The Madison Bou Blog

YORKSHIRE’S FINEST BOUDOIR EXPERIENCE

DO YOU • BE YOU • LOVE YOU!

Madison Bou is one of the leading Boudoir Photography studios in the UK with over 20 years experience. Read on to learn more about Boudoir Photography and the Madison Bou Boudoir Photo Shoot Experience plus news, tips, and insights — PLUS see photos from previous clients’ Boudoir photo shoots and hear about their experiences in their own words.

Dave Sander Dave Sander

BOUDOIR - THE ULTIMATE LUXURY GIFT

Are you searching for The ultimate luxury gift for your partner that strikes the perfect balance between empowering and pampering her?

A boudoir session is just what you are looking for.

It is a unique and personal experience for that special woman in your life.

Boudoir shoots make for a truly unique and personal gift that allows her to flaunt herself, feel sexy, and feel empowered.

It is one of the best gift ideas for the woman that has everything. What’s more, it’s effects can last for decades.

Boudoir is about more than just taking sexy photos!

The images become treasured keepsakes and preserve a moment in time for the two of you to look back on for many years to come.

Similar to taking family photos to capture ever-changing faces and family dynamics or hanging on to mementos from trips and important occasions.

Your wife or partner may want a Boudoir Experience Session because she thinks it’s important to capture and celebrate herself as an individual. (or certainly, you do, because she’s special, right?)…

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

BOUDOIR FOR ANY OCCASION

WHY SHOULD YOU BOOK A BOUDOIR PHOTOSHOOT?

TO CELEBRATE A MILESTONE such as…Birthday • First date anniversary • Engagement • Wedding anniversary •Honeymoon • Christmas • Valentine’s Day • Maternity • Mother’s/Father’s Day • Conquering an illness • Achieving A Weight Loss Goal • Achieving An Award • A Promotion At Work • Celebrating the Birth of Your Baby • Just to say “I love you!”

But…. If you’d like 100 more great reasons, then here they are…

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

How To Get Your Sexy Back

They say beauty comes from the inside and so does ‘sexy’.

You may not feel particularly beautiful if you split up from a partner and you may not feel particularly sexy after a long week at work, but if you learn to be kind to yourself, then your sexy will most definitely came back.

It’s not about being a size zero either, it’s about learning to give yourself love that will make you feel sexy and beautiful. As long as you feel good and accept yourself, others will see your sexy and beauty too.

Keep in mind though, sometimes our feelings about ourself can nosedive, particularly in challenging times, such as financial hardship, relationship breakup or illness. The road back to sexy is often a journey which can take some time. A Boudoir Photoshoot is part of that recovery process. A Boudoir Experience is a non judgemental way to learn to accept yourself and become comfortable in your own skin. To look in the mirror and be happy with what you see. This feeling is hugely liberating. We often feel so lost in ourselves that we can no longer see the positives but after a few hours in front of the camera you’ll see yourself as if through someone else’s eyes and start to appreciate your own awesome, beautiful self.

In this article we give you some simple suggestions to start the journey to GET YOUR SEXY BACK.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

GLAMOROUS BOUDOIR

Glamour is a term that has been used for centuries to describe a certain kind of irresistible charm and allure. It is often associated with Hollywood stars and fashion icons, but glamour is not just about looking good. It is about projecting a certain kind of energy and confidence that draws people in and leaves them wanting more. It’s that ‘light up the room’ quality that some people have. In this article, we’re exploring the art of glamour and how you can cultivate it in your own life.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

THE TIMELESS APPEAL OF BLACK AND WHITE BOUDOIR PORTRAITS

Art is an incredibly subjective thing and when you first go about choosing a Photographer to photograph your Boudoir Experience it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the sheer number of options out there.

We always suggest that the most important thing to do is to find a photographer who’s style resonates with you.

Are the pictures you see online the kind of pictures you’d love to have of yourself?

Everyone has a different opinion on what they like from pictures. Some just don’t see the world in a very visual way and literally have no clue as to what makes a good or ‘bad’ picture. As a photographer, I find these kind of people quite frustrating since I view the world very visually. I watch films and see exquisite use of lighting setups and others just don’t care about piffling little details as ‘cinematography’.

We all see things differently and that’s the wonderful thing about being human.

Some people don’t care about colour toning or ‘styling’ and some people are more opinionated about that kind of stuff.

Do you prefer Black and White or colour, or doesn’t it matter?

Of course, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question, it’s ‘art’ after all and what’s important is what you like.

So, this article is about choosing between the vibrant palette of full-colour and the more nostalgic, classic style of black and white which you’ll see quite a lot of when you go searching for your Boudoir Photographer.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

5 Boudoir Props That Never Go Out of Style

There’s nothing wrong with heading to your boudoir shoot with what little clothes you plan to have on, but some girls like to spice things up and bring boudoir props and accessories to their session.

Dressing up in costume or incorporating props into your boudoir shoot is a fun way to show off your individual style and personality or act out a personal fantasy for you or your partner. Those who love the ‘shades of Grey’ look often bring handcuffs, feathers, whips and chains. If this is your style, then go with it but always stay authentic to who you are or the results will look cheesy and false.

Costumes are another common thing that clients bring to their Boudoir shoots. Anything from super heroes to real work uniforms. We try to discourage costumes bought cheaply from fancy dress stores and encourage the real thing wherever possible. (Fireman’s uniform for example, though the real ‘spiderman’ outfit may be harder to find….. Peter Parker doesn’t like sharing)

Boudoir is intimate in so many different ways.

Boudoir, if done right, strips away any pretense. It gives you the space to be who you are. And in that moment of clarity, you discover what pulsates within you. What obsessions. What desires. What drama and flair.

It brings such a sense of connection and soul to the art that is photography.

Boudoir is often raw, often sensual but always transformative. And when something tells so compelling a story in images, it demands the best in terms of settings and props to let the saga unfold.

So here is a list of five boudoir props that will never go out of style & that we recommend across the board.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A BOUDOIR PHOTOSHOOT

Many women we see are nervous about what to expect during a photo shoot. After all, they’ve mostly never done anything like this before and when you combine this with the fact that the majority of women have real anxieties about their bodies it’s no wonder they arrive with a certain trepidation.

This is completely natural, but with the right preparation and a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, the experience can be an empowering and enjoyable one for everyone.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

WHY DO THE WOMEN ON THIS WEBSITE LOOK LIKE MODELS

When women tell they can’t do a Boudoir Photoshoot because they don’t look like the “models” on our website.

First of all, yes you can! And secondly. The “models” on our website are not models at all.

They are everyday women just like you.

They are mums, teachers, nurses, waitresses, cashiers, technicians, and a multitude of other professions.

The vast majority of the women you see on our website did not have an inkling of how to be a model before walking in the door. Why would they? After all, modelling is a craft just like any other. It takes time to learn the craft, it’s not just about being pretty. There are millions of people who fit into that category. Being a model is about looking confident and natural in front of the camera. Most people tend to look quite awkward without a little tutoring.

That’s what we’re here for. During your shoot with us we will guide you every step of the way. We will point your toes, tell you what to do with your hands and help you with your facial expressions. It’s why the women in our ‘portfolio’ look comfortable on camera, because we’ve worked hard with them to make them feel comfortable, even with very few clothes on.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

REASONS TO CONSIDER A COUPLES BOUDOIR PHOTO SHOOT

We Are The Couples Boudoir Photographers in Yorkshire and we’ve been photographing couples for 20 years.

Celebrate your relationship with a couples photoshoot at Madison Bou.

Explore your relationship in a new light, spark that fire, feel alive, adventurous, excited, erotic, sensual, passionate and just plain super Sexy!

Maybe you've never resonated with any of these things… but here’s your chance.

This might just be the best date you've ever been on.

You'll finish your experience with amazing art for your home, that you can look back on and say WOW!....IS...THIS...REALLY US?

This is the perfect anniversary gift / Valentines Gift / Pregnancy Gift / ‘Just because’ Gift

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

PLUS SIZE BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY

Boudoir photography has long been associated with celebrating the unique beauty of individuals, transcending conventional standards of attractiveness and throughout this blog you’ll see we constantly address the fact that we welcome and encourage women of all shapes and sizes (and ages) to enjoy the Boudoir Experience.

There is no rule book when it comes to beauty and yet the media, social media, in particular, would like us to think there is. If we were to accept only what the fashion industry shoves down our necks then only size 6 women are able to wear fashionable clothes. Of course this is poppycock and, thankfully, the industry is changing but the change is slow. We are seeing more and more women of different sizes been represented in the media but it’s still the case that the number one reason women stop short of enjoying a Boudoir Experience is because of being self conscious of their weight. This is such a shame since the real power of a Boudoir photoshoot is to build confidence in the way you look and to increase self-love towards the body you have right now. We see it all the time with the women we photograph who start off with body issues (just like everyone else) and then we see how much more they grow in confidence after their shoot. The positive effects are clear to see with absolutely every single person who comes to us, though, with some women, these effects aare extreme. Literally life changing! (We keep saying this but only when you experience it yourself will you really believe it)

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

Top 20 Reasons To Do A Boudoir Photoshoot in Yorkshire

A Madison Bou Boudoir Photoshoot is about so much more than creating lovely pictures.

It's a celebration of confidence, sensuality, and embracing the beauty that defines you.

Whether you're considering this empowering experience for the very first time or seeking to renew your connection with your own sensuality, here are the top 20 reasons why choosing a Boudoir Photoshoot in Yorkshire could be the transformative journey you've been waiting for…

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

CELEBRATING INCLUSIVITY

You’ll notice us mention this throughout this website… Madison Bou is committed to embracing diversity in all it’s glorious forms. We have become known for empowering the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating the huge range of cultural diversity in Yorkshire.

From a young age, My father taught me that men and women should all be equal, black and white, yellow, brown, all skins should be seen as one ‘colour’ and nobody should be judged or treated differently in society.

I grew up as an ‘agnostic’ in a very Jewish part of London and attended more bah-mitzvahs than I can remember.

To this day I struggle to understand why prejudices exist at all and worry that religion seems to divide more people than it unites which is kind of a paradox.

I’ve never struggled with sexuality, believing utterly, that humans should be allowed to fall in love with whoever they please. However, like many of my generation, I do struggle with the vast multitude of personal pronouns that I encounter on a daily basis and hope to God that this is just a passing phase and will go out of fashion before dementia kicks in.

Luckily I have a thoroughly clued up teenage daughter to help explain it all to me.

So with all that in mind, know this, we will do everything we can to provide a safe and non judgemental space for what we believe, should be one of the most exciting and empowering experiences of your life - Your very own Boudoir Photoshoot.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

THE MAIN REASON WOMEN DON’T BOOK A BOUDOIR PHOTOSHOOT

We all get bombarded by unrealistic beauty standards on a daily basis. Fake perfection is everywhere and everyone looks so happy and content leading such perfect lives that sometimes it can make us feel that we’re the odd ones out. We’re not quite good enough somehow.

A Boudoir Photoshoot has some responsibility in debunking this myth of fake perfection. Size and weight are not an issue and should not hold you back from enjoying this experience. Yet, as a studio that specialises in boudoir photography, we often hear from clients who are apprehensive about booking a session because they believe they are curvier than will look good on camera. They worry that they won’t look as good as the ‘models’ they see on our website or on social media, and that their insecurities will be magnified in front of the camera.

It’s totally understandable to think that way but hold on a second… These women are not ‘professional models’ on our site, they are women, just like you. Same worries, same insecurities.

You may have been railroaded into thinking you’re not ‘good enough’ or that you don’t have the ‘right body’ for boudoir but this is all in your mind. This is simply not true.

The real truth is that every woman deserves to celebrate her unique beauty, regardless of what the ‘fake perfection’ media think.

Every Body is unique and every body is amazing and embracing this diversity is the true power of this empowering experience called Boudoir.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

The best Underwear To Make Your Bum Look Amazing in A Boudoir Photoshoot

Knickers, panties, briefs, whatever you prefer to call them are often the least thought about item of underwear people decide on to bring to their shoot. This is a terrible mistake since in our experience, panties are one of the most unflattering outfits in the boudoir catalogue. If they’re too tight and the sides are too thin, love handles will be the result. If they sit too low and are a smidgen too small, mummy tummies will look like middle aged men’s beer bellies. (Oh and by the way, we’re not talking about some women, we’re talking about all women here. There’s no getting away from the effects of tight, ill fitting knickers!)

Thoughtfully chosen knickers are essential if you want an epic bum shot in your Boudoir album. To take an epic bum shot requires good posing and flattering underwear. This can’t be done with attitude and lighting.

Flattering underwear is all about the fit—tighter is not necessarily better. In fact, it’s better to have underwear that’s a little bit too big because with the right posing, no one will even notice.

One piece of advice when shopping for the right underwear is to avoid thin straps. G-strings, for example run a river through the mountains and give a permanent wedgie. They show off maximum bottom but have no control so, our advice for a photoshoot is to steer clear of thongs unless you have the most perfect, model butt. The strings also cut into the sides to amplify ‘love handles’ and it’s not the most flattering look.

So with these tips in mind, here are the 3 best types of underwear to make your bum look amazing!

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

WHY A SWEATER IS A PERFECT LOOK FOR YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTOSHOOT

We often get asked what outfits to bring to the session by our new clients.

We then list the outfits that seem to always work for boudoir and then we suggest that they should also bring a stretchy wool jumper to the shoot and you can hear the jaws drop to the floor at the other end of the phone.

A jumper? How could that be as sexy as lingerie? We’ll trust us when we say… They are.

It can be worn in so many ways, you can wear a sweater off the shoulder, lift it up to get the rare under-boob look or use it to hide areas that someone might be self conscious about. Open weave, real wool sweaters are best to allow that tantalising ‘peek a boo’ sexiness and the bigger and stretchier the better. (Also, try and stay clear of patterns. Plain and simple but great quality jumpers are an investment and so worth the extra)

Even a cardigan has its place among other Boudoir essentials. A cardigan with buttons, that you can unbutton and button back up….. seriously, what could be sexier? Sleeves can be pulled over the hands for a snuggly, soft look. Sweaters are great for showing off the curves and contours of the body in a subtle, yet powerful, manner. In the pictures below, an open weave, white top is used showing yet another variation of the stretchy jumper idea. These stretchy fabrics are so adaptable and work on pretty much anyone.

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

Things To Do Before Your Boudoir Photoshoot

A Boudoir Photoshoot is an empowering journey, capturing moments of confidence and celebrating your life’s journey.

To ensure your experience is as seamless and memorable as possible, proper preparation is key.

In this guide, we'll walk you through essential things to do before your boudoir photoshoot, helping you feel poised, confident, and ready to embrace the art of self-celebration….

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

The Perfect Location For The Perfect Boudoir Photoshoot

When it comes to boudoir photography, the location sets the stage for capturing moments of intimacy, empowerment, and sheer luxury.

Choosing the right location enhances the overall aesthetic style of the photoshoot with the use of setting, furnishings and backdrops. A Luxury Boudoir experience isn’t all about luxurious settings but about creating something unique to each client. It could be wearing a swimsuit in the client’s own swimming pool or garden Hot Tub or nude horseback riding ‘Lady Godiva’ style in a private wood.

Discovering the ideal locations for a luxury boudoir photoshoot involves seeking environments that not only complement your personal style but also evoke a sense of indulgence.

From lavish suites in upscale hotels to the most personal location of all - Your beautiful home. The choice is yours and though the options are endless, this article will list some of our favourites…

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Dave Sander Dave Sander

Sensual Black and White Boudoir Photography

For those that love the timeless classiness of boudoir in Black and White we now have a Black and White Gallery just for you. We would love nothing more than to be commissioned to create a stunning Black and White album just for you, printed on our new Fine Art Matt pages which have a real wow factor.

The absence of colour allows us to simply focus on form, texture, and emotion, creating an intimate visual narrative that is extra-ordinary. This is our version of sensual black and white boudoir photography, where every frame tells a story of elegance, empowerment, and the celebration of individual beauty…

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“Last year I had a photo shoot with Madison Bou. I can’t recommend Dave enough as a photographer. If you are camera-phobic, he has a way of making you forget it’s even there. He has a great team of make up artists and assistants who managed to turn me from looking like something the cat had dragged in to this!” … Clare