Many people don’t know I do boudoir sessions as well as the beautiful family, children and senior sesions that we are know for.
Yes, I do them and I have an all female staff that assist with these sessions. My boudoir sessions are very classic and elegant and sensous – something anyone would be proud to have of themselves if theyare thinking about having one of these sessions done.
It is an interesting phenomonon today. Women come to me to do these sessions for many interesting reasons – but most of all just for themselves. Many have accomplished something significant in their lives whether its weight loss, or turning a certain age, or meeting a particular goal in life or yes even divorce. Most of the time however, it is a an affirmation of the beauty within and the woman they are. I’ve seen many shapes and sizes but they all are beautiful and they love the work we do.
I do have a seperate website for our boudoir work but wanted to share this video with the visitors to my portrait website.
Please do not watch this if you are offended by partial nudity or are very modest. But if you’d like to see how boudoir sessions should be approached that is tasteful and beautiful – then click on the link and watch this beauty in action.
Click here for a recent session by B-Boudoir – a division of Cathy Benton Photography.
The same but different
The seret to a lasting marriage – that’s a question that has been sked for many,many years. Many, books have been written about the subject by so called experts. But what about real life people? What do they have to say?
During a recent wedding consult , the couple asked me what I thought the secret to a long marriage was. You see I’ve been married 34 years and by today’s standards that’s a long time.
Interestingly enough I didn’t hesitate with my answer. I could have said the expected ” marry your best friend” response or remember its a ” give and take relationship” or ” it’s hard work – never stop working at it” or ” respect and honor your spouse” or any number of clique responses I’ve heard over the years. But my response was different.
The secret to a long marriage is learning that you are two very different and unique people who have to learn how to keep your independence while moving down the same path together.
You see its usually the unique things about your chosen partner that drew you to them to begin with. For example in my case, I’m very outgoing, happy and just never seem to meet a stranger,somewhat of a free spirit who loves people and cherishes my family and friends. My husband on the other hand is very quiet, reserved and prefers to stay at home doing his own thing rather than having to even meet a stranger and he chooses to have very few friends.
I suppose it’s true that opposites do attract. It is our uniqueness that holds us together like glue. It makes us stronger as a couple. Well balanced, and able to confront just about anything life throws at us – together. Each holding our ground and moving in the same direction.
It is important to have similar morals, values and dreams as well but my husband would tell you he didn’t know what he wanted in life until I showed him what he could have 
.
Travel along the same path – side by side – there to help and support one another whenever possible but always allow your partner to be who they are. Give them room to breath and grow and become the best “them” that they can be and in 40 or 50 years you’ll look back and say – “marrying you was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life and oh by the way I still love you in spite of our differences”!
Weddings that stand the test of time
I recently received an email from a previous wedding client. In the email he (the groom) said something that I want to share
This is from that email…
“I recently turned forty, and Angie and I have three beautiful children, Jake, 10, Chase, 7, and Avary, 3. I am at that “magic age” where I have come to realize what is important in life, or maybe it is just my midlife crisis. I am wanting to pass our wedding images onto our kids. We still have our album, which is still in immaculate condition. We were going through our wedding photo album the other day with our kids, and it was a nice family moment. That album is one of our most cherished treasures. You and your team did a really nice job on it, and we have had may compliments on it.
We live in Florida now but we do come to VIrginia every once in a while, and maybe we could set up an appointment to have you take our family photos if the opportunity provided itself. I was looking over your web site, and you still do phenomenal work.”
Wow. What a testament. This couple was married in 1998. Thirteen years ago. We often receive compliments from our clients and wonderful testimonies. I always have believed that what we create for our clients will have tremendous value as time passes. In the moment – as we deliver each portrait – I hope in my heart that what I have created for them will have lasting value and wonderful memories. But we don’t really know for sure.
A wonderful comment like this, after 13 years, let’s me know that I have accomplished something most people never get the opportunity to do – bring joy to someone’s life for years to come.
Again – Wow. Thank you sir.
We all know that the wedding is about a couple in love wanting to start a life together – heading down the same path with similar values, beliefs, desires and plans …
But the wedding planning is all about the dress. Yes, I said it. The truth is out. It’s all about the dress. Why else would there be a television show called “Say Yes to the Dress” that is watched by literally millions of brides to be. Why do you think brides travel hundreds sometimes thousands of miles to simply try on a dress from Kleinfelds Bridal salon? Why? Because the dress is the most important accessory of the day.
So why should having a portrait of you in that dress be any less important? It shouldn’t. And the portrait should absolutely feature all the beauty of what caused you to select that dress to begin with as well as the beauty of the bride wearing it.
Portraiture and wedding day images are NOT created equal. Neither are the photographers who photograph them. Every photographer has a particular style and that style is reflected in every image they create.
Cathy is a photographic craftsman and she specializes in decor for the wall which requires a trained eye as well as the ability to create something that will be loved for many, many years. That is why so many brides choose to have her create a bridal portrait for them.
Give us a call and we can share with you why you will want Cathy to create that special image for you as well as why once you choose her to create your bridal image you can say “Yes to the Dress” all over again because it WILL rock and so will you.
Years will reveal the essence of those words in big ways and in little ways.
The Humorous side :
There was the time I was adventurous enough to fry chicken for dinner.
Now let me summarize this story by simply saying that even today-
many years later- it is known that in our house, dinner is ready when
the smoke alarm goes off. Thats right, I set the frying pan on fire
and tried to put it out by covering it up with the “furry” rug which
of course also caught fire. Once I finally got the fire out you
couldn’t see your way out of the kitchen. Hubby said – that’s okay
honey – we can always eat out.
The serious side:
A friend recently asked me if I had ever really
witnessed “true love”. I shared the story of when my step mom was so
ill with incurable cancer. She and my father tried everything that was
available to try to save her life. Nothing seemed to work. She was so
very sick. I saw my father sit by her side and hold her hand every
single day. I watched him take care of her every need. I witnessed him
brush the hair from her face and kiss her hand and tell her she was
the most beautiful woman he has ever seen – even as her face revealed
the pain and suffering she had been through. I felt his heart ache as
he felt her slip away. But he loved her so deeply and so completely
-right up until she took her last breath and after.
Does true love exits – I believe it does. Can there be a happily ever
after? Yes of course there can be. It lives in your heart.
