Fine Art Nude Photography: Olivia’s Plus Size Boudoir Photo Shoot in London
I’m so excited to share these with you girls.
Below is my most recent shoot with the fantastically curvy and evocative Olivia, and makeup artist/genius Debbie Purkiss. The three of us have been dying to shoot together again, since our first plus size boudoir photo shoot turned out so well. If you missed that first shoot, you really ought to go have a look at it. It’s one of my all time favourites, a magical combination of beauty, power, gorgeous location, and everything clicking into place at precisely the right moment. How “annoyingly arty” do I sound right now? Just go look and I’ll shut up about it.
Anyhow, the three of us are busy and have a million things going on, so we’ve been struggling to plan a second shoot. Then one random Tuesday Olivia text (texted? is there an official past tense for the verb text yet?) about a potential publication opportunity with a fast approaching deadline. It was just the push we needed, and we managed to get a shoot date, location, and theme set up by the following week.
These images may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love the way the way they turned out. I’ve been wanting to challenge myself with fine art nude photography for a while. I’m pretty picky – I don’t like nudity just for nudity’s sake. It’s got to be tasteful and intentional without being too in-your-face, which can be a tricky balance to strike. Because Olivia is a plus size model, that raised the stakes even more.
It’s not my wish to offend anyone in the industry or to be in anyway negative about what real bodies look like, but I just don’t see a lot of photography of plus size women that I consider flattering. It seems increasingly popular to photograph curvy women eating giant bowls of pasta (what, exactly, are these people trying to say? That eating carbs is all a plus size woman is good for? or that having hips means you’re an unhealthy glutton? or are they attempting to make us believe this was an original idea that hasn’t already been done a million times?).
I’m also not a fan of images of plus size women, or any women frankly, that emphasise their RAW! REAL! CELLULITE! What is that about? Does anyone actually want to be photographed that way? I don’t find it flattering, I find it blatantly objectifying.
I’m in two minds about these images being featured in the latest issue of VolUp2 Magazine. I love the images we created, and I’m proud that we’re waving the banner high for women of all sizes to see themselves as beautiful and worthy. I love that we managed to combine fine art nude photography and a plus size boudoir photo shoot into one collection of images, and that we were all thrilled with the results. That said, it’s obvious that the magazine and I have very different ideas of how a woman’s beauty is best portrayed and celebrated. We’re just not a good match, VolUp2 and I. Oh well, live and learn I guess.
Anyway, enough talk. Here’s Olivia…nekkid.
A classic fine art nude photography pose.
There are loads more from this shoot. I’m hoping we can get a few of those published too, so we’ll be keeping them under wraps for a while.
Hopefully, more coming soon:) Thanks to Olivia and Debbie for being amazing, as usual.
xx
Stormy
Are you considering your own Fine Art Nude Photography or Plus Size Boudoir Photo Shoot?
If so, I’d love to chat with you about a plus size boudoir photo shoot with me works. There is no need to step all the way into fine art nude photography if you’re not comfortable with the idea, lingerie or clothed shoots are beautiful too. Please feel free to drop me a line at stormy@rebelandromance.com for my latest session info, or give me a ring and we can go through all the details and talk about how you would like to be portrayed during your fine art nude photography session or plus size boudoir photo shoot.
London Boudoir Photography: Georgia’s Boudoir Photo Shoot in Chelsea Harbour
I’m so pleased to be sharing Miss Georgia’s Boudoir Photo Shoot with you all today. Georgia is such a fun, sweet person, and we had a great time on her shoot. Our goal was to create a beautiful album as a surprise gift for her boyfriend’s birthday (such lucky, lucky men in London this summer!), and I’m happy to say it went down well:)
We held this session at a fantastic penthouse in Chelsea Harbour. I’d never actually been to Chelsea Harbour before planning for this London Boudoir Photography Session, which is probably good, because now I obviously know that I need to live there. And buy a boat. You know, for my allocated boat parking spot (is that a thing?) in the harbour. It’s such a beautiful part of the city, and a real treat to work there for the day.
Isn’t Georgia just the prettiest thing ever?
I’ve been wanting to use a sequin covered dress in a shoot for a while now, so when I found this number in Georgia’s closet I immediately suggested we use it.
Gold and sun and sparkles and smoky eyes. Heaven.
Love this sort of dress as a wardrobe option for London Boudoir Photography Sessions – it’s glam and does a great job showing off legs, but is still conservative enough to use for outdoor locations if there are a few passersby. Win/win.
For our second look, we stepped inside for a classic “white sheet” set. This is such a simple setup but it always works beautifully.
Miss G is wearing a simple white lingerie set here. Bottoms with this kind of “perfect fit” stretchy wide band are a really great choice for boudoir because they won’t dig into your body and the sizing is really forgiving. If you’re shopping online, this is an easy, almost-always-fits option and will cut down on the return pile.
I do not care what anyone says, there is NOTHING quite like gorgeous natural light for flattering women. Georgia’s black set on the left is an Agent Provocateur classic.
Then I was like, “Hey Georgia, can you climb into the curtains?”
Luckily she agreed without looking at me like I’d lost my mind, and we even had an extra guest turn up to help:)
Yummy backlight, and Miss G is WORKING IT.
In case you need another reason to spend out on that perfect LBD, you can also use it for your London Boudoir Photography session. Just being helpful:)
One of my favourite images from the day. Love this.
One last set in that tried and true classic – the men’s dress shirt. We chose a blue and white stripe for a fun, flirty look.
Georgia, you’re such a beautiful person, thanks for an amazing shoot. Hope work isn’t too manic, really looking forward to photographing you and your Mr. soon:)
xx
Stormy
Are you considering booking your own London Boudoir Photography Session?
You won’t regret it. Every session includes a pre-shoot consultation with me to sketch out a plan of action, talk about all the details, and help you prepare and know what to expect. On the day of the shoot, you’ll have professional makeup and hair, a tailored location, and expert posing and coaching help the whole way through. Lots of clients say it’s just like hanging out with girlfriends (albeit in some very sexy clothes), and we do our best to make everything relaxed and fun. It’s not half as scary as you’re imagining it to be, and at least twice as empowering as you’re hoping. I’d love to chat with you about how everything works, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can reach me (Stormy) at stormy@rebelandromance.com or give me a ring at 07799 390468. Alternatively, you can get all the basic details on what a London Boudoir Photography session with me includes on the Session Info page.
London Boudoir Photography: Miss M’s Boudoir Photo Shoot
As you know, last week’s Dream Shoot was fantastic. I’m powering through editing and retouching all the gorgeous girls I photographed that day, but I’m not quite ready to show you the results yet. In the meantime, I though I’d treat you to an oldie but goodie from the London Boudoir Photography session vault…
This is Miss M, who was impossible. I mean, every image turned out terrible. She’s really ugly, has horrible style, and don’t even get me started on how poorly behaved she is. I pretty much hated working with her and her stupid short legs (oh sarcasm, my old friend).
I kid. The truth is that I LOVE everything about Miss M, and her two best gal pals who came along for moral support too. Miss M is in a verrrrry long distance, long term relationship. In an effort to keep her man from having a meltdown in her absence, she dropped me a hesitant email asking about how this whole boudoir thing works. We exchanged a few emails, and soon realised we were a perfect client-photographer fit. We immediately started making plans, which included a sneaky little anniversary surprise album to send to her Mr. back home.
We had tons of fun, plenty of laughs, and lots of push-yourself-right-out-of-that-comfort-zone moments during Miss M’s London Boudoir Photography session. Miss M comes from a small rural town. A place where people look at you funny if you wear a skirt. A place where going to a nice restaurant is the equivalent of chicken at Nando’s. A place where I’d bet my last coin that boudoir photography is not the “done thing.” These sort of nerves are totally understandable, and familiar to me personally, but I’m happy to report that Miss M and her Mr. both thought it was totally worth it:) In fact, he was even given permission to open the album we created before their anniversary – such as lucky boy.
Without further delay, a few of my favourites from Miss M’s London Boudoir Photography Session:
OH hi, my name is Miss M and I have a PERFECT FACE. ugh.
I also have an AMAZING body. double ugh. Miss M, if you weren’t such a genuine, funny, adorably loveable person and scared stiff about doing this, I would have thrown you out in disgust.
This set outside was beautiful, I think the canopy makes these look really soft and feminine without being too girly and sickly. I love a happy coloured lingerie set on a London Boudoir Photography Session too.
Aww, happy face Miss M.
Shabam! I’m a sucker for images like this. Look at those eyes!
Miss M has such great hair, don’t you think? Oh to be blonde…
Oh yeah. This happened too. So edgy and cool, just like a good fashionista should be:)
My love affair with the sun and the shadows it creates will never end. Also, I am willing to trade my pinkie toes for legs like that. Just show me where to sign.
Shall we talk about this bodysuit too? It’s so interesting and detailed.
How to be feminine and evocative without showing lots of skin: pencil skirt, push up bra, secretary sweater, heels. Lose a few buttons. Done.
I feel like this outfit really sums up all the things I love, and demonstrates what makes Rebel & Romance London Boudoir Photography and my amazing clients different. You know, we like fashion – real fashion. We don’t like ho-bags. We want to look impossibly beautiful, not like strippers, not like we’re trying too hard. We’ll take V Mag, not page 3, and we’ll do it with or without your approval, thankyouverymuch.
La la la London
Miss M, you were such a joy to photograph. Thanks for putting up with the ONE DAY of sweltering heat we got last year, and for giving Rebel & Romance London Boudoir Photography a go. I’m so thrilled to know you, and can’t wait to meet your main squeeze soon:)
xx
Stormy
Ready to start planning your very own London Boudoir Photography Session with me?
I’d love to chat with you about all the details of how a London Boudoir Photography session with me works, including what to expect, how to prepare, and what sort of fabulousness we can create for you. I do this job because I love it, and you’re going to love the experience of being photographed by me, even if the idea seems oh-so-scandalous and daring to you now;) Please feel free to get in touch, you can reach me (Stormy) at 07799 390468, or just drop me an email here. Every client gets lots of consultation and planning, so best to get started arranging your London Boudoir Photography session now:)
London Boudoir Photography: Lorraine’s Boudoir Photo Shoot. Part Two.
About a hundred years ago, the lovely Mrs. L and I got together for her very first London Boudoir Photography Session. It’s been such a long time in the works, but I’m happy to share a few of my favourite images from her session with you today.
And my oh my, Lorraine turned up with some of the most delicious lingerie and jewelry I’ve seen in a long time. It was sparkly diamonds here, feathered details there, and spiky heels all around.
A little back story: Lorraine and her Mr. first got serious about battling the bulge together while planning their wedding, and they have been working with a personal trainer ever since. I’m well impressed with their dedication. Husbands and wives have a way of either making each other better (NO CAKE FOR YOU!) or dragging each other into the depths of junk food despair (chicken and chips? mmmm). Getting fit and healthy together? A lovely plan.
This photo shoot was a surprise for Mr.s L’s husband, but it was also a well deserved reward for hard work she’s put in lately. I think anyone who knows a personal trainer knows…they can be very hard work indeed.
Without further ado, Mrs. Lorraine’s London Boudoir Photography Session.
We started off with this floral, feminine set. I love the layered textures, and it’s often nice to have a soft look to open your London Boudoir Photography album. It gives us a chance to work into the more daring numbers:)
Mrs. L is wearing a lovely white lace corset-like lingerie set here. If you’re a soon-to-be bride, this would be an excellent option. It’s delicate and bridal, without being too froofy.
OH the eyes. So pretty!
I love Lorraine in this light. Such a killer pose too. I’m not 100% certain, but I’m pretty sure she’s wearing my peep toe Alexander McQueen heels in this image. You’re welcome to borrow them for your own session if you wish, they are verrrrry fun. No picnic to walk in mind you, but who needs to walk anyway?
Hot much? I squealed (audibly) when I caught that power pose on the right.
A diamond spider. I didn’t even know I was missing this from my life, but now I need one. Neeeed one.
I was a little nervous when Mrs. L pulled out these feather earrings. I really like them, but big accessories have a way of taking over a photograph. We gave it a go anyway, and I’m so glad we did. Silly me, thinking anything could take away from that sultry glare.
Feather earrings, spider bracelet, leather lingerie, and leopard stilettos. It sounds like waaaaay too much, but I think the end result works just great. It’s our ode to animals for the day.
Love this image. How great does her skin look?
I had to sneak this one in too. Sometimes clients say this to me, “I have a tattoo…is that okay?” and I am flabbergasted. Of course it’s okay, don’t be ridiculous.
You just can’t go wrong with a proper lace up corset. I have literally never seen a body type it didn’t work for.
Lorraine, it was so fun working with you. Hope you and your Mr. and your two fur children have a great summer, and I’m looking forward to round two!
xx
Stormy
Ready to start planning your very own London Boudoir Photography Session with me?
I’d love to chat with you about all the details of how a London Boudoir Photography session with me works, including what to expect, how to prepare, and what sort of fabulousness we can create for you. I do this job because I love it, and we always have a great time. Please feel free to get in touch, you can reach me (Stormy) at 07799 390468, or just drop me an email here. A word to the wise…if you’re a soon-to-be Bride and hoping to use the images we create together as a special gift for your Groom, please call me ASAP! Spring sessions are filling up, but it’s still not too late if we get started on your London Boudoir Photography session soon:)
