Looking for some ideas on how to celebrate your upcoming 40th birthday? Have you considered booking yourself in for a fabulous 40th birthday boudoir shoot with me? That’s exactly what my client Clare did for hers this year, booking a luxury hotel room in London for the occasion and enjoying complimentary hair and make-up with my stylist for the ultimate pamper day.

As someone who is rapidly approaching this fabulous season of my own life, it excites me to see fearless leaders like Clare – as well as previous clients Anne (45) and Pupin De Vert (57) – openly honouring their beautiful bodies and crushing any limiting beliefs that start with ‘women over a certain age should not…’ into submission.

Because what I’ve come to realise as I level up each year, is that the true translation of the phrase is actually “women who have realised how powerful they are…” and refusing to let the number of times their physical form has travelled around the sun dictate what they can and cannot do with their bodies is the most perfect act of radical self-love.

There’s so much more I could say I could say on this topic – and I probably will in another blog post one day – but for now, let me leave you with the fabulous words of Clare below, who couldn’t have put it more perfectly…

CLARE

Occupation: Director of an Event Company that specialises in festivals 

How would your best friend describe you? Organised, to the point, kind

Name three things that you always carry with you? My notebook, my eyebrow pencil, a snack!

What was the last book you read? Mo Gawdat – Solve For Happy

Do you remember how you originally found me? One of my best friends found your Instagram about two years ago, and I made a promise to myself that I would do it for my 40th birthday. I kept the website bookmarked on my computer for all that time, and had it as a goal I wanted to achieve. You can’t back out if you have been aiming to do something for two years!

What inspired you to book a boudoir photoshoot? I turned 40 a few months ago, and I wanted to celebrate the idea that you can still be sexy and strong as you move away from your youth. You look around you and all you see are young models in the prime of their life, but personally I only found my real beauty as I got older; that beauty was in my intelligence, my experience, my strength, and a new-found confidence that I gained from accepting my body as it is. As we get older we physically and mentally deteriorate, so I like to think that today I am the best I am going to be, and to make sure I celebrate that. The photoshoot was part of that celebration.

Who would play you in a movie of your life? Is there a female version of Ryan Renolds?!

What’s the most interesting thing about you that the internet doesn’t know about you yet? Probably that I did this photoshoot haha!

Tell us about one of the outfits you wore for your birthday boudoir shoot – why do you love it? I wanted to try and be sustainable, so I hunted around for some second-hand pieces, and found a beautiful vintage Agent Provocateur body on DePop. It was quite a simple outfit choice but was a perfect fit and came with the box and labels still intact! It ended up being a last-minute purchase and the seller was really kind to rush it out to me, but on the day it actually became my favourite outfit. 

Describe your boudoir experience? It was so much fun! Firstly I checked into the hotel and made myself at home by getting out all my outfits and accessories. Tigz and the make-up artist arrived shortly after and it felt like we were instantly friends. I have never had my makeup done professionally before, so it was a total shock to see how good I could look with the right tricks and some fake eyelashes! We had a great chat during that time and it made me feel really comfortable and ready for the shoot. When it was time to take the photos, Tigz popped on some 90s classics and guided me into poses all the way through. I have never done anything like this before and I usually hate having my photo taken, so I had no idea on how to deliver a flattering pose or a good angle; but Tigz took total control of that and made it really easy. Along the way she would show me some of the photos, and that really helped to build my confidence and settle me into it. I was exhausted by the end, but I was on such a high.

What song gets you on the dancefloor? 90s indie bangers or pure pop like Taylor Swift or Britney. I’m a sucker for a pop song!

What are you most proud of in your life so far? I am most proud of the fact that I never stop challenging myself. Whether it is through building my business, continuing my education, or just trying new things like living abroad or doing this photoshoot, I am always excited to be grabbing hold of everything and seeing where it takes me 

What is your top body confidence tip? Stop comparing yourself to other people and unrealistic images of photoshopped celebs. You will never have an ass, boobs, or legs that every person in the world will love. BUT you have an ass and boobs and legs that someone, somewhere in the world will love, and what more do you need than that! 

If you could be a model for any brand, which brand would it be and why? I don’t really wear any brands so maybe dress me up in more vintage Agent Provocateur and I’d be happy!

What advice would you give to anyone thinking about booking a boudoir shoot of their own? It sounds like it would be scary to strip down to your pants in front of a total stranger and to get your photograph taken. It sounds like it would need loads of body confidence and the most expensive and perfect underwear. It sounds like it would be embarrassing and awkward, and your cellulite or tummy rolls would ruin the photos. None of this is the case. The photoshoot with Tigz showed me a side of myself that I didn’t think there was, and built my confidence no-end. She posed me so that every photo was flattering; she told me endlessly how amazing I looked; she made me feel a million dollars in a second-hand outfit. You don’t need to be someone special or have an amazing body to do this photoshoot…because you will realise afterwards that you have ALWAYS had an amazing body and been someone special.

What exciting project are you working on right now? Lots of summer festivals with my company, We Organise Chaos. Getting ready to make parties for everyone to enjoy!

WANT TO BOOK YOUR OWN 40TH BIRTHDAY BOUDOIR SHOOT?

Let’s make it happen! Here is all the information you need to book a boudoir shoot with me right now