Boudoir with model Jenna

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Since my boudoir portfolio hasn't been public, I have been working with a local modeling agency in Fargo, ND, Ultimate Image-Model, Talent, and Make-Up Management/Natalie Sparrow Management, to work with their talented models.

I am very excited to show you a few of the photographs from Jenna's boudoir session. Jenna was amazing to work with. Natalie Sparrow, who not only manages many model, artists, and makeup artists, is also a professional makeup artists herself. She wears many hats. She also did 'touch-up' make up for Jenna's session.

There will be two more blogs featuring models from Ultimate Image/Natalie Sparrow Management. Feel free to contact me to see my full boudoir portfolio in person, and to book a great photography shoot that boosts your confidence.

Red Heads have more fun

I'll admit, I dye my hair red. My name is Desiree, and I'm a natural blonde. However, I love being a red-head. I don't eat souls. I just look better with a dark, fun hue to my hair.

Anywho, I had a photoshoot idea to offer to people involving an element of fun: balloons! Not just one or two cute balloons, but MANY balloons. As you may have seen in 'Cora's 6 Months Young' blog post, was my first photography shoot with more than 10 balloons of the same color. I wanted to use an adult for an example of a fun shoot that wasn't very child-ish. Thankfully, Carley didn't laugh too much at this, and said 'yes' to being my model for this shoot. 

Here are a few of many fun photographs from this shoot. Enjoy! -Desiree

Cora 6 months young

Since time flies pretty fast when you're living it, Cora is now 6 months old, and due for updated photographs. In the over-due session, we also played with using pink balloons as props. This may be a fun idea for a photography marathon later on this year (balloons are fun). Check out the gallery below, and enjoy Cora's cuteness!

 

It's been a while since I posted anything on my official website. If you want to keep up to date with everything, feel free to head over to my Facebook fanpage (www.facebook.com/desireemenkphotography or the facebook button below on every page). This year has hit me with not feeling the best 70% of the time, so I've been slow to post images here.

Backdrops, props and stuff

Here are some new additions to my props and backdrop collection. The first two are actually blankets that can be used for fun backdrops.

Red River Power 100 January 2017 meeting

Last week, I had the privilege of photographing a charity organization of women who give to many other organizations throughout the year. Red River Power 100 hears from three nominated organizations per meeting. After each heart-felt speech from a person in the nominated organization, and Q&A time, people vote who receives the donations. During this meeting, one of the members also won a massage. Here are a few of the photographs.

Organization: Red River Power 100 Women Who Care. Charity who received the donations: North Dakota Autism Center, Inc., Location of meeting: Dakota Medical Foundation, Fargo, ND. Other nominated charity organizations: TNT Fitness & Gymnastics, and North Dakota Juvenile Program. Drinks were provided by Sidestreet Grille & Pub. 

Model Behavior with Joey 'Razor' Kramer

In late December 2016, a friend from LA came to visit his family and friends. We arranged a model shoot for one of those nights. The year before, in early November 2015, we focused on general poses. December's shoot was more focused on a little bit more model behavior, and fitness.

When you don't have a gym at your home, which acts as my 'home studio,' you come up with creative solutions to show a person's fitness. Joey practices martial arts when he can. To create the intense 'fitness' looks, I simply asked him to show his favorite moves.

In between telling how to pose, Joey, being Joey, was smiling. For this post, I'll only show the more serious photographs though. I'll save the fun photographs for an 'outtakes of 2017' blog post. Any who, enjoy the photographs.

PS-Sorry I haven't posted as often as I wanted. The New Year brings on a ton of goals to start accomplishing, lots of reading, and having a head cold have slowed this blog's post down a bit. I hope everyone is staying safe and warm.

Random

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Between work, life and photography, time sometimes escapes into another year. I am greatly appreciative of those who have and are my clients. Also, to those who have become friends and referred me to others.

SquareSpace.com is my website building provider. It's an easy to use company, and they allow me to see what's commonly seen on my website. No personal information of anyone is given, just numbers.

I've noticed there are people looking at the boudoir gallery. I do have boudoir portfolio, but it's to be seen in person only. If you'd like a boudoir photography discount in exchange for five photographs to be available for promotional use (no nudity, and chosen by you-the client-with me), I would love to talk to you. 

There are a ton of great plans for 2017. I will be posting blogs on, hopefully, a weekly or bi-weekly basis. There will be a blog up on some of my props, and backgrounds soon-ish. In the meantime, check out my Facebook fanpage (www.facebook.com/desireemenkphotography) for daily news, posts, fun ideas, and some sales.

Have a great day and drive safely.

-Desiree

Kiera Dancing Time

When your friends need photographs for family and friends...and your a photographer, you automatically say, 'yes.' Cute little Kiera got to have her first solo photoshoot since her 1 year cake smash. To get her to smile, and not just give me goofy faces, I asked her to show me her dance moves. This also distracted her from just watching an episode of 'Princess Sofia.' 

Here are a few photographs of Princess Kiera, and all of her sass (that she completely got from her momma).

Landon-at 6 weeks old

In early December, I got to spend time with this little guy, Landon. One of the reasons why I like 'Newborn' photoshoots is all of little baby BIG expressions on a small humans. Landon, not to miss any moment during the shoot, was full of a diverse array of expressions (I've only included the smiley, and cute ones in the blog).

Landon's eyes were fascinated by my external flash (light source on top of my camera that flashes). I don't know if he was laughing at me or the flash. Either ways, he is pretty dang cute. Here is a little gallery for you to enjoy!

*Sidenote: I'm hoping to mix more of my photojournalistic style/'lifestyle' to future newborn sessions. Capturing candid moments with the family during the baby's first day (but not a 'birthstory' documentation). Also, photographing some cute baby photographs like the ones I have done in the past.

Have great day!

-Desiree

Editing time with a six week old

Whenever I talk to a new mom, first time or third time mom, there is always the worry of a cut on the baby's face or eczema. Babies get hurt by scratching their faces, or they have naturally dry skin (heck, I even have eczema). To those moms, and even moms of children who somehow always manage to scratch themselves right before a shoot, I have Photoshop. Plus, I don't shoot in manual-so the focus isn't on their 'owies.'

Here is a couple of cute photograph I'm editing of a six week old. It isn't fully edited yet, but consider them a 'behind the scenes look' at it. Still, really cute. 

Other 'projects' aka my daily life

I'm a photographer, and I work full time at a non-photography related job. Translation: I work many hours doing many things, and I get to be around people (which is great!). My 'downtime' is split between learning more on photography tips, researching more ways to improve my business, and being social with my friends, family, and pets. Oh, and cleaning. There is watching TV in the mix also. LOL.

As some of you may have noticed on either my website, Instagram, and/or my Facebook fanpage, I, (well, we-my boyfriend and I), have pets. We have a small cat that we adopted from a local humane society, and a dog that is often featured on social media. We also have a lizard that keeps to itself, and sleeps 90% of the time.

One of my goals is to try to get connected to local pet adoption places to give back. Hopefully, this will be achieved in December or early January.

In the meantime, here are some close-ups of my dog playing. I had my gear out, and thought, 'Well, why not get candids of my dog playing?'

November mix

Hello! The fall season hasn't been too hectic for photography sessions. However, I still wanted to write a quick blog with a few November photographs. Since I love animals, I photographed a few of the animals who's home is at Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minn. If you would like to purchase any of the photographs (prints, canvas, etc) for personal home decor or as a gift, please let me know.

Besides animals, one of my frequent clients had a quick family photography session to include her newborn, Cora.

I hope you enjoy. I am available for winter photography sessions.

'GQ' VS Dudeoir (male boudoir)

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I absolutely LOVE when I get to do a model/glam photography shoot with people. Whether it be for a senior, model or boudoir type of shoot. It's a great way to give people a gift that allows them to see how beautiful they are.

Since 'beautiful' isn't a stereotypical compliment towards the male gender-is 'handsome' out of date or is 'sexy' better/appropriate? Either ways, I believe that guys like to feel attractive also. I've said that I don't give the option of dudeoir to people, but I photograph 'GQ' (In refers to the magazine. They haven't paid me for the advertisement nor have I paid for the right to use them as a reference. Please do not sue me.) male model (any fitness level) style shoots.

So...what does this mean?

For the guys, I will NOT shoot any nudity. Females-I have the same body parts, and worked at Victoria's Secret for a few years in college-so I'm completely fine with nudity. I don't shoot any 'pornographic' type of boudoir, of either sex. It's not comfort level, and doesn't fit my photography style.

Some male boudoir specialty photographers tend to tread that line sometimes. Since I have a certain level of comfort, I say 'GQ' male model style of session. This means: a guy can be down to his underwear without getting too 'happy.' Guys don't have to be in 'male model' shape to book the type of shoot. Guys just have to be okay with seeing the end result being how attractive they are.

If you want to book a boudoir or 'GQ' styled photoshoot, feel free to contact me. I do require with you in person before the scheduled shoot of this type. The gallery shows some photographs from past male 'model' or 'business' type of shoots.

Have a wonderful day! -Desiree

 

Do you have a cute/handsome pet?

We all love our pets. Most of us probably have blurry photographs of our selfies with our pets. Then, if they're cute selfies...they're probably not great quality enough to print them at a professional lab. Believe me, our very first photograph with our dog as a puppy is much too blurry to print, and was taken with my cell phone. EEkk. 

I've come up with a solution: Pet Mini Photo Days!

On Oct. 21st and 22nd I'm giving you an opportunity to get your 'selfie' with your pet or just of your pet, photographed by me at a HUGE discounted rate. Prints can be easily ordered. Your furry friend/family member must be up-to-date on their vaccinations, not be allergic to other pets, and be somewhat trained.

*Friday, October 21st day sessions will begin at 4:30 pm. Saturday, October 22nd will be most of the day. PLEASE RSVP and book a session in advanced. I will not give these kind of discounts on any other days of the year. Photoshoots will happen at my home studio, and/or a near by park in West Fargo, ND. 

Busy August

Due to technical issues, my blogs I wrote were not blogged or logged to be seen online. I had three formal photography sessions, and one informal. Blogs were typed, but not saved due to myself not using a compatible internet server to my website host site.

Here are just a few photographs I meant to be seen in more than one blog. One newborn, family of three cute kids, and a family of three. Enjoy!

By the way, internet server issue was solved, and there will be more blogs in the future.
-Desiree

Newborn Props

 

After much request, I have been working on building up more props over the years. Here are a few of the newborn props I have. Along with many, many blankets. I may look like a blanket horder. LOL. 

Welcome!

My official FIRST website blog!

Hello, and welcome to my website. The last bits of this site are finally coming together. As time goes on, you'll see more options to choose from, and photographs to view. 

Many of you may ask: 'So...you've been in wedding photography and portrait photography for years. Why has it taken THIS long to have an official website?' Answer: I'm very picky when it comes to design and what I want from a site. Along with my worry of: 'Do I have ENOUGH of this or that type of photographs to fill this or that gallery?'

After much research, and much more deliberation over design, I found SquareSpace for a website host. I loved most of their designs, and options. 

Now, you can check out some of my photographs here, and on social media. I hope that you enjoy this site. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. 

Thanks! -Desiree