Mention the words “glamour” and “photography” together, and most people will picture those 80’s portraits with big hair, a flash that the photographer placed behind you that gave you an unnatural halo, and royal blue jackets with shoulder pads!

Today’s glamour photography is going in a new direction. And thank goodness for that. Think of a modern glamour shoot as a magazine-style photo shoot experience for the everyday woman. If you’re looking for something really special, then consider my favourite style of modern glamour – the boudoir shoot.

Every woman deserves to feel beautiful in front of the camera, but most of us would never consider having a portrait session just for ourselves. Boudoir photography has received a bad reputation in the past for being “sleazy” and “just _­gratuitous images of models in their underwear” but done right, a boudoir shoot can be an incredibly empowering experience.

Sometimes it’s hard enough to get professional photographs of our families, so it seems like an extravagance to book a portrait session just for you, right? And what about your other commitments? Kids, work…if you’re anything like me it’s a long list of obligations that needs to be filled before I can schedule some “me time”.

Never mind the time factor, body confidence is something that women of all ages struggle with. So for me, boudoir photography is never “photographing a model in skimpy underwear”. It’s about capturing real women, of all shapes and sizes, with all their realness.

Realness comes in many shapes and sizes. I’ve had ladies book boudoir sessions with me because they wanted to feel sexy – not for anyone else but themselves. I’ve had ladies book sessions because they wanted to celebrate a milestone birthday. Ladies who were celebrating weight-loss, some celebrating weight-gain. Some were engaged, some were divorced. Some had three kids, some had none.

There was one thing that all these ladies had in common. They weren’t celebrities or models, they were real women. They brought their sun spots and scars and stretchmarks. They wanted an experience that was going to help them feel confident and empowered.

These sessions are designed to be a safe space which is why I very rarely post my boudoir images online. They are something private – occasionally booked as a gift to a partner, but more often just as an empowering experience for oneself.

What you get from the experience is far more than “just a photo shoot”.

Be pampered, with professional hair and make-up.

This is our starting point on shoot day. Don’t wear make-up, or feel uncomfortable with lots of makeup? No problem, we’ll use a touch of foundation and some mascara or liner.

Love red lips? Then that’s what we’ll do.

A big part of your “makeover” is not to make you ‘over’ at all, but rather to enhance your natural features. And you can just sit back and relax.

Play dress up.

Remember how much fun it was to play dress-up when you were little? Well, this is the grown-up version!

Don’t think a boudoir shoot is just you in your lingerie.

• That little black dress that makes you feel like a million dollars? Bring it to the shoot.
• Wanted an excuse to wear your wedding dress again? Now you’ve got one!
• That old t-shirt that was your partner’s and is now your favourite sleepwear? If it’s meaningful to you, let’s photograph you in it.

An un-buttoned shirt to show off those shoulders, or a dress that can reveal your legs – whatever you want to enhance in the session is what we focus on. How much skin you show is totally up to you. For some of my clients, showing a bare shoulder with a hint of a lace bra is enough. For others, it’s a killer pair of heels and a corset.

Even if the lingerie you’re wearing isn’t going to appear in the images at all, well-fitting gorgeous underwear will give you that extra boost. Then make use of a gown, robe or shirt to reveal or conceal as much as you would like.

Have some you-time and celebrate being you.

Your portrait session is designed around you. It’s your time to relax, to have fun and to see yourself from a new perspective. You don’t have to worry about posing, I’ve got you! I’ll guide you through the whole shoot. We can go as slowly as you like.

Let me say it again, you don’t have to be a model. In fact, you don’t have to be anything other than who you are right now.

That’s what modern glamour and boudoir photography is all about.

It’s real, honest photography – for real, honest women.

No matter your age or where you are in your life, you deserve to love and celebrate your beauty. A professional boudoir shoot can help you do that and allow you to see yourself as the gorgeous and incredible woman you truly are.

For more information  contact us at leighbensonphotography.com or follow us on Instagram @leighbensonphotography