Category Archives: Session Tips

What To Expect | Portland, OR Photography

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I can picture it. You are scrolling through a bunch of photographer websites. Looking at the beautiful people you see in their portfolios. You might be wondering what it’s like to do a beauty shoot. You might be feeling too nervous to get in front of a camera. You might be wondering if the camera will be nice to you. Or you might even wonder if you are too plain, too gray, too wrinkled, or too in need of loosing a few pounds. You might also be wondering if the experience is worth the investment. Believe me. I get it. Go ahead and grab your cup of coffee (or my favorite, pumpkin chai) and let’s just chat about these things for a bit. I can tell you right now – None of the reasons I listed above come close to being a reason not to treat yourself to the amazing experience a photo shoot can be. Before we chat, go ahead and watch this video that shows you, better than I can explain with words, what it’s like to do a shoot in my studio.

What if I’m not good at doing makeup?

That’s an easy one! All of my shoots include professional hair and makeup by my talented hair and makeup artist. All you have to do is show up with a clean face and hair and let her do her magic.

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What if I don’t know what to wear?

We can chat about what kind of look you want and I can help with suggestions. I also have a closet packed full of shoot wardrobe in my studio and if you want to, we can work with what I have!

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What if I feel too “blah” to have my photos taken?

Oh, Covid-19, what are you doing to us? Some days I don’t even get out of my pajamas, if I’m being honest. I’m a Mom of two littles and keeping them fed and (mostly) happy is sometimes all I can muster, let alone mascara and lipstick. Trust me, though. Once you get in the makeup chair and spin around to see how amazing you look in the mirror, you won’t be feeling blah, that’s for sure!

before and after portrait

What if I need to loose a few pounds?

Ah yes… I have quite a bit more than a “few” pounds to loose and I’ve been saying that I need to loose them for quite some time. But if you keep putting off your shoot for the “perfect time” to do a shoot, you’ll likely never do it. Life can get in the way. Just do it! Plus, with angles and posing, I can easily take off 20 pounds as far as the camera is concerned. Then, when you do loose the weight, you can come back for a celebratory shoot and use the two to see how far you’ve come!

I hope you can see that a shoot with me is more than having your photos taken. It’s an amazing experience that can help you change the way you see yourself. Please shoot me an email and we can chat about your shoot!

Family, beauty, and boudoir photography

Portland, Oregon / Tualatin, Oregon

info@byrayleigh.com

False Eyelashes | Beauty & Boudoir Photography Portland Oregon

Beauty Tips Session Tips No Comments

TIP TO PREPARE FOR YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT – WEAR FALSE EYELASHES

boudoir photography portland oregon

They make look fake in real life and when you first put them on they feel so heavy and just, well weird! However, in your photos they will make a HUGE difference. You actually don’t really notice them in the pictures, but you will notice their effect. They accentuate your eyes and give them a gorgeous almond shape. These are a must-have!

At the Photography by Rayleigh studio, my hair and makeup artist will provide false lashes for your shoot, so you don’t have to worry about bringing your own. But aside from your shoot, if you want to wear them for an event or just to feel a little extra pretty, check out this site for some great tips on everything false lashes. There are also some tips on making your own lashes appear longer.

Importance of Sleep | Boudoir Photography Portland Oregon

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boudoir photography portland oregon

There is so much to do everyday that it’s sometimes tough to add in the time to sleep. It’s common for my husband and me to get less than 6 hours of sleep a night. Yikes! While everyone’s sleep needs differ, I know that I could benefit from more sleep. I’ve read that between 7-9 hours is ideal. This is true for every day life, but it’s especially true for the night before a portrait session. Photoshop is pretty awesome but I can’t edit out a sleepy look from your eyes.

There are a million articles on the importance of sleep and just as many on how to get a good night’s rest. Here is an easy read from the Mayo clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep/art-20048379

Are you getting enough zzzz? Are there any rituals you do that help you sleep better?

Pilgrim Sexy Talk | Boudoir Photography Portland Oregon

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November boudoir photos

When planning this month’s newsletter topics I had a thought to google “sexy thanksgiving” and see what popped up! Holy Cow! There are tips all over the place on how to keep the mood alive throughout this crazy, hectic time of year! Everything from sexy foods, to meals that keep you looking good; sultry (and often cheesy) things to say to super cute outfit ideas! If Thanksgiving is your time of year, I highly suggest scheduling your session now! There are so many cute and fun ways we can incorporate the theme, leaving you with gorgeous images.