Hot off the Press: Winning Image Award from The Association of International Boudoir Photographers
On a whim, I entered an image from one of my recent shoots into a competition. I don’t normally spend much time chasing awards and accolades, but the theme was “Yellow,” all the submissions were coming from boudoir photographers, and I had just happened to make friends with a pretty yellow python on a boudoir photo shoot a few weeks before. I didn’t expect much to come from it, but last weekend I woke up to a lovely surprise;
We won!
Mucho gracias to the lovely Katrina, who looks absolutely stunning, Gemma our makeup artist for the day, and of course to Sunny the yellow python for nailing a killer pose.
There are a few additional images from this set that I’ll be releasing in the weeks to come. If you hate snakes please accept my apologies for creeping you on a somewhat regular basis. The rest of you – stay tuned for more slithery goodness.
“We have lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer belongs to us – he belongs to the ages. …
We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again.
So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can make; to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice.
For now, let us pause and give thanks for the fact that Nelson Mandela lived – a man who took history in his hands, and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice. May God Bless his memory and keep him in peace.”
“There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Sneak Peek: Sarah, Yvette, and Katrina’s Boudoir Photo Shoot
It was such a pleasure working with these gorgeous women the other week. Such beautiful, strong girls for a boudoir photo shoot. In fact, we had such a successful boudoir photo shoot that I’m really struggling to narrow the images down to favourites. I know it’s going to take me ages, so I just couldn’t resist a little sneak peek.
I love these girls together. All so different, each with a unique look and personality, yet their differences compliment each other beautifully. They are also just really, really lovely people to work with.
Katrina (redhead in the middle) and I have been trying to get together for ages. She was one of the very first women I worked with when launching Rebel & Romance, and I just love her. We’ve been struggling to make a second shoot happen due to our crazy schedules, but we finally managed it. We picked a date, arranged the location, talked the lovely Gemma into helping us out with her mad makeup skills, and invited the lovely Sarah and Yvette along for the party too.
Everything was shaping up for a great boudoir photo shoot, and then Katrina shows up at the bottom of the stairs with THE MOST AMAZING WARDROBE EVER. It filled the green room in an explosion of tulle, gold, and sparkly things. Honestly, I think it was a spread that would have made even Carrie Bradshaw gasp. Then….she whips out her three snake babies. I KNOW. It’s all natural beauty and pretty as posies here, but don’t let that fool you. These girls have edge too.
Can’t wait to show you. Stay tuned.
xx
Stormy
Interested in booking your own Boudoir Photo Shoot?
I’d love to fill you in on all the details and plan something great with you. Dates for Valentine’s Day gifts go quickly, so just drop me an email (stormy@rebelandromance.com) or give me a ring (Stormy at 07799 390468) and we’ll get you booked in for your very own Boudoir Photo Shoot ahead of the rush!
London Boudoir Photographer: Sarah’s Boudoir Shoot
Today I’m honoured to share with you the beauty and depth that is Miss Sarah.
When Sarah and I first spoke, she told told me about all the usual stuff – her challenging but rewarding job, what she does with her spare time (travel, run, and bake delicious cakes, not necessarily in that order), and about her plans for the coming weekend. I suppose it’s part of my job as a London Boudoir Photographer to dig a bit, so I kept asking questions until we got to the heart of the matter, which is this: Sarah feels so lucky to have people who love her, care about her, and tell her daily how beautiful she is. But despite all this, Sarah does not often feel beautiful.
That, my friends, is a crying shame.
I wasn’t having it. Sarah is amazing – the sort of person I’d want around in a crisis, the sort of person you’d trust your kids with. The Mercy Ships Project is on her bucket list for crying out loud, if that doesn’t make you beautiful then I don’t know what does.
I know some of you may be thinking, “Okay yes, beauty comes from the inside and all that feel good babble, but some people are just not genetically blessed.” Wrong. Sarah is superficially beautiful as well, and I made it my mission as a London Boudoir Photographer to prove it to her.
We started with a Pinterest board, I recruited some top girls for hair and makeup, and we got down to business. We kept it a surprise from her Mr., so we got to be a little sneaky too.
Love these backlit, black and white images. They always end up feeling so classic and sophisticated.
Legs for days. Weeks even.
Happy Sarah. Awwww.
This fitted lace slip photographed so well. If you loathe your stomach, something like this is a great option to consider. I feel like one of the most important parts of my job as a London Boudoir Photographer is advising clients on what to expect and how to prepare for a boudoir shoot, so don’t worry if you feel unsure – we’ll go through everything!
GORGEOUS.
Oh hi, my name is Sarah, but you can just call me Emma Watson…
…also, I run the show around here.
A few pretty details.
Sarah, it was honestly such a pleasure to photograph you and to get to know you. Wishing you the very best for the future:) The very very very best, because it’s obvious to me that you deserve it.
xx
Stormy
P.S. A little before picture, and a few thoughts from Sarah:
Are you looking for a London Boudoir Photographer?
I’d be honoured if you’d consider me as your London Boudoir Photographer. I genuinely love what I do, and my clients and I always seem to have the best time together. If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to work with me, details on how a session works, or would just like to have a chat to see if we’re a good match, please feel free to get in touch.
To contact Stormy, London Boudoir Photographer and owner of Rebel & Romance Boudoir Photography, please email stormy@rebelandromance.com or call 07799 390468.
Boudoir Photo Shoot Group Day: 13th September, 2013 in London
Back by popular demand….the Group Day.
Our first Boudoir Photo Shoot Group Day at this stunning Victorian Mansion was everything I hoped for and more. Another one has been in the works for a while, and after a few last minute hiccups I’m excited to announce we’ll be going for round 2 on the 13th of September.
This time we’re going for a “Last Days of Summer” feel. We have the perfect location secured for the day – a mix of French/English garden, eclectic knickknacks, beautiful details, and classic elements. I’m so thankful to Kathryn, who has graciously offered to open up her home to us for the day. Above and below, you’ll see a selection of images Olivia, Debbie, and I created here last year. I don’t know if it was the sun or the wine or just the act of creating art for art’s sake, but we all felt something magic working here, and I know you will too.
If you’ve never had a boudoir session with me before, I’d highly recommend you consider this Group Day as a way to get your feet wet. Group Days are honestly so much fun, and it’s a real ego booster to be around a bunch of women that can’t wait to encourage you and be your cheerleader. We’d LOVE to have you. Seriously. Come join us.
Here’s a little video to give you a better feel for how beautiful this space is:
Session Fee:
300 Pounds per person
All Clients Will Receive:
A consultation call with me prior to the shoot. I’ll give you some tips on how to prepare for your session, what to expect on the day, and we’ll just get to know each other a bit so I don’t feel like a total stranger! We’ll also talk about your style and address any concerns or questions you might have.
Professional makeup and hairstyling.
One hour camera time with me, including excellent posing and coaching help.
Unlimited “sets” and wardrobe changes, as timing allows. If desired, there may be an option for some clients to add on an additional hour of shooting time, please enquire for details.
A private viewing session a few weeks after your shoot. You’ll be able to see all the finished images from your shoot and revel in your good looks.
Your favourite two images are included in the package price as high resolution digital files (no extra to pay). Additional products and images will be also available at your viewing session. Digital images are available from 50 Pounds each. Many clients chose to create a beautiful keepsake album to house all their favourite images, or a full selection of wall hangings and canvas displays are also available.
Booking Details
Spaces for this September’s Group Day are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact me as soon as possible if you’d like to join us, you won’t regret it:) The easiest way to reserve your spot is to email me at stormy@rebelandromance.com
The 300 Pound Session Fee is due in order to reserve you place on the 13th. This is payable via Bank Transfer or PayPal (small surcharge applies). You can also use any major credit or debit card with PayPal, no PayPal account required.
Questions and Contact Info:
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at stormy@rebelandromance.com
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.
Hot off the Press: Rebel & Romance London Boudoir Photography Featured in VolUp2 Magazine
Just a quick post today to say that I’ve had a few images from my most recent shoot with plus size model Olivia and makeup artist Debbie published in the latest issue of VolUp2 Magazine.
VolUp2 Magazine describes themselves as:
” A bilingual English/French online quarterly magazine showcasing diverse beauty, with an emphasis on curvy women, and exploring the generosity of Mind, Body and Spirit. Brought to you by supermodel Velvet d’Amour.”
Print copies are available here. I’ll be doing a full post with images from this shoot on the blog next week, so tune in then if you’d like to see what we got up to.
Today’s post features Callie wearing lingerie from the couture bridal line Sambalina. This shoot took place in a beautiful penthouse venue high atop East London.
We started out rather French, in this gorgeous heavyweight dutchess silk satin Passion Vine Corset.
This is a great bridal piece, with proper boning, a lace up back, and silver beaded embellishments along the top.
To be honest, the sample garment we had was swimming on Callie, and we had to do a little clever pinning at the back. Okay…a lot of pinning. Still looks fab so who cares.
Through the looking glass.
I’m 99% sure this bedroom set comes from The French Bedroom Company, and it’s a dream for photos. A bit to blingy for me in real life, but it comes up a treat with a little post production.
Lovely separates here, these would be great for a bridal look.
Curtains: you just can’t beat them:)
A simple, feminine white set here. This place has the most amazing wrap-around terrace.
It was actually quite windy though, we nearly lost this veil.
Bride in city. Check.
See what I mean about the wind?! We resorted to having Callie hold it…
…and then I held it for a bit too. So worth it though, love this image.
A gutsy black and white.
And a few grainy wind/veil shots to finish the look.
Such a fun set.
We popped back inside for one last set. This babydoll is gorgeous but unfortunately was in terrible need of a steamer.
We did the best we could, and really, I don’t think it matters – Callie looks ace.
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.
Boudoir Photo Shoot London: Miss A’s Boudoir Photography Session
Miss A and I arranged a boudoir photography session ahead of her Elopement/Wedding this summer. It’s something she’s always wanted to do, and creating a gorgeous album to surprise her Groom with was the perfect excuse to go ahead and set up a shoot. We worked out all the details and then met up in the city early one Sunday morning (note to self: absolutely nothing is open in the Financial District on a Sunday morning. Nothing.)
As always, I suggested she think about different shapes, styles and colours when shopping for lingerie. This lacy red number is the prefect example of how you can do a bold colour without it coming across cheap.
This location was great too. I love unique details like this brick wall since they add a little more depth to the final images.
Of couse nothing beats beautiful window light, except maybe spending your whole life walking around on legs as perfect as these!
This is one of those poses that feels so ridiculous and un-sexy when you’re doing it, but it creates a killer shot when done correctly. There are no boys allowed on a boudoir photography session with me though, so no harm in being silly and working at it until it’s just right:)
I also suggested Miss A go for one outfit that included the full lingerie getup – stockings, suspenders, heels – the whole shebang. I love this look, and it’s always a favourite with husbands and partners too. Sure, it takes 20 minutes to put on, but it’s worth it.
This mirror was loads of fun too.
Oh Miss A. Well done on that sultry gaze!
Miss A has one of those beauty pageant smiles, with the perfect teeth to match. She’s really cool though, and I’m pretty certain she could find Iraq on a map if needed.
This shot on the right took quite a lot of rearranging of furniture and balancing on heels. As sometimes happens, I didn’t feel like it was working that well during the process of creating it, but I was dead wrong. Every single image from this set turned out great, and it resulted in some of my favourite images from Miss A’s entire boudoir photography session.
That cool brick wall and my D&G silk wrap make a dynamic duo, don’tchya think?
One quick change into one of my corsets and this glamorous silk bedding. I love this setup, and Miss A looks fab in these colours.
That’s a wrap! Miss A, it was great getting to know you and working with you. Congrats on your wedding!
xx
Stormy
P.S. Miss A sent me this little email recently. In case you’ve been wondering, my approval rating with the boys is excellent, lol!
Have you been thinking about booking in your own Boudoir Photography Session?
I’d love to chat with you about how it all works! A boudoir photography session is a great way to surprise a partner, but it’s an even better way to treat yourself. No experience necessary, all ages, shapes, sizes, etc. welcome. Please feel free to drop me an email for all the details on scheduling and preparing for your own boudoir photography session.
This place has the most amazing wrap-around terrace.
