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Boudoir Photography

"Every girl should have photographs to leave a man breathless and discover how great she really looks! Our job is to help you feel and look fabulous and create images you (and he) will love. Boudoir shoots are a lot of fun, 100% private, and work incredibly well however much or little you want to show."

...puts the "Grrr" back in photogrrraphy

Boudoir photography is a classic genre that's been reinvented in recent years. Back in the eighties it was all about feather boas, dark locations and the haziest of lenses! It seemed that a little titillation was all it took to create such a shoot. Women today want to feel and look feminine and sexy, and have a record of how awesome they really can look. Attitudes have certainly changed in the media, and nowadays, normal women can have a photoshoot to make them feel like a goddess.

Boudoir is something very different, and 100% BETTER than most glamour photography. This is about femininity, and a touch of the sensual. It's all about empowerment. And as you can see from our sample shoot below, we can create images with sensuality whether you want to be photographed in lingerie, implied-nudity (that means you can't see anything, but you know it's there!) or just a cute little dress. When you combine that with hair, nails, heels, lashes, and you close your eyes and think of galaxy, you're basically there!

This is something that any woman can do, but not any photographer! I've added boudoir photography to my wedding and portrait photography service quite simply because I was asked to so often! As a wedding photographer my core skill is making people (especially women) feel relaxed and confident in front of the camera and to trust me to make them look fabulous. This is obviously essential for boudoir photography, along with professional lighting, fabulous outfits you feel confident in, and a relaxed, fun environment you can laugh out loud in.

Hair and makeup

A shoot always includes the services of a professional makeup artist, like Clair Ray of skin central. Clair will have a chat with you about your look, even phone you up before the shoot to introduce herself, and stay with us throughout, helping you with posing and little tweaks to hair, clothes and makeup.

Some sample images from a shoot at Hogarths Hotel's December suite

Bridal Boudoir

Boudoir photography makes a perfect addition to a wedding package. For one thing, you'll probably have purchased some of the most luxurious underwear of your life for either the wedding or the honeymoon, and it's a shame to keep it under wraps or in the drawer ALL the time. For another, the photographs make a fantastic gift to give to your husband or husband-to-be. Your fiance is totally in love with you, and this gift says "I am all yours". And for another thing, around the time of your wedding, you probably look and feel as great as you ever have, and this is a great way to celebrate!

Boudoir photography is available in packages or as an add-on to any of our wedding packages, or separately, if you're using a different photographer for the wedding. You could even get your bridesmaids to join you and make a party of it. Have a first-viewing of your images at your hen night! But like I said, you don't have to be a bride to have a boudoir shoot. You don't even need a man! This is about you, feeling and looking phenomenal!

Who, where, when, what?

Who does the shooting - 'Richard' is a man's name, isn't it?
Well spotted! But the reason I am offering these shoots is that a number of brides and customers have told me that after having met me, they wouldn't want anyone but me to do this shoot, male or female. Needless to say, I always have a female assistant on hand at all times, and you'll discover I'm about as easy going and professional as a man can be.

Should I bring someone with me?
If you want to, that's a great idea, although not everyone does. Bring a girlfriend and a drop of wine and have a good laugh about it, or if the photos aren't meant to be a surprise, bring your partner or husband, so long as you can manage to look at the camera and not at them at least some of the time!

Where does the shoot take place?
We can do the shoot at your home if you like, but for a feeling of glamourous luxury, it's great to book a hotel room/suite. We have relationships with hotels in the Birmingham area, and can blag it just about anywhere else too. I bring mobile lighting to make you look fabulous wherever you want.

What should I bring?
We can talk in more detail when you get in touch. But we'll recommend a few things to bring, like different kinds of underwear, less revealing outfits to get you started on, and a few accessories. There are always one or two shots that are cliches but loved with good reason, like stealing your man's work or football shirts.

What does it cost, what do I get, how do I get it?
A full boudoir shoot lasting around two hours or more is £300, including makeup, a mounted print and all your photos on DVD-ROM. You can make your own prints, use the more tame ones on facebook, whatever. We can also offer you some pretty sumptuous storybook albums too, as a great gift to make his eyes pop. If we need to pay for a hotel suite, this is usually an additional charge. The photos can be sent to you in a password protected web gallery so you can show your girlfriends, but only if you ask us to. In any case, the photos won't be used or shown anywhere else without your permission.

For more information, please give me a call or send an email!