This blog post got lost in a server move a few months ago, along with all your lovely comments:( So sad. But, I’m re-writing and re-posting today so this shoot can live on!
If you’ve been following me for a while you know I absolutely love this woman. Olivia is such a dynamic, fun person to be around, and I really admire the body positive attitude she advocates. If you need a little more of this positive influence in your life, I’d recommend following her on Instagram here: @curvycampbell While you’re at it you can follow brilliant makeup artist Debbie (@debbiepurkissmua) and me too (@stormy_rebelandromance).
Anyway, feels like ages ago now but Olivia, Debbie, and I got together to play pin up for this shoot.
People are always trying to get me to do pin up, but I just don’t like it that much. I don’t think I’m cut out for all the fake smiles and posey poses. This is how I like my pin up – undone and a little reckless, on the edge of something dangerous.
Too cool to clean the kitchen, obviously.
Love these Coca-Cola cans as hair rollers.
I think it’s important to point out that I made no changes to Olivia’s body shape in these. You know why? Because she’s beautiful exactly as she is.
She was killing these poses.
How great is Olivia’s makeup here? Debbie always knocks it out of the park. She’s the safest pair of hands I know.
Don’t smoke okay? Smoking is bad. It’s not half as cool as we made it look here.
Is there anything more decadent than a vintage fur coat?
Olivia, Debbie, it’s always a pleasure. Still one of my favourite shoots.
Aurelie is such a lovely person, and I think someone that everyone can relate to in one way or another. We met a few years ago when she got in touch for her first boudoir shoot. At that time, Aurelie had just lost a bunch of weight and although she was looking great, she was feeling crap.
It’s one of those things that can just blindside a person – you get healthier and thinner and are SURE you’ll feel amazing, only to find your mind hasn’t caught up to your body. Anyway, she was struggling to feel at home in her new, thinner shape and decided to do something about it. It was great to photograph her then, and the results were amazing – both in terms of how the images actually turned out, in what they did for Aurelie’s self-confidence, and in the reaction from her Mr too:) Win win win.
All that in mind, I was delighted to hear from Aurelie again recently. After a super challenging year, she was ready to come back for round 2 and a fresh dose of confidence.
I love working with clients a second time. It’s about 100 times less scary for them, since they already know what to expect and that they will love the results, so things usually go smooth as butter.
This teal colour is great for summer.
Showing off your wedding ring in a whole new way;)
This navy blue bodysuit is a great choice for shoots, especially if you’d like something that will cover your midsection but still allow you to move.
Love this light on Mrs. A.
I love how natural Aurelie looks here, especially because this position is not half as easy as it seems.
Obligatory booty shot;)
One of my favourite frames from the bedroom set.
She nailed this one too.
A red lip, because we can. This is a nice way to nod to pin up if you like the style but the cheesy props aren’t your style.
Our library door is officially on, and I’ve been playing around with a few different ways to incorporate it into shoots.
New tattoos, and a gorgeous black lace number. All Aurelie’s lingerie has come from non-designer, high street retailers, so keep in mind that you don’t need to splash out on expensive digs unless you want to.
The temple doors.
And the best for last – Mrs. A absolutely KILLING in these. A few years ago, no amount of money or persuasion would have convinced Aurelie she could look good in a topless shot. I asked casually if she wanted to do anything topless during our first shoot a few years ago, and she literally turned to me and said, “I will never do it. No. Never.”
But lo and behold…here she is, looking amazing and eating her words:) I’m so proud of her. It’s very hard work learning to like your body, but it’s so worth it.
R is an inspiration. I L. O. V. E. her warm, welcoming ways, her edgy style, and her Florence and the Machine-esque good looks. We had such a fun boudoir session together, and our location was this amazing flat in Little Italy – complete with cool warehouse style features and decorated to perfection.
Without overstepping my bounds, I would like to add a little commentary. It’s so easy to look at images of a gorgeous, thin woman and think, “yes, easy for YOU to do!” Please don’t think this – you’d be dead wrong most of the time. Most of my clients are regular women with hangups similar to your own. We’re all on a hard journey of self-acceptance, but sometimes the evidence of that struggle isn’t so obvious.
It’s not my place to share the details of her story, but I will say that what R has overcome in order to even contemplate a boudoir shoot is incredible and inspiring. It’s taken many years of constant, daily battling, even if she’s made it look easy as pie in these images. I’m SO proud of her for doing this, and I hope you will be too:)
Here she is! Looking AMAZING.
This Paradise Lost artwork is my new favourite thing. If you’re not familiar with him, you should seriously check out Chris Bracey’s brilliant neon work – I don’t know how I’ve missed realising all of this came from the same man, but I would now like to buy about seven pieces. Also, apparently there is a magical place in London called God’s Own Junkyard that I would love to check out – if anyone wants to come along give me a shout?
Chris Bracey – Paradise Lost, 2013, Acrylic paint on reclaimed wood, aluminum and carnival light bulbs
Also, can we just take a minute to acknowledge how cool R’s back tattoo is?
So much going right here.
I know I’m posting too many of these, but I just can’t decide which one is my favourite.
I like them all.
A good moody shot in low light. How great does R look here?!
I’m pretty certain this is Agent Provocateur lingerie – the black strappy look is always very cool on camera.
Louboutins for the win. Always.
Look! I used a light!
This was just a crazy idea we tried. It almost worked, but I think the pane of frosted glass was just too small, even with R doing a great job of squeezing herself into it. It’s something I might try to develop as a set option in the studio, it’s got potential…
Red hot.
I’ve been waiting ages to shoot this dress. It’s the Angela Structured Dress by Bordelle and is stunning. If you’re looking for an investment piece you can get your own at Coco de Mer. I’ve seen it in a white/ivory colour that would be perfect for a unique bridal look.
Rock and roll. Animal print heels. Striking red hair. Creative use of available light (lamp). Agent Provocateur lingerie. It’s everything I love wrapped up in one image.
This smoky eye matches the atmosphere perfectly, another feather in Gemma’s cap.
We turned day into night for this shot. In retrospect, I could have used one more light or we should have maybe lost the stockings, but I still like it.
Gahhh that face!
Just a final few frames in a tuxedo jacket, which is another no-fail look for your boudoir shoot.
I’ll finish with this doozy – my favourite image from this boudoir session by a landslide. R – you were everything. Thanks for a fantastic shoot and being so very very brave. I hope you feel incredible because you certainly look it.
This shoot was inspired by Frida Kahlo (and a bunch of roses on clearance at the shop). A floral crown is such a fun way to celebrate spring and summer. I know it’s been done a million times but I still love it. Crissy’s olive skin tone and eyebrows helped us create a real Frida vibe on set. Crissy is actually Italian, but I wasn’t about to hold out for a real seniorita – if the food around here is any indicator, there are zero Mexicans in London anyway. *please send taco truck*
I made this rose crown in my kitchen. It took about 15 minutes, and although it wasn’t terribly comfortable I think it photographs lovely. If you’d like to try this for your own boudoir shoot, I’d be happy to knock one up for you too:)
Beautiful hair and makeup courtesy of Gemma, who has a real knack for choosing the perfect shade of red.
Crissy’s lingerie is black and fairly simple, but with enough detail to be interesting. It’s all high street stuff, proving yet again that you really don’t need to spend a fortune on lingerie for your boudoir shoot.
This was an idea we shot at the end of the day, and to be honest, it wasn’t sure if it was going to work. Because…it looked weird, as evidenced in the behind the scenes shot below:
Most of the frames look a little forced, but these two turned out beautifully. I can’t decide if I like Crissy’s hand up or down though. Thoughts?
A few final frames. I had always envisioned this concept on black.
The flowers do stand out more with the darker background, but to me the red is stronger and more interesting. Overall, a really fun shoot though.
Gemma, Crissy – beautiful work ladies! Always a pleasure.
My recent editorial with Olivia is out! You can find it in “The Perfection Issue” of SLiNK Magazine, which is available online, at Barnes & Noble stores in the US, or through lots of independent retailers in the UK and worldwide.
Mad love to our team on this shoot. I’ll be sharing some of our favourite images from the cutting room floor, so stay tuned for more. Until then, enjoy!
Part Two of Sarah’s session, continued on from last week.
This silhouette shot…you just can’t go wrong.
It’s no secret that I love a really put together lingerie look for boudoir sessions. If you’re going to go to all this effort, you might as well get dolled up for at least one set! This means a great bra, knickers, waspie or suspender belt, stockings or hold ups, and big heels (preferably stilettos). Go all out, you won’t regret it.
This woman! Such a gorgeous face.
I think every woman deserves an image of herself looking this good. Maaayyybe even a big one, right on the bedroom wall so she can’t forget it;)
Poor Sarah was roasting in this fur coat. She’s a trooper though so we made it through, and look how cool styling like this turns out!
Gorgeous lingerie set courtesy of Agent Provocateur. If you’re a fan of their styles but not of their prices, be sure to watch out for their sales. You can often get up to 70% off:) I post about it whenever I see them, so you’re welcome to follow me on Instagram (@stormy_rebelandromance) if you’d like a reminder.
A few frames by our antique French doors.
How lush is this fur?
Complimentary images like these make for great album spreads. I might post a few from Sarah’s album later so you can see what I mean:)
Oookay, so at this point we took a pizza and prosecco lunch break, and then decided to push the envelope. We went for some creative light leaks for this image…
…and then shot some daring, shaved-head showing, edgy images to finish up the day. I’ve censored these just to keep the nipple police away.
Body chains! Where have these been all my life? So many things I’d like to shoot with these.
Oh Sarah, you’re fab! You’re like some sort of boudoir chameleon who looks good in every sort of styling. Thanks for such a fun shoot, can’t wait for next time!
Sarah’s shoot was BIG. I don’t even know how we got so much done, but it’s varied enough that I’m splitting it up into two parts. We’ll do light and bright this week, and the moodier, edgier sets next week so be sure to check out both:)
Sarah was in the studio right after our Frida Khalo inspired shoot with Crissy (coming soon), and it seemed like we ought to try to get a few more images out of all those leftover roses. Sarah’s first look was a vintage, 70’s feeling set so we went for a hippie sort of vibe to kick things off.
I love these bright orange high waisted knickers. I don’t know where she found them but they are amazing.
Sarah’s tattoos are especially colourful and bright, so I wanted to make sure we created a few images to show them off. I think she looks so stunning here.
And of course every woman needs a really great booty image. The boys also like these;)
These pretty red bottomed Louboutin’s are part of the studio collection, so you’re welcome to borrow them for your own shoot. I’ve got a few pairs now, so if you’re within a few sizes of a UK 6 1/2 we probably have a pair that will suit you.
Next up, a few jersey images for her Mr. 🙂
It’s such a cute set of images in an album, and it makes a great birthday or anniversary gift for a football fan.
Then this happened. I’m in LOVE with these pin up styled boudoir images. Sarah has the absolute perfect body for this look.
Those little sailor shorts!!
Oh so cute! Just wait until you see the rest of her session next week though…you will swear it’s a totally different person.
Sarah it was amazing working with you! Thanks so much for a great shoot:)
It’s officially wedding season again in London! Today’s blog features Crissy and shows off one of my favourite bridal boudoir looks.
Simple, delicate lace. You just can’t go wrong here.
Le eBay veil strikes again.
Pastel blue is definitively bridal, but I think these black and whites lend a little timelessness to the frame.
Stunner in white.
This non-fussy setup is simple and easy. If you want a more stylised look, a hand tied bouquet would be a great addition. You could also think about adding in your bridal jewellery, or even a bottle of Chanel.
Major props to Gemma for gorgeous makeup and hair. I’m posting this image extra big so you can all appreciate her genius and Crissy’s ridiculously good-looking face.
Miss Lucy and I got together some time ago for a London boudoir shoot, and I thought I’d share the results with you today:)
I’ve had my eye on this penthouse location for a while, and a shoot with Lucy seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a try. It’s sky high, with a wrap around balcony and killer views of everything. We felt very fancy hanging out up there. It’s also got two bedrooms that are decorated differently, so it’s a great venue for photo shoots.
Lucy is a plus size model, currently signed with Hughes here in England, and this was our first time working together. Curvy Kate graciously sent us a bunch of fun lingerie to shoot with, and we supplemented with a few pieces from Lucy’s own wardrobe too.
I love a good lingerie / jacket combo. Skyline and boats are optional.
Big statement earrings, stockings, and heels pull the whole look together.
A black lace ensemble and an antique styled French bed was next on the agenda.
Such effortless posing by Miss Lucy.
High waisted knickers are a love ’em or hate ’em kind of thing, but they do photograph brilliantly.
Oh hello my pretty:)
We were really hoping for sun to fit this punchy pink Curvy Kate set, but it wasn’t on the cards that day.
Not a problem though, we just pretended instead.
Our third set was this lovely slouchy sweater. It honestly never fails.
Pair with red lips, heels, and stockings to turn things up a notch.
Low messy pigtails complete the look. Love this image on the right, Lucy has the perfect expression.
I was dubious about this chair, but I actually really liked these images in the end.
Double trouble, in Technicolor and black and white.
I climbed in a potted plant to get this shot. The life of a photographer is eversoglamorous.
How cute is Miss L here?
We tried a few dark and moody shots in an all black look too, just because we could.
Sophisticated sexiness if you ever saw it.
Lucy it was great to finally work with you! Thanks for a great shoot:)
This was Kate and I’s second shoot together, and we were joined by lovely Sadaf on makeup.
One of my favourite things about photography (and great makeup) is it’s ability to transform an appearance. I got a frantic call from Kate the day before our shoot where she explained that her normally brilliant colourist had taken a few too many liberties and turned her hair into “a horrific shade of trailer trash blonde.” Oh mannnnnnnnn….
We couldn’t reschedule since Kate was also about to move away to Oz, so we opted to just go with it. Kate rocked up and I’m not gunna lie – her hair was glowing in a sort of radioactive way. We had a good laugh about it, and then got down to business.
Side note: how great is this lilac silk number on her?
With genius makeup skills from Sadaf and a little clever toning and post processing work on my end, we successfully got Kate up an’ out the trailer park;) We were all really pleased about it lol!
Hello, I’m Kate, and I stop traffic with my little red dress.
Gahhh. Such a stunner. I defy you to tell me that curvy women aren’t having a moment right now.
Feather bra. Because we can.
If you come shoot with me, odds are very high I will make you lay on the floor at some point. You’ve been warned.
We were just experimenting with this set idea – the backlight coming over the top of the backdrop was fantastic but it does create some flyaway hair problems that are sort of annoying to work though.
This pose in particular is so feline feeling. We were joking about creating a posing book for photographers and models where each pose has a cringe-tastic name. I’ll call this one Sex Panther, obviously. You stay classy San Diego.
I think I could learn to like shooting on solid black almost as much as I like shooting in the backlight. It’s got that same gorgeous fall away effect around the body, which is great for any body type and always flattering.
If these images had a soundtrack, it would be Iglu and Hartley’s, “DayGlo” on account of Kate’s magical glowing hair.
Up close and personal with these. Images like this are ideal for an album – they add so much movement and interest to the image story.
BOOOOOOM.
Also, curvy ladies please note how killer these high waisted knickers look? It’s a great way to add a little more coverage without sacrificing style, and they are easy to pick up this season:)
We brought the volume back down a little for our last look. I love this detailed long line bra top Kate’s wearing – perfect for a romantic, moody set of images.
Simple window light and gorgeous curves. If you love this look but are not so keen on your midsection, there are some great options that combine this strappy look in a fitted basque. You could think also think about layering a bra like this over simple black shape wear, or combining it with a sheer robe/dress/kimono/etc like we’ve done in the images below.
Double trouble.
See, look at this. Still an edgy bit of detail up top, but now Kate a totally covered midsection and the outfit still looks fab. Bonus: we can show a cheeky bit of leg with this side slit. If you’re not a fan of your thighs, a side slit just might change your mind.
Thanks Kate! Lovely seeing you again, and best wishes for the big move!
