Best of Midwest Burlesque 2011!

I LOVE BURLESQUE. Phew, I'm glad I got that out. Burlesque is such an incredible art form with some of the most generous, kind, creative, funny people involved who I have ever met in my life. I have worked with Lili's Burlesque Revue for a few years now and have been lucky enough to photograph their shows as well as do some awesome portrait sessions with them. The Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival happens every year in January and brings performers from all over the country to our cold city. I didn't think 2010 could be beat but holy crap, 2011 really blew last year out of the water! I posted a lot of photos here because I simply couldn't help it. The photos of the Portrait Studio at the end give you an idea of what kinds of silliness happen when you book it for an event! I love it because people have a chance to get some fun, relaxed photos of themselves AND you have more room to move and play than you do in a traditional photo booth. 

Ophelia Flame!

The amazing Ophelia Flame of Lili's Burlesque! We did a session for the upcoming Miss Exotic World Competition in Las Vegas in June. I love working with her so much! 

Ophelia Flame : Ooo la la!

The stunning Sweetpea!!

Not for the faint of heart! Sweetpea is absolutely stunning and I had the great pleasure to work with her in the studio a few weeks ago. She is part of Lili's Burlesque in addition to performing all around the Twin Cities, producing events and being an all around incredible person. She brought in some of her favorite books and we had a blast playing around and coming up with ideas together. This is what burlesque and boudoir is all about for me! Making it personal, sexy, fun and empowering!

Burlesque Ice Shanty Shoot!

I LOVE these women!! I arranged this shoot with Ophelia Flame and Nadine Dubois of Minneapolis-based Lili's Burlesque Revue and Minnie Tonka of New York City. We shot right after the end of the Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival, which I also photographed and loved. Burlesque is such an incredible world-it's sexy, empowering, challenging, full of humor, talent and history...I absolutely love it. I have gotten to know many of the burlesque performers at BOMB over the last couple of years. I have a new project in the works involving my photographs! So excited!

(Beth and Shanna were a HUGE help during the shoot!)