So, why do I do fine art nude photography?

I fell into Boudoir quite by accident but it felt like a natural progression immediately, I felt like I was home.

So many years in the fashion industry learning how to pose as a model, and then how to photograph women to show their bodies off as a photographer, I felt I’d found a genre tailor made for me.

I knew it was my calling, and something that would light my artistic fire as well as pushing my editing skills to their highest limit, which I’m always up for. I don’t outsource my images to an external editor. I am the only person working on your images after your shoot. I like to take the whole process to the finishing line. From your first tentative and nervous contact with me…to delivering your book and seeing your face light up.

I had my first lady in front of my camera for Boudoir in 2010 when I lived in Dubai and I was the first photographer to bring Boudoir to the UAE. And we rocked it! I got her into poses that flattered her shape, and she was blown away by the results… as was I! I pose my ladies now in an editorial fashion shoot style, very relaxed and natural then add fabulous lacy lingerie to the pot, and you have a whole story in your head - just by looking at one photo. Who is she looking at? Is she alone? Who is she waiting for? What happened just before this second in time was caught on camera? There are so many scripts in my head when I shoot you. You might feel you’ve just walked off a movie set and I was the director when we finish! :) But when all is said and done, these black and white glimpses into someones vulnerable self spoke to me 100% more than any fashion images ever had.

My whole life journey seemed to set me up to be a boudoir photographer. I know now that all those years of posing in front of the camera and photographing models were practice for how I shoot today.

My favourite part of the whole process is the anticipation of their reaction when I deliver their images - and they cannot believe their eyes.

This is why I do what I do and the letters of recommendation I receive are worth more to me than gold.

I’m now in my 12th year of Boudoir. The genre I thought I’d give it a go and see what happens. I work wherever you want me to. I’m mainly in Dubai, Italy and the UK but I’ve travelled as far as the US and Singapore to shoot. As the first photographer to bring Boudoir Photography the Middle East, I’m not sure they’ve quite forgiven me yet!

And that’s why I shoot women in fine art photography, that an a few other very good reasons…which I’ll save for another blog...

Shirley x