When someone mentions boudoir photography, do you automatically think of 'soft focus' glamour shots with too much make-up and not enough clothing? If so, you'll be pleased to hear that these days you'd usually be wrong. As boudoir shoots are becoming more popular, it's reassuring to know that it's not just for super-confident women who have already found their inner pin-up.
For some photographers, like husband and wife team Carlo and Fabiana Nicora, boudoir photography is much more like the natural shots that we've all seen taken before a wedding while the bride is preparing. These images are all about the woman in the photograph rather than what the photographer wants, and the results show her at her best rather than as something she is not. Surely if a woman wants photographs of herself looking her best, she'd much rather it wasn't something fake?
The main difference between London Boudoir Photography and many other photographers who offer boudoir shots is that Carlo and Fabiana don't have a particular idea in mind beforehand because, well... because they haven't met you yet! They spend time talking to you, getting to know you, and even discovering what you like and dislike about your body, so that when they pick up their cameras you can relax knowing that the shots are going to be great.
I was lucky enough to have my own London Boudoir Photography shoot with Carlo and Fabiana and am pleased to say that they really do everything they can to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. I went to their studio for my shoot, but they are also happy to come out to your own home to photograph you in your own boudoir if you would prefer. As my bedroom is cluttered and cramped, I was more than happy to go elsewhere, but it's reassuring to know that you needn't venture out of your comfort zone.
They also offer a hair and make-up service, working only with people who understand how important it is to make the client feel relaxed and to also let her own beauty shine through. After all, there's no point in plastering someone in very thick make-up if she rarely wears any most of the time, because the finished photos just won't look like her. A little bit of pampering definitely helped to relax me before my shoot and I loved the way my make-up looked so natural on camera. That's clearly a knack that good make-up artists have.
All the chatting that Carlo and Fabiana did beforehand meant that, by the time we looked through the lingerie I had brought with me, they could tell which was my favourite set before I'd even completely made up my own mind! They then explained how they used natural light and would work together to obtain relaxed shots of me, going from my least favourite outfit through to my favourite one at the end of the shoot. As they snapped away, with a nice mix of music playing in the background, I noticed how they rarely hid behind their cameras and always exchanged lots of banter. Any of my laughter captured by them that day was most certainly genuine!
Once the shoot was over, they explained how long I would have to wait to see the finished images, and told me that they'd be in touch to arrange a meet up as they prefer to hand over the DVD personally. When we did meet again, Carlo showed me a beautiful slideshow of my final images and gave me the disc to keep, along with a little personal message from them both. If you want prints or albums made up from the shots, that can be arranged too - each session is completely personal to the woman in front of the camera.
I didn't think that boudoir photography could ever be suitable for all women, because I thought that it was all about stockings, heels and pin-up glamour. After all, not everyone looks good in that style and not everyone's quite that confident. What London Boudoir Photography achieves is something much more sultry, because the finished product is designed around the idea that you are sexy and you really do know it. So, why not bring out your inner lingerie model with your own photoshoot? I can't think of a more fun way to treat yourself... or your partner!