Boudoir is the ultimate in intimate gift giving. So it makes perfect sense that brides are having designer boudoir albums made to give their fiance’s on their wedding day.

Traditionally, grooms gifts are given on the morning of the wedding day. But when it comes to your intimate images, there are some logistics to consider. Like, how will you get the album to him without your dad or ring bearer getting a peak? Below are three “safe” ways to give him the gift he’ll never forget!

A.] THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

O yes, your boudoir album on your very own personal app is the safest way to get your intimate images in the hands of your man without a drunken, joke-playing groomsman finding and sharing them with anyone and everyone. Imagine the love of your life, just a few hours from becoming your husband, and getting a text from you that contains the password to the NO PEAKING app, that you’ve so sneakily downloaded onto his phone the evening before. Even if he noticed the app, it says “no peaking” and if he is like most men and can’t keep his hands off it, he can’t get into the app without the password anyway. Click HERE to see the app.

B.] MR & MRS

Now that you’ve tied the knot, laughed with friends, cried with family, danced all night, and finished off the last of the champagne…there’s one more thing. It’s wedding night! Giving him the album the night of your wedding is a great way to share in the experience, make sure no one else sees it but still honors that bit of tradition about exchanging gifts the day of.

C.] HONEYMOONERS

Were you too exhausted to give him your album the night of? Did he have too much to drink and manage to shuffle his way to the suite’s kitchen to eat a snickers bar while wearing nothing but his socks? No worries, I’ve saved the best for last!

Give him your boudoir album the night of your honeymoon. This is my personal favorite because you get to see his reaction to the photos, you are both relaxed, refreshed and can enjoy the time together. Slip into one of those super sexy pieces of lingerie you’re wearing in the album, pop some champagne and have it wrapped and waiting on the bed…or even better…under his pillow.

There really is no right or wrong way to give your album to your groom to be but know that you have options and decide what’s going to work best for you!!

“YOU, HERE! STAND RIGHT HERE!”

‘Where?’ I thought.
[There wasn’t enough space to physically fit, never mind see over the hundreds of other photographers in front of me].

“YES, COME. RIGHT HERE!”

[I’m in there somewhere!!]

It was my very first day inside the tents of  New York Fashion Week and I was getting a crash course in runway photography. There were just minutes before the lights went down and the music came up and I was just being thrown into the pit by runway photographer Anton Oparin, whom I had met the night before at an offsite show and had offered me the opportunity to shoot inside the tents. The energy was palpable and I had no idea what I was doing other than that I loved photography and I was getting to shoot at Bryant Park! Fear was not an option. I was left alone to just figure it out. Sink or swim. And as it happened, I was dead center in the middle of the biggest ring of hungry, angry, stressed out, sleep deprived photographers from all over the world. And fresh meat; they could smell it, I’m sure. The new girl Anton had brought in to take up one of their coveted spots. [Sorry guys. I would hate me now too…lol.] But everyone starts somewhere and I did eventually figure it out. Shooting fashion was the first time in a long time that I had felt challenged again. Combine this with my love for all things fashion and it’s the perfect recipe for me being here some 15 seasons later, with my own team of amazing people. Now I’m the hungry, angry, stressed out and sleep deprived one but I love it!  I look forward to being able to shoot fashion for as long as I’m still in love with it!

Throughout the time I spent on those fashion risers, I’ve met some wonderful people. Once such person is Charles Beckwith of modaCYCLE and The American Fashion Podcast [I love listening to this podcast and you should certainly check it out the next time you’re in the car, on the train or even in the grocery store]. Charles brings to fashion week a very kind, calming and much needed patient personality. So when his team sat down to interview fashion designer Ralph Rucci, I just couldn’t not share it with you!

Enjoy!!

Click HERE to watch an honest and open interview with American fashion designer, Ralph Rucci.

You’ll see me directly under the lowest light (right) waiting for the show to begin.

[Ralph Rucci – Spring 2014 Collection]

[Ralph Rucci – Spring 2014 Collection]

Here’s another amazing post from guest blogger Kristine Isberg of L`Ecole Nuit. Click HERE to shop and use coupon code SHANNONMICHELLE at checkout for 15% off your lingerie!

It has always surprised me how many women have told me that they wear padded bras, not for the support or added cleavage, but because they are afraid that their nipples may peak through their clothing. Then one evening at an event I was hosting, two women from France were trying on bras and both chose all lace, non-padded bras. As I complimented them on their selections, we got to talking about why so many women in the US are afraid to wear a non-padded bra. I am of the opinion that this is in large part because of the nipple factor. For some reason, there is this belief that a woman’s nipple should never peak through her clothing in public, but remain hidden out of sight behind a thick layer of padding, as if they don’t exist. We want big boobs, but don’t want big nipples. To complicate the situation, women are told to embrace their curves, while at the same time advocating smooth contours that conceal our natural shapes. Think about it, even our swimwear has padding to ensure the natural form of the nipple is concealed at all times, even when wet!

So here are my top 5 reasons, besides the love of the nipple, for wearing unpadded bras:

[Featured bra created by Black Lace Skin Jewelry]

Comfort 
Soft, sexy and comfortable, unpadded bras are lighter.
Plus, all the support comes from the band.
Underwires help but you don’t need padding to get lift and support.

Natural
Padding just doesn’t look natural and can cause awkward bulkiness.
Who wants to add more bulk?
Plus, men are not fans of padding, they want to see and feel the real thing.

Confidence
Free your ladies from the padding and you’ll be more confident in your body.
Also it’s not good to advertise what you don’t have.
It’s like makeup, at some point it’s going to have to come off!

Health
While there is much debate whether bras are actually good or bad for breasts,
one thing is for certain, breasts should be able to move.
Anything constricted for too long is just not healthy.

Fashion
Except for the entertaining, but not realistic, Victoria Secret fashion show,
most designers incorporate natural shapes in their designs –
on and off the runway.

SHOP L`ECOLE NUIT and use coupon code SHANNONMICHELLE at checkout for 15% off your lingerie!

Most people would say their first year of marriage is the hardest. My mom-in-law once told me that the first 5 years are the hardest but that might just be an adjustment for the Tyson men…lol.

“Most people would say their first year of marriage is the hardest.” That’s what one of my past clients told me when we recently caught up and she was asking me how I was doing and how we couldn’t believe that my one year anniversary was just around the corner. She was kind of taken aback when I told her that this first year has been pretty relaxing and overall a really good year. What we didn’t get into in too much detail, was that the year prior was absolute hell.

Because 80% of my boudoir clients are getting married for the first time, I want to share my story in hopes that you will have an amazing first year too!

Quick background: My husband and I met in high school. Although we had mutual friends and knew of each other, we rarely hung out. And looking back, we were definitely not ready for each other at that time. Thirteen years later, we reconnected on Facebook and got together when I was home visiting family. Because he lived in Virgina and I lived in Boston, we dated long distance for 10 month. It was when he moved to Boston that things really got interesting.

You would think that because we talked every day for 10 months and I spent one week a month with him in person, we knew each other very well. WRONG. No matter how well you think you know someone, when you live with them, you learn a whole lot more about him and about yourself. In fact, there were times where I found myself just staring at him thinking, “Who are you?! This is not the person I know. ” And he may have thought the same of me at times.

I will say this. The year prior to our marriage, we were hit with a lot of triggers for stress. Just after our engagement, there was a period of unemployment, we were planning an out of state wedding, my fiance was in a car accident, his mother was diagnosed with cancer…all this within the first 6 months of our 8 month engagement. It was a lot! And then there’s the issue of communication. I think it’s fair to say that most couples have to learn to communicate but it’s especially hard for two super independent and strong willed 30 something people who are really set in their ways. I used to joke and say that “The only one more stubborn than him, is me.” Probably the reason it works but it doesn’t always make it easy. We hadn’t quite learned yet how to communicate with each other and with all that life was throwing at us, it really exposed that issue and brought it to the surface.

I think our first year has been amazing because we did the hard work the year before our marriage. For better or for worse, I walked down that aisle knowing the good, the bad and the ugly parts of my husband. I will be honest with you that at some point, I did not think we would make it. But I’m glad I saw those parts before we were married. I felt like the decision was still mine. I knew his strengths, his weaknesses and I still chose him. I’m not sure I would have felt the same had we married and then I got to see that other side of us. I would have felt tricked, manipulated, gypped. [And if that’s where you are at in your own relationship, I’m sorry. Just know that it would have happened at some point anyway.] But we chose each other long before we chose each other. I’ve always said “he doesn’t feel like a boyfriend to me, he feels like family.” So, we got help. We found a premarital relationship therapist and we worked on our relationship. We worked hard on our relationship. In fact, we continued to meet with our counselor at least once a month for the next year to check in and keep working on our relationship. We know that our behaviors are learned. We also know that to thrive in this marriage, we must unlearn them. We learned at a very young age how to survive and what was necessary then, may be the very thing that gets in the way of a healthy relationship today.

We both work hard to be better partners and to be emotionally healthy so that we can be a support for one another. It’s not always easy. It’s work. Here are some things I’ve learned about my marriage and I hope they will help yours as well!

M – Memories.

Hold on to those “in between” moments. You know the ones; where you are both happy, in love and loving life. Those actually are your “movie moments.” When you’re fighting or feeling discouraged about your relationship, you will need the movie memories to remind you of who you are fighting for.

A – Always say “I love you.”

No one has ever told me they love me more than my husband. He tells me countless times a day and I’ve learned to really appreciate this about him. God forbid anything happen to either of us, we know we will not say “I wish I had said ‘I love you’ more.”

R – Regulate your emotions.

Wow, this is a hard one! The way you fight is another learned behavior from a really young age. Arguments are inevitable. It’s not that you fight, it’s how you fight. One of the most difficult but most empowering things I’ve had to learn to accept is that I can only control myself. The old “never go to bed angry” is advice we won’t be taking. Walking away and setting boundaries mid fight is very difficult for us but it’s better than letting the argument escalate to a place where serious emotional damage is done. Regulating your emotions takes practice and emotional reactions are not logical so there’s no point in trying to logically resolve an issue when emotions are high. Sometimes you need space. Don’t let the issue go unresolved but agree to revisit it when you are both calm.

R – Respect.

Nothing will destroy a relationship like resentment. And nothing creates resentment like disrespect. Respect is a choice. Make sure you are choosing respect at all times in your relationship.

I – I will leave if…

[Let’s make one thing very clear, I don’t believe in ultimatums. This is not about ultimatums; it’s about boundaries.]

A good friend of mine once told me that she and her husband had a list of X, Y and Z things they would not accept in their marriage. It basically says, if one of those things listed is ever done, I have every right to leave you.

I loved this so much that I put this into place in our own marriage!

You see, it’s not intended as a list of threats. It’s a promise of security when things get tough. It’s a promise to him that if things get really difficult between us but that list hasn’t been violated, you can know in your heart that I will stay. And it’s a promise to myself that although things are so bad that I may feel like there is no out, that if shit hits the fan and we are in such a place where we just can’t see straight but the list has not been violated, I stay. I will “put on my big girl panties” [as they say in the south] and I will stay in this relationship and we will work through it to the other side.

A – Always practice patience.

No definition for this one, it just takes practice. Have patience with your husband, yourself and your relationship. While I don’t encourage you to have patience with disrespectful behavior, understand that not all things will be resolved right away. Relationships are complicated. Habits are formed over years and they don’t break overnight. When my husband or I feel down about a disagreement we’ve had, I find it helpful to remember that “It’s ok, we have the rest of our lives to figure this all out.”

G – God.

If nothing else, God is love. While it’s much easier to focus or become fixated on the things we want to change about our husband, focus on the good in him and the love you have for him in your relationship. Love is much quieter than anger, but it is much more powerful. Someone once told me, “you’d be surprised what love can heal.”

E – Empathy.

Saved the best for last. You must have empathy for your spouse. The more you understand him, the more empathy you can have for him. The more empathy you have, the more patience and love you can muster up when you need it the most. I never feel closer or more in love with my husband than when I have practiced empathy. It’s often needed in times of struggle and it’s the one thing that helps me turn toward him when I really want to turn away from him.

Don’t forget the only person you can change, is yourself. Could you use some inspiration? Click HERE.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

This post ended up being much longer than expected but I hope you know you are not alone. Just because our first year of marriage wasn’t a blood-bath doesn’t mean that we haven’t had our year. We just got a jump start on things! And whether you find yourself in the first year of marriage or the first year of your relationship, these challenges are real. They can be extremely difficult and you’ll have to choose love, respect, commitment and empathy regularly. I have no idea what the future brings for us, but what I do know is that we are both willing to work on and fight for our relationship. Remember, the person you are meant to be with will challenge you and push you to grow as a person and that’s not always easy. Thank God that same person is also there to support and love you as well. In celebration of our 1 year anniversary, I welcome you to our wedding vows!

 Coleman & Shannon Tyson . May 30, 2014

Ready for a new headshot? A beauty portrait? Ready to try boudoir? Great! Now what in the world will you wear?! More specifically, what colors look best on you? Keep reading for…

3 Foolproof Ways to Know What Colors You Should Wear in Photos

1] Select a color that you love! Is there that one color you feel comfortable in and are happy wearing? Wear that!

2] You know that one color that you don’t love but every time you wear it, you get tons of compliments? Wear that! 

3] Who is your celebrity doppelganger? Google that person and look at her red carpet outfits. What color is she most photographed in? Wear that!
[Hint: She’s not dressing herself; she has a professional stylist.]

The bottom line – Don’t over think it. When you’ve hired the right photographer, you’re going to look great so just enjoy it!
Want more info on what to wear for boudoir? Click HERE to sign up for your free lingerie style guide.

The strangest thing in my camera bag is a big jar of Petroleum Jelly!

As a boudoir photographer, I can see how thing might make you a little nervous…lol, until I explain what it’s used for. Petroleum Jelly is an amazing way to highlight the skin and create a “glow” but I mostly use it to give you a wet look without the need for glycerin. A little KY, a spritzer of water and you’re good to go! The water will roll right off the jelly and give you those really cool water beads that show up in photos.

Below are some other really fun (but not dirty) ways to use petroleum jelly!

NAIL POLISH: Rub on the skin | cuticles around your nails before polishing. If you make a mistake, just wipe it off when your nails dry!

CHAPPED LIPS: Just apply to your lips! A little goes a long way.

MAKE UP REMOVER: Use to remove make up and moisturize your skin at the same time!

Click HERE to download your free shopping app & get instant access to coupon codes from some really cool beauty businesses!!

“What am I going to tell my fiance?!”
“I frantically threw stuff in a bag this morning on my way out the door and was just praying he didn’t notice.”
“I have NO idea what I’m going to tell him when I get home.”

These are just a few the statements I hear on a weekly basis from my clients. They are usually brides who are trying to surprise their fiance with the gift of his life. Trying to keep that a secret until the wedding day is not always an easy feat. If this is a grooms gift or birthday gift or anniversary gift or just because gift; the chances are you might have to be creative with how you pull this off, especially since you’ll be coming home with full hair and make up! And who wants to get all glammed up, just to remove it all hours later. After being pampered by our hair and make up artists, most of our clients enjoy a date night or girls night out! So just how do they pull this off?

That’s where we come in!

We have crafted a few lies we tell our clients to tell their significant others (assuming he notices).

1. “I had my trial hair and make up today! I love it but I think it’s a little too much for the wedding day so I’m going to have to have another trial with someone who does something more subtle. Don’t you agree?”

2. “Look! I popped into Sephora today and they were giving away free makeovers!”
[Men have no idea that makeover takes hours and this kind of transformation would never be considered a free trial.]

3. “They had mommy makeovers at the baby shower!”
4.”They had someone do makeovers at the bridal shower today!”

Three and four work if you:
A) Schedule your shoot for the morning of some event or party you are going to that evening.
B) Your man has no idea where and when the is a baby shower is, nor cares.
C) He thinks the shower was for someone at work and that you’ve been at work all day.

5. Can you believe it?! Our boss arranged for a surprise beauty day at work for all the girls to celebrate (fill in the blank)!

When there’s a will, there’s a way ladies! Part of what makes us so incredible as women is our ability to lie and manipulate the situation. It’s time to use those skills for good. He’ll be surprised and when you come home feeling full of confidence, he’s not going to ask too many questions. He’ll be happy for you! Just stick to the lie. Everything will be fine. You can do this! And don’t worry, chances are he’s not seeing this article right now. And if he is, he’ll forget about it by dinner.

HOW TO POSE THIN

“I have to say this is probably one of the best things that I have done for myself in a while! Walking in I was definitely feeling a little nervous and not knowing what to expect. I mean putting on a small amount of clothing in front of a stranger that you’ve never met before who wouldn’t be nervous! Not only is Shannon’s location super super cute and quaint. I felt so comfortable in her space and Shannon herself makes you feel like you are longtime friends. Plus she does this every day so she’s used to seeing every shape and size. So the first outfit was the most revealing (hence not being pictured here). The ones following that were more softer kind of sexy-over-the-shoulder outfits. With never doing this before Shannon gave me great direction and helpful hints. Who would’ve known how hard it is to be a model? I feel like at some points I was doing a yoga pose! Got to give those models some credit. After about three outfit changes we were on our last shoot. Which involved the fan blowing my hair which was absolutely amazing… I felt like a real supermodel! After leaving I really did not know what to expect. I basically just left everything up to Shannon. I am so glad that I did.  I was completely blown away by the finished photos that she sent me. Not only did she make me look great but she made me feel amazing about myself. Which I think everybody should experience!”

Deanna is a co-owner of the earth friendly Salon, Verde Boutique in Braintree, MA. For the full review, click HERE.

Ok guys, you know those Victoria’s Secret commercials that come on? The ones with all the wind blowing and slow motion walking, flirty smiles and legs for days? Well, you know how you have become a pro at secretly enjoying these few and far between moments without your significant other noticing, even when she’s sitting right next to you? Well, she notices!!! She knows you are drooling on the inside for that full 30 seconds or more.

Secretly, there is a part of her that wishes she could be that woman for you. Don’t get me wrong; she knows you love and appreciate her, but there’s still that inner girlie girl who would love to come forward in the most intimate way and be able to completely surprise you. She wants to completely surprise herself! And sure, you could purchase the lingerie, the shoes, the perfume etc., but it’s the experience that will last long after those goods go out of style. Why not become the one man who can give her the experience of feeling like that model you know she knows you notice.

All women love having great photographs of themselves. Yes, it may take a little loving support from you; after all, feeling self-conscious and a bit nervous about being photographed is completely natural. Wouldn’t you be if you were stepping so far out of your comfort zone? But what you and I both know is that after being pampered with hair, make up, lighting, editing, maybe some new lingerie and after being coached through a shoot by a professional fashion photographer, she can’t help but leave feel full of confidence! She will see herself differently and although she knows she may not have that 24″ waist, she now knows she doesn’t have to. She can feel amazingly sexy in the body she has and even better, she will feel desired and celebrated by the one person who means the most to her…you. Do you know why she wants to look like those models, aside from the obvious? If you take nothing else from me, know this; it’s because every women wants to feel wanted. She knows you adore her but she will feel sexy, confident, loved, valued, desired, all of the above, when you remind her that you want her. What better way to do that than by creating lasting, tasteful, intimate images of her that the two of you can cherish for years to come.

As spring approaches, what better time to let her know how much you love and celebrate her. Email info@shannon-michelle.com or call 617.307.1155 to contact us about purchasing a boudoir experience with Shannon Michelle. For pricing and more info, visit our website HERE.

FOR BOOKINGS OR INQUIRIES: info@shannon-michelle.com