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Everything you might be wondering before your GWS Boudoir experience
I’m really nervous. Is that normal?
Completely. In fact, we’d be more surprised if you weren’t at least a little nervous.
Almost every woman we photograph tells us she’s nervous beforehand. Some tell us they’re absolutely
terrified. They worry they won’t know what to do, won’t know how to pose or simply won’t look good in the
photographs.
You don’t have to know any of that. That’s our job.
And there’s something Ali often says when she’s chatting to women about booking: the girls who go away
to think about it usually never do it.
Not because they don’t want to. They start thinking of all the reasons they’re nervous, and something
they’d genuinely love to do gets pushed back to ‘maybe one day’.
So our advice is: book it. Be nervous. And trust us.
Within about five minutes of meeting Leanne and Ali, you’ll realise there was absolutely nothing to worry
about. We’ll be chatting, laughing, helping with outfits and showing you exactly what to do. Before you
know it, you’ll be loving it.
You don’t need to get rid of the nerves before you book. Just bring them with you. We’ll take care of the
rest.
Do I need to know how to pose?
Absolutely not. That’s our job.
Leanne will guide you into positions that work for you, your outfit and your body shape. She’ll also make the
tiny adjustments that make an enormous difference in photographs.
Nobody is going to tell you to ‘just be sexy’ and leave you wondering what on earth you’re supposed to do
next.
I’m worried I’m too old for a Boudoir shoot. Am I?
No.
We’ve photographed women from their 20s right through to their 60s, and there really isn’t a ‘right age’ for
Boudoir.
Some women come to us for a milestone birthday. Some after children, divorce, illness or a big change in
their lives. Others have simply thought about doing a Boudoir shoot for years and finally decided it’s time.
You don’t age out of feeling good about yourself.
Do I need to lose weight before my shoot?
Please don’t feel that you need to change yourself before you come through our door.
This is something we hear surprisingly often: ‘I’d love to do it, but I’d like to lose a bit of weight first.’
We’ve photographed women of all different heights, dress sizes and body shapes. Good posing, lighting
and photography are about working with the person standing in front of us – not expecting everybody to
have the same body.
Come as you are.
I’m plus-size or curvy. Is Boudoir suitable for me?
Of course.
Boudoir isn’t reserved for one particular dress size, and our portfolio deliberately includes real GWS clients
with different bodies, ages and shapes.
We don’t want to turn everybody into the same person. The whole point is to create photographs in which
you still look like you – on a particularly bloody good day.
I have a disability or limited mobility. Can I still have a Boudoir shoot?
Please talk to us – we’d love to see what we can do for you.
We’ve already photographed a wonderful Boudoir client who uses a wheelchair, adapting the shoot and
poses around what worked for her.
Every person’s needs are different, so if you have limited mobility, a disability or anything else you’d like us
to know about, tell us before your session. We can plan around you rather than expecting you to fit around
a standard set of poses.
Do you provide hair and make-up?
Not at present.
Most of our clients currently arrive having done their own hair and make-up exactly as they would for a
special night out, and that works beautifully.
We are planning to introduce a separate Deluxe Boudoir Experience with professional hair and
make-up during 2027 for women who’d like the whole thing taken care of.
For our current shoots, we’re very happy to give you some guidance beforehand if you’re unsure how you’d
like to look.
What should I wear?
Whatever makes you feel good.
That could be beautiful lingerie, a bodysuit, an oversized shirt, stockings, a favourite bra, a partner’s shirt or
something completely different. You certainly don’t need to arrive with a suitcase full of expensive new
lingerie.
Before your shoot we’ll talk through ideas with you, including colours and styles, and you can bring a few
different options. We also have fabrics, drapes and other pieces at the studio that we can use creatively.
Bring more than you think you’ll need and we’ll help choose what will photograph best.
Do I have to show lots of skin?
No. It’s entirely up to you.
Boudoir can be as subtle or as daring as you’re comfortable with. A great Boudoir photograph doesn’t
depend on how much you’re wearing.
We’ll discuss what you’re comfortable with and won’t push you beyond it.
Who will be there during my shoot?
Your shoot is photographed by Leanne, with Ali there too.
It’s a small, private team and we’ve deliberately designed the experience that way. There won’t be people
wandering in and out of the studio while you’re being photographed.
Privacy and feeling comfortable are extremely important to us.
Can I bring someone with me?
If having somebody you trust with you would make you more comfortable, have a chat with us beforehand.
We want the studio to feel relaxed, but we’ll also advise you if we think you’d actually relax more once the
photography starts without an audience.
Where are you?
Our private studio is in a beautiful converted farm steading in East Lothian, around 10 minutes from
Edinburgh.
We’re close enough to be very easy to reach from the city, but far enough out to be peaceful, discreet and
private.
There’s also free parking right outside, so there’s no walking through Edinburgh carrying a bag of lingerie
or trying to find a city-centre parking space.
Is the studio private?
Yes.
One of the advantages of our location is that this isn’t a busy city-centre photography studio with people
constantly coming and going.
Your Boudoir experience is treated as a private appointment. It’s relaxed, discreet and very much your
space while you’re with us.
Will my photographs appear online?
Not unless we’ve agreed that with you.
We know Boudoir photographs are particularly personal. We will never simply assume that because you’ve
had a shoot we’re free to put your photographs on our website or social media.
Some clients are delighted to let us share selected photographs and help other women see what a real
GWS Boudoir shoot looks like. Others want their photographs kept completely private.
Both are absolutely fine.
Do you heavily retouch the photographs?
We want you to look fantastic, but we also want you to recognise yourself.
Good photography starts in camera with flattering lighting, posing and careful attention to detail rather than
trying to rebuild somebody afterwards.
We’ll professionally finish your photographs, but our aim isn’t to change your body into somebody else’s.
What happens on the day?
We’ll start with a chat and a cuppa rather than immediately pointing a camera at you.
We’ll look through what you’ve brought, talk about the photographs we’re going to create and ease into the
shoot.
Leanne will guide you throughout and we’ll change outfits and looks as we go. There’s no conveyor belt
and no need to rush.
The experience is supposed to be part of the fun – not simply the bit you have to endure to get the
photographs.
When do I see my photographs?
Usually around a week after your shoot you’ll return to GWS for your private Design Consultation.
We’ll show you your finished photographs properly on our large screen and help you decide which ones
you love and what you’d like to do with them.
There’s something very different about seeing your photographs properly for the first time rather than
receiving a little online gallery on your phone.
How much does a Boudoir shoot cost?
Your Boudoir experience is £95 to reserve.
You’ll return to GWS for your private viewing once your photographs are ready, where you’ll see everything
properly and decide what you’d love to take home.
There’s no need to choose a package or decide what you’re going to buy before we’ve even taken a
photograph of you.
Your £95 simply gets the date in the diary and gets you through the door. We’ll take care of
everything else from there.
We have packages and beautiful products from £295 – with most girls spending £350 to £650
What if I hate photographs of myself?
Then you will be in very good company.
A surprising number of our Boudoir clients tell us exactly that when they enquire.
Often it’s not that somebody can’t look good in photographs. They’ve simply spent years seeing snapshots
taken at the wrong moment, from an unflattering angle, under terrible lighting.
Professional portrait photography is rather different.
You don’t need to become photogenic before you arrive. That’s another one of our jobs.
What if I feel self-conscious about a particular part of my body?
Tell us.
Almost everybody has something they worry about, and there’s absolutely no embarrassment in
mentioning it.
It helps Leanne understand what you’re conscious of and lets us use posing, clothing, camera angles and
lighting intelligently. Equally, we may show you that something you’ve spent years worrying about isn’t
nearly as significant as you think it is.
Can I book a Saturday?
We have selected Saturday appointments available for Boudoir.
If you can’t see a suitable Saturday when you’re looking at our available dates, get in touch and we’ll check
what else we can offer.
I’ve been thinking about doing this for ages, but I’m still not sure I’ll actually have
the nerve.
You don’t need to suddenly wake up one morning transformed into an extraordinarily confident woman who
loves being photographed.
That’s not how most of our clients arrive.
Some have been thinking about doing this for years before finally booking.
You only have to make the first decision. We’ll help with everything that comes after it.
Still wondering about something?
There really isn’t a silly question when it comes to something this personal. If there’s anything you’d rather
ask privately before deciding, send us a message. Ali or Leanne will be very happy to help.