For those of my clients who celebrate the holidays and have a Christmas or Holiday tree in their house, I’m excited to announce that I am offering this beautiful product for the season! It’s a stunning pewter ornament with a metal photograph (of your choice, of course) printed right onto the silver.

This is only one of the designs (there is another in square form and I think one other in a wreath form and one design even has the year engraved on it) that I ordered as a sample because I just loved the snowflake. Because me personally? I love snow.

The ornaments are priced at $64.99 (plus tax) or if you purchase my ‘Holiday Package’, you receive a one and a half hour shoot, editing and retouching of all the images, 15 of the high resolution digital images and all of your digital proofs (small, wallet-sized files) on CD, one ornament of your choice and 50 Holiday Cards (with your own unique design) for $499.

Jen also joined in on the Pin-Up Party Fun! Jen is the fabulous makeup artist that I work with regularly. All the makeup that you see in these pin-up party shots were done by Jen.

The other super fun thing about Jen’s shoot is that she was getting married (is married now)! So we themed her shoot to be retro bride chic. We also played around and had her dress like the “groom” a little bit, too. How cute are these???

To book your own Pin-Up Party, all you need is a few of your friends (minimum 4 girls, maximum 10) and a deposit to secure your date. For only $125 per girl, you receive a 20-minute boudoir shoot in one location, one high resolution digital image and an 8×12 wall print.  Or for $195 you receive two 20-minute boudoir sessions in two locations and two high resolution digital images and one 12×18 wall print.

This is the same Pin-Up Party that Julia was a part of. I think we had about 6 girls–all of which I’m going to try to feature over the next few weeks. Eliza’s shoot was interesting…Liza and I have been friends for quite a while. She doesn’t wear makeup. She sees it as a misrepresentation of herself. In fact, she (and her sister who also joined in the Pin-Up fun) don’t even own foundation. Which is a pretty important part of preparing for a shoot. You know, the lights and camera can sometimes wash you out, blah blah blah.

Liza’s also a very modest person. Going out for drinks and dancing, she (like me usually) tends to wear casual cute clothing–not anything too revealing or tight. She chose to wear this Esther Williams bathing suit for her 20-minute session which photographed beautifully.

It just goes to show that your pin-up shoot or boudoir session can be anything you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be revealing or suggestive. It can be cute and fun and retro!

The Pin-Up Party is my latest project. It’s essentially a way to do a boudoir shoot with a few of your friends (minimum 4 girls, maximum 10) at an inexpensive price! For only $125 per girl, you receive a 20-minute boudoir shoot in one location, one high resolution digital image and an 8×12 wall print.  Or for $195 you receive two 20-minute boudoir sessions in two locations and two high resolution digital images and one 12×18 wall print.

Julia was involved with Katana Photography’s first ever pin-up party and I’m going to show you one by one, each girl’s shoot. The girls went with a very retro theme and I couldn’t help but think Julia had channeled Dita Von Teese for this shoot. STUNNING!

Marriage is a weird thing, right? The idea of choosing one person for the rest of your life. One person to eat with, sleep with, share income and space with, someone who will no doubt eat the last of the cereal and then put the empty box back in the cabinet, someone you’ll share closet space with and give up some of your favorite items because they’re too girlie for him–someone you’ll eventually create little half-you/half-him persons with. It’s a pretty colossal decision.

I don’t believe in soul mates, personally. The idea that out of 7-billion+ people on this Earth that there is one person and one person only without whom you wouldn’t be complete. I dunno, maybe it’s a little cynical, but it just sounds a bit like bull to me. There are lots of people I’ve connected with in my life. I’ve felt love, I’ve felt loss with more than one person.

Calling your partner your soul mate feels like a cop-out. This story that you wouldn’t have had to do anything and the fates would have still brought you two together. Relationships take effort. They’re not work necessarily, but it’s not always easy. In my mind, I think it’s more romantic–more meaningful to say to a person that out of all the relationships I’ve had or could have, yours is the one I want to be in forever. You are the person I choose out of all the men I’ve known, met and loved.

For those who haven’t heard yet: He proposed. I said yes.

Sean, I choose you.

About a month ago, Anita participated in my first Pin-Up Party. While her makeup and hair looked very glamorous and beautiful, she wanted something that was a little more ‘her’–something that more accurately illustrated who ANITA is! I loved this shoot–I think it perfectly shows her personality, fashion, humor and sensuality.

Also, FYI, girlfriend was wearing Givenchy shoes! Let’s all take a moment to sigh over those… (Anita also taught me that it is pronounced Jee-vohn-shay not Gah-vehn-chi like I said)

We’ve had exciting news within the Katana family that I’ve been BURSTING to tell people, but couldn’t. Do you know what that feels like? Trying to keep a secret from the internet…your bestest friend in the whole wide world? It’s like trying to not pick the dried boogie that’s been itching in your nose all day! I mean–what? I don’t do that…

Anyway…my sister is having a baby! Not just a baby, but a baby BOY! As soon as I heard the news (and also was told that I couldn’t blog about it yet) I knew I had to keep my hands busy so NOTTOTYPEITINCAPSALLOVERMYWEBSITE! My solution–I went to work knitting him a blankie. Bebop is seen here modeling Harrison’s (that is his name) first baby blanket. Congrats Adam, Bridget and big sister Adelynn!!!!

Andaye and Wayne were two of the sweetest, cutest couples I’ve ever photographed. I met with Andaye about a year ago (closer to spring/early summer) and she just immediately lit up when I asked her to tell me about Wayne and how they met. Furthermore, I think the colors they chose and the bright tropical themed flowers reflected her bubbly personality perfectly. I do have to admit, they were a tough couple to photograph {only} because Wayne was SO SO SO TALL! Other than that–the whole day was perfect.

Sooooo, Take 5 Photography and Katana Photography are teaming up for a one-day-only Boudoir Marathon! It will take place on March 5th in my studio in Brooklyn. Essentially, this is a GREAT Valentine’s Day gift (we can provide you with a beautiful gift card explaining the session for her to open) and it’s also a fantastic First Anniversary (the paper anniversary) gift!

Or, ladies–just do it for yourself! Embrace your body, bring a friend, have some champagne and let’s document who you are. Please email me to sign up for your time slot (space is limited–only 4 slots left) and to get more details.

It will be a fun day with a makeup & hair artist on site. We’ll pamper you with champagne and mimosas, cheese, strawberries and have some fun in front of the camera!

Adina and Avi’s decided to do a mini-session after their wedding to get some more formal shots of the two of them together. I love the way these backdrops turned out against her wedding dress!