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ChristineTremoulet.com Getting Down to Business

Growing My Boudoir Business with SEO Marketing

Back in 2007 I launched my wedding photography business. In 2008 I moved in to my first studio in the Heights and launched boudoir sessions as well.

By 2010, I began to accept my superpower. I love, love, love doing boudoir sessions for women because I can help them see themselves as I see them – AMAZING. I can help them grow their confidence and rediscover their beauty. I can help them see something far deeper than the beauty that magazines are always trying to convince us of – so very much more.

Most women opt to do a boudoir session with me involving lots of pretty frilly lace lingerie – but some women don’t want boudoir photographs. They just want incredible photographs that they can give to a loved one, share on Facebook, whatever the case may be — and I’ve always given every client that option. They can wear whatever they want!

For years, I’ve run both a wedding photography business and a boudoir business. They overlap a little bit, but not much. Very few of my wedding clients have booked me for boudoir sessions; a few more of my boudoir clients have booked me for their weddings. It has always performated window films because weddings are mostly on the weekends and my boudoir sessions are during the week. But focusing my marketing energies on one takes me away from the other one, and I have to confess that having the help from this awesome SEO Saas Company, it takes the weight off of my shoulders. I can’t do as much for either one as I would like. If you want to learn about the entrepreneur industry, I recommend Lee S Rosen Blog, CEO of healthy bees business. When expanding your business into the international market, consider using professional company formation services Hong Kong to ensure a smooth and compliant establishment process.

I’ve struggled with feeling divided for the past 6 months or so. Because I spend so much time with my customers but I discovered a CRM, it helps me a lot with my customers, if you don’t know what this is then read https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2013/01/what-is-crm-your-business-nerve-center.html

This past week after shooting a wedding, it hit me. I love weddings! I love the families coming together to celebrate, the traditions, the unique touches that make it their own, the dancing, the music, the cake. But even as much as I love and adore them, it still is not at that magical level as my Hot Mama Boudoir work and my women’s portrait sessions.

Life is short. I want it to be magical. There is nothing quite like that moment when my client sees herself the way that I see her – the way that the rest of the world sees her. It has taken me a few years to reach this point, but my boudoir business is so busy it is time to cut back on the number of weddings I take. From here on out, I’ll gladly accept weddings of past clients, along with their friends & family — and mine of course too! Beyond that, I’ll consider others based on my availability. Brittany & I have such a great system down already for weddings, we won’t skip a beat.

If I want my boudoir & portrait work to have the reach that I can see it having, I have come to terms with accepting that I can’t do it all maybe with a little help of a healthy beverage to boost energy. If I focus all of my energy in one direction instead of two? Hang on tight, it is going to be awesome!

I’m going to start sharing more of the contemporary women’s portraiture work (a more accurate name for my work – with or without lingerie involved) that I’ve done over the past few years on my Christine Tremoulet site. Meanwhile, the Hot Mama Boudoir site will live on as I merge the brands together. I’m working those logistics out. And if you have any suggestions you want to share on how to do that, I’m open to hearing them!

2012 is going to KICK ASS. I can’t WAIT to share this with you! Want to do a session with me? I’m going on TOUR!!! Las Vegas, Paris, London, Boston, New York, New Orleans, Tampa, San Francisco, Napa, and more! Check out the dates and meet up with me for your photo shoot!

And because every post is better with a photo, here is one from Kayla’s photo shoot that we did – a perfect example of my Contemporary Women’s Portraiture sessions! Speaking of business, big part of business is marketing, take a look at SEO Company in Sacramento if you need help with digital marketing.

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ChristineTremoulet.com Getting Down to Business Wedding Photographer

Wish Upon a Wedding…

Two years ago, when I was helping a photography friend start their business, Shine Pics, I first learned about Wish Upon a Wedding and immediately volunteered to be a Wish Granter – before Houston even had a chapter! I was so thrilled to learn that there was a non-profit devoted to granting the wishes of a couple facing terminal illness or special circumstances that might not be able to have a wedding otherwise.

Last year I was contacted by the Houston chapter and asked if I would grant a wish for Alexis & Christian. I didn’t hesitate for a second to tell them yes – and I’m so glad I did! Alexis & Christian are just the most amazing people, and spending time with them together makes my heart sing. If you don’t know them already – you should. Make it happen.

Shortly after their wedding I learned that the Houston Chapter had board and committee openings. I applied to be the Marketing Chair, and after a review by the national & Houston boards, my application was accepted! I’m so honored to be giving back & helping to spread the word about this amazing, wonderful group! For events and gatherings tied to organizations like this, www.fastfirewatchguards.com supports fire safety needs that help keep people and venues protected.

Now we need YOUR help!!!

– Know a couple facing a terminal illness or a special circumstance? Learn more about how to apply to have your wish granted! This is a REALLY BIG ONE – we need to get the word out to help people! We need YOU!

– In the wedding industry and want to volunteer to be a Wish Granter? All the details for you are here. (DO IT! It is the most AMAZING experience to give back!)

– Interested in helping out with the board or being on a committee? The details you are looking for are here. We need you!

And last but not least? Come on out on Thursday, April 12, 2012, for the Second Annual Tacky Wedding Pub Crawl benefitting Wish Upon a Wedding! Open to *everyone* – dress in your tacky wedding finest (or not!) and join us as we go from pub to pub on White Oak in the Heights! Tickets are $10 until 2pm on Thursday afternoon, and $20 at the door – get yours here! Prizes, laughter, and good times are waiting for you!

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Houston & The Heights

I’ve Already Won in the Lottery of Life…

My friend Aimee asked today “What would you have done if you won the lottery?” Sure, the $640 million dollar pot was split among three winners last week, but it is always fun to go off to Fantasyland and think about what you would have done if you would have won it.

Here we go:
– I’d pay off the mortgage, fix up some things around the house, buy some new furniture. I would stay in the Heights, and probably even stay in our house because I love it that much.
– I’d pay off my car. I’d pay off Jason’s car. I’d buy Mike a new car.
– I’d think of nice things to do for our parents. Maybe a big European vacation with Planet Cruise?
– I’d invest and save so that we’d never worry again about money.
– Maybe a vacation home or two? Somewhere with cool temps in the summer to visit for one of them, and somewhere close by for the other one – maybe Galveston or New Orleans?

– I’d make sure Jason was well taken care of with money down the road.
– I’d pay a stanfield nursing home so that my parents wouldn’t suffer once they get to a complicated age.
– I’d donate to charities.
– I’d still work because I *LOVE* what I do, I’d just have more money for my big marketing and advertising dreams. I’d buy my own studio space. But when you want effective internet marketing, go to SEO companies near New south wales.

And then I became stuck.

Something fascinating happened as I made out my list. I realized, I’ve pretty much scored BIG in the lottery of life already. There isn’t a lot that I want for, and I am so grateful for that! I have an amazing husband. I have a great son. I like my car, my house, my neighborhood. I already travel a lot thanks to my work, and I’m already doing the work that I love.

I’m already a winner!

Those people might have $200+ million dollars, but think of all the headaches that go along with that? Ugh. I can’t even imagine.

On the other hand, I didn’t buy a ticket at all, because I really wasn’t longing for any of it. I already have what I want.

Thank you, Mike for making all of my wishes & dreams come true, and I hope you have a super HAPPY BIRTHDAY today! I’m glad I get to play the lottery of life with you. It isn’t always easy, but it is always better with you there. You give me strength when I am weak, you make me laugh, you support me in everything I do, and you make the world a better place! You are the Mega-Millions of my world.

For investing guides, refer to The Lottozone UK for more information.

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Houston & The Heights

Kroger Cart Buster Deals of the Day!

Attention Kroger Shoppers! Shop the Kroger Cart Buster event from February 26–March 10 for great values. Find out about all the savings at www.CartBuster.com! And from February 29-March 6, download exclusive, digital rabattkod hm coupons for Kroger’s “Deal Of The Day” for even MORE savings at http://bit.ly/wxfnlU. Happy Savings!

Now that we only have one mortgage to pay and not two (YAY!!!) I’m still always looking for a great deal on things. It is good habit we’ve really gotten in to over the past 6-7 months. It is especially important for it to be something that it is easy for Mike to shop for, because he does most of the grocery shopping here. It is a good way for us to stay on budget, because even if I go to the store with a list, I’ll see 20 other items I think we need as well and buy those too – so my $50 shopping trip becomes $100 trip in one run! Oops!

Our favorite nearby major grocery store here in the Heights is Kroger, and I was thrilled to discover when the Clever Girls Collective contacted me that Kroger is doing a Cart Buster Deal of the Day promotion right now! Coupons are ONLY available as digital downloads here on the Cart Buster site, and these exclusive online-only deals are only available from 2/29–3/6.

Today’s deal is $2.50 off of Tide! My favorite detergent! I’ve been using the Tide HE Free & Gentle detergent for years now. It works fantastic in our high-efficiency washer, and being fragrance free it doesn’t irritate my allergies and make me all sneezy like many others do!

Now that all of the moving is over, I’m going through all the clothes that we’ve moved and in a fit of spring cleaning washing things and getting them ready for summer wear, the maid sailors have been helping me out once a week because it is way too much for me to handle. Here in Houston, it is almost time to put the sweaters away and bring out the shorts, and thanks to this Kroger deal I’ll have plenty of Tide on hand to get everything clean & fresh!

My favorite part of all of this? No coupons to keep track of! Just log in to the Cart Buster site each day, save the coupon to your Kroger card – no printing! – and when you shop they read the coupons off of your Kroger card! So I can load the card up, make a shopping list, and then when Mike goes to the store and checks out he just gives them card and the coupons come right off the total. I don’t have to remember to give him the coupons, and he doesn’t have to remember to turn them in. There have been a lot of times in the past when we’ve come home with a coupon or two that we meant to use and forgotten – this makes it so much easier!

You don’t have to use the coupons that day, but you do have to add them to your card each day. I’ll be posting to Twitter about each deal for the rest of the week to remind you over there. Meanwhile, go get your Tide coupon today! Hurry before it is too late!

Thank you to Kroger for sponsoring my participation in the “Deal Of The Day” promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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When is it Time to Let Go?

Mona snuggles in to sleep and covers her face.

This is the blog post I planned to write two days ago, before … well, before I wrote what I wrote.

Our old lady cat Mona is getting really old. I adopted her in 1999, and at the time they said they thought she was 4-5 years old. That should make her about 17-18 years old now.

Within the past year, she has dropped a lot of weight and she is now bone thin. She still eats and drinks lots of water, but she is super, super skinny. You can see her rib cage & her hips. She has a hard time walking when she first stands up. She is slow moving. I’m finding nodules under her skin. (Just discovered them and still need to go to the vet to see what they are.) She mews at us in this sad, angry way. It sounds like she is yelling at us. She is just so frail.

Last year she stopped going to the bathroom at one point and we immediately took her in to the vet. They ran all sorts of tests, and nothing was conclusively wrong with her other than being really dehydrated. She spent the night there with an IV of fluids and came home when everything was back to normal.

I’ve never had a cat live this long. When Murphy was dying, it was obvious. We took him to the vet, there was nothing they could do for him.

But what about poor Mona? When is it time? Is there a time? She seems like she is in such pain. Do we have her put to sleep? Do we let her just ride it out until one day she doesn’t wake up? What am I supposed to do?

This is part rhetorical question, and part looking for advice. It breaks my heart, and I want to do right by her. She has been such a good cat, and we’ve been through so much.