Welcome to
Studio Thirty-Four
WE’RE MICHELLE AND TIM
TIM GERDES, PHOTOGRAPHIC DIRECTOR
My favorite compliments on my photographs, the ones I take most to heart, and the ones that propel me to continue to grow in my craft, are not about the photographs themselves but about the emotions that they evoke in my clients. “You’ve captured the real me—the way I feel inside,” or “I had no idea I was this beautiful,” are ones I hear often.
Photography, for me, is about being entrusted with the task of recording a personal moment for posterity. I strive to be worthy of that trust by providing a space for clients to step away from the outside world and others’ voices and focus on their unique and special beauty.
I love how my work makes my clients feel. I love watching their faces as they see their photographs for the first time. When clients tell me my images are beautiful, I remind them that it has more to do with them than me—though my technical skills and artistic sensibilities can’t hurt.
We are animal lovers. Two of our many pets, Coco the ferret and Sadie, our first fur baby. 
I love taking photos of animals, and treasure my pictures of our bulldogs Sadie, Lucy and Lucky, and our mischievous ferret Coco. I’m a lifelong Disney fan who bought my first DLSR so I could take photos of dark rides at Disney’s theme parks, some of which have been published in Wiley’s travel guides.
My wife and partner, Michelle, and I are avid bakers and became certified Master Bakers, learning from James Beard Award-winning chef and cookbook author Carole Walter. When Carole discovered I was also a photographer she hired me to bake her recipes and photograph them for social media posts and cookbook covers.
We love Disney
I am an Eagle Scout and grew up with a profound reverence for nature and the environment and have taken photos of the magnificent vistas at Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons and Joshua Tree National Parks.
We're master bakers
We're National Parks fans
Michelle wants to practice yoga in all 63 National ParksMichelle Gerdes, Client EXPERIENCE & EMPOWERMENT Director
Michelle Gerdes has almost a decade of experience as a certified trauma-informed Yoga Teacher (ERYT-200) and Reiki Practitioner, uniquely qualifying her to work with clients in boudoir photo shoots to ensure a safe, joyous and empowering experience. Her extensive background in energy awareness, body awareness, and emotional intelligence enables Michelle to create a supportive environment where clients are truly seen and understood. By understanding and addressing the needs of their nervous system and physical and emotional selves, Michelle guides clients through poses that not only highlight their unique beauty but also promote healing and self-confidence. This holistic approach ensures that each session is a deeply positive and transformative experience.
Anu Sharma, Stylist
Anu has been creating Fairy Godmother magic with hair, makeup, and henna since 2016. She finds joy in bringing out the unique beauty in all her clients on their special day. Whether a boudoir session, bride or other milestone event, Anu enjoys collaborating with clients and experimenting with looks for stylized shoots. She especially loves Halloween and creating head-to-toe ensembles for the holiday! When she’s not busy uplifting her clients with her stunning looks, you’ll find Anu baking delicious treats from scratch or running half marathons.
Our stylist Anu loves HalloweenKyle Stevenson, Artist in Residence
Kyle Stevenson paints people with curiosity, passion and an incredible attention to detail.
If you ask Kyle when he knew his calling was to be an artist, he’ll probably tell you his journey began at the age of 3 when he would draw in church to keep quiet. This sacred beginning perhaps partially accounts for his preoccupation with issues of faith, existence, and human connection, and his contention that there are no subjects more worthy of our attention. Since then, Kyle has studied art at university and under mentorships, mentored scores of art students and practiced his craft tirelessly.
Kyle has been a professor of Fine Art at Mercer County Community College for more than 20 years, where he developed a speciality in drawing and painting live figures. He currently enjoys creating live boudoir and wedding portraits and spending time with his 5 prodigious children, all of who are all sick-and-tired of sitting still for portraits.
Kyle exhibits and sells his work locally and is the winner of the most recent Speed Portrait-Painting Award.
Artist in Residence, Kyle Stevenson painting a boudoir portrait
But for a long time I didn’t really take photographs of people, in part because I saw myself as a documentarian–simply recording life as I experienced it. I saw photographing people as a sacred act, and felt that to reflect people in their best light I needed to have a better grasp of studio lighting, posing and retouching.
Cut to 2020, and a global pandemic that ground modern life to a screeching halt. Stuck at home, with more hours in the day than I knew what to do with, I decided I was going to master studio photography. I bought some equipment, enrolled in several online courses and convinced Michelle and our daughters to become my models.
My favorite people, and still my favorite people to photographThousands of photos later, once the pandemic ended, and much to the relief of my family, I began to work with other models. My work was particularly resonant with people of color, who often noted that most photographers have no idea how to light black skin. Not only was I able to, but it was important to me. It’s paramount to show each and every person whose photograph I take that they are special and worthy of being photographed properly, showcasing all of their beauty.
The more I photographed people, the more I realized how gratifying it is to experience my work through the eyes of my subjects. But I’ve also come to realize just how vulnerable a person can feel in front of the camera, whether a professional model or not. To be worthy of the trust that’s needed to create the types of images that I do, I need to offer a space where clients can feel comfortable so their unique beauty shines through.
Because of Michelle’s background as a trauma-informed yoga instructor and reiki practitioner, who has gifts for not only cuing poses, but for making her students feel both safe and empowered, I realized there was an opportunity to create a different kind of boudoir studio, creating pure alchemy by combining both of our skill sets. And so, Studio 34 Boudoir was born.
AT STUDIO 34 BOUDIOR…
We agree with Mr. Rodgers that, “there are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”
We live in accordance with the Gospel According to John (Lennon), who professed: All you need is love, apathy isn’t it, and there is nothing you can do but learn how to be you in time.
We also live in accordance with the Gospel According to Paul (McCartney), who professed: that there will be an answer, to take a sad song and make it better, and that the love you take is equal to the love you make.
We believe that Science is Real, that Black Lives Matter, that Women’s Rights are Human Rights, that Love is Love, and that No Human is Illegal.