Pushed Dates & Just Keeping Up...

Pushed back AGAIN... those were the words I was greeted with last evening during a call with the editor of CINHTE Magazine to discuss the shoot for designer Bryan K Osburn. Garments hadn't shipped on time, now a model is a no go for the date. I really don't mind the delay because I have some wicked fun ideas in mind if I really get to stretch my creative wings during this shoot, and I could use some further planning. But because of all these crazy ideas I have rolling around in my head I'm also growing increasingly antsy for this shoot to finally set, and keep, a date.

So onto next project... props for my client on Saturday. An old aluminum chair that I am painting garnet is what I am working on at the moment. She has this country theme going so I am coming up with nice, sexy, country style props and ideas so her session is fun and full of action. I even spoke with the MUA (make up artist) today and she is a go as well.

Then, it's back to working on the website. Seems more and more inquiries are coming in about stylized bridal and engagement portraits so I thought it was time to link that baby as well. I am meeting with the women at Wedding 101 to discuss advertising with them. And then I received a message from Fashion Blogger, fashionista, PR wonder woman, and all around great gal Gigi LaBord of Miss Fancy Threads asking if she could interview me for her feature? I mean come on now... how could I say no?

Monday there will be another FemFessionals meeting. This one is at the loft, so everyone come on down and join us for an amazing night of networking and friendship making.

For now I leave you with the new Buttons for the website. Yes... they're film strips and I shoot digital. Hahaha... These new kids won't get it! LOL!

I LOVE THIS POTTY SHOT!!!!
Thought it was just TOO cute
for the Blog Button.

Promotional Items finally ordered...

With two HUGE orders still looming overhead, we decided to finally get one out of the way by ordering most all of our promotional items needed for advertising, etc.
Banners, postcards, work polo shirts, t-shirts, and such all were placed for delivery this afternoon after spending literally 13 hours in front of the computer editing the little detail of it all.

I'm pooped! But I really love how they all came out. Right down to our "I've Been Exposed" coffee mugs.

Bridal Boudoir Special!!!

Your wedding day is fast approaching. You've been going to the gym., eating like a health freak, tanning, growing your hair just right. It's no surprise that you're finding yourself feeling on top of your game. and believe me IT SHOWS!!!

Don't ever forget exactly how amazing you were feeling in these months prior to the big day, and give him something that he will treasure in the process...

Bridal Boudoir Images!!!

Imagine his heart racing as he opens his personalized, custom flush mount photo album; Filled with images front to back of you, only you, his soon to be wife. Or have your image custom mounted and framed, then ship it to your honeymoon suite and have it hung on the wall & watch his surprise when he see's that it's you! There are a million ways we can customize this gift to be as unique as you are.

After all, he chose YOU over ALL others. Never let him forget exactly why he made the best choice ever!!!

Contact us today and receive 5% off your collection if booked by May 30th, 2012.

Our Press Release~

Deborah Berard Photography is ready...
Is Columbia?

Liberating Columbia's women:
One Fierce Photograph at a time!!!

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Grand Opening Special!!!

Deborah Berard Photography;
Liberating Columbia's Women; One fierce photo at a time...

________________________________________

Our New Website is ready!

New templates, new designs, new everything...

This website edit proved more difficult than others in the past. It seems that Blu had revamped some of their sites best features, but left others out; Others that are terribly needed for a spell check crazy like me. Without the ability to cut and paste your text content, and no spell check button available any longer, the process of final edits will take days. This would be about the time I hire an editor!

But for now most of the important information is visible and available to potential clients interested in hiring Deborah Berard Photography.

The Black Swan Loft...

Being a military spouse is not an easy deal. I knew these women were tough, but I never knew just how tough until I became one. PCS'ing, TDY's, Deployments... is was all so new to me and it was not an easy adjustment. I spent the last 2 1/2 years in Europe, which for most I assume would be an amazing thing. But it was so hard on me, sitting at home with only 10 channels of tv, 4 ft of snow more months than I care to remember, and sun that only came out from 9am until 4pm 5 months out of the year! Who lives like that??? I couldn't wait to come back to the states and get back to working.

Shortly after we arrived back in the states, my husband came to me with the proposition of retirement. We speak about everything together, and make all family decisions together, so he wanted to know my thoughts. I had all to do to hold my excitement inside. After all, this man has made a life out of being a soldier, and I don't want him to ever make a decision about his career based on me. I'll wait for my day, because when it comes I know that my husband will be just as loyal to my dreams.

And so she was born. What is now affectionately known as The Black Swan Loft. Deborah Berard Photography's new loft studio is just about complete. Minus 2 chandeliers and a little paint. Maybe some odds & ends as well? But all in all I felt she was ready for her reveal. She had been a bachelor pad for 2 years prior to me, and believe me when I tell you that it took about the entire first week of being in there to get the BOY smell to go away! LOL!

But in this moment of excitement, I want to also take this moment to publicly thank my husband Eric for all he has done to help me get this studio ready. From cart roller, to box shredder, to driver, to IT wiz, to banker, to cheerleader... this man can do it all. And I love him so very much! Thank you baby for your belief in me. For backing this dream, and for not yelling at me too much. LOL!

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The dream has consumed me for years. The vision that I was once told by a fellow photographer that "I had given up on." The desire to create something unlike anything Columbia has ever seen in regards to boudoir photography. In this studio my desires is to show women the way back to sexy. To show women that they are amazing creatures, and should be pampered and adored. Where for one complete day she gets to be catered to. No phones, no kids, no job stress... just to be.

Isn't it time you came to be...
Just be...
Beauty. Exposed.

First shoot in new studio loft...

This afternoon was simply beautiful in Columbia, SC. The weather was a warm 83* with light winds and clear skies. Certainly not the rainy day that was earlier predicted, and we were all very pleased because I had a new baby girl traveling all the way from Sumter to have her pictures taken. She is 4 weeks old, so a little past my typical newborn age, and I really would have loved the studio to have been completely finished before anyone came over. But sometimes things like this can't wait and a newborn only looks like a newborn for a little while.

And although I only intend to post these two... I think they're pretty snicking cute!!!!

Tomorrow we have the U-haul for the day and all the large items are being moved, like the bed, the antique chair, and the chaise lounge. The painter comes on Tuesday, and I am fairly certain that by this time next week we will be open for business!!!

Wait for it... Waaaaaait for it!!!!

• A weeks time spent sitting on pins and needles thinking "Why haven't we heard back from anyone yet?"
• OR worse yet "What if they say NO for some freakish reason?"
  
• It was killing me.
• I'm thinking its now going on 3 tubs of Butterfinger Chunk Ice Cream by this point~

And then it came. The email asking if we could come down around 4 to sign the lease and pick up the keys!!! I was thrilled!!! I mean, Tom Cruise on Oprah's couch thrilled!!!!

So the morning that started with tears, and an uncertainty in the air, ended with a smile and two golden keys in my hands. I was relieved.

All in all I completely realize that this venture would never be possible without the complete financial, spiritual, and business guidance of my husband. I am truly blessed in so very many ways. So I hope that one day he steps back just a little and allows me a mistake or two. Because in all honesty, my biggest secret is....

"I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT WITHOUT HIM ANYWAY!"

Silent, but not lost~

It would surely seem that on my list of "priorities" that I should include on that list "Take time to Blog about what's going on"!

Swamped with responsibility, nauseous most of the time, needing more sleep, and so excited I could bust. Yep, that pretty much sums it all up for me at this moment. I am days away from getting the keys and I can't wait until I can make a post entitled "We're Home".

Until then, please know I have not forgotten you my sugar sweets. I am busy creating a playground just for YOU! (bicycle not included. Ok maybe?)

Believe me when I tell you, it will all be worth it in the end.

New Website almost ready!!!

Things have been pretty busy around here.

And although I won't share much else about it all with you now... very soon you are going to see some amazing things happening for us here at Deborah Berard Photography.

For now I will leave you with a little tease. The SPLASH page of my new site is just about finished. And I must tell you that I am loving the new - softer color palettes. Can't wait to tell you all about the big news!!!

Stay tuned~

Who got engaged during Valentines Day???

Valentines Day. Said to be one of the most romantic days of the season. Personally, my hubby and I give gifts year round to show our love and devotion for one another. I suppose after a certain year in your marriage its just a simple I love you, just on a different day?

I was bored, so I decided to go back over some old external hard drives. I found some great finds.

Things are changing yet again here at Deborah Berard Photography. So I am once again re-vamping my website and blog to reflect our change of direction. Until things are finished, I thought I could show off a few images from way back when...

Mini Photo Shoot...

Before I share a post about our Christmas Holiday... I wanted to share some pictures I took of Carrie today. She is my little Hollywood Diva, posing for the camera like a pro. I think I even saw her crack a smile or two? :)

She has made herself quite comfortable in her new home. Trying to make friends, and learning the ropes of her new family. A ball of energy all day long, I had forgot how crazy puppies can be, but I love her dearly.

Here a few of my favorites...

Sunday Sunset Yoga Session in Myrtle Beach...

A few weeks back I wrote of an amazing woman I met while photographing her yoga studio for an up coming WINK publication. She and I became instant friends with a 1 hour photo shoot turning into a 3 hour gab session about all things amazing!

Her images from this shoot came out great, and she came back to me so overly pleased with the results that she asked me to join her down at Myrtle Beach this evening for a sunset photo shoot for her website and PR items. Our last shoot was so much fun I couldn't hardly say no... so my hubby and I packed up the car (new puppy and all) and headed off to the coast.

It was a chilly 51* with the sea winds making it feel much colder. As we all stood barefoot in an ice cold ocean I thought to myself "suck it up honey, this is the life of a photographer". I had a fantastic time!!! My hubby even shot off a few images and captured some really great stuff. It was nice to work with him again.

I love everything about this shoot, and I couldn't wait to post a few of my favorites. Enjoy...

Looks like I've been "Carried" away!

Pets... they are such a HUGE part of our lives. A part of the family, if you will. Our family has 2 dogs. My Tiffany is my baby. She is 13 and blind, but she is the healthiest, most active and loving animal you will ever want to meet. She just knows love, no hate, no anger, no pain... those things have NEVER been a part of her life and it shows in her temperament and disposition. She will do anything to please you and never ever has let me down. She licks my tears, rolls on the floor when I laugh out loud, sits at my feet when I have food, lays by my side when I sleep at night. She has been such a staple in my life that I'm at a loss when I think of the day that will come where she is no longer there wagging her tail and giving me morning kisses. It makes my heart physically ache when I think about it...

I don't want to be out searching for a pet when she passes. That's not the way to go looking for a new family member. I don't want to be full of grief trying to turn some new puppy into my old Tiffany. I want a new dog now, a few years before I would expect Tiffany to leave me. And I want Tiffany and her to know one another. I want the new little one to learn from the best of the best... so with that thought in mind I started getting the itch to go puppy shopping. I mean what is more cute than a fluffy new puppy with a little red bow on sitting under the tree on Christmas morning? So I trolled the internet looking at all things cute, trying to decide exactly what breed I wanted. Is it not funny how I ended up with the exact dog I said I didn't want? Be careful what you wish for, the packaging might be slightly different. LOL!!!

Welcome the newest member of the Berard Family... Miss Carrie Bradshaw!!! She is a hybrid dog Pom/Shitz mix and oh-so-cute!!! She is as smart as a whip, cute as a button, and has the attitude of a true diva! There are so many things about her that are just like my Tiffany that I truly believe that God didn't bring me what I wanted breed wise, but instead he brought me what he knew I would need the most... another loving dog just like my Tiffany is.

There will NEVER be another Tiffany Louise Berard... she came into my life when I had absolutely nothing. We loved each other through sleepless nights, lonely holidays, tear filled break ups, scary thunder storms, sun filled car rides with the top down, nail painting day at the spa, 3 apartments/ 3 boyfriends/ and 2 job changes in 6 years, and a new marriage, 2 litters of puppies, a move to Europe, a move to Texas, a move to South Carolina, and all those other crazy memories I have of her and I together. And when the day comes when God decides he needs her up in doggie heaven I know that I gave her a great life, as she did for me. And I know that she will be with me always, and that she will be able to see me again one day with her new beautiful eyes. And I pray that this new puppy Carrie will be able to love me through the pain of losing one of the best things that ever happened to me...

Welcome to your new home Carrie... You have HUGE shoes to fill!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Unpacking boxes... this has to be one of the single worst things in the world that comes along with moving. And when half of what you own came on a boat from Europe, and the other half of what you own came from a storage unit in Texas which has not been viewed in almost 3 years, it's difficult to remember not only what all you have... but which box its packed in and why can't you seem to find it?

After setting up, painting, picking out, coordinating, putting together, moving around, hanging up, and anything else one could possibly have to do to make ones house "livable" again. That's what I have spent the better half of 3 months doing now. So the thought of digging up all those twinkling lights and glass balls made me ill. I know... I'm in a beautiful new home that would be amazing to decorate with holly and lights, and animated holiday creatures of the forest. But I just have not been able to make myself get off the couch and get it all done. We don't have children, so when it's just the two of us it makes it so hard to get into the spirit of the holidays. Although, I have managed to keep the hubby out of the loop in the gift department. He doesn't know which gift under the tree is his and which is mine. Too funny!

So, since I have decided to keep things rather small this year, I did do some things which I have not in the past but would like to make a "Berard" Christmas tradition... like our gingerbread house and our stockings for everyone in our family, including the dogs. :)

My Nana used to DO IT UP during the holidays. She was the best at making the entire house look magical. I never knew all the hard work that went into making all that magic happen back then... I wish I would have told her more often how amazing she was and how the holidays just are not the same without her special touches. I miss my Nana & Grandpa so very much during this time of year...