About the Artist.
Hi, I am Susan Delene.
I am a published, international, award-winning professional photographer.
And...a total goofball. A mom. A friend.
Like many of us I've struggled with self-acceptance. Especially after the identity crisis I went through after having a baby.
What Photography Means to Me
It's one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. It is a reminder of the beauty that you are, that you can sometimes struggle to see. It did wonders to do self-portraits after I had a baby. I was reminded that though I'm not the same art piece I used to be. But I'm still art. I'm still me. I'm just another, beautiful, different version. And I love her, too.
One of my favorite things ever is taking pictures of other people, and I've done it since I was a kid. I had the opportunity to play in the darkroom in high school and study with the New York Institute of Photography. Plus, be a class assistant at a photography school in Venice Beach, where I got to learn under some incredible photographers.
A friend convinced me to enter photos into a contest, and I won a top ten slot in an international portrait competition. Plus, a top ten slot in Raleigh's Artsplosure art show where I was competing against drawing, painting, and mixed media. Boy, did I feel cool!
From there, it opened up doors to do some professional editorial jobs. And again, I felt so cool. And then...I got scared. What if I keep trying, and I'm not as good? I'm so passionate about photography; I knew it would be devastating if I failed. So. I stopped pursuing it to avoid failure. I got a great job, and I got to do photography as part of it - which was incredible!
But I stopped pursuing my portrait work.
When I was young...
Before fear crept in, I had some pretty fun experiences with photography.
Me, after a "Mary Kay Makeover", in my favorite bodysuit | 90s
Glamour Shots
I was always a fan of getting dolled-up and getting my pictures taken! Then in my early 20's I worked for you guessed it, the real deal. Glamour Shots! It was amazing.
I later had an even cooler job giving makeovers to hospital employees and doing their glamour shots. So many of them had never taken the time to get a professional picture of themselves. It was quite a treat reminding them they were beautiful and worth celebrating!
Me, behind-the-scenes, working at my first studio | 2001
My First Photography Job
I was so excited at 18 to work at a photography studio! We specialized in senior pictures in the studio, and then I would travel to do cheesy yearbook photos for all ages.
The thing I remember most was dropping the van keys in the toilet on one of my first road trips. I was like "gross...gross...gross!" but started reaching for the keys when...SWOOSH! The strongest automatic flush I had ever encountered. Great way to start the job.
Let's Get Over Our Fears!
Let's flush our fears of the camera down the toilet! I'm SO PROUD to call myself a professional boudoir photographer. It's time, all. Let's do this!!! Let's capture YOU and all your wonderfulness!!!