Shed Some Light Gallery Opening

Shed Some Light Gallery Opening

This project began for me in March of 2015, so it had been on going for a year and a half. I wanted to get it wrapped up with in the first year, but thing happen and life sort of took over. As more time passed I just kept meeting more and more women who inspired me. 

I started this project because I felt like women can easily be overlooked or even judged for doing things that they are passionate about in life. Sometimes we find that one thing that reaches a part of our soul that we may not have known was there. We feel blissed out when we are doing it and lost without it. There may be times we take breaks from doing things we are passionate about, but there is always that beating drum inside that calls us back to it. I wanted to capture this for just a moment in time. 

I had planned on photographing 12 women, but I didn't want to extend the gallery opening too long so I opened the show with the 9 amazing women I had.

First up is Grace Hetzel. Grace is my mom, so it was only fitting that I photographed her for my project. Grace has been helping Silverlining for Pitbulls for years now. He helps at events, fundraising, donations, and she also helps when new pups arrive. I knew that this was the moment I had to capture. I was crying the entire time I was photographing. It was a truly memorable experience. 

Next, we have Savannah Rae Griffith. Savannah has been a long time friend of mine. For as long as I have known her she always wanted to have a flourishing business making bath and body products. Things haven't always been easy for her as it can be for many small businesses, but she has held her head high. She is now running her business full time and doing amazing at it! I had such a blast learning how she makes her products.

Michelle Joy was my next subject. My first experience with Tribal Fusion Belly dance was one I will never forget. I was performing with my Bollywood troupe and all of the sudden I heard this music that I had never heard before. I rushed over from behind stage (AKA behind rocks...we were outdoors) and saw Michelle's back with these amazing tattoos adorned in this beautiful costuming. That was all I could see but I was hooked, I had to find out who she was!! And I did and after we met I promised I would take her classes as soon as I could, and I did that too. Needless to say I have been hooked on Tribal Fusion Belly Dance ever since. Michelle is a passionate dancer, an encouraging teacher, and an over all wonderful person to be around. I will always look up to her and aspire to dance only half as good as she does. 

Tatiana Amico was next. Tatiana was a client of mine a few years ago and we clicked. I could tell even from our time together years ago that she was a passionate person. I knew when I started this project that she would be at the top of my list. Tatiana is a life and health coach, she is real and down to earth and that is what I love about her. When I photographed her for this session she was a few months pregnant with her second baby and she totally kicked ass. She is living proof that as a busy mom you can still take care of yourself!!!

Gaitrie Subryan of Devi Bollywood Dance. My first meeting with Gaitrie was another one I will never forget. I had found a workshop for Bollywood dance on facebook. I had no idea what Bollywood even was but I talked my girlfriend Julie into coming with me. When I heard the music and saw the moves we were going to be doing I fell in love. I had soooo much fun during that workshop, and I remember thinking to myself...."I am going to be friends with her some day." After that workshop I signed up for classes as soon as I could. Some times I would take 2 classes per week. Eventually Gaitrie asked me to be in her performance troupe. I had such a blast!!! Gaitrie is such an expressive, passionate dancer, she lives to teach and bring her love of classical Indian dance to the community. 

My beautiful and talented chef sister-in-law was next. Samantha is a super accomplished chef. Samantha is currently the Executive Chef Kindred Fare in Geneva NY. Her resume is incredible as is her food!! Sam has a passion for sharing her love and knowledge of food and cooking with all people, but especially with children, and that was what I was lucky enough to capture in my session with her for this project!!! And of course I got to eat all the yummy food we made!!!

Again I was lucky enough to look to my own family for passionate women. I was proud to photograph my little cousin Brittney Giuga. Brittney is determined, strong, and inspiring. Brittney, only age 25, has started her own training group. Hard Core 30 which has been going strong for a year now. Brittney is a fitness machine and photographing her was killer!!! There was one point during our session where Brittney was encouraging the others to keep going and push push push, I felt so much love and pride for her at that moment that I started crying behind the camera.

Madelyn was a bride of Onion Studio Inc. a few years back. We all totally clicked with each other!!! I had remembered she was a jewelry maker and wanted her to be a part of my project. Madelyn is one of the sweetest people I have met. She is a super talented Jeweler and overall artist! Her work is truly inspiring especially to me and my little hobby of jewelry making! I loved seeing her work space it was an organized mess, it totally hit me in the heart!!! Her pieces are so beautiful. 

Last but not least is my stylist Elizabeth Dugan. I have been working with Lizzy for 6 years almost 7 as my go to stylist for Bubbles & Berries Boudoir. She is sweet, fun, and amazingly talented. This summer Liz opened her own salon location, Salon Elizabeth! I am lucky enough to work with Liz often, but it was very special for me to photograph her for this project and showcase all of her creative energy!

I was super excited and yet a bit nervous for the gallery opening, I just wasn't sure people would get the concept. To my surprise everyone loved it! I couldn't have been more pleased, and the night flew by. 

I have worked really deeply on this project for well over a year now and I would love to have this be an on going adventure. I have met many new and amazing women along my journey and I can’t wait to photograph them too! Who knows maybe I will publish a book some day with all these passionate women to inspire generations to come!

~XO Robyn Buyskes

 

In The Hot Seat

In The Hot Seat
So I put myself in the hot seat, so to speak. I booked my own boudoir session. Being a boudoir photographer I always felt bad that I had never gone through the experience of a shoot for myself. I know so many talented local photographers, but this was a boudoir session, I didn't feel quite comfortable going to someone I knew. I really wanted to feel the way my clients feel, I don't know them and they don't really know me. This can be a scary and nerve-wrecking feeling, so I had to really put myself in the same situation.

As a photographer I have a constant urge to learn and grow my skills. I have taken workshops and received educational training with respected photographers such as Christa Meola, Sue Bryce, The Boudoir Divas, and Jennifer Rozenbaum. My future plan is to have a session with everyone of my mentors, but I had to pick one to start. So I did just that, I booked my NYC boudoir session with Jennifer Rozenbaum.

I was excited and nervous about doing the shoot. The shopping for outfits part as always was an awesome experience, I mean who doesn't love shopping. I wanted a few things my hubby would love and something special just for me. Now, unlike most of my clients, my hubby knew I was doing a session. This session was for me because I am so proud of the woman I am and where I am in life that I knew it was the right time to capture that. Hubby gets to reap the benefits of some steamy pics of me. I still kept some mystery though, I didn't show him any of the outfits or sneak peaks, I waited to show him the gallery when it was ready.

So I did it, my session was booked, flight and hotel were all set, and all the outfits were packed. The day arrived to head out to NYC; when we woke up my husband (Dylan) checked the flight status and said, "the flight is delayed until 8:00pm tonight, what should we do?" I couldn't risk the flight not making it, my shoot was at 10am the next day. So my amazing husband says, "let's drive, it will be fun." I couldn't believe he was willing to drive 7 hours for me to make this happen, but then again he is pretty amazing. So a road trip to NYC it was.

The trip was pretty easy going only a bit of traffic when we got closer to the city, dinner was good, the hotel was nice, and I was able to get a good night sleep. Rise and shine...we started the morning with some really crappy hotel breakfast, then hit the train to head to the studio. It was crazy hot and humid that day. We had some time to kill so we went to the coffee shop down the street to grab an iced tea. Then it all started to hit me and I started to get really nervous. I couldn't tell if I was nervous to meet Jen or for my shoot. We started to walk down the street towards the studio and I couldn't believe how nervous I was, now I was finally feeling what my clients feel when they walk to my door. I was buzzed in, kissed my hubby bye and climbed the massive staircase to meet Jen at the top. I gave her a big hug as if I had known her forever and instantly felt better. 

Jen was awesome, she is so fun, lighthearted, and real just like how I like to be with my clients. The session went by so fast and I had such an amazing time.

It took me a while to really process how the whole session went and what it was like going through my process. I finally came to the conclusion that I offer a pretty kick ass experience to my clients. From providing tons of helpful info and advice to a personalized experience that she will never forget. I am so proud of Bubbles & Berries Boudoir and so lucky to get all of the amazing clients that trust me and walk out my door feeling huge confidence boost. Let's just say I wouldn't trade my job for the world. Having had the experience of my own session now, it made my belief even stronger that a boudoir session is for EVERY woman, it is something that you deserve to experience. What are you waiting for, email: boudoir@bubblesberriesboudoir.com for more info.

~xo Robyn Buyskes

Here are a few of my beautiful images from my session with Jennifer Rozenbaum. 

 

What Makes An Experience?

Experience

What makes an experience something that we want to do over and over again? Maybe it's the thrill or the joy of being in the moment, or maybe it's the end result. I guess for each person there are probably many different reasons that make an experience memorable. 

As a boudoir photographer, I give everything I am to all of my clients. I want to provide them with an experience they will cherish. I want my clients to feel special, beautiful, one-of-a-kind, confident, and of course sexy. While I may be giving them images and memories that they can look back at someday down the road; I want to leave them with a desire to come back and experience another session with Bubbles & Berries Boudoir. Even if they book a mini session and not a full album package for their second or third session, they are doing it again because it makes them feel something.

I recently had a session with a repeat client and she knocked it out of the park. I felt so honored and humbled that she wanted to experience another session with Bubbles & Berries Boudoir.

In her words, "I don't know why everyone wouldn't want to come back for another session, my husband loved my last photos, and I loved my experience. I could see myself doing this over and over again. It makes you feel confident and beautiful."

It was so special to photograph a woman for the second time. I felt like I needed to work even harder for her. To provide her with something even better than her first experience. She had booked the Valentine's Day mini session, which is different than a regular package, but I knew I had to give her a full experience beyond her expectations. I was so excited to show her the images that I put her gallery up the next day. To my excitement she loved them. "OMG Robyn! I am in love. These photos took my breath away!"

   
It's moments like these that make me feel so blessed to be able to do what I do for a living.

I encourage all of my past clients to come back for another session, even if it is just a mini session. Reignite your excitement, confidence, and try something even more bold than your first shoot.

I hope to see you on the other side of my lens.
~xo Robyn Buyskes