Showcasing Dannii

This month I’m going to showcase one of my amazing ladies, Dannii. Turning 30 at the end of the month, experiencing a boudoir session was on her bucket list. Like so many of us, Dannii has struggled with her self-image throughout her life, doing that terrible thing that we all we do when we compare ourselves to others and feel like we aren’t measuring up. But now Dannii has decided to start taking control of her own self worth. I absolutely adore this woman and the way that she has empowered herself. She is utterly beautiful, kind and inspirational and I’m so happy that she chose me. Happy 30th Birthday, Dannii...you are incredible xx


“I’ve been thinking hard about what I’d like to say about my photoshoot at Ruby Light Boudoir, it’s hard to summarise such a wonderful experience, but I will try.
Throughout my whole life I have struggled with body image and comparing myself to others. I would put myself down and get upset over not being a certain size and being ‘the fat one’ amongst my groups of friends. At the beginning of my 29th year I decided to make a list of 30 things to do before 30, and a boudoir photoshoot was a must. To be captured in a different light, pushing myself well out of my comfort zone, and loving the skin I’m in - lumps, bumps and bulges. I had decided to say NO to the criticism & self doubt, and say YES to loving myself and my body. So I did some research, and was thrilled when I came across Rachel’s page and her body of work. It was inspiring and tasteful. I immediately knew Rachel was who I wanted to shoot me, and capture me at my most vulnerable.
When I arrived at Rachel’s studio on the Thursday morning, the ambiance was calm and welcoming!! I was offered tea, coffee, biscuits whilst I had my hair and makeup perfectly applied by Sasha. Meanwhile, Rachel prepared my outfits and wrote up a detailed plan about what content we wanted to capture today and what we wanted to achieve from the shoot. After what seemed like the quickest hour in hair & makeup, lots of girl talk, and a copious amount of compliments, Rachel and Sasha helped me feel so beautiful and confident - I was ready for my shoot. 
Putting yourself out there and dressing ‘sexy’ in front of someone you barely know sounds super intimidating, but Rachel made me feel like we had always been friends which made me feel more relaxed and confident. The shoot itself lasted for around two hours, which absolutely flew by. Rachel directed me with ease, my poses, facial expressions, even moving all of the furniture around in the short time it took me to change into the next outfit. Clearly her proper preparation paid off, the shoot flowed seamlessly. 
After lots of poses, a couple of outfit changes, a bit of dancing between shots (her playlist was FULL of bangers) and plenty of laughs, that was it, that was a wrap!! A short weeks wait until I could see the images that Rachel had so sympathetically captured. I left the studio feeling a great sense of achievement, I felt fulfilled. I felt happy.
I returned to the studio to see my photographs on the following Wednesday. I was very nervous to see my images, after all,  What if I hated them? What if they didn’t come out as well as I hoped? Did I really look as sensuous as I felt?
When I first saw the pictures, I was in shock. That was me! I ADORED them!!! I felt a huge sense of pride, I was proud of the confident women I have learned to love and celebrate. The photographs turned out far, far better than I had hoped for. Rachel really is a very talented lady, who clearly knows her art and loves what she does!!
I think every women should have an experience like this. I want every women to see how beautiful they are inside and out. I would have to say it was one of the best experiences of my life. It empowered me. I would 100% do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day! Thank you so, so much Rachel xxx

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