Site revamp

For 2009 I thought we needed a nice crisp clean and new website.

It still includes pink! but I feel it towers above the old one, hope you agree.

www.boudoirbyhelen.co.uk

Airbrushing , Retouching , Editing

Call it what you will.

I like to keep my images as close to natural as possible.

There is always the probability that a client will want a significant amount of retouching on their image. However usually I try to encourage just a light retouch , removing blemishes etc , the false smooth look where by the technique of blurring is used can cause a subject to look plastic or just too 80's .



Below is an image Ive taken from a previous shoot, this is just a light retouch and removal of jewellery which has fallen awkwardly in the pose.

I have used the process of masking to keep the skin texture using Christy Schulers technique. I have also processed the eyes and lightly retouched the hair.

Boudoir Shoot Comments

I just wanted to share with you some of the lovely comments I've had from my Boudoir shoot clients.

Its what makes Boudoir photography and any other kind of photography for that matter, worth while.


Helen from the West midlands :

"I am still looking at these pictures and it so hard to pick from them..... you have done a great job I honestly thought I was going to dislike them because of how much I hate looking at pictures of myself.....
You have put the biggest smile on my face now"


Karen from the East Midlands:

"Thank you Helen for making me feel perfectly at ease. The photos are lovely and the album is beautifully presented. This makes a perfect gift, one that will last forever."

Amy from the West Midlands:

"My Album has arrived & I am over the moon, thank you so much xxxxx"

The best thing....

.... I'm seeing time and time again is the change in clients during their photo shoot, seeing a nervous woman turn into a very confident sassy woman in front of the camera really does make this job even more worth while. It really is all about being confident and happy with your own body, and with Gok making the first move its only right that we should continue the good work!

Notice:

As I know my clients read my blog ( love you all) just a quick note to say I must get your album and print image choices in by 6th December, the last date the printers can guarantee images being back on time for Christmas is the 11th December.

Boudoir Party

Thursday saw our first Boudoir party, which I am pleased to say went very well.

All the girls had a fab time and even brought me a box of choccies! Working till 1am then having another shoot the morning after did mean the coffee was flowing but still better to be busy and tired than not busy at all.

A couple of the girls were happy for me to use their images for the website and other things so here are just a few of the images from the shoot. Nothing too revealing so you dont need to cover your eyes just yet.

Perfect find

I had seen a few masquerade masks on ebay and thought one might make a nice edition to my 'boudoir box' full of props. However after spending far too much time searching and saving items in 'my ebay' I still couldn't see them up close and never got around to choosing.



So how strange I found it today, walking past a shop I've walked past time and time again, that there it was a red and gold mask with feathers my cats would adore (and no doubt my husband would allow them to play with!) sat high up on the top shelf of their window display. Its ones of those shops I lovingly call 'weirdy shops' you know the sort, smells divine, full of incense sticks, mirrors, wood carvings, candles, one of those shops you just get lost in.



But it was closed, then I realised that it was actually owned by the flower shop, which was open!



Happily they opened up and this lovely mask is now mine .

Laurence Llewellyn Bowen style

That's the theme for this weekend and the next few days.

I've been buying fabrics like a mad woman for the temporary studio, (as the new one is expectedly behind schedule) Its nice to be able to go a little OTT with rich reds and golds and that all important black.

I wanted to use the window in the room as a feature, so bought some frosting to stick on. Have you ever fitted that stuff? its a nightmare, I ended up sticking and peeling and re-peeling, it just does not want to go on wrinkle free, it hates me!


Adding to the list of 'grr' moments, today my kettle broke , it kept boiling and boiling and boiling, steaming up the kitchen leaving water dripping off every surface, a week before our tumble dryer went 'poof'. I just hope next week there's no major catastrophes as I have booked the first Boudoir party shoot for the festive season.

That's right I think I am safe to mention the dreaded C word now without being battered over the head with a pickled herring because its too early. When can we start singing carols?....

Hi

Welcome to my new blog, specially made for showcasing my Boudoir work.

When I started taking on this type of photography, it didn't surprise me how misunderstood it was.
Its difficult to describe but what it isn't is playboy! its about women getting photographs that make them feel confident and show them at their best. Everyday women not models, in fact I only use real women on my site.

The most popular reason for booking a boudoir shoot is as a gift for hubby or hubby to be, but it also goes much further, as every client gets a make over and most usually arrive feeling a little nervous but leave feeling confident and happy about themselves and above all have a good laugh.

My blog will slowly replace photographs by helen and contain news and views on this side of the industry.