Designer's Spotlight: Interview with Stacie Frazier, Las Vegas Boudoir Photographer

Starting this year, Design Democracy will feature a monthly interview series of one of our members to provide a glimpse of their life and business as professional designers and creatives. The vision for doing this came from a desire to promote the design professionals who are on the bleeding edge of innovation, creativity, and inspiration. From time to time, guest interviews may be featured showcasing the talents and design thinking of some of the best creatives around the globe.

This month, our first member interview is with Stacie Frazier of Haute Shots Boudoir Photography. I met Stacie when I worked as the print design manager at a company based in Las Vegas. I was recruiting new designers to add to our team when an associate handed me her contact info and online portfolio. I had already gone through piles of résumés and portfolios and feeling uninspired by the time I had seen Stacie's work, but as I perused through her design work, I instinctively knew that I had found my first addition to my team.

Stacie is an exceptional, albeit self-effacing, designer in her own right. A person with a natural eye for color, layout and design elements, Stacie also has an eye for imagery — particularly photography. Stacie was just a hobbyist with a deep passion to learn the art and technical aspects of photography when we first met. I had seen some of her work and was even given the privilege of critiquing some of her photography used in an entry for an annual AIGA Las Vegas design competition.

Since that time, Stacie has pursued her love and passion for photography and leveraged it to start Haute Shots. Yet design still plays an important role in branding her business as well as in the albums she creates for her clients. I've watched quietly from the sidelines as Stacie laid the groundwork for what has already become one of the hottest names in boudoir photography.

Firstly, Happy 2010 to you and congratulations on the successful launch of your new business, Haute Shots Boudoir Photography! You've enjoyed an incredible growth in just a few short months. What have these first few months been like?

Happy New Year to you too! Wow...things have been crazy since I started Haute Shots...crazy in a good way! This business has really blossomed and appears to be in fairly high demand.

That's astounding given the economy has forced many businesses to close and prevented others from even getting off the ground. Why do you think Haute Shots has been successful?

Good question! In spite of a bad economy, girls are still wanting to look and feel their prettiest (and have that recorded for all time) and they are still needing cool gifts to celebrate milestones with their guys.

The world of professional photography is replete with talented individuals shooting a dizzying array of subject matter. How did you arrive at your decision to focus on boudoir photography and what obstacles did you have to overcome to take the plunge into entrepreneurship?

I was pulled into boudoir photography by my clients! I was a hobbyist photographer while working as a graphic designer and I blogged a lot of what I shot. Friends started requesting sexy shoots with me and I found it to be really rewarding. Apparently I developed a following on my blog and perfect strangers began requesting this type of shoot with me. It turned into an automatic business.

I knew I had something to offer with this style of photography because I have always had a knack for making people feel comfortable. Boudoir is so much more than just pretty pictures. It is an experience. Women need to feel that they can trust the photographer. And the photographer needs to be delicately aware of what it means to be a woman really.

As a creative, my biggest hurdle to entrepreneurship is the business side of it all...numbers..uggh. But, my boyfriend Joe (and business partner) helps me so much with all of that thankfully.

We've worked together in the past doing design work and we've had our fair share of clients giving us copious "art direction" that resulted in undesirable outcomes. Are there any parallels in studio photography? If so, how do you strike the balance between doing what the client wants and ensuring you satisfy your creative style?

I encourage clients to send me images that depict what they are wanting from their boudoir session with me. I let them know that I can work with them on capturing the same poses and expressions, but that the end result will be my interpretation of it - my own style entirely. Managing client expectations is incredibly important with photography.

Absolutely agree. Speaking of style, how would you describe your style?

Hmmm...that’s tough. Right now I view my style as sexy, yet classy – a bit moody and never forced. I yearn to do some edgier stuff with my style but that’s a hard sell on clients....might have to save that for shoots I do just for fun.

Well, you're work is stunning. Even while we worked together in graphic design, I really only had an inkling of just how talented you were with photography. How do you determine the theme or concept of your shoots? What do you do to keep things fresh?

My 'Mary Ann' shoots are always fresh since it’s a different setting every time...usually the clients hotel room or home. My ‘Ginger’ shoots though are always done at the same place so I usually look for different things to do with the client to keep it fresh. Every client is different, so I observe their mannerisms and study their shape to see what would work best for them...and am always inspired by their unique qualities.

Is there a shoot in particular that sticks out in your mind as being the most memorable?

Honestly, no. I love all of my shoots equally and am so lucky to get to meet such fascinating women that make EVERY shoot a memorable one.

Describe the factors that led you to starting your own business. What are you learning from those experiences and what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the creative industry?

Ha! From misfortune comes fortune. Being laid off from my job as a graphic designer made me more open to the possibilities of doing photography as a career instead of just for fun. Desperation forced me to believe in myself for once and just ‘go for it’.

What do you do to market and promote Haute Shots and why do you think it's been effective?

Social networking has been great for my business because it exposes potential clients to not just my body of work, but my personality as well.

What's on the horizon for Stacie Frazier and Haute Shots?

Some pretty darned amazing things! I have to keep it all under wraps at the moment though. Sorry!

Okay, I'm gonna put you on the spot. Who are your biggest influences in design, photography, business and life?

Design? Why, you (Arnold) were a huge influence on me! My favorite photographer of all time is Ellen Von Unwerth. I would so love to meet her! Business...Joe has been an amazing business mentor. Life...my son Austin.

Ah, you get big time brownie points for that. Anyway, Stacie, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your success with us here on Design Democracy. Truly, you are an inspiration not only to women in design and photography but to others looking to make the leap to write their own adventure through their creative passion. Best to you, Austin, Joe and Haute Shots for a stellar 2010!"

It’s been an honor and a pleasure. Thanks Arnold!

If you would like to connect with her, visit Stacie Frazier's profile here on Design Democracy and drop a comment, add her as a friend or send her a message. For more information about Haute Shots Boudoir Photography:

http://hauteshots.net
http://www.hauteshots.net/blog/