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Angela's Story

ANYTHING but glamorous...

The scoop on the me!  (the un-expected founder)

A snapshot of my life in 2005:  

I was a stay-at-home mom with newborn twins, a 22 month old (and a newly adopted 14 year old daugher).  

I was getting pretty darn comfortable in my daily beauty routine of no makeup and a ponytail, and my wardrobe consisted of mostly the same 3 sweatsuits.  I mean...after all...when you are changing diapers for 3, nursing and getting spit up on...who wants to do more laundry?  Can I just say: I felt anything BUT glamorous!  

Hey...let's try boudoir!

​​A friend of mine & I got to chatting one day about our love for glamorous, classic boudoir photography & how it was NOT FAIR that our husbands were bombarded with images of "perfect" women everyday.  (The models & celebrities who had TEAMS to perfect them from their hair & makeup, diet & exercise and wardrobe - to retouching).

We decided to try this exhilerating form of empowerment (hahahahaha, I thought), for ourselves.  To our dismay, there were no boudoir photographers in the country that offered the full service we were looking for - and the images that were produced were disappointing and didn't measure up to the quality we were looking for.

 

As a woman who grew up with a salon in her home with a photographer dad (and I carried a camera around with me, taking pictures, since I was old enough to hold one), I thought:  hey...we can do this for ourselves...JUST FOR FUN!  We took all of our hair, makeup & photography knowledge and bought lighting and equipment. 

Our first photo shoot

​I think I almost threw up when it was ready for me to disrobe and get ready for my first pose - IN MY LINGERIE!  I stared at my scars, saggy breasts and stretched out tummy - and I promise you: I did NOT feel glamorous AT ALL...let alone sexy!  I had to control my nervous shaking for the first few poses, until I realized...this is actually really fun! 

 

AND THEN...I saw the photographs.  I literally had to catch my breath as I held back tears.  I looked GORGEOUS!  Is that how my husband saw me?  Did he see behind the ponytail, spit up stained sweats and stretchmarks and see THIS woman?  I felt AMAZING!  Empowered, beautiful and SEXY!  And...I was inspired to start seeing myself as a beautiful creation...the way my husband saw me.

What happened next...

​After that...we photographed a few friends and family, and once the photographs were shown to THEIR friends, the word spread.  It seemed like everyone wanted this same chance to be a "supermodel for a day".  To be honest, I had -0- intention of starting a business.  But...I couldn't resist letting these women experience what I had experienced.  

 

We decided to go all out - and bought all the necessary equipment, completed training and loaded up our basements with lingerie, backdrops and props.  When our husbands told us that this "fun little hobby" had to be moved out of the house, we decided to take the next step...and Sugar & Spice Photography was born.  (And I said I was not having more kids! LOL)

Trust me...I TOTALLY "get it"

​If you have ANY DOUBT, please just step out of your comfort zone, like the thousands who have come to us before you!  You won't regret it!  Sorry this is SOOOO LONG, but I ache to share my heart with you...the heart of this company...and share with you my story to hopefully inspire you to come in & let us pamper you, so you can experience this for yourself!

 

Blessings & HUGS!!! xoxo, Angela

 

Check out some of my FAVORITE THINGS...(a work in progress...& in no particular order!)

01

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Jesus

Really...none of this matters...my life doesn't matter...nothing matters...without HIM.  I want to give Him all the glory for this company, the ideas and blessings...all our amazing clients and more!

 

My biggest hope is that you can feel the love of my Savior, Jesus when you meet me!

02

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My Hubby

Let's face it - marriage is WORK!  We've been married for almost 27 years & it's only because of the Grace of God and our friendship and that we've made it & I couldn't do any of this without the support my husband! 

 

Our family lives in Texas on a horse ranch and have acerage on the Crow River in Minnesota where we've hosted many barrel racing events. 

03

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MY GIRLS

SO FUN watching them compete in their games.  I love my 4 gorgeous girls (19 year old twins, 21 year old & adopted daughter who is with Jesus now)

04

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FOOD

I am a self-proclamed "foodie", and I will literally eat anything, anytime, anywhere...so I am eternally grateful for retouching magic!  I have a secret desire to teach yoga someday - which would work out well with my latest addiction - creme brulee!

 

I'm am ever trying to win the weight loss game...especially after the pregnancy and birth of my kiddos took a toll on my body!  (Any other moms out there giving me an "Amen" right now?). 

05

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THE FLORIDA KEYS

One of our favorite places in the world!  We have been blessed to spend a few months there each winter: fishing, enjoying friends & family, snorkeling, eating (of course!), paddle boarding and more!  Although I work and have homeschooled when we are there...I can't think of a better place to do it!

 

Next best thing?  Water.  Anywhere.  Pool, lake, beach...I'll take it!

06

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BEAUTY "JUNK"

Kinda a little obsessed with beauty products.  I'm terrible at putting them all to use, but love to try!  My new favorite?  Bye, Bye Under Eye by IT Cosmetics.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting my Ipsy and Birchboxes.  It's like Christmas every month!

07

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RAVES FROM YOU

I can't explain how I feel when I read the THOUSANDS of testimonials from women we have photographed.  Women from all different walks of life, different professions & passions, different ages, sizes and ethnic backgrounds.  All of these "regular" women, like me, felt empowered, inspired, beautiful, pampered and sexy.  

 

TEARS.  That's all I can say.  I NEVER get tired of reading raves from our clients.

08

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STILETTO HEELS

Ok...who am I kidding?  My 47 year old body gets really mad at me if I try to wear high heels, but I still LOVE them (even though I only wear them when I get my pictures taken!)

09

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PINTEREST

Oh, Pinterest.  How I love to wind down with you... pinning receipes I know I won't cook, and crafts I know I won't..."craft".  But, oh...how I love you.

10

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RETOUCHING

Yep...that's my stomach - in our first ever shoot in my basement in 2005.

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