Natasha and I met up recently for a spring London lifestyle photo shoot, split between Covent Garden and central London. We had a couple of goals for this – some fresh personal branding images, and an update for her commercial modelling portfolio. Natasha has recently graduated, again (wooooo!), and she’s ready to level up her side gig, so it was time for some images to match.
We knew we wanted to start around Covent Garden, and then get a few classic London landmarks in toward the end. This kind of shoot can be exhausting without a clear plan, so I spent ages on Google Maps creating several different walkable routes I saved to my phone (complete with reference images and gps notes, because I am a professional thankyouverymuch). It was an asset, absolutely the right move. They maps are so good I’m thinking about selling them lol! But as always, my favourite images came from places we just stumbled across along the way.
My philosophy is, apparently, the same for all shoots; have a plan, but leave room for magic.
How to get wardrobe variety in your shoot without carrying lots of bags around
A shoot on the go can make wardrobe changes difficult, especially if we’re in really busy areas. If you want to do several looks, it’s best to have a friend or assistant come along. They can hold bags, fetch snacks, and do behind the scenes content (which we all so desperately need anyway lol!). There’s really no substitute for this, it’s super helpful.
If we don’t have a third person, we have to be smarter about our strategy. In those cases, I bring the bare minimum of equipment, because I’ll be carrying everything for both of us. Rather than full outfit changes, create variety through layers and accessories. Start with an easy base, something like a neutral dress and cute but comfortable shoes. Then consider things like a jumper, a jacket, sunglasses, hats, a change of shoes, etc. Little additions and subtractions paired with a new location, and you’ve got a completely different look.
Natasha did a vibrant pink dress and cute matching sneakers. For variety, she brought a trench coat, heels, and we added oversized sunglasses. You’ll see how these led to distinct vibes that don’t feel like they were shot on the same day, let along 10 minutes after each other.
If you’re thinking about doing something similar, do not ignore the advice on comfortable shoes. It’s a lot of walking, even with a solid plan. You don’t see your feet in most images anyway, and it’s easier to spend two minutes swapping out shoes than to hobble around with fresh blisters.
Shooting in central London: pros, cons, and one big cheat cons
Shooting in super central spots like Westminster can be tricky and stressful. It’s always swarmed with crowds. The upside is you have anonymity (you’re just one of hundreds of tourists taking photos, no one cares about you AT ALL), and you get the location as a killer backdrop, but everything else is a downside if you ask me – noise, heat, people bumping into you, lines, trying to not get pick-pocketed, no control over the lighting, etc. Natasha and I saw one of the tour buses bump into one of the tuc-tuc things, and then the tuc-tuc guy got out and was physically putting himself in front of the bus, shouting and banging on the windshield trying to get the driver to stop. It was a whole thing, and after all that he didn’t even stop, which is a jerk move but I’m just glad the guy didn’t get run over. Anyway, the point is, be mentally prepared for the chaos. Get in, get out.
My one big hack is….Photoshop. It’s impossible to shoot around the tourists. We can’t control the weather, and sometimes we can’t even shoot at the optimal time for lighting. I prefer to get it right in camera, but it’s often impossible here. A little post-production magic saves the day.
Ready to book your own spring London lifestyle shoot?
Let’s do it! If you’re dreaming of a spring London lifestyle photo shoot of your own, whether it’s for personal branding, a commercial modeling portfolio update, of just because you can, I’d love to help.
I shoot in London regularly and have a few favourite locations that work beautifully on camera (no need to fight the tourists if crowds stress you out). You can get in touch here to get the ball rollling, or just say hi and ask a few questions.
Rebel & Romance sessions are open to everyone, even if you’ve never done anything like this before, and even if you want to keep all your clothes on. If you’d like some inspo straight away, you’re welcome to look through our Pinterest board for this shoot and start making your own.
Cassie, who I first photographed over a decade ago (wild!), was kind enough to join me for some artistic nude photography recently. We did a few lingerie looks too, and it was just such a treat to see her again.
This is the first proper test shoot I’ve done in AGES, and it reminded me why I never should have stopped. To be honest, test shoots never feel like work at all to me. In fact they are usually so fun that I find them hard to justify. But creatively, I think it’s important to make space in your shooting schedule for things like this, partially so you don’t burn yourself into the ground. There are other practical reasons too though. It’s much more feasible to try new techniques and take your time nailing an idea if you don’t have the pressure of a client. I really love my clients, but I do sometimes feel like I have their heart, or more precisely, their self esteem and body image, in my hands during a shoot. It’s an honour and something I take really seriously, but it keeps me from taking too many risks. I want to be sure that I can deliver an absolutely smashing gallery of final images, so I don’t want to waste much shoot time on an idea that I’m not confident will work.
And of course for boudoir photographers, a test shoot is a chance to create work that can actually be shown publicly, which is always helpful when you have an online presence you’re supposed to be maintaining. I 100% support my clients’ right to total privacy, and test shoots ensure that I can keeps things fresh while you keep things private:)
I’m woefully out of practice with blogging, and so much has changed while I’ve been away. These images are stuck at this sizes for now which might be kind of hard to see on a phone. You’re welcome to look at the new featured sessions section of my website if it’s annoying. I’d quite like them to all be the size of a refrigerator, but that obviously won’t work and this is going to have to do for now.
Cassie is a lingerie connoisseur, so we were spoilt for choice. I love the way she prioritises ethical brands and designers, and I hope some of these links might come in handy if you’d like to do the same. Our first look was this beautiful white set from Seelanii Lingerie, paired with chandelier earrings from Mango.
There was a huge, semi-translucent, subtly striped background that was hanging in the upper level of the studio. I loved the look of it immediately, but then I realised there was a skylight positioned is exactly where I wanted it too. Some rare London sun meant I honestly didn’t have to add a thing – the natural light was perfect and these practically shot themselves. It was really hot up there, but they also had one of those industrial strength fans which we were really grateful for. Fans always add so much drama anyway, I would have wanted it on no matter the weather.
Our next look was this red number (bra by Freolic Lingerie, tap pants by Foxtrot Molly). We used this in another area of the studio with some canvas/burlap materials and some wood pieces that were already half set up. I think the lingerie is beautiful, but I felt like the colour didn’t really match the vibe we were going for (and I was preoccupied by all the potential in the lower floor of the studio), so we didn’t spend too long on this.
This location felt like the perfect place for art nudes – muted colour palette, natural, earthy feel. The thing is, artistic nudes are a bit complicated to use. They can’t be shared on social media, and it’s difficult to even show them here on my website without risking angering the SEO gods or getting dropped by your payment processor (although they also run credit cards for all of OnlyFans sooooo…….!?) . Anyway, when Cassie took this sheer robe/cape piece from Emiah Couture I thought it would be the perfect compromise.
I’ve tried to censor these is the least annoying way possible. For any photographers out there who have to do the same, this is a combo of motion blur on a selection in a new layer, and a great Photoshop mixer brush called “Kyle’s Real Oils – round flex wet.” I don’t remember ever downloading a brush like this, so I think it might be a default option native to Photoshop?
It took a lot of trying to get these. If you’re contemplating an art nude set for your own shoot, please just know this is totally normal! You can’t really hold poses like this, so you have to swing into them. Which is, you know, a bit weird if you’re new to doing photo shoots and also not clothed lol?! When I’m looking through later, I expect to see a lot of weird, awkward looking poses, faces that show the struggle, and some where I’ve missed the moment. It’s all part of the process. If you lean into it though, there will be a handful of winners that make it look like the whole thing was easy as pie. If that all sounds a bit daunting though, we can do art nudes lying down in bed or lounging in a tub and it’s much easier!
It’s all in the tip toes!
These, for example, are much less physically demanding!
And a few in black and white…
Our last look was this delicate pink ensemble from Angela Friedman and Twilight Siren Corsetry. Is this not just absolute blush perfection? For years I’ve been saying that unfinished plaster is a fantastic backdrop and I feel vindicated.
Cassie, what can I say? Thank you again, it’s an honour to photograph you. See you again sooner I hope, but we must shoot again in 10 years time if nothing else!
If you’re reading this and would like to arrange your own shoot (artistic nudes or otherwise!) please don’t be shy. I’d love to hear from you and chat about any ideas you might have, answer any questions, convince you that you actually ARE hot enough and brave enough to do this, etc. 🙂 Please get in touch any time.
I’ve photographed Lucy before, but she’s expecting a little boy soon so this time was a real treat!
I feel like I’m way better at bump boudoir sessions now that I’ve been pregnant myself lol! I appreciate them more too.
When I was 7/8 months pregnant, I felt like I couldn’t walk across a room without needing to sit down, and my ankles were the size of my calves by about 11AM, so I really do get the struggle now. So, I’ve introduced some new improvements for bump sessions. First, I work quicker, so you’re standing and posing for less time. We have snacks and take snack breaks. We try to do as many comfortable looks as possible, minimise the number of times you have to move from standing to sitting, and I won’t let you stand in heels for more than 10 minutes. If you’d like to shoot early morning to minimise your cankle situation, fine by me:)
Lucy is actually wearing normal lingerie here! A good idea in case you have a few bits you can still squeeze into. Sexy pregnancy lingerie is pretty hard to find lol!
A simple slip like this is a really good option too. In general, anything really stretchy will work.
This is a great variation on the “Sunday Morning” slouchy jumper feel. Wardrobe options like this can also work for a few shots you can send to family if you want to.
A simple H&M maternity dress. Anything with a waist tie like this does a great job of showing off a bump, while also skimming over your (let’s face it, probably way bigger than normal) hips and bum.
Wishing you and baby all the best Lucy, you’ll be a fabulous mama.
Today’s blog: Charlotte’s did a bridal boudoir session to boost her own confidence pre-wedding, and to create the most incredible groom gift for her future husband. Here’s her album layout in all it’s glory.
Katie used a boudoir shoot to motivate herself at the gym following the birth of her daughter, who I think was about a year old when we shot these. A looming boudoir photoshoot sounds like a great strategy to keep you showing your face at the gym, and it clearly worked really well for her because she looks like a million bucks. I’m always curious what people are up to, so I asked about her workout secrets. She said her routine was mainly hot yoga. Now, I’ve never done hot yoga myself because let’s be honest, I wash my hair as little as possible, and a room that sweaty makes me think I’d definitely have to wash my hair after. I’m sort of thinking about it now though…
This shoot was part of my Nov. 2016 trip to New Orleans. If you’ve missed earlier posts, the reason I’m blogging these so late is a long, boring story that can be boiled down to two words: technical difficulties. Better late than never right? I’m pretending to hear you say yes.
You know I’m all about the girls right? You do not need anyone to do a boudoir shoot for, because you ought to do it foryourowndamnself. But, if you do have a fantastic partner who treats you right and is about to put a ring on it, you’re not going to find a better wedding gift than this. It’s guaranteed to surprise and delight;) If you’re marrying a girl, I’m sure she’d be thrilled to receive something like this too.
This is part two of E’s boudoir photo shoot, and it’s all things bridal. We paired white and ivory lingerie with a veil, E’s wedding shoes, and lots of delicious natural light. Wardrobe wise, I always recommend adding some of these extra bits in, even if you’re not going to wear a veil on the day or are planning to wear flats under your dress. It really easy to pull a few wedding accessories together (I can help), and it gives the shoot a little something special. For makeup we often go with the classic nude lip and soft smokey eye, but if you’re a red lip girl we’ve got you there too.
If you missed part one, it’s worth a look because it’s the total opposite – dark and moody, and we shot it by candlelight for those extra sexy vibes (LOL). Check that out here: E’s moody plus size boudoir photo shoot part one.
I’m thrilled to share today’s post with you, because this plus size babe knocked her boudoir shoot OUT OF THE PARK. Maybe out of the next park too. It went really well, that’s all I’m saying.
E did this partially as a gift to herself, and partially as a groom gift for her soon to be Mr. That’s a brilliant combo if you ask me – something for everyone;)
If you’re plus size or curvy yourself, I hope these images inspire you. It can be scary to think about doing something like this, but I promise there’s a way to photograph every age, shape, and size beautifully. If you’ve had a bunch of crappy photos in the past, or have successfully avoided ever being photographed professionally, I know you might not really believe me yet. That’s fine – drop me an email and we can chat about it. I’ve photographed lots of women who felt the same way you do, and I’d be honoured to prove that mean little voice in your head wrong;)
I’m going to split this shoot into two parts, we’ll look at the moodier, darker section now, and the bridal boudoir section later.
Meet Miranda, a brilliant photographer, mother, wife, business owner, and more. How this woman does sooo many things, all so well, I’ll never know.
We got together for a quick photo shoot while we were both in New Orleans for the Association of International Boudoir Photographers retreat. The day was crazy with lots of shoots and multiple photographers all in one space, so I’m pleased it doesn’t show too much in the final images lol!
We did a couple quick outfits, I think the white lace bodysuit was my personal favourite, but see what you think:)
Nicole and I got together a while back to shoot a Valentine’s Day video (watch the Be Your Own Valentine Boudoir Video), and we did a couple of stills that day too.
The first lingerie set is a black and pink combo from the Doutzen Collection by brand Hunkemoller, which is really lovely. The bra has such pretty back details and it’s quite a flattering cut. I added a “3d glasses” effect on these images images, which I think turned out pretty fun and a bit fashion-y.
The second lingerie set is a red lace number from Coco de Mer, although I purchased it at a steep discount on ASOS. It’s got a ribbon halter top close that feels special, and it looked incredible on Nicole. You have to be really careful with this sort of style though, because it can be really unflattering unless it’s mainly functioning as decoration for your already perfect breasts. If you have a great boob job I’d recommend it, otherwise I’d probably go for something else. Nicole also wore my vintage fur coat for this set.
We did a few quick headshots too – never hurts to have an updated one.
