As with any skill once you learn the basics you start to build upon them, expand your visions and try new things.  We believe that in business as well as life you have a have variety and always seek to expand and improve in every en devour. =)

After my recent surgery I had a lot of down time to research new photography techniques, and one of the styles I hadn’t tried yet, but thought was very interesting, is bodyscapes. This technique, sometimes referred to as low key lighting, is something I’ve been very enthusiastic about lately and hadn’t explored very much before since I was restricted equipment wise. However, after we splurged a bit at B&H Photo I’ve been delving into this type of photography with a vengeance!

While doing research for this new shooting technique I was contacted by Crystal, who was a prospective client for a wedding shoot (yes I do WEDDINGS!), and during our conversation she mentioned Vantel Pearls, a company she worked for. For those of you who are new readers of our blog, what I do every now and then is highlight a woman owned business, or feature a woman in what would be considered a nontraditional role, to support strong women in our community. So when Crystal and I talked I knew right away how to showcase those beautiful pieces of jewelry. Each pearl is unique and no two strands are exactly the same. Pearls are a timeless classic that should complete every woman’s jewelry box, and Crystal can definitely help you out with that.

I didn’t always appreciate the beauty of a pearl. Not until I started working for a NEX jewelry department and learned more about them and different styles and settings. When Crystal showed me some of the inventory she had on hand and a catalog from the company I was pleasantly surprised. There are so many modern unique pieces to choose from to match any taste and occasion. But don’t take my word for it. Book a home party with Crystal and let her blow your mind!

Hi! My name is Crystal Hetzer. I joined Vantel Pearls in 2007 and the company has given me the opportunity to have a home ran business, still work full time and going to college online full time. I thought about getting into a home business for a while to help with the bills, but I’m not into make-up or expensive clothes, but I do love jewelry. The best thing about pearls is that they are great for every occasion and all the different styles they come in are fantastic!

The one thing I love about doing home parties is that the customer never knows what color, or how big of pearl they are going to get when they pick the oyster. Vantel Pearls has made it easier for customers, in the way that they don’t have to open an oyster if they don’t want and they can order the product with either a white or black pearl. The company focuses on the customer, like other businesses, the hostess gets items at discounts but I feel that Vantel Pearls gives a wide variety of items to choice from to use the discounts on. Also the company is reaching out to customers in different ways. For example, online with demonstrator personal websites, facebook and other media outlets. Every Thursday on facebook they put at least one item up at a deep discount for customers.

Vantel Pearls is committed to the idea of leaving the world a better place, and truly believes that every individual does make a difference. Each time you make a purchase, Vantel Pearls donates a percentage of sales to agencies that provide shelter, counseling and education to families in need.

Vantel Pearls often gets involved with their local schools or other adolescent organizations to talk about bullying and how it relates to a pearl. I believe that this can be directed to not only adolescents but to every person that choses to wear a pearl. “Inside every oyster, there is at least one pearl.  A pearl is formed when an oyster defends against a grain of sand or foreign particle.  The oyster secretes layers and layers of nacre or mother-of-pearl around the irritant.   When we have a challenge, how many of us, as oysters do, find the gift in it-actually turn it into something positive?”

~Crystal Hetzer, Independent Vantel Pearls™ Demonstrator

www.vantelpearls.com/crystalhetzer

360-682-6847

During this photo shoot I tried few different lighting set ups using primarily a strip light. I searched through my trusted “Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets” book a number of times for reference and inspiration. I definitely need more practice, but for the first try I am pleased with the result.

What do you think?

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This year is most likely to be our last one to be stationed on Whidbey Island. We had great times here and were fortunate enough to meet a lot of great people and gain loyal customers. This year we would like to give back to this wonderful community that has given us so much.

At least once a month I would like to highlight a new and upcoming woman owned small business. Just to draw some attention and show some girl power! The catch is, this business has to be related to health, beauty, fashion or art. If you have a suggestion or have your owned woman owned business dont hesistate to contact us and tell us why!

This month I am proud to present an independent consultant for VAULT DENIM Jessica VanDine!

My name is Jessica VanDine and I have been an independent consultant for Vault Denim in the Skagit County area since October 2011. Vault Denim was founded in April 2010. This company buys overstock authentic name brand jeans from high end department stores and boutiques then puts them into inventories that contain 100 jeans to distribute to us consultants. We carry sizes 0-26. Every inventory is so unique which in turn makes it that much more exciting to share with all my clients. The commission based pay is amazing! The hostess of each party gets treated pretty generous too with 10% of each jean sold at their party towards a pair of their choice. I’m so happy to be a part of the beginning of a successful business and can not wait to share it with others! 

I was so excited to have Jessica come out to Anacortes for a location photo shoot early in the morning. She brought out her entire inventory of latest styles of jeans and was able to fit all four of the models.  The girls were able to choose jeans that fit their personal styles and compliment their look for the day. Here is what each one had to say about the jeans they modeled.

“The style and fit of the first pair I tried on for the shoot were my favorite. They were comfortable and looked good, which is a hard combination to find for me sometimes.” ~Alicia

 

“I am always having to adjust my pants. Being tall and skinny its hard to find pants that fit both the length and the waist, but the couple pairs I tried on fit excellent!” ~Kristina

 

“I loved those jeans! It wasn’t too tight or loose, high quality and length was also perfect.” ~Meggie

“My favorite thing about the jeans was how they retained their shape and kind of stiffness throughout the time I wore them. I can’t stand pants that stretch out and get baggy throughout the day as I wear them.” ~Alicia

“I loved that there was a variety of styles. It seemed like you could find a pair for almost anyone ranging from casual to the club wear! My favorite thing about these jeans was that it actually gave me a butt lol. ” ~Kristina

 

“When I buy my jeans, I usually look at the back pocket design. Depends on the pocket position makes our hips look different.  So I loved the sparkled pockets!” ~Meggie

If anyone is interested in having a party or becoming a part of this dream come true opportunity please contact Jessica @ 360-201-8657 or email @ jessicavandine(at)vaultdenim.com.

 Walking on the streets of Anacortes, even early in the morning, we had a lot of people stop and look. Some asked questions and offered advice on good locations, others just pull over to see what is going on. But this one was our favorite fan by far! He came out of no where and was ready for his five minutes of fame.  We were sad to leave him in the alley  =(

 

Special thanks to Adrift Restaurant for allowing us to use their back hallway as a base of operations. All of us met there and stayed afterwards for breakfast and coffee. If you’ve never been to Adrift you are totally missing out!!! Everything, and I mean everything, I tried there was absolutely amazing! Staff is friendly, cooks are creative and their menu will keep you coming back time after time. Visit them next time you are out for dinner!

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*Oni Studio and the owners are not employees of Vault Denim, nor do we represent them in any form.

 

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Valentine’s Day is approaching fast and most of us are in search of that perfect gift. Something special and unique to give to our lover. Chocolate and roses are so overrated and every store is full of same old thing. It’s like we try to make him feel loved by buying same thing everyone else is going to get. Many of the couples I know don’t even celebrate Valentine’s Day. They see it as a waste of time and money. So, this Valentine’s Day take a chance and give him something that will say “I Love You” in a whole new way.

Go to Victoria’s Secret, or Lover’s Package, or Trashy.com and buy that sexy outfit you always wanted but talked yourself out of. Dig through the box of past Halloween costumes and find that masquerade mask you felt so sexy in. Get the fishnets and the highest heels in the store even though you know you will never wear them again.

Forget rose petals and pink fuzzy hearts.

This Cupid is naughty!!!

Be selfish, this gift is more for you than him! You get to play dress up and get pampered. Have your makeup done while sipping on wine, and get a shot of confidence with supermodel photo shoot.

All our Boudoir Packages are designed to fit any budget while still providing the experience of a lifetime. There is no better feeling than realizing that this hard working mom of two can still stop traffic!  We all need that boost and this is one of the ways to get it.

If you want it all and you want it now Lilith’s Lair Boudoir Photo Shoot is exactly what you need.

A room in a luxury hotel with beautiful decor and amazing views. The two hotels I hand picked for your consideration are The Majestic Inn and Spa in Anacortes and The Palace Hotel in Port Townsend. Both are glamorous in different way. Both provide a wide variety of settings for the most sensuous images. Both have breathtaking views of the town.

This is the ultimate boudoir experience.

 

 Professional hair and makeup services are included and provided by Ashley with Make Up Your Mind. Four hour photo shoot with unlimited wardrobe changes. Bring all your favorite outfits and sexiest lingerie.

At the end you will receive a one of a kind Press Printed Album of your favorite images designed specially for you. This you can present to your lover and see his face light up. This gift will keep on giving every time he looks through it!

To keep abreast of all updates make sure you become a fan on our Facebook page, we are also on Twitter and Google Plus!

FU4V4V37EGAN

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This week on FaceBook we posted a copy of a letter from a customer that was shared by a fellow photographer, Jeanine Thurston. It brought tears to my eyes and made me think a bit different about photography.

I love doing what I do. I take pride in making women feel beautiful and sexy and bring out their “private” side. But there is so much more to it.

Photos we create are not just pieces of paper. These works of art are memories. Frozen moments of our existence. Markings of our milestones. They represent our beauty, our love, our passion…

Everything we are in life will be remembered by our good deeds, but our memory will live through a photograph. Many years after we are gone, someone will look at the photo of us and say, “This is my great great great grandmother. She was a strong woman. Wasn’t she beautiful?”

When you think of a photograph in those long terms… don’t you want to leave one worth looking at?

Nowadays there are so many options to satisfy out photographic needs and wants. A 4X6 print does not cut it anymore. We bind our images into press printed books. Blow them up and frame them. Carve them into metal sheets or ceramic tiles. Today, I want to highlight one of the new products we offer here at Oni Studio.

Presenting CollageWall!!!

Supported by a grid of push-in pegs, CollageWall® pictures hang aligned and stay level.  And you can add, remove and rearrange pictures in seconds.

The frameless pictures float 1/4 inch off the wall. With multiple connection points on the back, pictures stay straight.

When you purchase a CollageWall I will personally deliver it to your door step and install it in a place you selected (within 20 miles of the studio). No mess and no fuss! A grid of precision-machined aluminum pegs hold the pictures tight. Finally a photo wall is easy to install, add to and update. And off the wall, the 5-inch-high pictures have a second life using the included stands.

To keep abreast of all updates make sure you become a fan on our Facebook page, we are also on Twitter and Google Plus!

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