Windy City Pin Up

Just did a boudoir shoot last Friday and I had a blast! Laura Wilson did my hair and makeup and Yeva Dashevsky took the photos. I was a little apprehensive because, while I feel fine about my body and I feel sexy, I wasn’t sure that would all translate to photos. I was worried that I would feel awkard, but Laura and Yeva made everything feel really relaxed and easy and I wound up having a terrific time! Laura was a great coach for poses and even facial expressions. They did let me see one shot and now I am DYING to see the rest. The facility is really cute, and the makeup process was really sanitary. I brought my own items but the closet looked packed with cute things that I would peruse when I go back again. If you are looking for a nice suprise gift for your significant other, consider this — I think my fiancé is going to love it!

The photos look amazing, however was never able to shoot my photos. Was rescheduled more than once and had to reschedule my flight into Chicago. After canceling for another time (due to a family emergency which is understandable), was not offered a refund. Definitely did not feel like a customer, which is unfortunate as it seems most others loved their photos. Would not recommend if you’re coming from out of town.

I ran across the ladies of Windy City Pin-​up at Indie Wed earlier this year. Having a couple of bridesmaids with me, we picked up some info on doing this for a bachelorette party. And since we’re too old to go out and get crazy drunk… and many of us have kiddies at home… this seemed like the perfect option for a girls night/​bachelorette party.
Their packages are reasonably priced and fun. All of my bridesmaids/​guests chipped in to get me my own individual shoot, which I did before the party. I chose to do more of a burlesque shoot versus pin up look for my shoot. My intentions were to create a 50s Playboy for my husband-​to-​be. My shoot included outfits I brought, accented by some of their touches like garters and poufy skirts, etc. Laura did my hair and make up and was amazing. She was also my «photo coach». I don’t have a bad thing to say about the girl. She’s fun and adorable. During my shoot, I noticed a couple of things. One… NO MIRROR! Here I am, putting on scandalous outfits and I can’t see my lower half to make adjustments or even change my mind and change into something different because I just don’t think it suits my body. And when I saw my pictures, I liked maybe 2 or 3, but was disappointed because my outfits didn’t always seem to be right for me. =(My facial expressions all seemed to be the same… and the 5 outfit variance didn’t come through in the photos. Also, I asked to have a tattoo covered in photo edits. They covered it w/​make up for the shoot, but when I received the edited photos back… it had not be retouched at all. For personal shoots, backgrounds and props were very limited. And all of my shots were done on a white background, except for one. I would’ve chosen much differently.
For the bachelorette party… everyone had a blast. There were 8 of us… one pregnant and somehow we all managed to find an outfit. However, some of the outfits smelled of BO… and really needed to be cleaned. =(But, we sucked it up and took some amazing photos. They brought in an extra make up artist and I feel like they had more props for the group. They were fun and allowed us to order in food and bring drinks… along with providing some as well. I think all of the girls got along and everyone had a blast. BUT thank goodness we all took our own pics. They promise to have photos to you within 3 – 6 weeks. Approaching 9 weeks, we finally got a link to our group photos. And it’s September (my bach party was in May) and I’m STILL waiting for the print choice to be delivered.
Ashlee was busy during our shoots/​party. She, herself, was getting married and I think their recent appearance at Indie Wed made them quite popular. So I understand when it takes a couple emails to hear back. But she’s not the only one running her company. She has partners and people working for her that are more than capable to answer questions, etc. There was a point early on when she even tried to reschedule the bachelorette party because she had a last-​minute wedding to attend. This was AFTER invites had been sent out and people had replied yes… and it was the only day that worked for people. Upon our disappointed response, she made it work… but I felt that was just unprofessional.
And, still waiting for a photo after 3 months… is taking what could have potentially been a phenomenal review to mediocre.

I purchased my session from Living Social too and it was so fun! I recommend everyone try this at least once in their lifetime! They made me feel so comfortable and beautiful. I was a little nervous at first but they walk you through the whole thing and even make the faces and noises with you during your shoot, so you don’t feel so silly saying «Ahhh» and «Ohhh». It was awesome! They also has the mimosas flowing to help get me in the mood! I should be getting my proofs soon and I can’t wait!

these ladies are great! Ashlee & Laura are each total pros & super fun.
my hair and make-​up looked amazing, and we had a ball choosing items for the wardrobe. i brought a lot of my own vintage items with me and those are the things we chose!
the shoot was very laidback and i think we all enjoyed ourselves. ashlee has some great creative talent and a fantastic eye for a shot. laura is a pro at coaching for poses and expressions. so much fun :)
the photos turned out great and i’ve just put in my order! i’ll be using some on my website and some for promotional material and giving some to friends and, yknow, just boosting my ego in general :)
also, Ashlee is extremely customer-​oriented and has been in excellent contact with me for the whole process, from scheduling, to my last minute questions, and so forth.
i am definitely going back, and i highly, highly recommend this studio!!!

I can’t even begin to describe how awesome the experience was. Ashley and staff made what could have been a nerve wracking experience, completely fun and easy. My makeup and outfit were tops! I even kept on my face for a birthday party later that night.
It is a little hectic due to the livingsocial deal but that is to be expected. I haven’t seen my pics yet but, the experience alone was worth it.

I had a GREAT time channeling my «retro beauty queen» with these girls for my 3 hour photo shoot from LivingSocial. A totally fun, relaxing experience– and gorgeous makeup & hair to boot! I am looking forward to seeing the edited results. I had enough fun just doing the shoot that the pictures afterward are just icing on the cake.
Totally a fun thing to do both solo or with a group of girlfriends. Check them out!

So another member of my party has already posted a review, but I need to as well. Three friends and I purchased the LivingSocial deal and wanted to do a Girls’ Night Out. After debating which month we wanted to go, we crossed our fingers that Ashlee and Laura would have a date open in February. After our suggested dates were already booked, Ashlee suggested a Friday night that seemed to work for everyone. PERFECT.
I arrived at this large warehouse-​y looking building and get lost finding their suite. I was initially sketched out, but eventually heard lady voices and found my party! I walk into the studio only to be greeted by Ashlee and Laura and another girl (Sorry, I forgot her name!) AND A PUPPY. Tank is the sweetest thing ever. Anyways, one by one we got our hair and makeup done. Laura has a background in playing dress-​up (a degree in costuming and a ton of experience) and did a phenomenal job on hair and makeup (the other girl helped too!) The shoot went well and Ashlee and Laura went through a «posing lesson» and Ashlee coached each one of us while we were actually being shot. It really was a phenomenal evening.
My only qualms about the experience had to do with what happened after the shoot. Ashlee told us that our photos would be ready in 2 – 3 weeks. 3 weeks later and no correspondence from Ashlee, we contacted her and she apologized, said she was working on them and that she wanted to send everyone their proofs at the same time, and said they would be ready within the week. 1 week later and still no pictures, we contacted her again and she promised we would get them in the next few days. Over the next week, we each eventually got our proofs, though not at the same time/​day.
I understand that she was busy and had a lot of new clients, I just wish that she would have kept us in the loop! Everyone’s photos looked amazing, though not everyone received the same number of proofs to choose from.
All in all it was a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone looking for something new and fun and exciting. Just know that you might need to wait a bit longer than expected to see how your shoot turned out!

I purchased a living social for a 3 hour pin up shoot. From the moment I walked in the door, I was greeted with smiles and enthusiasm. Laura and Ashlee ooze passion for the whole 50s era. From the décor to the music that played, it was the total package. Laura has a degree in costuming and her knowledge in hair, make up and modeling/​coaching was extremely helpful. This was my first experience with any type of modeling, so having that reassurance and positive energy was very uplifting.
All in all it was a wonderful experience and I’ll definitely be back!

I was so pleased with my experience with Windy City Pin-​Up — from beginning to end. Ashlee and Laura made me feel so comfortable the moment I arrived, and they guided me during the whole shoot. My makeup and hair looked really good, and I loved how the lighting turned out in all my shots. I agree with other reviewers: I really felt like I made new friends while I was there. Also, they knew my anniversary was coming up, and that I wanted to surprise my husband with a photo on our day. Ashlee hand-​delivered the photo to my house to make sure it got to me in time. I was so impressed with their customer service and professionalism, but would recommend them a thousand times mainly because they’re just so personable and caring-​and really, really good at what they do.

These girls truly are as good as it gets! My makeup was perfect, I loved the outfits and Ashlee is incredibly skilled at photography. The girls were comfortable and enjoyable to be around and I had a blast! I felt like they really took their time doing a good job on hair and makeup and making sure I was happy with everything. I didn’t feel rushed at all. My experience was worth every penny… if you are on the fence, just do it!

My experience here was fantastic. Immediately upon entering the studio… it was like meeting with old friends. The girls are super sweet and helpful. I loved the outfits they picked for me. They do your hair AND make-​up which was a relaxing experience. I have never felt more lovely and comfortable in my own skin. It is easy to relax and play in front of the camera with them and I left looking forward to seeing my photos and hopefully seeing the girls again in the future. Trust me, it is worth every penny. Pamper yourself.

COME HERE FOR ALL YOUR PIN-​UP PHOTO NEEDS! The moment you walk in the door they make you feel right at home, and at ease. These two are so full of energy and are just so kind. My makeup looked like a million bucks, and my hair too! It was what I had always wanted for a 1920’s style photo. The picture taking process was just so much fun with them. They are there to help you when you get stuck in the poses and teach you how to pose yourself before the shoot begins. They are just so helpful and nice, and I will be coming back anytime I need photos done! I can’t even recommend them enough, GO HERE!

This is place is like a modern day Glamor Shots… except way better! Ladies, if you want some pictures of yourself looking like a TOTAL BOMBSHELL, get your session booked today. Their pictures make a great gift for your significant other!