The Shoot
Now that we have covered what happens during a consultation and how to pick out your wardrobe, it’s time to talk about what happens during the actual shoot!
What happens during a the actual photo shoot?
Now that we have covered what happens during a consultation and how to pick out your wardrobe, it’s time to talk about what happens during the actual shoot!
1.) You wake up fresh faced and arrive to the studio with your comfy yoga pants on!
2.) You slip into a black silky robe while I prepare your refreshments and snacks!
3.) Professional hair and makeup is provided for you with our trained stylist specifically for photo shoots
4.) While you relax, I steam up your wardrobe if it needs it, take BTS video clips and plan out the flow of your shoot.
5.) Posing tutorial- I teach you some basic posing fundamentals and open up the floor for your questions
6.) During your shoot I will move you into different poses included the expressions on your face. It’s very hypnotic and cool how connected we get!
7.) You get to leave to eat while I clean up and organize your photos
8.) Same day ordering! You come back to the studio after you eat to see the images we created (cleaned up, but unretouched).
9.) Pick out our package and you only buy the ones you love!
10.) Lots of hugs!
Do you love a good deal? SO DO WE! Hands up because our portrait sessions are currently 50% OFF until May 3, 2019 and include a $500 studio credit when you book your shoot in June or July 2019!
Just in time for Mother’s Day!
Looking to book a photo shoot with your family? —> USE the code MOMSGIFT19 when you book your shoot OR use the code MOTHERSDAY19 when you purchase a gift card!
Looking to book a photo shoot just for you or grabbing a gift for someone special? USE the code SEXYMAMA19 at check out when you book your shoot!
Photo Shoots - Selecting the Perfect Wardrobe
“What do I wear to a photo shoot?” Each family is unique when it comes to style and taste, therefore, I like to stick to some basic foundational rules when it comes to selecting your wardrobe for your photo shoot.
“What do I wear to a photo shoot?”
Each family is unique when it comes to style and taste, therefore, I like to stick to some basic foundational rules when it comes to selecting your wardrobe for your photo shoot. Talking about wardrobe also happens during the initial consultation, and one bonus perk of choosing us is the unlimited amount of access you receive to us. We give you our studio cell number to text us those questions that creep up in the middle of the night and keep you awake and for when you’re out wardrobe shopping and need some personal advice while you’re trying on your outfits! Let’s dig in to some recommendations.
1.) MOM FIRST - Mom needs to pick her outfit(s) first. What typically happens when a family books a shoot is mom will start the online and in-store shopping picking outfits for her family and then try to fit herself into something that works for her last. More often then not, she settles for something “that will just have to do” and ends up not loving what she is wearing. That is why I also recommend that moms or the women in the family pick out what they would like to wear FIRST ensuring they have something they love and feel good in.
2.) GET FIT - No I am not actually talking about a diet. I am talking about the 80% of women who are not wearing the correct size bra. Having the right size bra can change your shape and help you clothing to sit differently. I strongly encourage my clients to get fitted BEFORE they start shopping and trying on any clothes. You can visit Boudoir located in DePere, WI to see my favorite bra fit specialist who not only can fit you but has a fantastic selection of high quality pieces in her store!
3.) YOUR SHAPE - Knowing the shape of your body can help you out a ton when picking out your wardrobe! It’s important to know so that way you can stay clear of what won’t flatter you and focus on the necklines and cuts that will flatter your shape.
4.) YOUR HOME - During your consult I always ask the color tones of your home. Are they warm and cozy or cool or tranquil? Your home is often a direct reflection of your style, which is why it is nice to start with something you have already created and pull inspiration from it. I also feel its important that you have images that flatter your home and walls so you can feel good about your space. Pulling some colors from your house will definitely help you shop for will also look good in your home.
5.) STUDIO WARDROBE - Not many people know this but I do have an in-house full studio wardrobe that is available for you to use for your photo shoot. In fact, I was able to dress over 8 women from baby to mama which helped lighten the burden not only financially but also for her sanity with her family of 14! My wardrobe is a fun way to step outside of your comfortable and play a little dress up like you used to!
The bottom line is that I want you to wear whatever makes you feel radiant and like you’re a million bucks, even if it’s jeans and a t-shirt, so long as you love it and how it makes you feel.
Need a gift for Mother’s Day? Or are you looking to get in for a photo shoot during a promotion? Today is your lucky day!
Currently, portrait sessions are half off and come with an additional $500 in studio credit to go towards your package or wall gallery arrangement when you book your shoot in May-July!
Check out our schedule and pick out a time to get in our books!use MOMSGIFT19 at check out for a family/generational/senior shoot or SEXYMAMA19 for boudoir!
OFFER ENDS SOON!
The Consult
Learn what to expect during a photo shoot experience with Mary over the next few weeks!
The Consultation
Over the next four weeks I am going to be breaking down every transition I take my clients through and why I do it! It’s important for my clients to know that I have their backs and want the very best outcome for them and laying out the plans ahead of time is key to making the experience remarkable. So without further a-due let me pour you this virtual cup of coffee while you learn about the consultation I give when you decide to book!
After you decide to book in your photo shoot here at MBP the next task I have on hand as your photographer is to get to know you. I have you come in to meet me in person if you can and if you can’t we do this over the phone or via video chat.
During a consult we talk first and foremost about your vision for your shoot and your vision for your photographs. I am a huge believer in reverse engineering which is why I lead with, “when you see your images completely done, how do you visualize enjoying them?” I also ask you to make a folder on your phone of images that you are drawn to called your vision folder and have you share it with me during this session or send me photos via text. I ask my you to journal about who you want to see in their photographs and the person you want to see. Maybe its family members, or just different sides of your personalty. I want to know it all. One fun tip a previous client of mine did was take a poll on Facebook. She asked her friends and family to use a word or two to describe her, not only was it super helpful for me to see, it was also very encouraging and empowering for her to read what everyone else saw in her.
Knowing this baseline information about you and your desires gives me great insight on what products and services will best fit you and your family’s needs and guide you with the right package for you. One of the special perks I offer is that you don’t have to decide on any packages until AFTER you have seen the images I have captured for you. That way, you are able to see what I can do first, before you make any final decisions on what to purchase (we will talk about this more in the upcoming weeks during the product blog)!
The next step is to chat about how to prepare yourself with the small details that need to be considered before your shoot. These small items range from hair and nails appointments all the way to water and and food consumption leading up to your photo shoot. Some of the items we go through in your welcome packet will be things you can do on your own and some you may need to schedule, for instance a hair cut and color and maybe you can give yourself a pedicure at home. Clients have joked with me, “It’s like I signed up for modeling boot camp.” I laugh with them and then get super serious and say, “Yes, yes you have, no more treating your body like poop from now until after your shoot.” However, when you really think about it, what I am asking you to do sounds so “ridiculous” because that’s how rare we do it. It’s amazing how quickly you start to see yourself differently when you start to pay attention, and all I am doing is reminding you how incredibly blessed you are to be given the body you have and not to treat it so harshly for a few weeks. I am asking you to be be kind to it and to be thankful for it.
This consult before your shoot is meant to be fun and exciting and as overwhelming as it is at first, all of my clients have LOVED having all the details planned out, it helps us stay on the same page and ensure I am delivering exactly what you want custom to YOUR needs. We are a team after all! It also helps with your comfort as we get to know one another before I ever put a camera in front of your face because we are meeting ahead of time and exchanging energy and vibes. That way, when you show up for your shoot, I am not a stranger, I am like the BFF you’ve been missing for years, the one that isn’t afraid to tell you there is lipstick on your teeth, to push your chin forward and to tell you when there are more flattering cuts and necklines for your shape if need be. I want to depict you precisely how you want to be, and in my professional experience thats nearly impossible without asking these questions during your consult and coming to answers before we shoot.
Stay tuned next week how I guide you for your wardrobe by chatting about different body shapes, how to figure out yours and give you a sneak peek into my studio wardrobe that you have access to fo FREE when you book!
xoxoxo,
Mary Breuer
DO YOU LOVE A GOOD DEAL? WELL WE HAVE ONE! READ BELOW!
Mother’s Day is coming up QUICK and a photo shoot experience like ours is the BEST non-traditional gift for moms and now until May 11th you can purchase a photo shoot experience for 50% OFF! AND when you book your shoot in May-July 2019 you will receive an additional $500.00 in credit towards your final package as my way of thanking incredible moms everywhere for all the things they do that go unnoticed. Don’t forget about your precious grandmothers too! They would love nothing more then to be captured with you! CLICK HERE to purchase your printable gift card or to book and enter momsgift19 to get your discount!
Legacy Matters | Paying it forward
Last year as I sat down and made my 2018 goals, the thought of giving away an entire photo shoot kept crossing my mind. I had done other big giveaways to the studio, yet I hadn’t done a giveaway that included everything.
Why giving is always better then receiving…
Last year as I sat down and made my 2018 goals, the thought of giving away an entire photo shoot kept crossing my mind. I had done other big giveaways to the studio, yet I hadn’t done a giveaway that included everything. The hair, the makeup, the photo shoot, the video, the digital images and the prints. I sat there and pondered that feeling. What would it feel like to give away something with zero expectations, and just pour everything I had into another woman. I wrote down a big goal, and I promised myself that when I reached it, I would do this. I would give away an entire experience from start to finish.
To my surprise I met that goal before the end of the year. I was on cloud nine and in dreamer mode as I plotted how I would do it and when I would do it. It was still November 2018 and I had some time to manifest it. As December approached the talks in my family started to circulate around my birthday plans. I am a New Years Day baby, and to some that may sound awesome, yet to me its always a bit of a drag, or more accurately an afterthought. Anyone who has a birthday close to Christmas will understand exactly what I am talking about. Therefore, the theatrics surrounding my birthday typically get chaotic and frankly don’t seem to work out they way others plan them. I also am a very hard person to surprise, thanks to my crazy intuition.
It hit me. what if I gave my birthday away? What if on my birthday, instead of making it about me, I make it about someone else? I began to get excited as I started plotting out the details and then I started to get super excited and thought, what if I upped the game and reached out to my friend Rebecca who owns Haven Salon & Spa? Maybe they could complete this with a full transformation for one lucky lady! I messaged her with my idea and of course she jumped at the opportunity. Then, I called up Angela with The Beauty Bar (my lead hair and makeup artist) and asked if she would be willing to donate her time too. She was also on board! This little dream of mine to do a heart felt project was turning into something spectacular.
My birthday quickly came and my hands shook as I announced this $6000.00 giveaway. I have never been so excited in my life. I felt incredibly honored that my clients from 2018 gave me the opportunity to give back and pay it forward. My community is important to me, and as a leader in my industry, its important for me to show up and lead by example. The time flew by fast and the shares and comments were blowing through the roof as people entered. My hand cramped as I wrote each name over and over to account for the multiple times that shared the post. The way people responded blew my mind and also validated that the work I do is not only desired, it’s needed.
I blindfolded myself and mixed the names over and over and then picked the winner. Instead of announcing her name, I decided to call her LIVE on my facebook video, and that winner was Julia. Today is her 25th birthday and as she left the studio on Wednesday with her box in hand, she parted with, “I am so glad I will have these images to look back on someday.” Those words are music to my ears. I know for a fact that Julia will never forget this experience and most importantly how she felt when she was surrounded by a group of women all dedicated to serving her with their talents and time.
I want my community to not only remember this, I want them to look forward to when I do it again. I want my community to know that I care about them, especially my fellow women and moms. I want them to know that Mary sees them, Mary hears them and Mary wants to bring out the best in them. I want the women in my community to know that Mary has their back 100% and they can count on me to deliver them something of value in exchange for their time and attention.
Thank you for being here, thank you for your support and thank you for being exactly who you are.
xoxoxo,
Mary B
Younglife 2nd Annual Fashion Show
As a local business owner, I feel that it is imporant to give back to our community. This was the second year that I sat on the planning committee for the Younglife Fashion Show.
WELCOME TO THE SECOND ANNUAL
Younglife Fashion Show!
As a local business owner, I feel that it is imporant to give back to our community. This was the second year that I sat on the planning committee for the Younglife Fashion Show. Last year was the very first year we put it on and it was a HIT, so we had to keep this new tradition going. What makes this fashion show unique is the models.
You see Younglife is an organization of adult leaders and mentors that meet kids where they are at. Meaning, these caring adults take time out of their busy schedules to show up at soccer games, concerts, graduations, have them over to their homes, answer hard questions, take kids to club and most excitingly take them to camp in the summer. Younglife is different because they lead by example and build relationships with the kids in our community.
I can speak from a parents perspective with how much having these caring adults has meant to my family and I. My daughter Lehana was able to be paired with a mentor, attends club and meets with leaders on a regular basis to check in. It’s nice for her to be able to have an unbiased perspective, one that sees her specific situation from the outside looking in. I feel so incredibly blessed to have this organization as a resource for my daughter and seeing how much she has blossomed and truly come out of her shell has been awesome to watch.
This fashion show is such an incredible experience for the models because the models ARE THE KIDS partnered with mentors and leaders. What makes it even extra special is having all local boutiques and vendors coming together from the outfits to the accessories a true grassroots fashion show that you definitely don’t want to miss next year! Younglife is 100% a party with a purpose and you should totally be there next time!
The Split | Visionary Culture
The split began to manifest all last year and I honestly didn’t even know it was happening until the last quarter rolled around. I had a developed a system to get me in the doors of the places my target market would be spending time and money.
The split began to manifest all last year and I honestly didn’t even know it was happening until the last quarter rolled around. I had a developed a system to get me in the doors of the places my target market would be spending time and money. I knew that if I wanted to establish a great referral from these business owners, I would have to offer them something, and that something had to be for free. I was captivated by the stories of my fellow entrepreneurs. They too took a risk and were experiencing some of the very same situations I was. It was incredible to see what they had built and what they were building. I dedicated one month to a new business owner, specifically a woman in business to tell their story, they would get free photos, and a video to share from my facebook page and if they loved the video they could purchase it. What I discovered while working with these ladies was one common denominator. All of them were struggle to a certain extent with how to market themselves visually, how to tell stories and how to communicate without selling. I was growing concerned with the businesses I did do branding images for and not seeing them utilize them to their full potential. What I discovered is that they were leaning on me to tell them what photos they needed and what to say and even after I would tell them, they were not executing my advice, at least not consistently.
Brand photography is still in my opinion up and coming. Sure you can find a photographer to capture your store front, your products, your services, your team and more, but what doesn’t happen is a strategy with those photos. Far too often, business owners get their photos taken first, with some great direction and preparation and then they decide on what to say about them later. I found myself falling into that some cycle with my own branding clients and then it hit me. I have to teach them what I do. I have to teach them reverse engineer marketing first, that way, they can build a specific shoot list completely designed around their personality, purpose and intention for their dream client or as I like to say, their avatar client/customer. I can’t tell you how many facebook, instagram and social media online courses I have taken, yet non of them have truly covered marketing in general. I wanted to put my strategy into an e-course that could help people anywhere to gain clarity on their brand awareness, build their avatar client using a magnet approach versus a target and last but not least a marketing strategy that includes a shoot list and the exact way I market for my own business.
I decided that my business owners needed less of the “wine and dine me with pampering” luxury and needed, “teach me how to plan and use these images coaching” luxury instead. They didn’t need my fancy prints/boxes they needed a more economical pricing that included a bigger package of images and they needed coaching, thus the birth of my brand split. I didn’t want to confuse my legacy and boudoir work with my business or as they say, I didn’t want to mix business with pleasure.
This is just the beginning of something incredible and as I continue to grow it my dream is to break this off completely and let my daughter take it over in the next five years. The Visionary Culture will be and already is more then branding photography and videography. As time moves, this company will grow. Until then, I invite you to jump on the train now so you don’t miss out on the new opportunities that will soon be coming down the pipeline and first up is my BAM approach e-course that will be launching next month! You can sign up to get updates on when the course will be available by signing up below!
Legacy Matters | Client Stories
I met Heather and her family over two years ago. I noticed them right away at church as I was looking for diversity in my portfolio. I had just opened my doors for my studio work and wanted to showcase people and families of all ages, skin tones and variety.
Meet some of my legacy makers!
I met Heather and her family over two years ago. I noticed them right away at church as I was looking for diversity in my portfolio. I had just opened my doors for my studio work and wanted to showcase people and families of all ages, skin tones and variety. When I saw all the small blonde afros running towards Heather at church one Sunday, I KNEW I had to ask her. They were troopers and had such a great time that they came back the next year. Only this time I pleaded the importance of Heather’s mother being in the photographs. Tugger, they call her, resisted at first, but ended up coming and their three generation photo turned out to be incredibly sweet.
Legacy does not always have to be generational. Sometimes having a photo with your siblings is just as nice. Lori initially contacted me for headshots but after going through all the services included with a photo shoot (a second hair and makeup look on the house) she immediately wanted to invite her sister Sarah. These two had me laughing from start to finish. It was truly an experience for me to witness and watch as they giggled, told inside jokes and reminisced about the “good ole days.’
Legacy sometimes means working with who you still have. Often I hear, well, my grandparents are not around anymore or even more heart breaking, my parents passed away already. Or, it’s just me and my XXX. My client Sam had a lost her mom and never got the chance to get a generational photo done with her and her son. When she came in for her consult I reminded her how much the images she could find of her mother had brought her great comfort and proposed that regardless of how much of a pain it may be, getting her son to come in for some of her shoot was vital. Sam came in on her birthday to celebrate and when she arrived, she was in tears. She wasn’t sure if her adult son was going to make the effort to show up, lets face it, most guys are not super fond of “family photos.” He called during her shoot to talk to her, and my makeup artist Angela was quick to answer and before he could speak, she asked, “so….do you need directions on how to get here?” Needless to say he showed up and made his moms day and better yet her BIRTHDAY! You can just feel the joy on her face!
I don’t have any children and I don’t know if I ever will or if I want to and if I don’t have anyone to pass these images on to, so why bother spending the time, money and energy on such a luxury experience that perhaps will just get lost in the shuffle some day? My challenge to those of you think that is to think outside of you blood or even your marriage. There are people who love you and admire you. Whether they are friends or your community. Did you know that Betty White never had children and neither did Dolly Parton yet both of them are well documented? Yes they have acting careers, but that doesn’t mean that you should skip out on having the best portrait you have ever seen of yourself. The experience is for you and the photo is for everyone else. Your life matters and you were placed here and born for purpose and to sit there and think you are not worthy because you don’t have xxx, is absolutely a lie! In fact, make it a girls day out and bring your best friend with you, or your cousin or maybe a niece that you have grown close to.
Meet Tanya, she is currently not married (but in a relationship) and has chose to not include her son in her photo shoot this time. What I loved about her session is that she came in for branding and I asked her if I could take some photos of her that expressed more of her sensual side and this is the image we came up with, just for her.
You see, legacy doesn’t have a specific dynamic in order to be a legacy. Legacy is about who you are impacting and how. Perhaps, like me, you no longer have those grandparents or for some you don’t have your parents anymore, or maybe you don’t have children at all. It isn’t vain to want to be remembered it’s part of the story. Who knows, the future generations may be looking to see themselves in you whether thats because they are related to you or are just inspired by who you are and what you have overcame and accomplished while you were on this planet.
Legacy Matters | What's your story?
I am fascinated with Legacy and share not only my own heritage but I share practical ways you can start documenting and creating yours!
What’s your story?
I sat there with a lump in my throat as I read the initial email subject, “your DNA results are in!” I had been given stories from my mother and other family members on my mother’s side of our heritage, yet I did not know much of anything about my father. I wanted to do this test because I wanted to know where I came from and more specifically, from who. Call it my soul search or just plain curiosity, either way, knowing where you come from helps you understand your identity and personality on a deeper level. It also gives you a sense of appreciation to be able to relate with them.
I will never forget the day I opened my results. I immediately scanned the email looking straight away for the ethnicity. To my great surprise I was more British then the British people! I am also Scottish, Sweden and German.
That was over a year ago, and as I sit here at this coffee shop writing this, I am deep diving into my family history on ancestry.com My research has lead me to seven generations back on both sides of my family and it’s been really interesting. My family had veterans both in WWI and WWII and they all had a million babies (lol seriously though it was a lot). I was filled with a bit of sadness as I read one of my heritage stories on my mother’s side of my grandmother Mildred. We called her “Micky” because her and Mickey Mouse share the same birthday. ;) What I learned was that my great great grandfather on my mother’s side, Andrew Patrick was a professional baseball player pretty sweet! Yet during the draft in 1917 he was drafted into the Civil War at the age of 35 and died at the age of 38 leaving behind his 10 year old daughter Patsy Patrick, her 9 year old sister Mildred (my grandmothers namesake) and her little brother Alfred at only 4 years old and his 28 year old wife Nona Patrick.
This is my great great grandfather Andrew Patrick and his wife, my great great grandmother Nona Patrick.
Patsy, my great grandmother married my great grandfather Albert Bray. She was only 14 years old and he was only 19! Together they had two daughters my great aunt Geraldine when she was 16 and my grandmother Mildred or “Micky” when she was 18. (hey I wasn’t the only pregnant teenager in my family)!
My great grandmother Patsy Patrick
My great grandfather Albert Bray
Here is a photograph of four generations! My great grandmother Patsy Patrick, her mother, my great great grandmother Nona (we are not sure who the other two girls are in the middle) and my great grandmothers Patsy’s children, Mildred (my maternal grandmother) on the left and her sister Geraldine on the right.
My grandmother, Micky is on the left. ;) I seriously see so much of myself and children in her!
My grandmother Mildred “Micky” and her aunts pooch.
Unfortunately, my great grandmother Patsy passed away at the young age of 25 due to complications of pneumonia and left behind her husband Albert, my grandmother and her sister. My heart ached as I also learned that my great grandfather Albert lost his mother only one year after he lost his wife. He later remarried to what my grandmother calls, “her evil step-mother” who was also named Mildred (oh the irony!). My great grandfather was a musician and could play the banjo like a mad man, so I am told.
As I was digging deep, I tapped into the elders of my own family, my mother and her brother Mac. He has been doing insane amounts of research and connecting with distant family like crazy! He also told me a pretty cool piece of information about my 13th grandfather, the infamous pirate William Kidd. Seriously, YouTube him! It makes sense as my DNA represents that I am from those same areas. Pretty neat! Another cool story my cousins all heard growing up is that we were cousins with Robert Wadlow. Being 5'3 left me a bit conspicuous but my Uncles research confirmed that indeed we are! My great great grandfather on my mother’s side Henry had a cousin named Nettie, Nettie married Sherman Wadlow, their first son Harold Wadlow bore a son named… ROBERT!
As I sit here consuming this family history I can’t help but wonder which great, great grandchildren of mine will be reading about me. Or perhaps a distant cousin some day. What will they think of me? What memories and stories of me will get based down to them? How will I be remembered? Will they have photos and videos of me to watch and learn where their cackle comes from? Better yet, will they get the opportunity to hear my voice at all?
Thanks to things like social media and smart phones we seem to never be in shortage of documentation. Yet there is still a lack in this new age. That lack is connection, and because of that I fear that the next generations to leave this earth will not have the opportunity to share and teach us and to tell us the back stories. Simply because we as the new generations are either not taking the time to show them or taking the time to ask them. It wasn’t too long ago that I almost lost my Uncle due to a cardiac arrest and other cardiac complications. Digging in gave me the perfect excuse to reach out and then set up a time this summer to come visit. (he doesn’t know it yet, but I plan to photograph him with his guitar and record him playing).
We seldom connect physically with our grandparents and extended family beyond family gatherings like weddings or funerals. We are too busy with school, work, friends and immediate family that we forget sit down and to ask questions, record it and document it. We forget our mortality and think that we will get to it tomorrow, yet tomorrow isn’t promised. This blog isn’t to make you feel bad or fill you with anxiety, its only to remind you that you have a duty to uphold your family history and not to forget about it.
When I think about what is the most important value I have, it is my legacy, it is what my loved ones will say about me when I no longer breathe another breath.
I want to sit down with the matriarchs and patriarchs in my family and ask them questions, record them and pass them down to the next generation, my daughters and my future grandchildren. I want you to sit down with yours and invite them in to the studio for a portrait with them. One where everyone is dressed in their Sunday’s best, and that will perhaps one day live on ancestry.com for your future family that you will never get the chance to meet in person.
I no longer have the luxury of grandparents, and perhaps that is why I am obsessed with documenting the often forgotten, the elders of our time. If there is one thing I remember my grandmother Micky teaching me, it was respecting my elders. I believe giving respect is giving them time, giving them patience and offering your chair to them in a crowded waiting room.
I may not have my grandmother “Micky” anymore, yet I have the stories of her in my heart and the next best thing, my mom.
Four generations: My mom, my three daughters and I taken May 2017. Take a look at all of our noses + mouth lines… ALL THE SAME!
My grandmother “Micky” as a sophomore in high school.
My mother Julie | Age 66
She is where my infamous cackle laugh comes from, she is where my cheeks come from, she is part of me and I want to ensure that when the time comes I will have a photo of her not only in her youth but something that represents her now in her sixties for myself, my daughters and my future family. My eyes well up with tears as I think about that moment. The photos we take now are not for now, they are for later, they are chapters in our story, which is a family story. It is our visual legacy.
Before I exit out of this blog, I wanted to give you some practical ways that you can start documenting your legacy starting right now.
Call them up, with a pen and paper in hand and ask them to tell you about their family.
Buy them a memoir journal or a story journal and ask them to complete it.
If they can’t write, take a video of them asking the questions in the journal
Schedule a photo shoot with your parents or grandparents. Book your free consult with me HERE
Keep records of yourself for your family NOW - you might as well buy two of those journals I listed above and do one for yourself!
Write letters to your children and or grandchildren and keep them in a safe place or send them right away
Create a memories email for yourself. Send photos/video with what happened that day and write to your children/grandchildren there.
Back up your phones. Websites like iCloud and Dropbox are relatively cheap and do automatic back ups so you don’t loose your memories.
Get your prints scanned and back them up, have a book made and keep it in a safe place. Scanning is available at Camera Corner
Record a video or voice note to your children or anyone telling your story and save it to your phone.
Hoping you have these items for your next generations is not enough, putting them on the back burner is also not enough. You have to make the time to make it happen. It’s so easy to create memories and easier to quickly forget them as the next helping of life gets dished on your plate. Pick an action from above and put it into motion this week, it will save your future family tons of time!
Happy Legacy Creating!!
xoxoxo,
Mary Breuer
STOP eating so fast!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving Day I wanted to remind you to stop eating so fast.
Does it ever hit you like a ton of bricks?
I am talking about the realization that your life is not so bad after all? The one you get after you have just had a super crazy day full of chaos and you’re not quite sure how anyone could possibly stay sane or make it through type of realization? Well that is kinda hitting me right now.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving I wanted to ask you a question.
Do you ever remember your mom saying, “You can have dessert when you finish what you have on your plate.” You frantically shove food in your mouth that you hate trying to get it down so fast that you don’t even taste it. That my friends is what is on my mind today.
I am a fast eater, I think that is a skill I acquired from working in healthcare and being a parent. If I wanted to eat at all I had to eat quick at work. There were no breaks guaranteed. If I wanted to eat a meal hot at home I have to finish it before Rosie spills her milk or Harmony asks for ketchup or Lehana asks for something to drink right after get the fork almost to my mouth. I shovel it in quick. So quick, that I am not even 100% certain I even know what it tastes like. Can you relate or am I a lone ranger?
As I sit here in the quiet this morning as my family sleeps I am now realizing that the way I eat food is exactly what my lifestyle looks like. Quick, fast, while its hot and in a hurry. I am realizing that I am not savoring what I have done and celebrating it. I have been so busy that I ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Festival. (hand hits forehead)
Some call that smart (which something is better then nothing), but I also see sadness. I want to teach my girls how to make pie crust the way my grandma taught me. Yet I don’t have the time to? I want to learn how to cook a turkey the right way, yet I don’t have the time to? This is sad friends. Really sad. Why do we let ourselves get to this point? I don’t know about you but I am over it. I want to chew my food slow and enjoy it. I want to chew my life slower and enjoy it. I went back in my phone photos and videos today and A LOT has happened this year and I don’t even think I have had time to really chew it all up.
I AM DONE! Starting this Thanksgiving morning. I AM DONE!
Today was the first time that I got to look at my photos from our family vacation this August. It was a trip that will be remembered and shared for years to come. My family and I traveled over 1500 miles in a van to New Mexico and Arizona. We spent more then 80 hours in a van with a 2, 6 & 11 year old. As the tantrums poured out I remembered thinking, we need more trips. We need to break away from unproductive busy. In fact, I know why they call it business. It’s just short for “busy ness.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my business, but not when it robs me. This was the trip that we got the case of the “bed bugs” and had to be doped up on benadryl and anti itch cream and I almost forgot about it?
As, I look back at my photographs and videos I don’t see bug bites. I see smiles, LOTS of smiles. I see things we have never seen before. I see us, our family together experiencing something new and fun. Why has it taken me three months to reflect? Well, as soon as we got back, it was time to jump back into work and I never scheduled for myself to have down time. I wanted to off load all my memories and create video and book. I just never made the time. Don’t get me wrong, there is always time, it whether or not we choose to make it or not.
What if when we had holidays or vacations or trips we scheduled a day to celebrate and reflect? What if we perhaps journaled or maybe wrote thank you cards to our loved ones with our favorite take aways? WHAT IF WE ACTUALLY PRINTED ALL THE PHOTOS WE TOOK? What if, before we all left the dinner table today and everyday we all shared our favorite food we just ate and why? What if we just FORGOT about what was happening tomorrow and just focused on what is happening right now? Or remembered what has happened in the last few months? I believe we wouldn’t be so hard on ourselves. I believe the other term for this is called, BREATHING. I look back at my photos on my phone and I think, “WOW.” Mary, you have done a lot, I think its okay to take a break and remember it and to breathe.
At least, I am going to give it a go. Starting with sharing some photos from our family vacation. I just placed an order for our little book to flip through and I wanted to share some of my favorite memories with you as I wait for them to upload!
Happiest Thanksgiving to you and yours!
xoxoxo,
Mary
My Neck, My back...
How do you diminish problem areas? Check out the tips I give my clients!
My arms flap like bats...
Today we are not actually going to be talking about Khia's song, because you know. And if you don't know, just keep reading and pretend like I never said anything. ;) Last week we discussed body shapes and today I am going to chat about three body area insecurities that I get most often.
As I replayed all of my clients in my mind the most common body concerns (more women then men, but men too) people complain before their photo shoot are those three things, neck, back fat and big arms. I am going to go over some tips on how to attend to those "problem" areas that we have and how to diminish or completely make them vanish in a photograph. I am excited to share some of my #curvygirlmagician tricks with you so hold tight and read on my friend!
My Neck
If you are a woman who is 50+ you may know that skin around the neck begins to loosen and well, it sags. One of the most common concerns that come from my 50 and fabulous clients is that they hate their necks. The way around this is to put something in front of it! Be it a turtle neck or your hands and VIOLA!
My Back
Another complaint or worry that comes up a lot is back fat and tummy rolls. This happens more so with clients who are exposing their backs more then a standard portrait session but one of the easiest ways to diminish back fat is to cover it up. Be it a long banded bra in a boudoir session or a crop top that comes down past that area. Another great way to help diminish, shape and tone is to use body shapers. Body shapers work by using compression and can really do wonders on smoothing things underneath! I will admit they are not the most comfortable and are pretty terrible to put on however, we are talking about just wearing them for a brief moment to have photos taken and not every single day. Although, I know many women that do in fact wear them everyday as they act as a modern day corset, just a bit more comfortable and breathable. You could get them from your local department stores, but if you are looking for something fun be sure to check out www.spanx.com Look for a cut that comes up higher as it will help diminish lines, and if you struggle with them rolling down like I do, be sure to get a body suit that looks similar to a swim suit to ensure it doesn't move like the one here below!
My Arms
"Please don't make my arms look fat." Even when we have toned arms, they can still look larger then life if they are not positioned properly. However, if your arms are a sore spot for you and you are not in love with them, I highly recommend that you wear something that has longer sleeves or at least a 3/4 sleeve and ends at your elbow. Another tip is to make sure that they are not pressed against your body while having your portrait taken. You simply lift your arm slightly away from your body and they will naturally slim right down.
Make me look skinny.
This is not as much of a complaint then it is sometimes a demand and part of me chuckles as I would never make anyone try to look otherwise. Have no fear, Mary is HERE! A quick posing tip to instantly slim you out and give you a "slimmer" waist is this fabulous tip right down below! Don't forget, that what is closer to the camera looks bigger and what is further away from the camera looks smaller. Want a bigger butt? Push it towards the camera. Want a smaller butt? Push it away from the camera. #BOOM
I hope you found this helpful, and if you are looking for more tips and tricks be sure to join the free ADVICE FROM A PROTOG GROUP on facebook for more fun tips and videos! All for FREE! See you next week!
Next week's blog will be, "ah push it, push it real good." -Stay TUNED!
The Shape of You - Be in Love With Your Body
Not sure what your body shape is? Have no fear! Mary is HERE!
Knowledge is Power
I am often met with resistance, especially when it comes to women stepping in front of the lens and more so when I tell them that they cannot wear clothing that is not fitted to their bodies. They panic with the fear of someone seeing their imperfections and their "muffin top" showing. One thing I have learned since being in this industry is that there is no such thing as a muffin top. It’s just the wrong type of pants! I get it. I do, we all love to hide underneath flowing clothing not only because it masks whats underneath but because it is usually more comfortable too. However, it does absolutely NOTHING for our shape and therefore makes us look larger in photos then we actually are. For the next few moments I am going to need you to keep an open mind and just embrace my instructions and guidance for a moment because what I am about to share with you will change your world. Today I am going to teach you the best way I have found to determine YOUR body shape.
How to figure out Your Body Shape...
Before you start reading I need you to grab a few things; measuring tape, ruler, pencil and paper. Don't be a goon, go get it. If you don't have a ruler no worries, the other items will work just fine.
Measure around the largest part of your bust. Note a padded bra may change measurements, wear a well fitted bra that doesn’t have too much padding and ensure it’s something you wear on a regular basis.
2. Measure your waist. Your true waist is directly under your rib cage, not around your belly button.
3. Measure your hips, around the center of your hip bones.
4. Write down all of your numbers and grab your ruler. Flip it to the cm side. Draw out straight lines to rep your bust, waist and hip measurements in cm. Be sure to leave some space between each line.
5. CONNECT THE LINES! You will have one of the following shapes: Rectangle, Pear, Inverted Triangle, Hour Glass or Dimond.
My hips are the widest part of my body that ultimately makes me a pear shape. This means my goal is to Add to my upper body and deemphasize my lower body body to elongate my figure. And now that I know that I can choose tops like a boat neck to help widen my upper body to even out my lower body like this out fit does.
80% of Women are Under Supported are YOU One of Them?
Today I want to liberate you. I want to empower you with knowledge so you no longer have to be under supported.
Today I want to liberate you. I want to empower you with knowledge so you no longer have to be under supported.
Hey there! My name is Mary, and those of you who do not know me... YET, I would like to first and foremost welcome you to my blog and website as well as thank you for being here! I am a portrait photographer & videographer that specializes in providing celebrity styled photoshoots and videos to everyday people. I do this by providing an entire #glamsquad team and staff to ensure your every need is taken care of from the time you call me until your photos are hung on the wall or are elegantly placed in an Italian leather reveal box to be enjoyed & cherished day by day.
Over these next three weeks I will take a moment to dish out some free tips to the general public aka YOU by giving a behind the scenes look at how I prepare each and every client for a photoshoot with us! We spend about two hours+ with clients prior to shoots helping them prep for their shoot, shop for the best fitting wardrobe and customize packages exclusively for them. I decided that I would at least begin at the foundation in hopes that it helps you out not only in your next photoshoot, but styling yourself in general + looking your absolute best!
In order to start we must start with what you are wearing underneath your clothes...
Did you know that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra? 70% are wearing bras that are too small and 10% are wearing bras that are too big! YIKES!
I know! It's crazy to think that your bra size is so important in photographs but let me tell you why by breaking down some basic biology for you because I am a science nerd after all!
When we first start to develop during puberty our breasts are quite "perky" and sit almost straight forward off of our chest (those were the days, I still sometimes lift my arms up high in the mirror and imagine them staying like that) dang it babies! Anyhow... our breast size and hip size is determined by several factors but one of the biggest factors is from a hormone called estrogen. Hang with me guys this is going somewhere, I promise! As we age, have babies, move our bodies and our estrogen levels drop during menopause our shape changes and so do our breasts. We start to carry weight in our middle section and our breasts typically take a nose dive.
We then often get stuck in a complacent love/hate relationship with a bra that is comfortable that we love and have had since pre babies and we can't let it go, regardless if we shrunk or we are bursting at the seams. We then settle for whatever we have, continuously readjusting our incorrectly fitting bra for decades thinking it's normal. UNTIL NOW!
Let me give you a little piece of info to chew on. Clothing designers design clothing that fits on mannequins of all shapes (YAY FOR THAT). However, went to target the other day and I saw kid manneqiuns, plus sized mannequins and pregnant mannequins. You know what I didn't see? I didn't see a singe mannequin with saggy boobs. Not a single one of them! This means that clothing is designed around fake breasts that sit up parallel from their chest regardless of size and it means that if we do not have the right support to mimic what they are using to design our clothing we will never have the clothing hit us in the places it is designed to! Now before you jump down my throat about trying to make ourselves fit mannequin standards please hear me out. A properly fitting bra does more then just change our shape, it changes our posture and can also relieve neck and back pain. Please know that I would never expect us to fit a mannequin standard, but I will say that the better supported we are the better we will feel.
Now that I have blown your mind and trust me, mine was too when I learned this! Let's change it! Because to me, there is no point in going shopping for new clothes for your photoshoot if you don't have your foundation set up properly. Nothing will fit & lay the way it's suppose to and you could be missing out on some super killer outfits because of it! #dontmissout
Before you hit the stores to start trying something on for a photoshoot or any event (I know you have grad parties and weddings to attend this summer), I highly recommend you get professionally fitted.
When should you get fitted?
If you have never been fitted before & before ANY shopping for clothing is done!
If you have had a baby and you are done breast feeding
If you have gained or lost 20+ lbs
If you have started or stopped birth control
If you have gone through menopause
When you feel like having something fun to do!
Where should you get fitted?
While you can go to department stores like Victoria's Secret & Layne Bryant they unfortunately lack the variety of cup sizes to get a true fit, especially if you have larger breasts. There is truly only one place in town that I can highly recommend with 100% certainty that can get you fitted appropriately and that is Boudoir. They specialize in top quality lingerie and specialized bra sizes to fit everyone, they are also locally owned by a woman and you would be supporting a small business by shopping there. AND we have a little thing that we are doing that you should definitely consider coming to!
COME TO THE LAUNCH PARTY JUNE 25TH 2018!
Most of my clients that come to me are 30+, especially my boudoir clients. After sending them to Boudoir for lingerie we were finding that there was not enough variety for women in extended sizes, myself included. Christal the owner of Boudoir and I decided to launch extended sizes at her store up to 4XL as well as bigger bras! Because almost ALL of my clients shop there before their shoot both for boudoir and any other session and many of my clients are full figured she offered to let me hand pick the line!
On June 25th 2018 we will be hosting a launch party for the new line at her store called "Black Label Curves by Mary!" I would love to show it to you in person and help you choose your new, custom fitted bra! We are currently selling tickets right now and 100% of it goes towards your purchase! Can't make it? No worries, you can stop in to see Christal at anytime to get fitted and I highly recommend that you do! GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!
Next week I will be diving into different body shapes and showing you how to figure out your body shape and how to pick out clothing that compliments it, now that you know how to set up your foundation!
xoxoxo,
Mary
2018 Women In Business Blog Tour | 3D Brows & Wellness
Have you checked out 3D Brows & Wellness yet? Before I dive right in to the tour at 3D Brows & Wellness, I did want to take a moment to explain what this blog is and what it's all about for those of you who may be just jumping on the bandwagon with it!
It's that time again for another WIBBT
(Women in Business Blog Tour)
Before I dive right in to the tour at 3D Brows & Wellness, I did want to take a moment to explain what this blog is and what it's all about for those of you who may be just jumping on the bandwagon with it!
At the end of 2017, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the women business owners in the Green Bay area. I had been meeting so many of them through networking events and just by shopping around. I was finding all these sweet little gems around this town and as I was getting to know them, I simply found that their backstories were absolutely fascinating. I had this deep yearning to want to share these incredible women and their stories with the world and also with my followers so they too could learn a little something new and exciting every month that wasn't just my standard photo shoots in the studio. Doing these blog tours have truly helped me get out into this community and I have made for some incredible friendships and partnerships as well great stories for all of you sweet people to consume.
If you are new to this blog tour I would invite you to take a scroll back and check out some of the other neat businesses I have featured so far! You will simply be blown away at these fun and exciting places that exist here in our town!
ON WITH THE SHOW!
I first met Jill, the owner of 3D Brows & Wellness last fall. We met through a mutual friend and her now eyeliner tattoo artist Anna Hartshorn (those looking for permanent eyeliner, go check her out)! After talking with Jill just one time, I realized quickly how much alike we truly were. She was motivated and disciplined and had goals and accomplished them. She had just launched her business earlier that year and was looking to make some great connections in the community. We have been in touch ever since and I decided to video tape her microblading my eyebrows so all of you could see! You can check out that video RIGHT HERE. Microblading is a semi-permanent tattoo that looks just like hair strokes underneath your natural eyebrows. No longer do you have to draw them in everyday and worry about them sweating off!! It's INCREDIBLE!
Jill wanted to create a wellness space that felt clean, but not too "hospital like" and also not threatening so women especially would feel safe, comfortable and relaxed during their services, which is why she created a space that she could rent out rooms for others who had her same mindset. You can hear the rest of her story by listening to the interview podcast below.
Becky Bishop with Becky Bishop Massage was her very first renter and specializes in helping people with pain and relaxing with massage therapy. Even though she was still technically on "maternity leave" she came in for this interview and beat all of us with a newborn. (don't worry pretty soon she will be late to everything like the rest of us!
Hope, with Hope Della Skincare is the newest renter to 3D brows & Wellness. And I am happy and honored to say that I helped facilitate this! I met Hope at a networking event and then again for coffee to get to know her better. I found out she was looking to move her space and she had reached out to me looking to see if the place I rented from would be a good fit. As much as I would have loved to have an esthetician like Hope around me, I just knew that her brand and the service she desired her clients to have would be better suited with Jill's space. I introduced them and BOOM! She found a new space and what she did with her room is downright phenomenal!
If you are looking for a new place to get comfortable be sure to give 3D Brows & Wellness a try!
What I also love about these ladies is their dedication to our community as well. Just this past Thursday evening they invited me to their Open house to help welcome Hope to their space and held a silent auction to help raise funds for The Ribbon Of Hope! They were able to raise $750 from the auction! It was an honor for me to be there supporting these beautiful ladies! In fact, all three have donated gifts for our upcoming Mother + Daughter Shopping Day event at Poppy Avenue next Sunday valuing over $200 that you could win by coming!
OPEN HOUSE PHOTOS
Stay tuned for next months WIBBT! And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY FRIENDS!
2018 Women In Business Blog Tour | The Dough Shoppe
Looking for something Yummy to sink your teeth in? Look no further folks!
There is nothing more delightful in then finding out you are able to indulge in something you have been secretly doing for years. And that my friends is eating RAW COOKIE DOUGH!
I first heard about this edible cookie dough heaven, called THE DOUGH SHOPPE a few months back when they first opened their doors. I knew that I had to get in there to try it! I then was doing some research and found out that it was a family owned business that was operated by a mother/daughter duo! SAWEET (no pun intended). I quickly reached out to get them on the books for this 2018 tour and decided that I would honor mother's day by featuring two businesses owned and operated by a mother & daughter pairing. I know first hand what fun it is and how challenging it can also be to work alongside family, especially a daughter so I was anxious to get in there! Probably more for the taste test then anything else.
This is Shannon aka "mom."
This is Katelyn aka "daughter."
When I should up for the shoot I admired their artistic craft with the cookie dough. It looked so perfect that I almost didn't want to eat it. Thank goodness that passed quickly. I took a little walk around their store to grab some insight and photos to show you guys more of what the Dough Shoppe is all about beyond just serving a delicious sweet treat.
Something you will hear more about later in the podcast interview is this amazing tip jar. They collect tips in order to give them back, which encourages us, the consumer to give a little bit extra. They have raised over $3000.00 in tips since they have opened their doors five months ago!
They think with the heart of children and had this step up bar installed to ensure the littles would be able to get a good look at all of the flavors. They also shop local as all of their barn word and tables were custom made locally!
Coming to The Dough Shoppe was much more then just a sweetly satisfying bite, it was a great experience to be surrounded in a place that is doing so much good in our community. Be sure to take a listen to the podcast interview below to learn more about their starting story and BIG plans for the future! There is even a secret golden nugget of information that you won't want to miss out on in that Podcast!
The Dough Shoppe is also donating to our Mother + Daughter Shopping Day Event on May 20th, 2018 with not only a gift certificate for a couple of free scoops but they are also supplying us with dough bites for the event!
CHECK OUT THEIR SWEET VIDEO TOUR!
Next Months Blog Tour: 3D Brows & Wellness!
2018 Women In Business Tour | Poppy Avenue Boutique
Take a BTS look at a shopping experience at Poppy Avenue Boutique
Hello April? Are you there? No? Okay...
Friends it's April... I think, which means it is time for another Women in business blog tour on this snow storm in April. This month I will be featuring two businesses that are owned by mother/daughter duos in honor of Mother's day coming up! Ladies and gents meet the owners Audra and Christian of Poppy Avenue Boutique, located in downtown Depere, WI!
Audra (mom) and Christian (daughter) moved up here about two years ago from Texas and it wasn't because they loved winter. They moved up here to be closer to family that needed them and then they decided to stay! I would go more into detail on their story but I would rather you hear there story from their own lips on my podcast below!
I first heard of Poppy Avenue from another boutique owner in the Depere. As soon as I heard about them, I quickly picked up the phone and gave them a call. Christian (the beauty above) answered the phone, and we chatted about doing this very blog interview back in early January. She was ecstatic to be featured and I am so honored to be sharing their story with you all.
This is Audra, Christian's mother. Alongside her daughter, I was so delighted to meet her as well as photograph her. I had seen her photos numerous times along my Facebook feed and never imagined that this was "mom." I always thought this was just a friend or sister, but turns out that this goodness is very much like you and I. Audra was a bit nervous to have her portrait taken as she joked that she wasn't the "instagram boyfriend" but the "instagram mom." Therefore, she fell right where most of my moms typically do and that’s behind the camera, and never in front of it. However, I have a feeling that she may step in front of the camera a bit more after getting this photo in her hands!
What I love about Poppy is their unique style and that they have so much more than just clothes! They also have these cute boots, accessories and MAKEUP!
That's right! They carry auNATURALE! It's made locally right here in Green Bay, WI and with all natural ingredients to boot! (don't worry they are on my list to tour as well!) You can sample lipglosses, blushes and foundations right there in store!
What I love about the space that Audra & Christian create is security. These women pictured above, said over and over how they loved trying on all of the pieces, and how great the clothing was making them feel. Their confidence was being boosted and refreshed just by trying on some new clothes! And they were right there to help adjust, zip up and tie. Not to mention, Poppy is the most active store on social media that I know of! I always know what is going on over there! Which makes the styling and customizing service they provide, that much more fun and effective.
What I loved most about Poppy? The fact that they carry curvy sizes up to 2XL. Being a curvy woman myself as well as most of my clients being curvy too, it's important to me to send my clients somewhere that they won't be segregated from their friends and family members. Especially as they are shopping for a wardrobe for their photo shoot! I can remember vividly walking into stores that did not carry my size and be subjected to looking just shoes or earrings while my friends tried on their favorites. I didn't dare ask them to come to the "fat girl stores" out of sheer embarrassment. Don't get me wrong, those stores are a godsend; however nothing sucks more then not being able to stick together and shop. Guess where I will be sending my clients to shop for their outfits? You got it folks! Poppy!
If you haven't been to Poppy Avenue, you HAVE TO CHECK THEM OUT! Are you snowed in like me and want to start shopping now? Have no fear their online store is HERE! You will not be disappointed.
Oh shoot, did you miss their video tour? No worries head to my Facebook page and Give it a watch! Don't forget to give us a LIKE while you're there!
Thanks for taking the time to be here learning about local businesses right here in Green Bay area! Stay tuned for the next blog tour.... THE DOUGH SHOPPE 4.28.18!
Until next week friends!
xoxoxo,
Mary Breuer
The moment before Mary let go.
Take a peek into the journey I took to create a piece for the Easter Story exhibition.
Easter, the holiday of egg hunts and candy galore. However, the true history of Easter is far from chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps. Easter is a horrible act of torture that needed to happen in order for humankind to be saved and while the good news is that because of this torture. Everyday, imperfect people like you and me are able to have eternal life, forever with God should you choose to believe it and that is a decision only YOU can make, no one else.
Now some of you may have different opinion or perhaps you practice a different spiritual walk or perhaps you walk with the universe. We sure could sit here and debate who is wrong or who is right, but it's not my job nor my purpose to change your mind. My purpose is to love you with all of my heart regardless if you mock me, disagree with me or choose a different path for yourself. My purpose is to be more Christlike everyday, not more religious. My purpose is to serve you with my hands and feet and embrace you no matter what and let God handle the rest.
Last year in August I received an email from our worship leader at church stating that the ARTgarage was looking for Christian artists to put together and depict the Easter Story through the stations of the cross. Each artist could use their preferred medium and we each had a list of different versus of scripture to depict. The scripture that I decided to depict was one of the third sentences that Jesus spoke as he hung on the cross John 19: 25-27.
“ Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother”
My reason for depicting this particular moment came to me because I could empathize with Mary. I put myself into her shoes for a minute and thought about how I might feel or react to one of my children being tortured all day and watching it. Although I hope to never know exactly what that feels like I can only image what expressions she may have worn that day.
My hunt for John & Mary Began...
I am a portrait photographer, so I knew that I wanted to photograph real people with raw emotions. I also felt it was imperative to find models that would have been around the same age as Mary and John. I began my research first with Mary. I found that she was only about 15-16 years of age when she gave birth to Jesus and Jesus was 33 when he died, making Mary just about 50 years old. I also thought it was important for Mary to have darker hair as the given location of where she was born the likely hood of her having blonde or very bright hair was not as likely. I began to scroll through my Facebook friends list over and over looking for someone who fit the vision in my head and I came across a woman who I have seen before and have heard of many times in my church. Her name is Catherine. I sent her a message explaining my project and asked if she would be willing to be my Mary. She replied back that she would be honored.
John. Finding John was a bit more of a challenge for me. Simply because I wanted to have a man that would have been similar to Jesus in age, and I honestly wanted a man that would confuse people on whether or not he was John or if he was Jesus. I looked and looked and was coming to a dead end. Until one morning I woke up and glanced over at my husband and felt the Lord say, "this is John." I went back and forth with if I should ask him because my husband actually HATES having his photo taken but I figured since "it was for Jesus" he couldn't say no. (LOL) And I was correct he agreed.
The day of the shoot...
I wanted to make sure that John and Mary stood out from the background. I asked them to both wear black and placed a black lace covering over Catherine. I wanted them to look a bit more "modern" to help the viewers relate more to the subjects in the photo. Many asked me how I got Catherine to cry, and frankly it was very easy. We played one of the most heart touching songs that made her feel most connected to Jesus as I spoke to them about the scene we were depicting. Her song of choice was Come to Jesus by Chris Rice. I asked her to put herself there, in Mary's shoes. Jesus only said seven sentences while He was on the cross and this command was the third one. The way I interpreted this command was Jesus putting His final affairs in order. He knew that His mother not only desperately needed an embrace of comfort, He wanted to ensure that she was taken care of before He proceeded into death. And I truly believe this goes back to the 10 commandments of honoring and respecting our parents. He was honoring and respecting her needs with some of His last breath He was still serving.
Picking out the shot..
I had about 10 images to sift through and as I narrowed them down I was torn between two images specifically. The one you see above and this one.
The reason I decided not to go with this one is because I felt it would have been a more fitting emotion after Jesus actually died. The emotion has a bit of shock and she looks as if she is almost numb. Which is precisely how I would envision her as they began taking Him down from the cross but not particularly how she would have looked right after Jesus commanded her and John to become mother & son. I wanted to capture the moment of grief where one is taking a deep breath as tears are welling in their eyes just before they let out a scream or a whale of desperation. I wanted to capture Mary right before she let go of Jesus and embraced deeply into John. I felt that by Jesus saying this, it was giving her finality that He was indeed going to die, and frankly, as a mom, I would not want to believe it. His command felt like a snap and punch into reality that what He said was going to happen was truly going to happen.
How I chose to edit the image.
The Original Photograph
The Final Photograph
I wanted the photo to have some age to it and almost as if it were painted. I also needed to give it more grit as these two had been outside watching someone they love being tortured all day. The original photograph was "too pretty." I desaturated their skin, warmed the tones and increased the contrast and clarity to get the final image.
Final Thoughts...
On March 9th was the artists reception. That was the first time I got to experience the entire exhibit from start to finish. To say it was powerful was an understatement. It was moving and emotional as well as incredible to see other talented artists depict their interpretations. A common theme I felt from the artists was the humble feeling of being unworthy to be depicting such a deep and intimate occasion in Jesus's life as well as being honored to do so. If you have not heard the real story of Easter, I would like to invite you do a version that is easy for not only you but for your kids to understand. Sometimes it's easier to start with the kid versions before digging into the deeper versions. At least that's what helped me. WATCH THE EASTER STORY.
I would like to formally invite you to actually go and see the exhibition in person THIS WEEK! The exhibition will be open until Saturday, March 31st. (the day before Easter).
Did you miss us on the news? Click on the image here to see the segment from March 22nd!
2018 Women In Business | Jen Star Movement Studio
en is the owner of Jenstar Movement Studio. I actually found Jen and began following her on Instagram. I then messaged her directly with no response. I figured she was busy and maybe didn't even see it.
2018 Women In Business - March Feature | Jenstar Movement Studio.
Ladies and gents, let me introduce you to Jen.
Jen is the owner of Jenstar Movement Studio. I actually found Jen and began following her on Instagram. I then messaged her directly with no response. I figured she was busy and maybe didn't even see it. However, I knew she would be speaking at the next Rising Tide, Tuesdays together, where I had every intention of introducing myself and asking to to feature her and I am so glad that I did! To hear more of that funny story be sure to listen to our podcast interview below.
My day with Jen.
This was not a typical feature, as I am usually in and out of an establishment within an hour, but in Jen's case we needed to switch things up a bit seeing as she offers more than just yoga at her studio and I would have to pop into each class to take footage and photographs in order to get the full story.
It was still dark when I arrived for the first class that Tuesday at 5:45am, but when I walked in, class was in full swing. That class was Barre. Barre is a class that uses a ballet bar and ballet movements and exercises the same way a dancer would train. However, these ladies were sweaty, so I knew that it wasn't "easy."
Next up was Jen's yoga class.
Before every class, Jen sits and takes a moment of study time while her students arrive and settle in. I love nothing more than to see what energizes and "teaches" the teacher.
What fascinated me most was seeing people of all ages and sizes here. It made it feel so much less intimidating and that I too could do this.
After Jen's class we shot her video, recorded the podcast interview + took some fun photos of her mad skills!
After that I headed out for a break and to get ready to gear up for the last class: Dance, like dance class for adults. Surprised is honestly the only word that can truly describe my feelings towards this class. In-fact, it intrigued me and motivated me so much that I stayed for the second class until the end. No joke. It took every fiber in my body not to move. Let's just say that this class has given me even more insight and motivation on how to help women that I shoot, especially during their boudoir shoots!
The sexy chair dance is what looped me in, hook-line and sinker. I seriously will be attending next Tuesday next week if you would like to join me.
During the podcast interview that you can take a listen to below, Jen digs in deep about the meaning of this very vibrant artwork that is hanging in her studio. Be sure to take a listen to hear more on that.
I can't recommend Jenstar enough to you guys. And if you like what I am putting out there be sure to subscribe to get first dibs on the next blog tour. Next month, I will have TWO features for you in honor of Mother's Day the following month!
Before you go, take a listen to our podcast interview down below, or head to iTunes to download it to your device of choice! You can find me on iTunes simply by typing my name Mary Breuer. I dug in deeper with Jen on things like her nick name "Jen Star," as well as where she has failed as a business owner. Those that know me, know I like to skip past the superficial and get to peoples hearts, and her story is simply fascinating!
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How I landed an article in the paper
THIS feeling, this recognition and hug of words is exactly what I provide to my clients everyday through photographs, videos and relationships and it just came back full circle. It felt like the boomerang of love and energy that I have been pouring out of my soul and into everyone I have meet and served for the past five years finally made its way back to me.
HOW?
With yesterdays article in the Green Bay Press Gazette I feel it is time to acknowledge something that has been on my mind for some time.
Yesterday I had gotten up in the wee hours of the morning to begin shooting for another local business and while I was waiting for the next class to start I rushed to the gas station at 7:00am to buy out their entire stash. I busted out of the doors like I had stolen something so I could sit in my car and read it on PAPER. I was anxious to see what photos they used (I sent them TONS) and how that 45 minute phone interview would be condensed into a segment. I imagine those nerves were similar to what my clients feel as they wait to see the final product. I read every single word in slow motion as tears poured down my cheeks. Not so much from the words, but the surreality of me sitting in my car reading a newspaper article about ME. And in that very moment, the feeling of solidification swept my body from top to bottom. THIS feeling, this recognition and hug of words is exactly what I provide to my clients everyday through photographs, videos and relationships and it just came back full circle. It felt like the boomerang of love and energy that I have been pouring out of my soul and into everyone I have meet and served for the past five years finally made its way back to me.
Some may think, "WOW, you are so LUCKY!" The fact is that it had nothing to do with luck and everything to me saying YES to myself and honoring my true calling, gift and talents. So how exactly did I land that article? Here it comes the tell all of success... BY SHOWING UP!
In October of 2017 I attended an Open Mic night put on by Stephen Utech, CEO and founder of Illumyx. The open mic night event was hosted at The Aardvark Wine Lounge, downtown in Green Bay for people, especially businesses to share a story about how they failed and exceeded. I mustered up the courage to speak. My speech was in the format of a letter to myself. You see, I no longer regret my upbringing or the hand that was dealt to me, I am thankful for it. My letter was one of encouragement. I imagined that if I could go back in time, that I wouldn't change anything, but what I would do is leave myself love notes like this,
"Dear Mary, sweet little Mary, I know that you are feeling lost and afraid right now, and what they did to you was tragic and heartbreaking, but just know, God has you, He will pull you through this. Keep going, it's going to get better."
During my speech at The Aardvark Wine Lounge, Photo credits to Houa Utech.
After my speech I received tons of cheers, a round of applause and tons of hugs. I wasn't the only one who shared incredible failures that night. There were several who poured their guts out and we were bonding over craptastic situations and celebrating together over our triumphs. It was amazing. Stephen told us that the newspaper may reach out for an article, so I gladly signed off for him to give me the info. Fast forward to February 2018 and just three weeks ago to my phone interview with Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt, the writer for the business column.
Here is what I want you to know, I did not get to where I am today by luck. I got here because I wanted to be here. Every decision you make will determine where you end up, so if you can think about where you want to end up, it's much easier to say no to the things that won't get you there, and yes to the things that will. I live everyday with intention and purpose and my "end game" in mind. And when that end game changes, so do my decisions. When you realize that you only actually have three answers to the opportunities in life it actually takes off a heap of pressure. It's either YES, NO or NOT YET. The biggest and most important question you must answer is WHAT DO YOU WANT!
I hope that this blog has brought you some entertainment, empowerment, inspiration and encouragement. I hope that you know that you are so incredibly valuable and deserve to acknowledge your value. I love you guys.
xoxoxoxo,
Mary
2018 Women In Business | Boudoir DePere
An experience at Boudoir Boutique in DePere, WI
You walk through the front doors and you are greeted with a smile and some jams on the record player in the back. Once you have had a chance to get settled, you begin your fitting with Christal or Sabrina. They only really need to use the tape measure to double check themselves, but its not very often. Simply because they can tell your bra size just by looking at you!
Then you are taken around the store and show what pieces would look great on you and what they have available in stock for you to try on right then and there. But don't worry, once you get into the fitting room, they just keep bringing you more and more pieces to try on so you are not dealing with the hassle of dressing and undressing multiple times over and over.
Don't see something you like or perhaps it wasn't in your size? No worries, Christal will get it ordered in for you! Then, she keeps your size written down and places an order with you in mind when she refreshes her pieces.
Now that you have your items picked out, they are carefully folded and wrapped up beautifully like a gift for you to take home and enjoy.
Christal and or Sabrina then walk you to the door with your bag and leave you with the tightest and warmest hug before you leave.
CHECK OUT THEIR VIDEO TOUR BELOW AND SEE FOR YOURSELF! Then click on the link under the video to listen to the podcast interview with Christal to learn more about her journey and what lead her to want to open a high end lingerie store in DePere, WI!
If you're looking to book a boudoir session be sure to fill out the contact form below so we can chat!!
Are you a woman in business that would love to be featured on our blog and get some gorgeous images just like this one!? We still have a few spots remaining for 2018! Email me at info@marybreuerphotos.com for more information and to get the available dates!
This Photo Brings Me Pain
"Earthquake, Earthquake LOOK she just made another crack in the ground!" Listen to how I used this photo as a teachable moment with my own daughters this morning.
