Pinup beach shoot
It might sound cliché but Marina really has changed my life. I first met Marina in 2019 when I participated in an “Every Body is a Beach Body” photoshoot as part of her Naked Face Project. This was a huge challenge for me and took weeks of continuously changing my mind about going and fretting over every detail of the event before I even took part.
I have struggled with my weight for a long time and it has been quite detrimental to my mental wellbeing. I have pushed away friends and shied away from taking part in a lot of events as I was always ashamed of my appearance and thought that I would be judged. Before I met Marina, if you had told me that I would be doing a boudoir shoot in public and posting the photos of myself on social media I would have laughed at you!
Marina made me feel so comfortable in my own skin at that “Every Body is a Beach Body” photoshoot that I wanted to work with her again.
I have always loved the idea of a boudoir shoot and told myself that it would be my reward when I lost weight. It hit me one day that if I didn’t do this now, when would I do it?
I had originally planned to have my shoot with Marina in 2020 but fell pregnant and delayed the shoot. We rescheduled to later in my pregnancy and were going to do a boudoir style maternity shoot but I ended up going into labour very early and so we postponed again. We finally got to my shoot when I was nearly 4 months postpartum.
What was the location of your shoot and why did you choose it?
I chose to do a boudoir in nature shoot at the beach. The beach has always been one place where I truly feel at home with myself. It is such a calming environment for me. I also have a love of vintage style fashion, so I combined my two loves and decided to do a pinup style beach shoot.
What was it like to be naked/ half-naked in front of the camera?
I thought I would be incredibly nervous being naked in front of the camera, especially being in public. Even though the beach was mostly empty, I had never done anything like this before, so I really didn’t know what to expect or how I was going to feel.
As the shoot progressed, I became more undressed so by the end, being totally naked felt so natural and comfortable. Marina is amazing at making you feel safe being naked or half-naked in front of the camera. It was a really incredible experience. I remember walking out into the ocean completely naked and smiling up at the storm clouds rolling in because it was such an exhilarating and freeing moment! It would definitely be something I would be happy to do again.
How did you feel after the session? What have you thought when you saw your images for the first time?
Marina is so empowering. She encourages you to have fun during the shoot and captures you in a way that brings out who you truly are. The experience is thrilling, by the end of the shoot you feel like the best version of yourself and don’t want it to end!
I was nervous before seeing my images for the first time. I had my boudoir shoot when I was 4 months postpartum and was still learning to accept my continuously changing body after pregnancy.
I almost cried when I saw how amazing the photographs had turned out. I couldn’t believe it was me.
It is hard to look at a photo of yourself without searching for all of your flaws, but Marina captures not only you, but the joy and beauty of the day. It is such a strange feeling
to see yourself in such a different light, the flaws you think you see just aren’t a big deal and when looking at the photos all those exhilarating feelings came rushing right back!
Would you do it again?
Absolutely 100%!!! I am already planning what I want my next shoot to be! I am fairly certain I am now addicted!
Would you recommend a boudoir shoot to other women/men and why?
It has had such a positive impact on how I see myself that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a boudoir shoot to anyone. Marina shows you a different perspective of
yourself. One you don’t see until she unmasks it. I am a different person to who I was before I met Marina and I will forever be grateful for how she has changed me for the better.
Do you have any tip for women/men who are planning to do a boudoir shoot?
Don’t put it off. There will always be an excuse for not doing something but I would have regretted it if I had not taken the chance and just gone for it.
Don’t be scared! Marina will guide you through the entire process from what is the best style of shoot for you, to outfits and accessories and will show you how to pose! I was so nervous that I wouldn’t know what to do on the day but Marina just knew how to capture what I had envisioned and all the candid moments of the day as well.
Emily Torrisi
