Meet Tia: Studio Manager at Belle Marie Boudoir

Last week we introduced you to Olivia, our founder and photographer. Now it’s time to meet the heart behind the scenes at Belle Marie Boudoir. Today, we’re spotlighting Tia, our amazing Studio Manager. She keeps things running smoothly so your boudoir photoshoot can be stress-free, empowering, and fun.

Get to know Tia!

Hi, I’m Tia! I’m a Minnesota native who has lived in Wisconsin, Texas, California, and Maryland before settling back in my home state. I live with my husband, our two sweet kids, and two spoiled cats. I met Olivia through our husbands at a Trivia night back in 2018 and we became instant best friends.

Before joining Belle Marie Boudoir, I earned a Master’s in History from San Diego State University. I had planned to teach, and even completed a year long program to prepare graduate students for a career in community college teaching.

While I still love history and teaching, I still love history, but when Olivia offered me a job, I took a chance to try something new. I’m so glad I did! I quickly fell in love with how powerful and uplifting boudoir photography can be and I love helping women through my work.

Fun Facts About Me:

• Favorite food: Pho! My husband is Vietnamese and introduced me to Pho many many years ago. This year I finally built up the courage to learn how to make it myself, and now I can have a warm bowl of Pho whenever I want.

• Go-to movie: Pride & Prejudice. This may be controversial but my favorite version is the 2005 film with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen.

• TV obsession: You’ll often catch me cycling through my favorite comfort sit-coms, Friends, New Girl, That 70’s Show, and Parks and Rec.

• Currently reading: I’m mid way through the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. Right now I’m reading the 6th book, Lord of Chaos.

  
  

What Does a Studio Manager Do?

As the manager, my job is to keep things organized, running smoothly, and support the rest of the team in their roles. My day is filled with creating to do-lists, organizing client information to prep for their shoots, and tracking any and all info needed to keep the business going. I’m sure everyone else on the team thinks my role is the most boring but I love making sure everyone is set up for success.

I also manage our social media and write our blog posts. You’ll often hear me grumbling when Instagram flags perfectly normal boudoir photos, but I keep fighting the good fight to share our work! My favorite blog project so far has been writing our series on the history of boudoir photography. It was so fun combining my love of history with boudoir!

The Belle Marie Boudoir Team is Created

Back in 2023, Olivia needed someone to take over consultation calls, and fast. Olivia had a contractor making consult calls for her growing boudoir business, but one Friday Olivia received a notice that their hourly rate was going to increased from $40 to over $70 by the following Monday! I had a background in customer service and call center work, so I jumped in and learned everything I could about boudoir in one weekend. Within a week, she asked me to come on board officially as Studio Manager.

That was the moment Belle Marie Boudoir went from a solo project to a team effort. I loved helping organize ideas, clean up our systems, and brainstorm new ways to improve the client experience. This is why Olivia and I make such a good team. She’s great at big ideas and creativity in her art, and I’m there to help make her ideas a reality and help control the creative chaos she can occasionally release when inspired.

Why I Love Boudoir Photography

When I first started, I didn’t know how powerful a boudoir photoshoot could be. But the more I saw, the more I understood that Boudoir photography is more than just taking sexy photos. I got to see first hand how boudoir is about helping women feel strong, beautiful, and proud of who they are.

One of my favorite parts is helping women pick their favorite boudoir portraits after their photoshoot. Many of them come in nervous about boudoir sessions, unsure if they’ll like any of the images. In the years I’ve been a part of the team, I haven’t worked with a single woman who didn’t end up loving way more photos than they ever expected.

We’ve worked with women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Some sessions are for fun, some are for healing, and some are to celebrate big life changes. Every boudoir photoshoot is meaningful, and I feel so lucky to be part of each one.

If you're feeling nervous about boudoir, don’t worry. From maternity boudoir sessions to classic boudoir portraits, we’re here to help you feel confident in front of the camera. We’ll walk you through every step, and you’ll feel reassured that you’ve got a team of professionals there to make sure you have an incredible boudoir photography experience right there in Minneapolis Metro area!

I’ve met amazing and inspiring women from all over Minnesota and even the surrounding states and I can’t wait to meet more as we continue to grow!

Coming Up Next…

Next week, you’ll get to meet Mackenzie, our makeup artist. She’s the one who pampers you before your boudoir photoshoot and gets you feeling amazing before stepping in front of the camera. Stay tuned to learn all about her story and the magic she brings to Belle Marie Boudoir.