I might be biased here, but my personal opinion is that every person should do a boudoir photoshoot at least once in their life.

Boudoir came into my life at the start of what would be my most trying and difficult part of life. I could say now that it saved me, but it didn’t. It did however help me through. The people I worked with, created an amazing opportunity for me to pass on my own feelings and goals for happiness and acceptance with my body, in turn helping me see even more value to what I was trying to show/teach people.

Self-love is a journey, and boudoir is not actually the solution. It’s only a part of how we can work through what we feel.

I’ve worked with a number of women in particularly who are doing the photoshoots as a way to show themselves how beautiful and positive they can be, as well as teach their daughters the same mentality. Body positivity is much more than just simply loving your body. That is something I don’t know if it’s actually possible to do fully! It’s finding all the bits you like, and that you don’t, but learning to accept them as yours and a part of your story. Life drags us in so many different directions and sometimes, that pronounces itself as scars, tattoos and stretchmarks.

My big Five reasons for you to do a boudoir photoshoot are

1. To show yourself just how strong, capable and beautiful you are

2. To work on your self love journey

3. When celebrating a milestone

4. As a gift for yourself and a significant other

5. To get some gorgeous mementos

Number 1

To Show Yourself You Are Already Empowered.

This is going to sound crap but, I actually hate selling boudoir as “empowerment” over our bodies, societal expectations and selves.

YOU ARE ALREADY EMPOWERED!

YOU and YOU ONLY have the power to control your body, your thoughts and inner demons. I cannot tell you to love yourself and make you believe it. As a boudoir photographer, I can only provide you with the opportunity to realize just how powerful, strong and capable you are.

empowerment

noun

1. authority or power given to someone to do something.

"individuals are given empowerment to create their own dwellings"

1. the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.

"political steps for the empowerment of women"

The process is all yours. Your body is yours. Your opinions are yours.

Boudoir is not the empowerment itself. It is only part of the process and journey of healing and self love.

Number 2

When Working On Your Self Love Journey

Have you been dedicating time to personal growth recently?

If so, now might be the perfect moment to delve deeper into self-discovery through a boudoir photoshoot experience.

It can be seeing those images that it really hits us how far we have come with our journey and experiences. Whether that be a fitness journey or one of gratitude and mental healing. Self love takes it forms in so many new ways, with which boudoir can be a chapter in the book of “you”.

If you find yourself at the beginning of that chapter of acceptance, I would strongly suggest exploring some cosier clothing options such as cardigans, oversized t-shirts, robes, and bodysuits. These pieces can help you feel more relaxed and at ease during your photo session.

Lingerie or glamour images can be a wonderful method to showcase the beginning of your personal voyage, along with various stages that follow. Embracing these photos can beautifully capture the essence of your evolving story while celebrating self-expression and confidence.

We can recognise our flaws, but learn they are part of us. Our journey, our story

Number 3

Celebrating A Milestone

Now, when I say milestone, I don’t necessarily mean at the start or the end of a “fitness” (i.e weight-loss) boot camp. I’m not a big fan of those kinds of photoshoots as a “before and after”. So I’ll set in a list of the kinds of milestones that would be great to complete your celebrations with a boudoir photoshoot…

1. A milestone birthday

2. Getting married

3. Pregnancy

4. A new career or promotion

5. Completing studies

6. Buying your first home (wouldn’t it be great to do an at home session?!)

These milestones in a person’s life are the perfect opportunity to document. Whether we document the event itself or not. It’s good to get photos of ourselves at that point in time too!

Number 4

As A Gift

Doing a lingerie or “spicy” photoshoot for your other half can be an extremely personal and intimate.

But remember…

A gift can definitely be just as much for yourself as the intended person!

If the images are done as a small book, or as a print box, they can be kept in privacy in a bedside table or safely secured elsewhere.

The biggest thing to think about is how to give them to your intended!

A couple of things past clients have done…

• sent a digital image to her husband every hour he was at work on their 1st wedding anniversary!

• created a “first aid” box for their fiancé. The box was filled with “useful” and symbolic items i.e. paperclip for holding things together. The images were printed and put into a box we called the “in case of resuscitation” box hehe

It’s important when doing these sessions for others to consider carefully props or clothing. My general advice is to steal a favourite shirt of your partners or item of clothing or gear. This can be anything from a business jacket or shirt that they love, a motorbike helmet, a gaming controller, or even an item of clothing of yours that they love seeing you in. I’ve had past clients bring whiskey glasses in!

Number 5

To Get Some Gorgeous Photographs in Your Favourite Lingerie!

What better reason than “just because?”?

Celebrate yourself and document your path through life!

Stick it to the societal pressures and expectations of conformity!

A boudoir photoshoot is something every person should do at least once in their life. It’s personal, celebratory, acceptance and a way to pull the middle finger at society and what people tell you and how they think you should act or take care of your body.