THE MAIN REASON WOMEN DON’T BOOK A BOUDOIR PHOTOSHOOT
Celebrating diverse beauty
We all get bombarded by unrealistic beauty standards on a daily basis. Fake perfection is everywhere and everyone looks so happy and content leading such perfect lives that sometimes it can make us feel that we’re the odd ones out. We’re not quite good enough somehow.
Being surrounded by these unachievable beauty standards in the media and social media making it incredibly easy to compare ourselves to others, so it’s no surprise that many of us think we need to look a certain way in order to pose without clothes on. We’re ‘too fat’ or ‘too thin’, or skin’s not perfect enough, our nose is bent, too many chins, et, etc… This is exactly why boudoir is needed - to put an end all of this bullshit!
A Boudoir Photoshoot has some responsibility in debunking this myth of fake perfection. Size and weight are not an issue and should not hold you back from enjoying this experience. Yet, as a studio that specialises in boudoir photography, we often hear from clients who are apprehensive about booking a session because they believe they are curvier than will look good on camera. They worry that they won’t look as good as the ‘models’ they see on our website or on social media, and that their insecurities will be magnified in front of the camera.
It’s totally understandable to think that way but hold on a second… These women are not ‘professional models’ on our site, they are women, just like you. Same worries, same insecurities.
There is no right body. There are just bodies. They come in all shape and sizes and one kind isn't better than the other. Yours is great the way it is, because it is yours. It's been supporting you for many years and deserves some love and recognition for doing so. Wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, they all tell a story: your story. And that’s good enough
So, even thou you may have been railroaded into thinking you’re not ‘good enough’ or that you don’t have the ‘right body’ for boudoir but this is all in your mind. This is simply not true.
The real truth is that every woman deserves to celebrate her unique beauty, regardless of what the ‘fake perfection’ media think.
Every Body is unique and every body is amazing and embracing this diversity is the true power of this empowering experience called Boudoir.
The Myth of Perfection:
In a society that often perpetuates an unrealistic standard of beauty, many women find themselves hesitant to step in front of the camera for a Boudoir Photoshoot.
This is such a shame because the myth that only a specific body type is worthy of such an experience has led to a misconception that needs to be shattered.
Fear of being judged by others is holding us back from taking great steps in life yet, Ironically, it’s not others judging us that’s the real problem, it’s us judging ourselves!
Celebrating Every Body:
The truth is, Boudoir photography is a celebration of individuality, self-love, and confidence. It almost sounds evangelical when we say this but, truly, we believe that ‘self-love’ isn’t some tree hugging new politically correct idea cooked up by dungaree-wearing, alfalfa-sprout eating, tantric-yoga teachers. ‘Self-Love’ is something we should all practice.
Learning to love oneself will make us feel better every-time we look in the mirror, every-time we get dressed and every-time we go to work.
Learning self love will help us to love our friends and family more and be kinder to all around us.
If we judge ourselves harshly, it’s very difficult not to to judge others harshly as well.
The Boudoir Experience is about showing a woman in her most authentic form, irrespective of size or weight. Every body tells a unique story, and there's no one-size-fits-all definition of beauty.
Kirsty (below) told us “Wow just wow went for my bridal shoot today and what can I say well I’m a bigger woman and was so scared about doing this shoot as I am not confident with my body but OMG they made me feel so at ease and looked after me great I would recommend Madison bou to anyone I feel so much better about my body already just can not wait to see the photos now thank you so much for such a great experience xx”
Self Judgments:
The main reason women often hesitate to book a boudoir photoshoot is that little voice inside themselves making judgments about their bodies. Being bombarded by images of ‘fake perfection’ in the media may have led them to believe that their bodies are not worthy of celebration playing on their self-doubt insecurities.
Shifting the Narrative:
A Boudoir Experience can help to shift the narrative and recognise that every woman, regardless of her size or weight, possesses inherent beauty that beauty deserves to be captured and celebrated.
Every Body is worthy!
Boudoir photography can be a transformative experience when women embrace their bodies with love and acceptance.
Emily (Below) told us - “I love them and have received some amazing comments. Thank you, I really loved the experience and the images are just the icing on the cake!
I would be delighted for my photos to be used 😁 Thank you again!”
Size-Inclusive Empowerment:
At Madison Bou we are championing ‘size inclusivity’, creating a safe space for women of all shapes and sizes.
This shift in emphasis encourages women to step out of their comfort zones, challenge what is often considered ‘the norm’ and reclaim their narratives by means of ‘empowerment’.
Confidence Knows No Size:
Confidence is not exclusive to a particular size.
Boudoir photoshoots provide an opportunity for women to rediscover and embrace their confidence, regardless of what the scale says. It's about capturing the strength, resilience, and beauty that exist within each woman.
Tracey (below) told us - “The last 8 years have been such a struggle for me, I’m my own worst enemy and just completely lost my self confidence. Within half an hour of being in Dave’s company he made me feel so at ease his just such a lovely gentleman. I truly enjoyed my experience it made me feel empowered & actually like what was looking back at me in the mirror. Just for one day I wanted to feel the way my husband sees me and that I certainly did. I think every woman needs to have a shoot done like this.”
Boudoir photography is a celebration of every woman's unique beauty, a journey of self-love, and an empowering experience that transcends traditional expectations.
By breaking down the barriers of size and weight, we believe that a Boudoir Experience such as this can help create a world where every woman feels deserving of capturing her most authentic and beautiful self in a totally judgement free, safe space.
Ultimately, boudoir photography is about feeling confident, sexy, and empowered.
It’s a celebration of your unique beauty, and it’s a reminder that you are perfect exactly as you are.
We call it ‘perfectly imperfect’ and you can read more about that HERE .
The truth is that every body is beautiful, regardless of shape or size.
Our job is to capture the beauty of our clients, and that includes highlighting their unique features and creating an environment where they feel comfortable and confident.
We want our clients to leave their session feeling empowered and proud of their bodies, no matter what size they may be.
Isn’t this the perfect reason to do this?
It’s important to remember that boudoir photography is not about conforming to a certain standard of beauty or perfection. It’s about celebrating your individuality and embracing your body exactly as it is. In fact, many of the most stunning boudoir images have been captured with clients who were not the stereotypical model size.
We really believe that in a 90 minute session not only will we create images of you that you or your partner will be awed by but we’re going to have so much fun doing it that you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner…
Charlotte (below) said this….
“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 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.
From start to finish Dave and his team made me feel like a superstar.
Believe me I was so nervous and it took all the confidence I had to go, I nearly turned round in the car park but I’m so glad I didn’t.
I loved every minute of the day and all my insecurities seamed to fade away.
When I returned for the viewing I was excited but scared and 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, they pointed out that that was me and from that point on I couldn’t stop the tears. Picture after picture and I looked amazing in every one. I bought all my pictures as I really couldn’t chose a favourite. I loved them all. I would recommend Madison Bou to anyone as what they do is priceless and so empowering.”
TIPS: POSES FOR FLATTERING BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY PICTURES EVERY TIME
We know that boudoir photography is for all shapes and sizes, but it’s not something every woman feels comfortable with.
If you’re thinking of booking a session with us, we have put together some tips to help you feel comfortable, confident and gorgeous in front of the camera.
What To Wear And Not To Wear:
Wear something that makes you feel sexy. and remember that You are the star of your boudoir shoot.
Generally outfits with thin straps are less desirable as they will dig in and create undesirable lumps and bumps.
Don’t be afraid to show yourself off! If you have curves or cellulite (or both), don’t hide behind baggy clothing. Sometimes it’s easier for curvy women to look good with nothing on rather than complicated and bulky outfits. (Oh, and we’re super good at not showing cellulite. We’ll give you a 10% discount if you can spot any cellulite in any of the 100s of pictures on our website. …. Time to get you magnifying glass out!)
What To Bring And What Not To Bring:
At your photoshoot we’ll photograph at least 3 different outfits but you can always bring a few extra options so if we have some extra time or one doesn’t look as flattering as it should, we have options. Variety is key here.
Bring some gorgeous heels to add that pop of WOW to the photograph (Don’t worry, you won’t be walking in them)
If you have a larger bust, outfits that have some support built in are a good idea as many poses we do will have the “girls” popping out when we lay down, and twist.
Pick Your Outfits Carefully
Take time to select flattering clothes and lingerie that fit you best. It’s a good idea to go for a fitting at a lingerie shop. In a recent reort, high street chain Boux Avenue stated that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra. A remarkable statistic so, getting measured is a great idea.
You want to make sure that you wear something that makes you feel beautiful and confident.
Comfort Is Key
It’s more important to feel comfortable than to look sexy. Wear items that make you feel beautiful, even if they’re not super sexy by traditional standards and perceptions. That could be a baggy v-neck sweater with cute undies, it could be a leather jacket. Many plus-size women have body issues and feel uncomfortable in their clothing. When looking for clothes for Boudoir, it can be hard to find things that make you feel beautiful and confident because so many retailers only cater to smaller sizes. But don’t let this stop you from wearing what makes YOU feel good! If a piece of clothing makes ME feel beautiful and confident, even if it’s not “sexy” per se, I’m going to wear it anyway! There are tuxedo pants with sequins on them? They’re coming with me! A sweater with hearts all over it? It’s coming too!
Posing Those Beautiful Curves You Have
We’ve been shooting boudoir for over 20 years and the vast majority of our clients are REGULAR WOMEN meaning they are NOT model proportions. Our photographer has become very good at working with women with plus-size figures and doing poses that accentuate the features our clients love and minimizing others they don’t like so much. Posing full figured women is different than women with smaller builds but there are distinct advantages to women with curves and poses we can do that not only look flattering, they look downright gorgeous! so bring your gorgeous curves, your mom-bod and your wobbly bits and we’ll show you how they look phenomenal at Madison Bou
