When it comes to presents, I’m a huge believer in giving experiences as gifts. From spa days and afternoon tea to stand up comics and flights to not-so-distant lands, there’s something so special about creating those unique moments in life that just can’t be replicated by objects. The kind of moments that become stories and memories. Stories that get passed down to younger generations, eagerly listening to all the mischief their grandparents got up to when they were your age. And you know what goes really well with those epic memories? Pictures to prove that it happened!

The great thing about giving the gift of boudoir photography is that the experience resonates with every one of my clients on a different level. For some, it’s a celebration of turning a certain age or reaching a life milestone, like getting married/divorced or smashing a career goal. For others it might be finally feeling confident and comfortable in the skin you’re in, either through physical or emotional changes (perhaps even both). There are the clients wanting to document their body before and after a life-changing event like pregnancy – and there are also those wonderful clients that believe if the day ends in a Y, it’s the perfect day to celebrate their bodies.

Every single one of these clients will tell you that a boudoir photo shoot with me is so much more than ‘just’ the finished images. Saying that it’s “the gift that keeps on giving” might be a cliché, but it’s true. I’ve photographed many a boudoir shoot, and can wholeheartedly say that it’s the absolute best feeling in the world; to empower and inspire confidence in my ladies about how they look and help to guide them on their journey to self-acceptance and the realisation that they really are that sexy.

If you’re wanting to treat yourself to a boudoir shoot – or perhaps treat a friend or loved one – this blog is here to guide you on how to give the gift of boudoir photography and what to expect.

Booking

After you’ve taken a look at my portfolio, and decided to book with me, we’ll talk about when the shoot is going to take place. If you’re planning to gift the images from the shoot, we’ll need to book a date in the diary around three months before the date you want to have your finished images. This will give you plenty of time to choose which of the final images you want, and me to create your custom pieces of artwork. Alternatively, if the shoot is for someone else, I also offer gift vouchers, valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.

Each session can take place at my in-home studio space OR at a location of your choosing, giving you complete freedom to control where your shoot takes place. We can shoot in your home, in a decadent hotel or perhaps a private apartment with beautiful features. This freedom allows us to create you something completely bespoke rather than limiting us to specific sets of poses. You can always make use of the hotel or apartment after and plan a night on the town!

Preparation

I’ve got this covered! After booking with me, you’ll receive a copy of my Welcome Guide. This includes detailed information about the whole experience. A beauty check list of things to do in the run up to your shoot date. There’s a packing list in my ‘Lingerie Guide’ of what you should bring with you on the day too. I have a client wardrobe of gorgeous lingerie items for you to select pieces from with sizes ranging from XS to 3XL, there is something for everyone. You can always wear something you already have in your wardrobe instead of buying something specifically for the shoot, but the information in the guide will inspire you to think outside of the box. If you’re booking this boudoir shoot as a gift for someone, perhaps once you’ve gifted it you can go shopping together to make the lingerie part of the gift too!

If you’ve any questions, you can always ask me in your pre-shoot consultation; meeting up in person or via Skype or Facetime (or just a standard phone call, whichever you prefer) is a great opportunity to ask me questions and for us to get to know each other a bit. I’m happy to chat about any ideas you’ve got for your shoot.

Shoot Day

On arrival, we’ll get you settled into hair and makeup with one of my resident professional stylists for the full makeover experience, where you’ll be made to feel like a queen. Demure, powerful and yet relaxed; comforted in the knowledge you’re around people who’re going to inspire greatness (and glamour!) in you. It’s important to me that you look like you on your very best day, so you’ll spend about 70 minutes being pampered and made to feel like a goddess. We’ll have a good chat and before you know it, you’ll be slipping into something glamorous ready for your moment in the spotlight! There’s no need to be nervous though; you’re with friends, and it’s paramount to me that you feel comfortable.

The shoot itself is quite a physical process, after which you’ll feel like you’ve done a gym workout! Most of the poses require a little core strength, so we’ll aim to shoot for around 60-90 minutes, giving you plenty of time for a quick breather and a couple of outfit changes. Working from your natural body movements, I’ll guide you into poses that accentuate your figure, enhancing your curves whilst still reflecting your personality. We’ll put on some music, have a dance between poses and have lots of fun; this is an experience you’ll remember forever, and I plan on making it memorable!

Reveal and Ordering Appointment

After your shoot, we’ll book you in for your reveal and ordering session. This is where you will be able to see the goddess that you are! This is one of my favourite parts of the session, the proof and sometimes reassurance needed, that you are the bad ass babe you dreamt of being. You’ll view around 50-70 images covering a range of poses, from which you’ll be able to choose your favourite images to be created into your own luxury artwork.

If these images are to be a gift for a special someone, I can work with you to create a mind-blowing album. These are one of the most popular choices and has always been well received, but I can work with whatever your needs are. Maybe you want some artwork for the wall or an heirloom box full of gorgeous mounted prints. There are a whole host of different ways you can gift the images and I’m happy to help with that. And yes, if you decide at any point you want to upgrade your package to include more images, you are absolutely welcome to.

The de-brief

After a boudoir shoot with me, your new skills in how to pose will resurface for years to come. When a camera appears at any social gathering, you’ll know how to pose yourself instantly. You’ll look back on the images and remember “I felt amazing that day” and “I never thought I could do it, but I did and look at me now!”. Comments such as these grace my inbox and I’m so pleased I can help women to feel empowered and confident in their own skin.

So, let’s book you in! When was the last time you indulged yourself with an experience that could help change the view you have of yourself for the better, for the rest of your life? Get in touch now and send me some dates!