Once upon a time, Ashley and Shelby had an idea. Let’s just think about that for a minute. Its sentence’s like that that keep me up worrying at night, but it turns out this time it was a GREAT idea. Ashley and Shelby wanted to paint all of the walls in my studio black. Now, I know what you’re thinking, BLACK!?!?!?! Were they high? No, no they were not. How we found the time, I will never know, but  we spent three full days covered in paint and now my studio is even more beautiful and just to show you, we put a client in our hallway and turned it into a set! Once our other clients had finished up and left she jumped in there like the little champion she is and we made some magic. Could she be more beautiful? I guess you really can shoot a killer session anywhere. If you would like to book a session on our new black wall let us know and we can schedule your session at a time when the studio is empty and private!

Stay tuned, their next insane idea was to paint a white couch black! If it doesn't turn out we’ll make sure you all get invited to the bonfire when we burn that sucker!

I just really love it when I get to see my clients grow and change over the years. I love it even more when they become my friends. That’s how it was with Aubrey and Heath right from the beginning. I went to high school with Aubrey and Heath, but it wasn’t until they came to me to shoot their wedding in 2013 that we really became close. Aubrey brought me her pinterest board and told me all about the shots she just HAD TO HAVE at her engagement session and I knew that I would never have a client quite like her again. We blended her style with mine and ended up with amazing images! Shortly after her wedding she began working for me part time. Aubrey is a great employee and brings absolutely wonderful comedic relief to the studio just when we are beginning to get overwhelmed. Last week she came to work wearing two different earrings and had us all in tears!! It is safe to say, that she and Heath are loved so very much by all of us.

When Aubrey and Heath decided to start a family no one was more excited than we were! Being a mother to two little girls, I couldn’t wait to share all of the do’s and don’ts of motherhood and another one of my photographer’s couldn’t wait to give her all sorts of gently loved little boy things that her sweet baby was growing out of.

As Aubrey’s pregnancy has progressed we have seen a side of Heath that every man should aspire to. He could not be a more attentive and loving father to be. Right before Aubrey’s baby shower she was hurrying to get ready so they wouldn’t be late. I found myself in her “get ready room” with her curling each perfect blonde hair on her head when from the kitchen, Heath shouted, “BABE! Do you want me to pack you some snacks for the drive!?” It should be noted here that the drive from their home to the shower location was only 20 minutes. Heath didn’t want her to be hungry or uncomfortable at all. His strong will to take care of those he loves will surely make him a wonderful father.

During their special maternity session Aubrey and Heath even decided to include their beloved dogs. Both are adopted and Aubrey makes it a point to volunteer in local animal shelters as much as possible. Sometimes she even volunteers her time at the studio and donates her wages to the shelters. Many conversations have been had in recent months about how well the dogs adapt to the new addition. As soon as the bassinet was assembled Aubrey put a baby doll in it so that the dogs would get used to seeing a baby around. Both dogs have impressed everyone by being soft and gentle and there are high hopes that it will continue once baby Tinnin finally makes his debut. If anyone were to question Aubrey’s parenting ablility, may they look no further than to her two sweet pooches. She is already a great mom and will only become more so in the months and years to come. We are so excited to see the Tinnin family keep growing! Congratulations Heath and Aubrey, you’re going to do great!!

P.S. Don’t call me in the middle of the night when he won’t stop crying. That’s what grandparents are for.

If you would like to donate to a cause that is near and dear to the Tinnin family heart, please consider the Midwest City Animal Shelter or the Forever Yours Dog Rescue. They have adopted both of their sweet boys and are very active in supporting local adoption. 

Click through their more traditional maternity shots below! 

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I have worked for Adoralee since the beginning of May 2014, it was an eye opening experience for me. I had worked as a registered veterinary technician for over 10 years and had no experience with anything photography related. To say that I was “green” employee is an understatement.

Lacy couldn’t have made me feel more at ease and comfortable with the entire situation. Being a plus size woman is difficult nowadays, especially with what society considers beautiful or sexy. I am a confident, sexy woman and I believe each and every woman is beautiful no matter what size or shape. However, this didn’t stop me from being nervous about my session.

The staff from our Norman and Tulsa studios took a retreat to Branson, Missouri. Our busy season was coming up and this trip was our opportunity to bond, relax and get a little insight into each team member’s job and responsibility. Our goal is to be supportive and helpful to our clients, but that begins with us being supportive and helpful to each other.

At this retreat we were told that we would all get a chance to photograph the model, the first night that we arrived in Branson those of us without any photography experience got a lesson on how to coach a client. How can we coach a client to be sensual and trust us if we aren’t in touch with our own sensuality? So, we all proceeded to get on the floor and practice the poses and movements we would be coaching our clients through.

All of the sudden Lacy looked at me and exclaimed, “Oh my gosh girl, get it! I have got to shoot you, I am going to photograph you on Thursday. I am so excited!” I was excited as well, I had been waiting for this moment. I wanted people to see the beautiful person I see when I look in the mirror every day. I then started to mentally prepare for the upcoming session.

Thursday morning was there before you could blink. Our model was going to be at the condo at 7 a.m. and Lacy informed me she was going to shoot my session on the screened in porch in the early morning light as the model was getting hair and makeup done. This required me to get up at 5:45 … in the morning. I am so far from a morning person but even that didn’t matter because I was getting MY pictures taken. I came downstairs and geared up for the day ahead.

I got my hair curled and teased by Drea, our amazing makeup and hair stylist. She had me curled and ready for makeup in no time! Shelby, another photographer who primarily works at our Tulsa studio with me was elected to “fix my face.” She did a good job following Lacy’s “vision” for me. The inspiration was that I had just woken up and had gone downstairs to make coffee for my lover, while waiting I would wander out to the porch and longingly look into the distance thinking of my sleeping lover. This required messy hair, smudged eye shadow and eyeliner. A neutral colored lip with a slight pink blush spread across my cheeks.

Once this was done I headed out to the porch, Lacy made sure I was comfortable. If there was something I couldn’t or didn’t want to do, I wouldn’t have to. It was all about making sure that I was alright, I have of course heard what she was telling me before. It was what all the staff at Adoralee told our clients, this was a safe place and trusting your photographer was our main priority. She instructed me on numerous different poses all while telling me what to visualize helping me create the look of longing and wanton need for my lover. The biggest and best thing was the continual words encouragement. Phrases such as, “Yes! Gorgeous! Get it! Damn girl, so sexy.” This of course put a huge smile on my face as it would put on anyone’s face. The more I heard these words of affirmation the more relaxed and the more “into” the photo shoot I got.

We finished and I got dressed, feeling pretty darn good about the effort and face I had given. Lacy and I walked into the kitchen. Lacy showed Ashley, another one of our photographers, a couple pictures of myself. There was gasping and excitement abound! I felt proud and happy with the outcome. I felt even better, knowing that my body doesn’t fit what is traditionally thought of as sexy or beautiful.

This is all to say, it doesn’t matter how tall, how big or how small each of you are… you ARE beautiful, every single one of you. Lacy Hammack and all of the staff at Adoralee Boudoir Photography studio, including myself are here to put to paper the beautiful person we see. We will support and respect you and what you’re doing. Let us help you gain the confidence that you’re seeking, or simply let us help you to show the world how beautiful you know that you are.

Call us today and book an appointment, I promise you won’t regret it!

Lots of love to ya’ll,

Candace Colvard