One of my first entries on this blog was about Boudoir Photography. I had recently had my own boudoir photos done, and I felt confident to share tips on how to make the process great for others considering them. It was a true honor to have Danielle Biel of Skye Blu Photography take my boudoir photos, and the finished product was stunning. Not only did my husband love them, I was smitten with them.
Danielle has been in the wedding photography business since 2001, when she started as an assistant photographer with a well-established company. In 2003, she took the plunge and opened Skye Blu Photography. Danielle photographs weddings, boudoir, portraits and families. Her work has been published multiple times in The Knot, InStyle Weddings, Your Wedding Day, Santa Barbara, Ceremony and Wedding Bells. Her fabulous boudoir photography has received national attention on the television shoes Inside Edition and Get Married TV.
It was a pleasure to catch up with Danielle and see her new boudoir studio in Pasadena. She is as fun and charming as ever, and her photography will blow your socks off.
You know you want to see more.
Where did you learn the craft of photography?
I took several photography classes in college, where I became obsessed with processing my work in the dark room. I was in the dark room from morning until night, I loved it so much. Prior to opening Skye Blu, I was an assistant photographer to an established wedding photography company, where I cut my teeth on both the art and the business sides of wedding photography. It was an excellent learning experience, and I was confident when I opened my own company in 2003. It has been an amazing journey so far.
How do you keep it fresh?
I have never tired on the art of photography, and I adore the couples I work with. Every wedding is truly unique, and I have been blessed to capture weddings in a variety of settings. Many of my wedding couples are now having children, and it is wonderful to see their family grow by capturing their maternity and family portraits. Additionally, I do boudoir sessions out of my personal studio in Pasadena. I adore boudoir photography, as it celebrates a woman's beauty.
How do you differentiate yourself from other wedding photographers?
I almost exclusively shoot in film, which is a rarity these days with most photographers going digital and using software such as Photoshop to alter images. But I love using film. Film is where my heart is, I love its simplicity. It also forces me to think on my feet, challenging me to use the light which is naturally occurring. Film is honest. I cannot go back and jazz up the image later. When my images come back from the lab, they are so beautiful and so real.
Most of my clients value my use of film, and it is something we connect over.
How did you chose the name Skye Blu for your photography business?
Skye Blue was my email address in high school. I liked it then, and when I opened my doors the correct spelling, Sky Blue, was not available. So off I went with Skye Blu.
What should couples be aware of when booking their wedding photographer?
In addition to thoroughly reviewing your photographer's portfolio, ensure that the work of the photographer you want is the one who will take your pictures. You will want his or her name on the contract. Also ask if you will own the negatives. If your photographer does not allow that, be sure you will at the very least know how to access them for your personal use.
Be sure to compare the packages being offered, and get what you really want. Do not be afraid to ask your photographer to customize a package for you, most are happy to do it.
Lets talk about Boudoir. When do your clients usually have them done?
At the start of my business, most of my boudoir clients were brides looking for a sexy wedding gift for their future husbands or as an anniversary present. But the growth has been tremendous in recent years. I have women who take the pictures to celebrate a particular achievement or life stage, such as weight loss or a special birthday. Some women have pictures taken as part of the path to recovery from a traumatic event such as rape.
Why should women do a boudoir session?
Boudoir sessions give women confidence, they see themselves in a whole new way. Taking boudoir photos allows you to fully immerse yourself in your own beauty, to pamper yourself. It is also a very freeing experience. When you first come into the session, I know you will be nervous, but when you walk out, you will feel like a whole new woman. I love seeing that transformation, and creating artistic images she can enjoy for years to come.
Sidenote: to read more about why you should consider a boudoir session and how to make the experience a memorable one, read my blog entry about boudoir here.
Tell me about the books you are publishing. (Do you ever sleep?)
My first book is called Ethereal. I had an idea to take boudoir photos of women behind a screen. I had an opaque panel custom built for the project. In 2010 I will do a gallery show, as well as publish a coffee table book of the images. I am very excited for this project, as the pictures are incredible.
The other project is a one which aims show women's beauty in all forms. For this book, I asked women aged 18-80 to sit for complimentary photography sessions who had endured physical or emotional scars.
The response was tremendous--we had women who had suffered domestic violence, breast cancer, or had facial birth marks come forward. It was incredible to capture their beauty on film, and learn how they had overcome such obstacles. The published images will capture that beauty in all forms, and serve as a inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
The final book will be a collection of some of my favorite boudoir photographs. So without further ado, lets finish off with one more smoking hot boudoir picture.
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