Miss. N traveled a few hours from her home city to meet me for a shoot in Chicago. We really lucked out finding the most incredible venue, a salvage yard/store that also hires space out for weddings and the odd photo shoot. It was a dream of a space, floor after floor of old furniture and odd sets and big windows. If I lived in Chicago, I’d shoot here allthetime, so well done to Miss N for turning up such a gem of a location.
We started simply, with a figure-hugging long black dress. Doesn’t N look fab? Such a gorgeous canvas, with beautiful makeup by Chicago-based makeup artist Debbie, hair by yours truly.
Warehouses throw around the most interesting light.
We found this distressed old mirror and I loved beat up it was – perfect for a mysterious portrait.
Miss N was after an editorial, fashion-inspired vibe, so we tried to create images with a feeling of story and interest over lots of bodyscapes and detail shots.
I love the way the lights are reflected behind her in these.
I’m still a little bit in love with this pose. I’ve been trying it on everyone, everywhere, and it’s nearly universally flattering. Revealing this type of image to clients is one of my favourite things too – everyone is blown away by how great they look:)
Legs for days.
Please universe, send more of this sunshine to London. The irony that my name is Stormy, yet I cannot control the weather, is not lost on me.
The sexy shadows. N is wearing a simple bodysuit with a plunging v neck and black stilettos.
This art deco wall thing looked pretty weird in real life, but I saw potential. Miss N. was like, “up there? really?” but I persisted. Sometimes you just knoooow.
swoon
If you’re a fan of this outfit, you can pick up something similar for cheap, and it can be worn again later – pair it with jeans and a good jacket and you’ve got a ready to go date night outfit.
If standard sizes suit you, you’ll be spoilt for choice at ASOS. For bigger busted and/or curvy clients, options are (as is typical) a little more limited and ugly. If you need or want support, Figleaves has a few decent choices. If you’re not worried about built in support or overall longevity, Boohoo has a great selection of plus size bodysuit options with lots of cuts and fabrics.
Miss N loved the feel of a shoot I did with Jada in NYC, so she brought along this cozy cotton, long sleeve T and plain, high waisted knickers to replicate the look.
I love how effortless cotton feels. It’s a great option if you’re feeling a little nervous about showing lots of skin, or if you would like a non-obvious way to cover a midsection.
And then we found this magical angled mirror, which I am a little bit in love with. What’s better than one gorgeous woman owning her curves? Why 3 of course!
Miss N is wearing high waisted knickers here, and I think it give the images a little bit of that showgirl-gets-ready-backstage feel. We put her hair up in a super mess bun too.
We finished the day with another bodysuit, this one much more strappy and daring. People were getting married here the next day too….bwah ha ha ha;)
Miss N, thank you for a showstopper of a shoot, you brought the house down. Until next time!
A little tattooed treat today – Mrs. A’s destination shoot in middle-of-nowhere Idaho:)
Mrs. A and I had originally chatted about a shoot the last time I was in America, but logistically we just weren’t able to make it work. Needless to say I was delighted when we were able to find a date and make it happen this go around. It’s such an honour working with clients who have been quietly stalking the blog for years, or putting off their shoot until we can find a way to be in the same part of the world at the same time. I’m so humbled by your support, I know it’s not an investment made lightly and that booking a boudoir shoot can be a very emotional, confronting things to contemplate. All I can say is thank you, I hear you, and I’ll do my absolute best to make it the best photographic experience you’ve ever had.
There are a hundred good reasons to do a boudoir shoot, but I think the best ones revolve around doing this for yourself. Mrs. A is a great example example. Mainly, this was about how she wants to feel – confident, beautiful, maybe still trying to prove to herself that feeling and looking sexy after having babies is a real thing. But, the Mr.’s birthday provided a very convenient excuse, and that’s win/win if you ask me.
Oh HELLO
We started in the shadows…
If you’re thinking wall art, something like this is super popular. It’s killer on acrylic – I’ll show you when you come for your shoot, and I’ll get something up on the blog eventually too.
It feels like ages since I’ve photographed someone with loads of tattoos. It’s so fun – I generally prefer lots of tattoos in colour, but these black and white frames work well too.
Perfectly positioned. I love Mrs. A’s pin-up meets alternative vibe.
The standing back arch. If you’re not sore the next day, you’re not doing it right.
With a few killer shots in the bag, we lightened up a little and had some fun:) A flowerly kimono here for a spring/summer feel.
Mrs. A did her own makeup and had her hair done pre-shoot by my friend and hairdresser extraordinaire Tia. Tia is a bit jet-setter these days, but when not on a plane you can find her at her Idaho Falls salon or on Instagram at @thahairbiz
Moody cuz we can!
With perfectly pin-curled hair, there was no way I was missing the chance for some beautiful vintage styling.
A is wearing a slip passed down through generations of the women in her family. GENUINE vintage people.
Ahhhhh yes. Let’s put her on the side of a plane already.
I was like, “Your bum is amazing.” And A was like, “what? oh….um, thanks but…[nervous, deprecating laughter].” And I was like, “OMG shut your face, I’ll prove it to you.” And then took this picture and showed it to her. And she lived happily every after, sure in the knowledge that she had the best bum in all the land. The end.
This purple lingerie set is from Victoria’s Secret. The colour matches her hair perfectly, so a great choice. If VS is not your style, we’ve also been having lots of luck with Boux Avenue sets.
Ohhhhh we so sneaky.
Seriously though, it’s fun. You’re going to love it.
Mrs. A, you were fantastic and strong and powerful and beautiful, and I hope these images help you feel that way every time you look at them. Thanks again for your help sourcing locations and being so very very brave.
I’ll let Olivia, my new favourite wedding planner, tell you about her experience in her own words. A few screen shots below, and a full writeup (plus some fun wedding mood boards, ideas, and advice) is available on her blog, Nulyweds.
Olivia is lovely, I thoroughly enjoyed working with her. I feel certain that if I hired her for a wedding everything would go smoothly and look more put together than I could possibly manage on my own. If you’re in the market for an organised, reliable wedding planner who loves bright colours and knows how to create a magazine-worthy tablescape, I’d check her out:)
xx
Stormy
“There I was. My big nose, my flat chest, my ski-like feet – all together, all beautiful. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It has been a week since I received the photos and I still haven’t come down from that inner sense of confidence. Every woman deserves to feel this way…”
It’s been such a manic spring that I’m just now getting around to blogging shoots from my recent trip to America, but let’s kick things off properly anyway. Today, a fab little lingerie test with Christabel and makeup artist Victoria in Brooklyn, NYC.
Some clients can feel like they need to buy a bunch of fancy things before their shoot, but there’s really no need. This slouchy jumper is what Christabel arrived in. Vic and I both loved it for a casual, Sunday morning feel and decided to use it for her first look.
Pair with simple bottoms for a super easy, no-cost wardrobe option. #mycalvins
This chair is my new favourite thing.
The light was so lovely here. For my photographer friends, this was shot with natural light and a silver reflector.
A moody black and white version.
For our next look, we added a smokier eye and slightly more polished hair.
A white lingerie set like this is great for a bridal look, and a sheer robe or wrap makes the whole thing more interesting.
Clients often ask whether they should bring nude or white stockings to go with their bridal look. I think nude tones look a little better, but it’s really down to personal preference.
If you’re not sure what YOU like, I’d recommend spending some time on Pinterest. A search for “bridal lingerie” will turn up lots of images of both.
Then…this happened
How great is this look? It seems complicated, but it’s just strappy black separates with a strappy body harness thingamajig layered over the top. ASOS has a few of these right now and they will make you look 100% braver.
My favourite image of the shoot. Because THATFACE.
Today on the blog, a handful of Abby’s favourites from her boudoir shoot:
For our first outfit, we did a bridal inspired look. Something like this is perfect if you’re surprising your groom with a boudoir album. If you want to up the bridal factor you can add in a veil, wedding shoes, tiara, etc.
Beautiful makeup from @debbiepmakeup and hair by @gemdtyler. It goes without saying that Abby’s figure is ridiculous.
Love the tiny polka dots on this lingerie.
This fire was so toasty – we had to shoot very quickly for fear of Abby roasting.
A low lit moody feel for these doors. There are some other frames from this set that I really love, I’ll try to share those soon.
Finally, a duo of this image. I’ve been experimenting with hard, super directional light like this. It’s tricky to get right, but it’s killer when you nail it.
Her boudoir shoot took place in that stunning North London venue I was posting about a little while back. It’s such a lovely and unique space – full of gorgeous furniture and lush natural light – so it’s always a treat to work there.
This blue lingerie set is lovely, it really suits a feminine backdrop like this one and coordinated well with the style of the room. If you’re a fan you can get your own at Boux Avenue. I particularly like these softer colours paired with nude heels. Black always feels too heavy in the end.
Beautiful hair and makeup courtesy of Gemma and Debbie. We went super smoky which I wouldn’t recommend for everyone, but I think Cat pulls it off:)
A little edge to this one. Let’s face it, this bed is amazing but a tufted powder pink headboard isn’t for everyone.
Cat was our last shoot of the day. We lost the sun pretty quickly, so it was the perfect opportunity to create a moody, darker atmosphere using my fancy new lights (ProFoto B1 Location Kit for the photographers out there). Maybe I’m just lazy, but not having to worry about cables and cords has been revolutionary.
Mixing flash and ambient here, because we all know I love a chandelier;)
Something a little softer for our last look. I am in loooooooooooooove with this wall beading.
This red lace lingerie is from Ann Summers. I know they have a dodgy reputation, but you really can find some lovely, affordable pieces in there. Just be careful, it’s hit or miss. The above black and white and feather set is also from Ann Summers.
How gorg is Cat’s face here? Stunner.
A moody black and white to finish the day. Thanks for a great shoot ladies:)
She’s celebrating a big birthday this year, and her boudoir session was a treat to herself.
We started the day with this strappy black bodysuit, which I loved. I’ve never seen one with that great plunging drape at the front.
I wish I could remember where she said she found it. If you want something similar for your own shoot let me know and I’ll ask.
You certainly don’t have to have a fancy bed for a boudoir session, but I do love this one:)
So pretty.
The leg show is in town.
C looks so calm and serene here – see, nothing scary at all!
Heavenly.
If you’re a Mum like C, you might want to take note of her wardrobe. She’s not a huge fan of her stomach, and she did a brilliant job selecting wardrobe that covers the areas that she’s not so keen on.
I think boudoir wardrobe (and boudoir posing in general) is all about playing to your strengths. My motto is this: let’s highlight your best bits and downplay anything you’re not fond of. Unless you think your legs are crap but the are, in fact, freakingamazing. In that case, I’ll be documenting just how wrong you’ve been;)
le doors
You can’t go wrong with an all black look like this. Get the stockings too, it really pulls the outfit together.
A messy updo, Louboutins, and a big smile. Win win win.
Hazy afternoon sun. If only it had been as warm outside as this image suggests.
Another bodysuit, this one with sequins!
Just lovely.
A tried and true classic…
…and this stunner to finish off the day.
C, it was SO lovely to finally do this! Here’s to a happy, healthy, beautiful next decade:)
Today on the blog, a few of my favourite stills created during Scarlet’s boudoir video session.
Honestly, this face?!
We tried to have some fun with expressions on this shoot,
and Scarlet totally nailed it. This was only her 2nd photo shoot (ever), but you’d never know it.
Sarah did such a lovely job on Scarlet’s makeup. Individual lashes take ages but they do look incredible.
I love this bodysuit too – lots of black on black detail.
ahhhh
I just loved this shoot!
I’m still working on Scarlet’s video. We shot two videos actually, because – why not? Also, stills from our proper boudoir shoot are coming soon too. Stay tuned!
I know it’s not the most obvious choice, but I’m a big fan of shape wear pieces in lieu of lingerie. It does such a great job of showing off your shape while also providing lots of coverage and support. Jade is wearing simple black knickers (shape wear, high waisted) and a long sleeve cottony-lycra black top. I think the understated effect is really nice because it’s a blank canvas for her killer shape and gorgeous face.
That said, there are lots of shape wear options with more going on too – everything from jewel tone colours to silky fabrics and daring cuts. Another thing to keep in mind – if you struggle to find things in your bra size, shape wear usually has really inclusive sizing:) Big boobs welcome basically;)
For our next option, a strappy little number paired with a silk robe. This is a little more “bedroom” but still isn’t actually showing much skin. @sadafmakeupuk did such a beautiful job on Jade’s eyes here too.
This was (very) loosely inspired by France, if only because we shot it by the french doors and added pearls.
Jade loved these temple doors, and she wanted to try them as a backdrop for an edgy look. I love edgy, but it always makes me a little nervous – this sort of look can veer off into trashy in a heartbeat. However, I think we nailed it here. Love love these, and I’m actually contemplating faux leather trousers for myself now….maybe after some more squats lol!
Just a few more favourites from the day,
and we’ll finish with some black and whites because THOSE CURVES.
Jade, thank you doll, it was lovely working with you! Next time…kittens and cuteness:)
The sexy shadows. N is wearing a simple bodysuit with a plunging v neck and black stilettos. 
