I still remember when I launched as a portrait photographer in Wood Street Market, Walthamstow, and I kept being asked if I did nudes. To be honest, at that point, I had no idea there was such a demand for it outside professional art modelling circles. But there you go, what did I know.
We now have had hundreds of goddesses who have explored and enjoyed the power of photographic art nudes. Many of which you will have seen in our Body Love
nude photography sessions. And of course our annual charity calendar for Refuge UK, a fabulous chance to talk about our nude photo shoots and clients without actually showing their nudes in public.
Perhaps it's the rise of naked celebrity selfies, fashion models and social media influencers posting their nudes.
As soon as the word got out, nude photography grew quickly and is still my most popular offering to date. It's also the main area where my photography business and art practice overlap. The Goddess Sketchbook is an ongoing journal of nude figure drawings, life drawing sessions, client nude commissions and boudoir inspired sensual drawings.
But I digress, on hindsight, it makes sense, ladies have been commissioning photographers to take discrete images for their private viewing since the camera was invented. And of course painters & artists before that. Famously 'Beauty Revealed' provocative self-portrait by Sarah Goodridge (1788–1853)
"Feeling empowered and gorgeous for the first time in forever."
"Patrick has made me look and feel beautiful, sexy and proud of myself x"
Clients find it fun and liberating in several ways:
It can really help you appreciate your uniqueness
When clients see themselves captured through a camera lens, it can help them understand and appreciate their body and her unique beauty. And it really helps when working with a photographer who is a great cheerleader and communicator (btw, that's me :).
Having fun with it. Nude photography can be a great form of self-expression, allowing people to explore and express their identity and individuality. Let's shake it out, and it's ok to have a laugh, and be totally silly. Taking away the pressure "to be sexy" paradoxically helps clients feel even more beautiful and sexy. And it shows with every nude artistic photoshoot.
Seeing yourself reflected in others can help
I'm there to help my clients to see themselves from a different perspective.
Also I have found It can help no end for clients to see other women whose body shapes they can relate to. In our little corner of the world, we're focussed on helping women feel beautiful for themselves.
But if we can challenge societal expectations of what is considered beautiful by showcasing a stunning, gorgeously diverse range of bodies, well why not.
It's why I built my Goddess business around
Body Love nudes
and added boudoir & erotic nude photography to suit each client.
It can help to build self-esteem
Although it all starts from the inside and you. Seeing oneself in a positive light and feeling appreciated and validated by others with a body-positive attitude can absolutely help build self-esteem and self-worth. It's one of the reasons why I started the
private group
for our goddesses. It can take 10 positive thoughts to undo one negative one. So surround yourself with uplifting souls where and whenever you can.
It can help with body image:
For some, taking part in nude body love photography can be a hugely cathartic way to improve body image and reduce negative self-perception. By the time they've come to book a session, many clients are carrying with them years and years of self-doubt and are ready to unload it with artistic nude photos. Yay! We have literally witnessed it with every layer removed. So get those artistic nude photos done, and be done with the naysayers.
They improve selfie love.
For the pure joy of it. Women often start taking more body loving selfies after they've had a nude session with us. We are living, breathing, 360-degree moving humans, not designed to be compared to a single flat image. So if you are comfortable, we encourage you to take selfies from all angles and at times of the day. Start squeezing those jiggly bits with joy, create artistic nude images from them, and seeing yourself as the beautiful art you are.
For others, it's 100% about expressing their sexuality.
Some client include more provocative and erotic poses and perhaps more glamour style lighting too. Magazine and glamour centerfold editorial styles, such as the likes of Playboy, have been very popular too. For this style of glamour nude I would even consider hiring a fancy hotel, airbnb, possibly your house or I do have a lovely Villa in Kent we can hire for your artistic nude images.
I'll add a few of these erotic studio images to our
sensual page
as I get client permissions or from our regular model days. Our in-house client folder. As much as we try and encourage women to speak out and tell us what they need, many clients find it easier to point at the spicy images and poses they like. So I have also found our in-house client folder extremely useful from that respect.
Many of our goddesses go nude or partially nude in our sessions, and they find it incredibly powerful. Of course, nude photography whether sensual or artistic in flavour is 100% your choice; not everyone may feel comfortable with it. But for those who do, it can be an incredibly empowering and confidence-boosting experience.
And what's the alternative? Well, who doesn't love lingerie, or a sparkly dress or even a cosy woolen jumper and knicker combination? Actually the options are endless, and I've listed the top twenty
most popular boudoir items
of clothing in a previous blog. Check out my
boudoir
and
portrait page.