My New Year's Resolutions (Part 1)

I want to make the world a better place in 2014.

Seems simple enough. I could just be awesome, punch enough Today's in the face, and go on about my merry way until 2015 comes and I make a new resolution. Except...

...except "making the world a better place" is a terrible goal. 

Whoa now, Hilary-are you wishing for violence and hail storms upon humanity? No. No freakin' way. But "making the world a better place" is a terrible goal because it's abstract, without a direct line of what that means and how to accomplish it, I'll never get there.

Last year's resolution was such a good one for me. I was specific in what I wanted. 

"To make myself better by living without fear, getting out of the hole Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder & Depression left me in." 

Great! How was I going to do that?

1. Make seeing a counselor a priority. Take everything she said and implement it. Learn absolutely all I could about myself and improve  on it..

2. I read this quote on pinterest, "Exercise is the most underutilized antidepressant in the whole world." So, since everything on pinterest MUST be true (& colorful, addicting, & delicious), I thought that might be a good one to try. Plus, if I did work out, the benefits would go above and beyond with my fitness levels. If a situation ever arose where someone needed giant boulders moved, maybe I could be the impressive one to lift such rocks. (Yay, Hilary! You're so strong! The crowd goes wild! Ahhhhhh!!!)

3. With my photography business, I hadn't tracked my numbers well in 2012, and I really wanted to get freedom out of my photography to contribute to my feeling of helplessness I battled so much with the Postpartum issues.  So, I decided to set work goals to keep me focused. Track the business and make the dollas holla with the ultimate goal of doubling our gross income in 2013. 

Boom. 2013 resolution made.

1. Saw this fabulous woman, who helped me understand so much about Postpartum OCD, and ways to deal with the terrible anxiety ridden days, that I could not be happier today. My life is a life of adventure again and a life of fearlessness. (And if you're currently struggling with Postpartum OCD, it is not uncommon. Talk to someone because you are NOT alone! I know now I wasn't-even when I thought I was.)

2. Worked out 4-5 days a week for the majority of 2013 (excluding the past few weeks where being preggo has prevented a few workouts via puking). I lost 30 pounds-added bonus-but I gained confidence and endorphins that helped me approach my challenges fearlessly. Oh, and I ran my first ever 5K. (Shout out to Fit For Mom, a fabulous workout program I used to help me stay on target). 

The first photo was my first ever before photo-but even at that time, I had begun working out regularly & consistantly since February. This photo shows a 30lb weight loss difference. Oh, and the most important part, a happier Hilary.

First Ever 5K Run! 

3. We didn't just double our photo studio gross income. We increased it by 260%. That's not a typo. 260%!!! AND we tripled our Christmas sales. We donated Foxy Pinup session gift certificates to The Pitbull Gala, & Autism Awareness silent auctions and we started our Breast Cancer Scholarship Fund, where women fighting breast cancer can come in for a Foxy Pinup Session & order whatever they want, completely for FREE! (Sign up here. Or make a calendar purchase to help!)

Yay for Foxy Pinups!

So, last year, I had a great resolution. It was one that I broke down into a mission statement, and executed with gazelle-like intensity. Step by step implementation is the key to completing a New Year's resolution, as is making sure your goal is attainable and specific. 

But what about 2014, Hilary?

DO YOU REMEMBER...THE FUTURE?

This Blog Post is...

Pride and Prejudice Photo Shoot: Sara & Kensey's Sneak Peak | Kansas City Creative Lifestyle Photographer

I LOVE THIS SESSION. More to come <3

Michelle's Blog Board Preview | Kansas City Maternity & Baby Bump Photographer

I just got these really cool blog board templates from Birdesign and I was dying to see how they looked on here. They are really easy to use! So, I thought I throw together a blog board out of pure excitement. I'm using some photos from the gorgeous Michelle's maternity session-Yay for baby T! What do you guys think?

love love love,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Sami's Foxy Bump (Maternity Pinup Pictures) | Kansas City Pinup Photographer

It was so great having Sami in the studio this week all the way from OKC! :D

We made our background pink for baby Austin Jean!

xoxo,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Mary Kay & Hilary Hope Photography: Spring into the New You | Kansas City Photographer

I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to makeover 11 fabulous ladies on Friday with my Mary Kay director, Cristy Potts.  She drove out from Biggsville, IL (she is the bomb diggity) to do this event with me and we had so much fun we decided that we'd love to do this again for all of the gorgeous gals who missed out this time. 

For those of you that don't know, we use Mary Kay makeup in all of our Foxy Pinup photographs! I LOVE Mary Kay and have been using the makeup and the skin care since I've been 15. I have to say that nothing makes me happier than helping someone find their inner beautiful. We are all so unique and so lovely that we need to embrace it, show it off, own it. Beauty is so diverse, so sweet, and based on so much more than what we look like. That's my opinion anyways. But I'm lucky enough to have a career where I get to see beauty in every shape and size all day long. ;)

Each one of these gals received a free makeover, with tips and tricks on specifics for their own makeup application. They also received a free digital social networking image to show off their look! They either choose to have their photo taken outdoors or inside on our blue backdrop.

And so, without further adu...

Here you go, beautifuls!!!

xoxo,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Oo La La Boudoir | Kansas City Boudoir Photographer

So excited to finally have our new Boudoir Session information up and available to you guys. Oo La La Boudoir might be my new favorite... I dunno though. I have so many favorites! haha.

Questions?

Email me for more details.

___

love, love, love,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Ashley's Foxy Bump (Maternity Foxy Pinups) | Kansas City Pinup & Boudoir Photographer

So awesome having Ashley and her adorable baby bump in the studio today!

"Call for Baby Hayden!"

xoxo,

h i l a r y  h o p e

Kitten Pants O'Malley | Kansas City Pinup & Boudoir Photographer

Happy Easter Everyone!!!! :D

xoxo,

h i l a r y h o p e 

WANT TO GET IN ON THIS DEAL?

To Purchase your Limited Edition Be SomeBunny for your Honey session
vist http://hilaryhopephoto.com/index2.php?v=v1#/proofing/

Put "bunny" in as the password. This password grants you access to the limited edition shopping cart! Add this photo to your cart. Click on the shopping cart icon in the bottom corner of the screen and follow the prompts to check out. Make sure you click “pay online via paypal.” This will allow you to pay with a credit card using paypal-but you don't need a paypal account to do so.

Offer only valid at Kansas City Studio location. Our Limited Edition Sessions are non-refundable and must be paid for in full when booked. Must give 48 hours notice to change appointment date. If you are unable to attend your appointment, please make arrangements with a friend to take your place. There are no tansfers to another Limited Edition Session if you are unable to make it. Session must take place in the months of March or April of 2013. Not valid with any other offers including 15% off referrals, coupon codes, or business cards.

Questions? Problems? Email: hilary@hilaryhopephoto.com.

Melly | Kansas City Lifestyle & Pinup Photographer

A sneak peak of the gorgeous Melly from Monday's Session!

xoxo,

h i l a r y  h o p e 

Photography: It's about who we photograph

Photography: It's about who we photograph. 

Our job as photographers is to help narrate the events that happen all around us. We are story tellers. We are time stoppers. We are life's moment collectors, appointed with this task of loving people with our lens! Photography has never been about me as the photographer.

I see posts all the time that say that photography is about the photographer. It gets me frustrated, because I have never thought once that my job is about me. It kind of sells us all out to say that! It's always been about who I'm photographing; who I'm trying to love on and make feel special. It's about those moments we capture; when we are so excited we can't help but smile because we KNOW we caught the beautiful person's personality in front of us. At least that's what I think. So I made this. ;)

Feel free to share and pin away if you agree!

Love,

h i l a r y h o p e 

Foxy Pinups FAQ

What is a Foxy Pinup Session?

A Foxy Pinup Session is a photo shoot that evokes your inner diva! It's totally sexy, completely vintage, and simply the bee's knees!

What happens during your shoot?

You are totally pampered! Our hairdresser Amanda works with you to figure out your perfect pinup hairstyle. When your hair is finished, a vintage makeup look is applied. Then you get to raid our closet! We have tons of dresses, skirts, shoes, and sexy little things to choose from. After you've put your outfit on, we put you infront of the mirror for the big reveal. There you are-a sexy blast from the past! When you're ready for your close up, Hilary gives it to you. You receive pinup coaching with each pose and you get to release your inner vixen for the camera!

How does Hilary edit these foxy photos?

Hilary works tirelessly on your photographic perfection. Your pictures are airbrushed with gentle cellulite removal while keeping your original body shape. You pick the photos to edit and you're in complete control of what is edited away or put in. The pictures will definitely be you at your very best. The celebrities get this treatment and Hilary is determined for you to get it too!

What products are available exclusively for our Pinup Gals?

On top of amazing matte photo prints, we offer our pinup girls vintage 12 month (13 photo) pin-up calendars! Each one is customized completely for you! We also offer Little Black Books, Vinyl Posters, Custom iPhone Cases, and Genuine Leather Albums to keep for yourself or to share with your sexy someone. 

To book your session, visit our Facebook Page, website, or call (708) 498-HOPE today! 

Foxy Pinups Perfected: Highlighting The Eyes with Lighting

I'm starting a Saturday series of blog posts and I am SUPER excited about it. 

(You all know me though-it doesn't take too much to get me excited!!!) 

I'm calling it "Foxy Pinups Pefected" and each blog will talk about things to look for when choosing, and also photographing, beautiful pinup models.

Without further adu... Blog Number 1, Commence!

If you guys were nerdy like me in high school and drew cartoon characters all over your Lisa Frank spirals, then bare with me! In those cartoon drawings, I would always draw in a little white bubble or two in the eyeballs. I'm sure you guys drew it too without even realizing it! You were drawing one of the most essential tools in highlighting your subject's eyes; a catch light. 

Wikipedia define's Catchlight or catch light as:

a light source that causes a specular highlight in a subject's eye in an image.^[1] They are also referred to as eye lights or Obies, the latter a reference to Merle Oberon, who was frequently lit using this technique. 

With pinup photography, because of the style you're emulating, you always want to have catch lights present and reflected in your subject's eyes. This adds dimension and depth to the eye and also let's you know that the lighting is correct on your subject's face. I went ahead and pointed out the catch light below in the gorgeous Laura's eyes.

To make sure a catch light is present in your subject's eyes, look to your light source. Here in our studio, our fill light is named "Phil" and we use him for catch lights in our Foxy Pinup girl's eyes. We have Phil located off to the right and slightly behind the photographer. 

When shooting your subject, be aware of where your fill light is in regards to their eyes. Always be thinking about your subject's brow and eye shape. Someone with deep set eyes will need the fill to be more centered behind the photographer and their chins lifted slightly higher to get that same catch light effect rather than someone with wide set eyes or almond shaped eyes. 

To me, having catch lights present in Pinup Photographs separates the professionals from amateurs.

When your subject doesn't have light reflected back in her eyes you have....

SHARK EYES!!!!! NOOOOOOO!!!!

Have no fear! Now that you know about catch lights you can:

1. As a pinup photographer, figure out how to make catch lights work for your images

2. As a client, choose a pinup photographer that understand this concept.

Toodles!


love,

h i l a r y h o p e 

Foxy Pinup Giveaway 2013 | Kansas City Foxy Pinup Photographer

A  little Birdie Told Me 
The Foxy Pinup Giveaway is Back! 

The Deets:

This giveaway is very special to me and to Amanda. We absolutely LOVE our jobs because we get to help women find their inner Foxy and feel beautiful in a very unique and fun way. We would love to share the Foxy Pinup experience with someone who has had a sub-par 2012 year. This is a treat for that special lady and her Foxy Friend, with love from us in helping her find her beautiful self again. 

Who wins?:

The winner of this contest is someone who shows love to everyone she meets even in times of trouble in her own life. We are looking for a woman that needs a little pampering, especially if the past year has been hard on her. We want to give this to someone that really deserves it and needs a little loving in their life at this moment. 

How do we decide?:

We pick the "who" above based upon what is written in the nomination by a friend. You cannot nominate yourself. The nomination of the "who" describes the character of the nominee, why you think she deserves the Foxy Pinup experience at this time and any other fun things you'd like to put in about you and yourr nominee. 

The nominee + the nominator BOTH win a Foxy Pinup Session together!

Check out this blog to see last years winners, Stefanie & Brandi!

To Submit:

+Make sure both you and your nominee "like" the Hilary Hope Photography Facebook Page

+Share our Facebook Page on your timeline (make sure you tag @Hilary Hope Photography)

+Share This Blog Post Link on Your Facebook Page after you've emailed us your entry-ie. I JUST entered the Foxy Pinup Giveaway from @Hilary Hope Photography! Have you?  http://hilaryhopephoto.blogspot.com/2013/01/foxy-pinup-giveaway-2013-kansas-city.html

Then send the following information by email to hilary@hilaryhopephoto.com

+Subject Line: Foxy Giveaway for a Foxy Friend

+Include your name, age (must be over 21), and telephone number

+Your friend that you are nominating's name, age (must be over 21), telephone number and email address

+Reasons outlining why your friend deserves the Foxy Pinup Experience, especially if there are events that pertain to their past year's current situation

Fine Print:

• You must be 21 years of age or older to participate and all the above actions must be completed for your entry into our contest to be valid. 
• Entries start today, January 9th, 2013, and will be accepted until January 22nd, 2013-midnight central standard time.  
• The winners of the contest both win a Foxy Pinup Session together, which includes hair styling, vintage makeup application, a pinup outfit, a boudoir outfit, an hour in studio, photos together and single shots, an 8 x 10 for each participant and an online webshow gallery to share with all their special someones. 
• Session must be executed in February or March, 2013 or prize is forfeited. 
• Winners must be Kansas City Area residents, or be able to make it into the Kansas City Area with their own transportation on the day of their session. 
• Their is no purchase necessary and purchase will not help your chance of winning.
• This contest is in no way associated with the company of Facebook and we release Facebook from any and all liability.
• Amanda and I will choose and announce the winners on February 5th.

Lots of Love and Happy Giveaways!

h i l a r y h o p e 

Will You be Mine? | Valentine's Day Cards from Hilary Hope Photography's Foxy Pinups

The front is a gorgeous Foxy Pinup Photo of you!

The back has your special message to your handsome beau!

So we've got one question for you:

Who will be YOUR Foxy Valentine?

XOXO,

h i l a r y h o p e 

PS. We got this awesome template from Birdesign! Check them out if you get a chance!