Having spent many months encouraging other ladies to have a photo shoot done I thought it only best I experience it for myself to give a true picture of what’s it like so I arranged a photo shoot with Alter Ego Portraits at their studio in Northampton.

 

So last week my photo shoot day arrived! I‘ve been so looking forward to it although I have been a bit nervous. As I was due to arrive at 9 in the morning, I made sure I left in plenty of time as travelling from the South round the M25 and then up the M1 - which can get quite hectic in the rush hour traffic. As I would be having my hair done I was told not to wear any make-up and only wash my hair but not use any hair products or straighteners – eeek! I already felt a bit naked and hoped no one would see me!

 

The Alter Ego studio is really easy to find only a 10-minute drive from junction 15. The studio is set in a beautiful setting off a private road in a new looking barn building. I was met by Martin and his assistant Lola who immediately put me at ease, offering me that much needed coffee.

 

Martin had already sent me a list of suggested items of clothing and shoes, as well as ideas of lingerie, such as Basques, corsets, suspender belts and stockings. Of course I’d packed everything, my case looked like I was going on vacation not for a photo shoot but I wanted to make sure that I had a good choice. Martin helped me in with my bags so we could have a look at what I’d brought along so we could discuss what I should wear as the shoot progressed.

 

I changed into a dressing gown so as not have any strap marks that clothing can sometimes leave. It also made it easier to get into my lingerie for the shoot. Then straight into hair and make-up, everyone was so friendly and chatty putting me at ease and calming my nerves before the photo shoot began. With curlers in, Toni, my hair and make-up artist for the day, expertly transformed my face and as I hadn’t managed to paint my nails a fabulous burgundy colour was applied. Once Toni had finished applying the make-up, the curlers came out and she styled my hair, I’d also brought along with me one of the fabulous hair accessories from Ruksana which just gave that finishing touch. With a glass of bubbly on hand to calm my nerves, I was really starting to relax.

 

So now it was time to get dressed (or rather undressed!). So as not to feel too nervous about getting undressed in front of the camera, Martin likes to start with some natural light shots with a few more clothes on, so the girls helped me into one of the Vollers corsets I brought along paired with my jeans and pair of black high heeled shoes. Then standing by a window I started to pose guided by both Martin and Lola into the best positions to catch the light. Toni was standing close by to retouch any make-up or re-do my hair if needed. Martin clicked away encouraging me all the time to relax and telling me how good I was looking. It was amazing how quickly I started to relax and really get into it without worrying about how I might look.

 

Then once enough photos had been taken I went back to the changing area and put on my Kiss Me Deadly Van Doren suspender belt and a pair of nude Aristoc lace top stockings. Keeping the Vollers corset on I put on the gorgeous matching corset skirt. I needed help getting the lacing of the corset re-laced so Lola helped me. I felt like a million dollars in this outfit and ready for some more posing.

 

This time the stage had been set for some fun retro feel ideas – sitting on a large wooded case posing with a compact mirror and some "no smoking" shots with an authentic cigarette holder. I was really relaxing now and starting to really enjoy the camera. The next pictures were to be of me wearing the Kiss Me Deadly Van Mimi Basque and thong together with the Kiss Me Deadly Ophelia stockings – really sexy lingerie - with just a pair of black high heel shoes. I came out of the dressing area wearing a long trench coat – the idea was for me to be sitting on the box with the coat flapping open slightly, using a wind machine so that it flapped open naturally to reveal my stockings and suspender straps.

 

After the raincoat pictures, I exchanged the coat for my dressing gown I brought with me, posing in front of “Dolly” a mannequin dressed in a fabulous corset still outfit. The shot was staged to look as if I was getting undressed to put the dress on. All the time revealing just a bit more of the lingerie I was wearing underneath – gently getting me more comfortable with just wearing my underwear in front of the camera. Then I took off the dressing gown and posed in front of the camera in just the lingerie – I was feeling far more relaxed than when I started so I really wasn’t worried about Martin taking the pictures and the girls were on hand all the time encouraging me not to feel self-conscious.

 

The next lingerie change was into the beautiful Rosy Divine chemise and thong. I exchanged the stockings and suspenders for a pair of black Aristoc lace-top holdup stockings, and, wearing a pair of strappy high heels once again came onto the set. This outfit not only looks gorgeous, but made me feel really sexy and raised my confidence to pose for the camera. I was really getting into the shoot now and posed quite happily with some back shots, then slowly turning round for some front shots. I was sure the photos would be good as I felt fantastic! I even managed pluck up the courage to take the chemise off and have some back shots taken in just the thong - which is just “Divine” - and stockings.

 

Changing once more for some boudoir shots I changed into Kiss Me Deadly Alouette with a Van Mimi thong. The lights had been dimmed so that I didn't feel intimidated. Totally relaxed now and really enjoying myself, I quite happily posed on a table for some more intimate pictures.

 

All done! I got back into the jeans and top I had been wearing when I arrived.

 

As I was staying to see the finished pictures, I had to kill a few hours before coming back to the studio for a viewing. Most paople tend to come back on a different day but today I joined Martin and Toni for a spot of lunch while Lola busily worked on the photos. My mind was racing! It was so exciting thinking about what the photos were going to be like!

 

When I returned for my viewing I was really impressed, the studio had changed once again into a candlelit environment, and I was offered more bubbly for the showing. Seated on a comfortable sofa, I eagerly watched a presentation on a large screen - in no particular order - of all the pictures that had been taken in the morning. It’s a really strange feeling, as you can hardly believe the photos are of yourself or that you actually posed for them. You want to keep looking at them over and over again! Of course the really hard part was then selecting the ones I liked, and it was even harder as I wanted to give my husband a book of some of them as a gift. After much deliberation and with the help of Martin giving me advice on the best way to choose - by de-selection rather than selection - I managed to pick out the photos I loved the best to create an album of my day to treasure for always. Now I can’t wait to get the album, it will be like reliving the day all over again!

 

I certainly would recommend an Alter Ego Portraits photoshoot as it can only be described as a fantastic experience!

 

Joanna x