Rene is known for her bubbly personality and gigantic smile! She is the critical care nurse with the bright hair and will make anyone’s day with her positivity!
One of my favorite subjects to photograph are women and horses, especially ones they adore and have a great relationship with. That definitely describes Rene and her Thoroughbred, Donks!
We thought we had found a pretty nice April day! It was sunny and fairly warm, in the fifties, and we met up at Washoe Lake State Park. Well, the wind was whipping and made it feel like it was 30! My wonderful stylist, Kristina, can make any situation work and she did Rene’s hair and makeup in a chair positioned outside her car, and used a generator in the back of my car for hair tools.
Donks had tons of energy and didn’t want to wait around for his time in front of the camera, he was ready to goooo!!!!!
Rene rode him in and out of the water and he was loving it!
I had actually hoped to do a full boudoir session on horseback and on the ground with the horse, but it was just too dang cold! We pushed through the wind the best we could, but we were all freezing. So we went with this steampunk inspired outfit, and the next outfit was Rene’s wedding gown and very unique cape. She did get married at this same place, and arrived at the ceremony on Donks! She also celebrated her second wedding anniversary right after the session, so it was fun to dress up again and relive that special day, and her husband was helping her that night as an assistant as well.
I’ll share the wedding gown photos in a future blog post!
To start planning and creating your vision for your equine session, contact me at 775-745-0445 or sue@sierraelegance.com Looking forward to creating amazing art for you, just like I did for Rene!
I had the pleasure of photographing the lovely Gabby, Miss Rodeo Nevada 2022 multiple times during her reign. We did some headshot sessions in the studio and then a location session at Moon Rocks. I was so eager to photograph her with a horse but we were never able to work it out.
Here are a couple of her beautiful headshots that she used for the Miss Rodeo America competition in December of 2022
Gabby traveled across the country to rodeos and made other appearances throughout 2022, as well as working as an ER nurse in a Reno hospital! She was such an inspiration as she served our community and represented Nevada throughout America.
I have been honored to photograph many of the Miss Rodeo Nevada queens for over 20 years! Rodeo Queens are always so much fun to work with- they come with tons of outfits, hats, boots, and jewelry! We narrow down to the very best choices and decide which background or setting will work best.
I am thrilled to photograph pageant queens from any system, whether it’s headshots, banner photos, for autograph sheets, or program photos. Contact me for a planning consultation and we can create fabulous photos that will rival anything you see online from photographers around the country. You don’t need to travel a long distance to find quality portraits!
Kristina is my fabulous go-to makeup artist! She creates most of the wonderful transformations my clients experience when they have a session with me.
I invited Kristina to be in front of my camera with her Great Danes that she absolutely adores, they are a big part of her family and very attached to her.
We are kicking off the Barks & Beauty Experience, and she was a perfect representative of the type of client who suits this perfectly!
Kristina says “My husband always wanted a Great Dane, so I surprised him for his 40th birthday with a unique Harlequin puppy we named Ginormica. She will be 7 in May and shows no signs of slowing down, even though Danes have a lifespan of around 8-10 years.
We loved having a Great Dane so much, we decided to add a second one to the mix. We bought Finn from a local breeder, and he just celebrated his fifth birthday.
Fun fact- when he was 6 months old he broke my ring finger accidentally, and I now have a plate and 2 screws just under my wedding ring!”
“Ginormica, you are as unique and clever as your name and answer to it with sweet gentle grace. I love your hugs; and I mean real, head on your shoulder, pressing in with your eyes closed – hugs. You always know when someone needs it and you’re never stingy with your love. You give me all the sweet puppy love I could ever want.”
“Finn, you love with your entire body. There’s no gentle nudge or soft puppy kiss. You barge in and make sure I know you love me just as much as I love you. From plopping your 160lbs in my lap to pushing your head into my hand with enough force to break a finger (which you’ve done), you love with your whole being. You’re a big goofball and I love everything about you.”
Would you like to create a love story with your dogs to preserve those memories forever? We’d love to welcome you to be a part of the “Barks & Beauty Experience”.
You will have so much fun with professional hair and makeup artistry, outfit planning assistance, use of our amazing studio wardrobe, fully guided posing coaching, same-day ordering, and gorgeous art products.
Then we will create a coffee table book with special love letters written to your dog combined with the beautiful portraits.
We will host a gallery art showing of all of the participants and unveil the book at my Reno studio!
All of the information is on my special website- Barks & Beauty
High-spirited students, their fun poses, and the lively energy they bring to the scene – there’s a lot to love at a senior portrait session as a photographer. Usually longer in duration, these sessions always get me excited. And I absolutely love creating these portraits! The best part? Interacting with so many incredible young minds and getting a glimpse of their dreams, lives, and aspirations! Every individual has a unique persona, and I try my best to make their portraits match the vivacious spirit these young souls bring to the session.
Meet Rylee!
I’ve known Rylee, now a senior year student of the class of 2022, since she was just 9! Her mom and I used to work out at the same gym around the same time every day and got to know each other. And our shared interests made the portrait session all the more fun and exhilarating. Now, are you wondering what I, a photographer, and Rylee, a high school senior, have in common? It turns out, plenty! To begin with, her love for horses! It was a delight to learn that this bright student shared my fondness for these captivating animals. So much so that she wanted these equine beauties to be a part of her senior portraits. Since she didn’t have her own horse to bring to the session, she requested to use mine. And I gladly obliged.
What’s more? Rylee shared that she and her family have a great liking for camping, especially, at Sand Mountain. Also known as the Singing Mountain, the Sand Mountain in west-central Nevada is a recreation area eyed by many adventure lovers and even makes for a great spot for photography. That’s also one of the reasons why even I love frequenting the place. While conversing with Rylee, I also learned that she enjoys riding various vehicles on the dunes on most weekends. And I was happy that I would get to photograph those moments as well, but more on that later!
Rylee is a longtime volleyball player in school and in club volleyball, but she decided she didn’t want volleyball to be the the focus of her senior portraits. Rylee will be graduating from Spanish Springs High School in Sparks.
Senior Equine Portraits at my Home Studio Barn!!!
I just finished my new barn at my home in Spanish Springs, and so I used it as a studio along with my horse, Pancho, as a model (a great addition to the shoot because of Rylee’s love for horses – like I already told you). Even though Pancho was around Rylee for the first time, they got along great and Pancho stood nicely for most of the session. After she was mounted on the horse and struck a cool equestrian pose in a dress on a chilly evening, he decided to take off trotting! She only had a halter with a lead on one side but was able to take hold of him. Kudos to her spirit, I say!
Senior Portrait Photography at Sand Mountain
On the day of the session at Sand Mountain, Rylee was accompanied by her parents Kasey and Siobhan. And guess what? It was the weekend of Rylee’s 18th birthday party (talk about great timing!) while they were camping with their family, and they invited me to stay for a wonderful grilled tri-tip dinner. And I am so very thankful for their generosity! Rylee sure has a cheerful aura. I could make that out from her exuberant energy and the multiple outfits she planned to wear for the shoot! And there’s absolutely no doubt that all of them were on point!
Circling back to Rylee and her love for riding OHVs. She has driven these vehicles for years and loves playing in the sand! Unfortunately, the vehicle actually broke down at the spot before we started, and they had to tow it back after the session, a bit of bad timing! However, I still managed to make the most of it by directing her to pose around it. The images turned out great, and need I say – “Rylee, you are such a natural when it comes to posing!” And a thoughtful planner as well – the tie-dye T-shirt she wore said “brunette and boujee”, and guess what, she recently dyed her hair dark. Coincidence? I beg to differ! 🙂
As much as I enjoyed the entire photo session, as a photographer, the sunset hour was my personal favorite! Just as the sky turns crimson, that’s when the true magic unfolds! And quite a planner that Rylee is, she had just the perfect attire (a gorgeous tangerine gown) to blend with the mood and tone. This ravishingly pretty lady looked nothing short of a desert rose amid the ripples of sand dunes, for sure! Even though behind the scenes, she was totally freezing, you could hardly see any of those shivers spoil her pose or expression before the camera. Rylee, you go, girl! Your senior portraits were as unique as you are. And I loved every moment I spent creating these lovely images of you.
A Luxurious & Custom Portrait Experience With Sierra Elegance Photography
Kasey and Siobhan (Rylee’s parents), thanks for trusting me with photographing Rylee’s senior portraits. And Rylee, you are such a vibrant soul and a delight to photograph. Just continue to be your natural self. I hope I did justice to your expectations and could match your energy! Here’s wishing all the best for the years to come!
Hey, you! Hope you enjoyed reading this blog! If you wish to plan your next photo session, feel free to contact me or call me at (775)745-0445 for a complimentary consultation and plan further. Let’s discuss your vision! I am all ears. To learn more about my photography style and services, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest pages.
I had the honor to celebrate breast cancer THRIVERS who trained six straight months to get more fit and compete in a bikini fitness competition!
These ladies each told me their story over the phone and it was so meaningful to relive those experiences with them. They all have overcome so much and gone on to do more than survive, they thrive!
Each of them lives life to the fullest and they are definitely inspirational!
I photographed them over the course of two days in my studio. The organizer asked for black and white and minimal makeup and hairstyling to have the true beauty and raw feeling of this experience come through, other than that she gave me free reign for styling.
I decided to do a simple look and a glam look, so I asked them to wear black bodysuits and then let them choose from my studio wardrobe to make it a little fancier! I also used my blush angel wings with all of them and they loved them! For the group photo I let them each pick a tulle skirt, and I have a LOT of them!
It was up to me to choose the best one of each participant and I wanted them to be cohesive so it was a bit challenging but they were unveiled at the Nevada Museum of Art for the first time and all of the ladies were in awe! They had large black and white portraits on display to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month, and when they walked in it was totally silent. Such a humbling experience! Everyone loved their portraits and I was truly thankful to give them a fun and empowering day in front of my camera!
The first step after you contact me by either messaging me or filling out the contact form on my website www.nevadaboudoir.com is filling out a questionnaire. I want to find out lots of details about you and the things that mean the most to you. I know it takes a little time to fill it out, but it helps me know what additional questions to ask you and what your vision is for the session as well as your “why”. Then you schedule a call through my calendar link to find a time that’s convenient for you.
So many women don’t feel seen or heard, I want you to feel both! I will ask you a few questions but I mainly LISTEN! That is pretty rare in this day and age, but it makes my clients feel great, and to think about why they love their partner and themselves. I listen to any concerns you might have and tell you the details of the whole experience as well as pricing ranges. This call starts us off on the right foot and you will be more confident and prepared going into your session, and feel comfortable with me and the experience I want to create for you!
Step Two: The Consultation
The next step in planning your boudoir experience- the consultation! We meet in person so that we can see each other face-to-face before spending such intimate time together. It will help you feel so much more comfortable and confident! We will discuss your outfits or if you need help with planning them. I love to share the large variety of luxury products I offer, I believe that printed art products will be meaningful to you for the rest of your life and have so much more value than just digital images on your computer. I will show you all the options and pricing and talk about payment options if you need them. You will be able to view the studio and wardrobe and see what you love the most and want to make sure to use! This meeting usually takes less than an hour, but it makes a huge difference! Even my clients from out of the area usually come for this meeting and have no regrets for spending the extra time.
I didn’t mention it earlier, but when you book your session over the phone and reserve your date with a credit card I send you a custom planning guide as well as my Amazon wish list that has lots of suggestions and ideas of items that I know photograph well. You will have lots of outfit inspiration and I am happy to help you in any way that I can!
Step Three: Professional Hair and Makeup Artistry
Step three in your luxury boudoir experience is being pampered with professional hair and makeup artistry! My go-to artist is Kristina McKeegan Nierman with Kiss and Makeup. She has decades of experience and works with all kinds of hair, skin tone, ages, etc. She works magic on every client and creates the perfect look that transforms but doesn’t look so over the top that you don’t feel like yourself. She can do a range from natural to enhanced glam! My clients all enjoy her friendly manner and professionalism! You get to put on a comfy robe, sip on your favorite drink, and listen to music while you sit back and get glammed up. This is all done right at my studio, so you don’t have to go to a salon or another location, it’s so convenient and relaxing!
Step Four: Your Boudoir Session
Now we’re on to your actual boudoir session! Lots of women are nervous that they won’t know what to do or will feel awkward. Most people believe they aren’t photogenic! In front of my camera you will look your very best, I promise! I will pose you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, plus coach every expression. You won’t be wondering what to do next! You are welcome to save pictures of poses you want to try and I can figure out how to put you into those poses and look the best for your body. Everyone starts out a little fearful, but you will realize by the time you change into your next outfit you’re feeling great and having a blast! My clients leave really happy and super excited! We have multiple sets, furniture, and lots of options to create beautiful settings for every single client that works with your outfit choices and colors.
Step Five: Ordering Your Art
After your boudoir session, you can go get some lunch and relax for about 60-90 minutes (there is also a massage therapist in our building!). Come back to the studio and your previews will be ready to view and you can place your order the very same day while you’re still super excited! I will guide you through the simple ordering process– choosing your favorite poses and the artwork that you love! Then you decide which collection you would like, choose your cover materials and options as well as your wall art– or you can wait until later if you want your partner to help you choose. Then your selections are professionally retouched by our skilled female artist and designed into the artwork of your choice. You get to review and approve your album before it’s ordered to make sure everything is perfect!
Contact us today for your complimentary phone consultation to find out if we’re a good fit and we have a date available for you!
775.745.0445 sue@sierraelegance.com
2 Responses to “Your Sierra Elegance Boudoir Experience- all the details here!”
Kaily Jackson
I would like to just look amazing and feel confident in my own body again.
Go sleek and formfitting! Sometimes you might want to hide your body, but the best way to accentuate your curves is to wear clothing that shows your shape. Trust me on this! Make sure all of your lingerie and clothing choices fit well. And it’s much easier to retouch the small lumps and bumps than it is to shrink a baggy garment.
Bodysuits are a definite DO! They are flattering to all shapes and sizes. They can have long sleeves, straps, lots of options (but I don’t recommend short-sleeved, they cut off arms in the wrong way). Strappy, lacy, solid, high cut, low cut in front or back, so many choices!
Solid colors are important. Don’t wear patterns, neon or bright colors, anything that will distract the eye. Those will bring attention to the areas you may be trying to minimize.
Don’t wear babydolls or gowns. They can be comfortable but are not figure-flattering on anyone, they make all sizes look bigger than they are. Pretty much nobody wants that!
You can wear shapewear! Yes, you can wear Spanx under your lingerie if you feel that it holds you in better! They can shape and smooth your curves. Just make sure they fit correctly under your chosen outfits and are the appropriate color. You can also wear a bra that fits you well under your lingerie for a layered look.
Corsets- you can choose to wear a corset if you really want to bring your waist in tight! I will help you lace it up. Just know that it can be limiting when posing, and you want to make sure you’re not spilling out the sides or back. If you can find a corset with cups it will look better than ones that flatten your chest.
Posing is super important to flatter your figure and make you look your very best. I pose my curvy clients the same way I would any shape client– I never turn your body straight on to the camera, I would never shoot from below, and I know the right angles to hide and showcase all the right places! It really takes an expert to make every client look perfect, and I have that experience!
Details- pay attention to all the details to bring your A-game to your session! Make sure your nails are perfect, I always recommend a neutral color polish or French manicure. Toes and feet should be looking their best too, don’t forget to check your toenail polish! Moisturize your body and drink plenty of water in the week before your session.
Stretch! You are going to be doing a lot of arching and bending which really makes your body look amazing! I’ll be honest, it’s not always super comfortable, but it’s ALWAYS worth it! You will probably be sore for a day after.
Relax and enjoy the experience! You will have amazing memories of a special day that you were completely pampered and felt like a supermodel! Isn’t it worth investing in yourself for a luxury experience with premium art products to match?
Bonus tip– you don’t have to lose weight before your session! Every woman says that no matter what size she is! Use this as a real opportunity for body love and acceptance, just the way you are at this very moment. You are perfect just the way you are! If you do make the choice to lose weight I will photograph you again with no additional session fee. You only pay the hair and makeup artist. Great deal, right?
Comment below, what are your favorite outfits and sets?
I would like to just look amazing and feel confident in my own body again.
Hi Kaily! Let’s chat and make that happen! Fill out the contact form on my other website, nevadaboudoir.com and we’ll talk soon!