Simon has a Colchester based company SAS Accounting, he wanted some images of himself so his clients can see who they are dealing with.

One of my furry friends, Murphy cat chilling in the garden over the w.end.

I often take pictures which never get posted or seen by anyone, mainly because I take them for my own pleasure but also because often they do not seem to fit into any particular category. I can spend hours photographing something which has caught my eye, this lilly was calling out for attention so I couldn’t ignore it.

To find out more about my latest offers on Boudoir photography please go to my site at Boudoir Vous

So yesterday I took some time out to go to the first Colchester Means Business Expo at Charter Hall in Colchester. Free entrance and free parking which is always good, I knew there would be lots of people there some of whom I know, so it was a perfect opportunity to network and also to get out and mingle. Being self employed can sometimes be quite isolating so it’s always good to take a break and catch up with others.

I wore a branded T shirt left over from an event I took part in last year at the Castle Park. I figured there would be lots of suits attending so thought I would try and stand out a little, I felt a bit self conscious at first but soon relaxed when I saw some familiar faces.

This was just before myself Adrian and Chris decided to brave the speed networking session, which was super loud, mad and fun. Thanks to everyone who organised the day, it was definitely worthwhile attending I picked up some really useful contacts and fingers crossed have also got some work coming from it.

Mark came to have his portrait taken at my studio in Colchester, he wants to add an image of himself to his website so people can see who they are dealing with. Mark supplies labels for products and as he told me more about the interesting world of ribbons & labels he noticed the labels on my Bowens studio lights (which are a few years old now) were ones which he had supplied years ago! These labels had to be made to withstand heat as the lights heat up, so the glue and material used to produce the label is very important.

They still look in great condition so Mark obviously got it spot on. To find out more about Marks labelling products please visit his website Ribbon & Labels Supplies.

Lee approached me a while back after seeing my business photography website he recently came back to the studio looking for some images which he can use for promotional material and newsletters. Lee is not your average accountant, each time someone refers a client to him the company gives money to Charity, he is extremely helpful and approachable and never makes accounting sound dull. It’s always a pleasure to photograph him as he has his own creative ideas and as you can see is comfortable in front of the camera.To find out more about Lee’s accounting service take a look at their website: Pro Tax Accounting

Anthony Downie

I recently did a series of images for Castellon Olives  they wanted their product photography images as PNG files on a clear layer with added shadow so that they could use them in different places on their website.

Each product was shot against a pure white perspex background at my studio and cut out in Photoshop saved as PNG files and transferred onto a clear layer.

How to prepare for your Boudoir shoot at BoudoirVous

What to wear on arrival: Remember that some clothing will dig into your skin and cause lines, the worst culprits are socks which cause lines around the ankles, bra’s which leave lines on the shoulder and across the back and under your bust and knickers which leave lines around your bottom or across the tops of your thighs. Although it is possible to photo-shop these lines out it can sometimes be very tricky so please try and wear loose fitting underwear which is not tight on the day.

Remember the details: Most women will want to wax or shave but do remember to moisturise, the lights and heat in the room will dry your skin out so moisturising your after your shower or bath is a good idea. Think about every detail of your body, your eyebrows, your nails on your hands and feet, are you going to wear earring’s if so will they match with your chosen outfit?

Make-up: Most clients turn up with no make up or wearing very little, don’t worry if you do not feel comfortable going out without make-up on as the make-up artist always removes any make-up and cleanses your skin before she starts applying make-up for your shoot.

Hair: Most hair dressers will tell you that if you are going to style your hair it will behave better if it hasn’t been freshly washed, so try not to arrive on the day with washed hair. Especially if you are thinking about having your hair curled or crimped, it takes better and stays in longer on hair which hasn’t just been washed.

What to bring: Once you have decided what style of shoot you are going for please bring a long any extra props you might want to use. I often share my Pinterest boards with my clients to give them ideas and inspiration on hair, make-up and outfits. The number of changes will be determined by which package you have chosen but remember you can accessorize. Props you might want to bring with you-

Hats
Long gloves
Garter
Veil
Feather bower
Jewellery
Shoes
Boots
Masks
Cane
Whip
His watch, motorcycle helmet, or favourite something
A hand made sign or message which you may want to hold e.g. Happy Birthday

Lastly try not to feel too nervous, your Boudoir shoot is about making you look and feel fabulous. It is completely private and confidential and images are only shared if you give me written permission to do so.