We were on cloud 9

What is your story?

We're a married couple of 11 years, raising a daughter, and there have been challenges in this. I'd say we're pretty average that way. We've sometimes been lost in "life", checking boxes and paying bills.

We'd have loved to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in Fiji; this is where we were married. However, travel restrictions at the time prevented us from doing so.

These photos will be a wonderful memory for us and quite different from what we had imagined we'd be doing all those years ago.

Why did you want to do a couples boudoir shoot?

I chanced meeting Marina at a dance studio open night, and she mentioned her work. I started following your socials and realised how powerful the images were. I experienced a lot of different feelings and thoughts about myself and others from scrolling through and seeing people so raw and vulnerable.

Then there was a couples model call and I first thought, Nah, hubby will never go for it. However, the idea hung around and kept coming into awareness.

So I booked a time for us to chat with Marina and see if hubby would feel into it by meeting Marina and being comfortable with the images.

Marina was so welcoming! I'm so grateful for this because I wanted the images as a reminder of who we are right now, a moment of time. To do something out of the box together, out of our comfort zone and encourage us to spend time together again.

My husband says he was keen because it was something different, something to look back on when we are old and wrinkly, and something my wife seemed pretty keen to do.

What was the location of your shoot, and why did you choose it?

The location of our shoot was outdoors. We chose this because we love being out in nature. I believe we are nature; we are certainly not separate from it. It was the perfect fit for us.

How did you feel preparing for the session?

Anxious and nervous, and strangely at ease.

Getting these photos taken was something we really wanted to do; it was removing our clothes the first time that probably incited the feelings most.

What was it like to be naked/ half-naked in front of the camera?

Marina was excellent, and we felt very comfortable from the first photo. Any feelings of anxiety or intimidation from being naked quickly melted away.

How did you feel after the session?

We were on cloud 9! We were really excited to see the results; we'd had so much fun taking the photos, and the results had to be awesome!

What have you thought when you saw your images for the first time?

Hubby was very quiet on the day; however, as we are working through these questions together now, he says he was overwhelmed with joy and pleased with the results. Choosing our favourites, though, seemed easy, we'd forgotten at times how to have fun together, and Marina had captured that fun for us.

Would you do it again?

Absolutely! I'd love to see more couples choosing this and even friends. We so often hide behind clothing; this was raw and real.

Would you recommend a boudoir shoot to other couples, and why?

Yes! Everyone looks back at photos of themselves, and memories flood back. Imagine choosing photos that will be timeless because fashion isn't involved. Imagine choosing images that witness the unmasked you. Imagine having such incredible pictures for yourself to either display privately or be able to look back on with others. We've already had conversations with family members who are surprised we stepped outside our comfort zone like that.

Do you have any tips for couples planning to do a boudoir shoot?

Be prepared to be surprised! Any fears or personal beliefs about yourself and others will be challenged in a positive way. We probably overthought the whole process. Be ready to be in the moment and hand over control to someone else for a couple of hours.