Photoshoot in a hotel

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to do a boudoir shoot for myself. When Marina put the call out I instantly said YES! To me, it’s a right I have as a woman to love my body and all that it does for me. I feel the media & marketing are so quick to offer criticisms (subtle & otherwise) about our imperfections that generally people grow up with the impression that to be someone in this world we have to look a certain way. Our bodies are not wrong, we are all unique in how we grow & perform physically. Just imagine how much the world would be turned on its head if more women loved themselves just as they are.

I haven’t always felt this way unfortunately & have abused my body in ways I’m not proud of but as a Mum to young girls, I realised I needed to step up my self-love in order for them to see that a woman loving her body is healthy & normal. Although I’ve been down the road of self-loathing many times I’ve always been confident in my body’s ability physically, I played & was good at sport as a kid and I’ve always felt that my body was strong. I birthed my babies at home knowing that my body was capable and designed for it and now I love setting the example for my girls as they grow into their bodies.

I chose to have the photoshoot in a Hotel as previously I’ve had nude photoshoots in nature so to go all out with hair & make up for this one was a little exciting, daunting & fun. I love my natural face so seeing me with make-up took a little getting used to. To begin with, I felt like I was doing something completely naughty & risqué but after remembering that it was just my triggered shadow self talking I was able to relax & feel comfortable with the camera. Marina was great in helping me feel more at ease throughout the afternoon by giving instruction & guidance with each pose right down to the little touches just to get the shot looking its best. I was exhausted afterwards & had to have a lovely long bath to ease my body aches - whoever says modelling is easy has never tried it!

I would absolutely do this again, in a completely different setting & look. I love this though, the photos have beautifully to captured a moment in time that I won’t ever get again, not only am I seeing my body in the physical, I’m also thinking of the journey I've taken to get there, all the years, memories and feelings that go along with that, captured in time.