length, clothed shot of yourself is a tremendous help for the success of your shoot. There are all kinds of body types -- different heights, different flexibilities, different body proportions, different skin tones. We've shot every kind of body type but we prefer not to be surprised. Our best work comes from knowing in advance what we're going to do.

Not every pose works for everyone. Knowing in advance how well your body is likely to bend in certain directions or if you have exceptionally long legs (or not) allows us to visualize the *right* kind of poses for you. There is still plenty of room for unique, playful, natural moments that are all your own of course but a good starting point goes a long way towards a productive session. We spend less time compensating and de-emphasizing things on the fly that we were not prepared for, and more time shooting super flattering shots because we had already planned for them. Win-win!

Lighting, too, is heavily dependent on the person in front of the camera. A certain kind of lighting that creates dramatic images on one person can make another person look much older than they are. A different kind of lighting that softens and removes age can make another person look much heavier than they are! You've heard how the camera adds 10 lbs? Well, only if you pick the wrong lighting! Clearly, we want to prepare the right kind of lighting for you rather than be scrambling to change things during your session. The more time we have to prepare for you, the more time we'll have to get fabulous photos!

Which brings us to the last point. We've created a number of packages to fit every budget and every need. We are flexible enough to create custom packages for those who want very specific sessions. No problem! However, a consistent rule of thumb in photography is, the more time you have to shoot, the better your shots will be. There are many reasons for this phenomenon including things such as your initial comfort level, time spent changing the environment, and yes, time spent working with you to get the most flattering angles and poses for you.

Don't Skimp on your Session!

Our most economical package provides for 1 hour of shooting time. This may seem like a lot, but you'd be surprised how fast that goes. We can get up to 40 great, sorted/final shots in that time, but that presumes you are natural in front of the camera and there are no major lighting or posing obstacles to overcome for your particular body type. If you feel for some reason you are a "challenging" subject, for example you feel you have rarely or never liked any photo of yourself, believe that you are not our only client who has felt that way. THAT is, in fact, why they come to us. Because our photos are often the FIRST ones they've ever felt truly beautiful in.

But the reality is, this kind of beauty does not come quickly, easily, or cheaply. Time is a factor in producing truly magnificent shots. And it would be a disservice to you if you feel this way, to book our shortest session. We *want* to create beautiful photos for you, but be cognizant that the more time we spend with you, the better your photos will be. You will still be amazed at your photos with our Reggie package, but you dont know what you're missing with a longer session. If you feel the camera doesn't love you, our cameras will. But they will love you MORE the longer you are in front of them, so definitely consider booking a longer session. After all, most clients only do this once. You might as well get the most out of it.

The Make Up Artist Speaks!

There is nothing I appreciate more as an artist than to witness another great artist in action. I get to experience this every time I walk into Dario's studio! The man just has vision!!! We have worked together for many years now and as a result, I have a huge respect for the professionalism, vision, and unending creativity that Indy's best boudoir photographer brings to the table with every shoot.

While not particularly catering to the young super model types, I feel we, as a team, excel at finding the beauty in EVERY woman and bringing that out of them from the time they walk up the stairs to the final shot at the end of the day.... from sharing playlists on iPods to bringing out the very best of them with makeup and hair....making sure that every concern is addressed and every asset is played up to its utmost potential... well... we just have a lot of fun!!!!

I recently had the opportunity of being in front of the camera lens while this man of genius captured what I hoped to be a very personal and reflective side of me that no one else has ever been able to capture before. You see....I HATE being in front of the camera. It is usually very uncomfortable for me but I needed great shots for my business cards and website. In a nutshell, we had so much fun that afternoon and the shots, as a result, are more than I could have ever hoped for! Dario made me look and feel like a million bucks!!! He made it so easy for me and it showed...

We have made so many friends over the years and it speaks volumes when a huge percentage of your business is based upon referrals.... Bottom line... ALL women are beautiful... Dario is just a master at finding your personal beauty and transferring it onto photo paper. I LOVE being a part of this team... Dario ROCKS!!!!

- Kathy

Faces by KLM

The *ART* of INFINI Boudoir

We've decided to create a new type of package catering to those clients who are more artistically minded. The reality is that there are many different ways to shoot the female form. Boudoir is a category with multiple sub-categories -- things like Victoria's Secret style glamour, pin-up, Playboy, etc. But the artistic realm is a different direction. Its intent is less oriented towards the provocative and sexy, and more towards the classics.

Focusing on form, substance, and story telling, such creations require some thought and collaboration with the client. We become less interested in lots of sexy shots, instead focusing on a small number of "concepts". Each concept is pre-conceived and developed with story elements. Considerations include the client's body type, incorporation of the client's interests and preferences, and constructing the "scene". Sometimes this means selecting a suitable location that provides the correct ambiance for the concept. Other times, the scene is more abstract and can be effectively constructed in the studio.



Photographic art is something that can hang on a wall and be objectively admired and appreciated by many viewers. It stands the test of time. Achieving this requires some painstaking effort. Many shots are taken with small adjustments along the way to adjust and perfect the various elements in the shot. Each shot is an improvement towards a final image where all the elements finally come together in harmony. Having captured that piece, we move on to the next concept. In practice, 2-5 concepts are about all that can be achieved for the normal working duration of a session. Beyond that someone starts to get giddy and the intensity and productivity of the process wanes.

Your take away is a fraction of shots from our regular INFINI boudoir sessions which can number 150 or more beautiful images. But each of the handful of artistic images will be a masterpiece in its own right, admired by multiple generations, family, and friends alike. And included with the Sanders package is a 16x24 canvas print ready to make a bold statement on your wall. Fabulous!

New Referral Program Announced!

We've finally formalized a definitive referral program. For years, we've cultivated a word of mouth presence in conjunction with our regular advertisements. Our clients have been so universally pleased with the results of their photoshoots that they've broadcast their satisfaction far and wide to all their friends and co-workers. We have of course been grateful to them for their referrals and now want to show that gratitude with an incentive plan.

What You Get

Now when you refer a friend to us and they book their own session, you both get an 8x10 of your favorite print! After three booking referrals you get a framed, matted 16x24 wall portrait ready to hang! An astounding $559 value! And ladies, after 10 referrals you reach our INFINI VIP Super Star status!

That entitles you to your own REPEAT SESSION with professional hairstyle & makeup AND a beautiful 10x10, 20 page album of your incredible photos, absolutely FREE, as a thank you for being our own INFINI Super Star! Altogether the referral rewards total over $1700 of value ABSOLUTELY FREE!!

The truth is, ladies, that subsequent sessions ALWAYS result in even better photos than the first session. The reason is that as an experienced pro, you know how we conduct our sessions. You know what to expect. You're familiar with the magical transformation that happens when the fans blow your hair just right, the fabric flutters in just the right way, the lights fire at just the right moment. You "get into the moment" rather than worry if you look silly or if the outfit is flattering on you. So a follow up session with the included album will result in artwork worthy of museum walls! A wonderful gift as a thank you from the INFINI team!

How it Works

Simply have your friend enter your name in the special instructions section of the booking form and its as simple as that!

When you shoot with INFINI, you become part of our INFINI team of beauty specialists, spreading our special brand of glamour far and wide!