Women in Photography Since it’s invention in the 1800s, photography has historically been the domain of men. Adverts targeted male photographers assuming they had more technical knowledge and a greater ability. However in 1893, Kodak began using ‘Kodak Girl’ to market to women. Whilst the intention was there, the sentiment needed work with phras...

Corset Photography Are you an established designer who needs a portfolio update? Are you just starting up as a corset designer? Are you a design student who needs their work professionally documented? Having worked extensively with corsets throughout my career, it is one of my favourite genres of lingerie to photograph. I understand just how...

White Sheet Shoot Timeless, classic and sexy. Far and away, my most requested style of boudoir photoshoot, is the white sheet shoot. Wear your lingerie underneath if you like but with a white sheet draped as suggestively as you dare. Let the imagination run riot... sometimes it's what you don't see that makes an image more suggestive. Remember t...

Secrets to Looking Good on a Video Call Since sitting in front of a webcam is the new norm, I'm going to let you in on the secrets to looking your best on a video call, even if you are still in your PJs! It really can detract from what you are saying if viewers are more focussed on looking at the state of your living room behind... Yet it doesn't...

A Year in Review 2020 Well, 2020, what can I say.... you didn't quite turn out as planned! This year was supposed to be my best yet. At the beginning of the year, all my ducks were in a row. Fast forward a few months and I didn't even know where my ducks were. It's been tough, I won't lie. This year has been all kinds of wrong. Difficult times...

Press Release: Image of the Year 2020 After a rather difficult 2020, I was stunned to be announced as one of the finalists in the Image of the Year competition with this provocative image of model Blossom & Buttercups. The image was taken against the brick wall of the studio car park, using a Pixapro Pika200 light in a 47" octobox feathered to h...

The Perfect Gift Nothing says You are Beautiful like the Gift of a Photoshoot. If you are looking to give someone an experience they will never forget, not to mention a confidence boost, then have you thought about a Photoshoot Gift Voucher? A gift card for a Belle Privé photoshoot can be for any woman in your life, or maybe just for yourself! N...

Eek, do I have to get naked? Booking a Boudoir Photoshoot can be terrifying. I know, I've been there... on the wrong side of the camera! You are caught up in wanting some beautiful images but then worrying what you'll look like, whether people will notice your less than perfect ----- (insert body part). Let me explain two things: Firstly, most...

Lingerie Care If like me, you love your lingerie, how do you care for it? Whilst your day to day cotton basics can be thrown in the washing machine, how do you really look after your more delicate pieces? Beautiful lingerie can be an investment of hundreds of pounds so we want it to last as long as possible... There's a lot to consider with today...

How to choose a Boudoir Photographer It's not an everyday occurrence that you will be posing in your lingerie in front of a complete stranger... it can be both thrilling and scary, and so it's important to do your research. You need to make sure that you are working with professionals who know exactly what they are doing. Here are my top tips fo...

More Success I am so excited to have won a further 5 national awards for my work. The Guild of Photographers is a highly regarded national photographic body and its members are dedicated to enhancing their skills in the art, craft and profession of photography. Delighted that Emma has achieved this Award. The Guild has very demanding standards w...

Privacy Matters Are you interested in booking a Boudoir Photoshoot but concerned about your privacy? I understand many women have careers or community commitments that prevent them from even discussing their boudoir shoot publicly so read on for Belle Privé's privacy policies. Privé Studio I am a female photographer, and my stylist is also a...

Do you Pinterest? Hi, my name is Emma and I have a serious Pinterest obsession! I create mood boards for almost all my shoots and I encourage you to do the same.... So what is a mood board? A mood board is a collection of images, collated together, to set the tone of a shoot, to be used as inspiration. It doesn't mean that you are going t...

What happens on a Boudoir PhotoShoot? What happens on a shoot, doesn't stay on the shoot as I'm about to tell you exactly what to expect on the day. My goal is not only to make you look incredible but to make you feel completely at ease during your photoshoot. Preparation is the key, as well as knowing what to expect. Before the photoshoot i...

Manchester: Stay, Eat,Visit With so many of my clients travelling to shoot with me, I am constantly asked for hotel and restaurant recommendations. Why not make a night of it? A previous industrial city which thrived on the cotton industry (Belle Privé Studio is based at a Grade II listed former Cotton Mill) Manchester is now a world player in ter...