A Boudoir Photoshoot Is For Every Body… But It’s Not For Everybody!
Christian Louboutins - Around £600
I’ve just seen a post on Facebook that said “ Does it cost £600 to buy one photo?”
The question was loaded with sarcasm from a woman who may well have had a poor experience from another studio. (I checked, it wasn’t us)
However, the question got me thinking. How do you put a price on something? Is a picture worth 60p, £6 or £600? More importantly, how much is that picture worth to you?
Clearly if that picture was completely unique and made by a craftsman, such as the Mona Lisa, then it’s value is worth substantially more than £600 (Actually, it’s around £800 Million)
If the picture is from your iPhone and printed at your local Boots, then it’s probably worth 60p.
So, what makes a picture worth more, or less?
SCARCITY IS ONE THING
If a picture is unique (The Mona Lisa) then it may be worth a lot more than if it’s mass produced. (A printed copy of the Mona Lisa)
My Mum died a few years ago and I have 3 pictures of her. (Just 3, in her amazing 80 year lifespan)
One more picture of her would be worth an awful lot more than £600 (to me) - To justify that, I paid £700 for a framed picture of my new born son, 16 years ago. I still have it and I still take pictures of him regularly, yet that £700 was an investment to me. Our babies don’t stay that way for very long.
HOW IT’S PRINTED IS ANOTHER THING
The material costs of a digital file are next to nothing, a piece of paper is a few pennies, a print on the wall and frame is a few tens of pounds, a printed book, about the same and paint and canvas, such as the Mona Lisa is probably similar. Clearly, digitals are the cheapest material cost but, it’s pretty obvious that something other than material cost is affecting the overall worth.
WHO MAKES THE PICTURE IS THE KEY FACTOR IN VALUING A PICTURE
This is actually the key factor in valuing almost everything we buy.
The Mona Lisa is worth £800 Million not because of the paint and canvas and not because of its age. (There are many paintings from that period still around today. A painting from 1620 was recently purchased for £600)
The Mona Lisa is worth £800 because it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. (To further illustrate the point, that painting from 1620, purchased for £600 in 2019 - Turned out to be painted by Dutch Old Master Anthony van Dyck and its value has been re-assessed at around £3 Million. )
Aside from pictures, almost everything we buy is affected by ‘who makes it’ .
Christian Louboutin heels, such as the ones in the bath picture above, are sold for around £600. Any woman who’s ever owned a pair will tell you that if you wear them just once outdoors then the trademark red soles are ruined. Yet the brand of Louboutin is so strong, no one seems to mind.
BMW, Mercedes, Porsche - All are brands that hold high value yet Kia, Toyota and Hyundai have more standard equipment and are more reliable. (I don’t care about the facts, I’d still rather have a German car… Because I’ve been brainwashed by the marketing )
Want a room for the night in a Hotel? A bed, coffee making facilities and a TV on the wall will cost £70 at a Travel Lodge but at the Dorchester, about £700.
HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL IS THE ABSOLUTE KEY REASON WHY SOMETHING IS WORTH A CERTAIN AMOUNT
I love the little Apple logo that stares at me everytime I use any tech in the house. I’m certain that Apple products are better than Samsung or Windows or any other tech out there. (Is there any?)
I’m an Apple fan. I’ve bought into the hype, I’ve been seduced by the marketing.
But I’m not totally a victim of marketing.
I’ve tried Windows products and I’ve tried Samsung and just cannot understand why they seem so complicated when, for me, Apple seems to make everything simpler. I love that I can walk into an Apple store and get things answered or fixed in such an uncomplicated way, without any fuss whatsoever. I’m surprised how many times I’ve walked in with a problem and walked out with a repair and no bill, even out of warranty.
The women who buy Louboutins tell us they make them feel stronger, taller, sexier, more feminine. They say the same about Honey Birdette Lingerie. It’s not about the money, it’s about how it makes them feel.
A Holiday in the Sun can cost a thousand pounds. (Rarely will it cost you less, even if you try to go cheap… The food, drinks, transport, trips, accommodation… Let’s be real here. A thousand pounds for a holiday is cheap)
Once you’re home, the tan wears off after a couple of weeks and after just 2 days back at work, you’re exhausted again and looking forward to the next holiday.
SO WHAT ABOUT A PICTURE FROM A PHOTOSHOOT THAT COSTS £600?
What makes people want to pay that much? Clearly they must think it’s worth it. (No photographic studio would ever think of putting a gun to your head and force you to buy something)
Well, a picture that you don’t care much about. A picture that looks pretty similar to a thousand other pictures you’ve already got on your phone, one that shows all the imperfections you hate about yourself… Well that picture is worthless. Genuinely, regardless of how fancy the frame is or how big it is, it’s worth nothing at all if it doesn’t make you feel good.
If the picture makes you feel more positive about yourself everytime you look at it.
If you smile each time you see it on the wall.
If you look at it and it somehow makes you feel more confident and empowered, then that picture is worth whatever you’re willing to pay for it.
Next to a thousand pound holiday with a two week tan and no emotional gain after a couple of days back home, that £600 picture which lasts for decades and has such a positive effect on your psyche is starting to seem pretty good value to those who want to feel this way.
So, a Boudoir Experience is certainly for every Body (any size, any age) but certainly not for everybody.
Those women who see no value in themselves whatsoever or love every picture they have of themselves and have no need for more - These women will probably get less out of this experience.
See what Charlotte thought of her pictures below…
“I had always fancied having a photo shoot done, having seen some of my friends showing their pictures on Facebook but my confidence issues always made me hesitant. Last year was a really hard year for me regarding my physical health and I got diagnosed with Osteoporosis on my spine. I had 6 months off work and became extremely low as things I had taken for granted in being able to do I no longer could. I am a single parent and this was a real bitter pill to swallow not being able to do things with my daughter.
I had started to manage my pain better and had lost some of my weight and wanted to feel special just once. I have never liked my photo being taken and would always hideaway when anyone took a camera or phone out. I thought it would be just nice if I could have one picture that I liked of me.
The whole experience was one of the best things I have ever done. You gave me confidence I never knew I had.
When I returned for the viewing I was excited but scared unsure of what to expect, I sat in the office with my mum and on the computer screen was a magazine cover. I remember thinking at the time the lady on the front looked really attractive, never did I think that it was me. When we sat down to view the pictures Dave pointed out that that was me from that point on I couldn’t stop the tears. Picture after picture and I looked amazing in every one. I bought all the pictures as I really couldn’t chose a favourite I loved them all. ”
After a Boudoir session with Madison Bou, you will be able to get pictures that will last for a lifetime.
All of our products are printed with archival quality inks and papers, so your albums and prints will last and not fade as they would if you were to print images from the High Street or most online printing companies.
Our Dreambook 4k Printed on the state-of-the-art Canon DreamLabo 5000 with a fortified seven-dye ink.