How Lorraine learned to appreciate herself and her body.

Lorraine’s boudoir photoshoot was a real turning point for her confidence and self image. Emotional battles and weight gain had knocked her through her 30s, she became so critical of her appearance and avoided cameras for years. Now she’s learned to appreciate herself as the confident, strong, and beautiful woman she is.

Growing up, I was fairly confident in my teenage years and into my early 20s. I had an average body weight and didn’t think too much about my appearance. However, like many young people, I struggled with anxiety and was affected by bullying, which took its toll over time. While I appeared confident on the outside, those experiences chipped away at my self-esteem and made me question my worth.

As I moved through my 30s, things changed significantly. I gained weight, and with it, my confidence slowly started to fade. The struggles I faced during this time were tied to personal traumas that led me to emotional eating and bingeing. It felt like food was my only way to cope, but it left me feeling worse about myself. The weight gain and the emotional battles I was fighting left me feeling disconnected from my body, and I stopped seeing myself in a positive light.

This period in my life was difficult, and my self-image suffered greatly. I no longer felt like the confident person I once was, and the idea of feeling beautiful or comfortable in my own skin seemed impossible.

I’d been following Foxlow Photography on TikTok for a while, and their posts really caught my attention. Every time I saw one of their boudoir shoots, I was amazed by how beautiful and confident the women looked. But what really stood out to me was how their shoots focused on body positivity and were truly for every woman—regardless of size or shape. It wasn’t just about size 0 models; it was about real women, just like me, embracing their bodies and feeling amazing in their skin.

Seeing those women, all different shapes and sizes, radiating confidence and self-love, made me realise that I wanted to feel like that too. I wanted to reconnect with my body in a way I hadn’t in years and experience that same feeling of empowerment. Foxlow’s approach made me feel like this wasn’t just for other people—it was something I deserved as well.

To be honest, I was scared stiff when it came to preparing for my boudoir shoot. Booking the session was a big step, and it took me ages to finally hit that “book” button. But once I did, the realisation hit me—I had no sexy underwear in my wardrobe! The thought of finding outfits that would look good on me was pretty overwhelming.

Thankfully, Foxlow’s guidebook was a lifesaver. It helped me figure out what would suit my body size and shape, giving me ideas on where to start. I’ll admit, I went a bit crazy and bought loads of stuff. But here’s the thing—most of what I ordered was simply because it fit. Being a larger girl, it can be so hard to find clothes that really suit and flatter us. Often, we end up buying things just because they’re big enough to fit, not because they make us feel amazing. 

After chatting with Danielle, she helped me see that I didn’t need a wardrobe full of options—I needed a few pieces that I loved and felt truly comfortable in. She encouraged me to focus on what made me feel confident rather than just what fit. So, I spent a few evenings having private fashion shows with myself in front of the mirror, really being critical and figuring out what outfits actually suited me and made me feel good.

 I stayed in a lovely Airbnb, recommended by Danielle and Jon, which was just a few doors away from the studio. I arrived the day before my shoot and was feeling really good about it—excited even. But the nerves kicked in on the morning of the shoot. As I walked through the studio doors, reality hit me, and I suddenly felt incredibly nervous.

That’s when Jon and Danielle came to the rescue. They were so welcoming, and the first thing they did was sit me down with a coffee for a chat. Within seconds, it felt like I’d known them my whole life. They completely put me at ease. We talked about what I wanted to get out of the photoshoot, and I told them I wanted to look back on the day and think, “That was one of the most fun days of my life.” And that’s exactly what it turned out to be.

We then went through the outfits I brought with me and decided together what would work best. This was probably the funniest part of the day—being totally fine with Jon rummaging through my knickers without feeling even the slightest bit embarrassed or uncomfortable. That’s how relaxed Danielle and Jon made the whole experience. They took away any awkwardness and made it feel like a natural, fun process from start to finish.

After our chat, Danielle whisked me away for hair and makeup while Jon stayed behind to prep everything for the shoot. He made sure all the labels were removed from my outfits so they wouldn’t show in the photos, and by the time I came back, he had everything perfectly hung up in the dressing room. It all looked so organised and beautiful—like it was all set up just for me.

Danielle is truly an expert when it comes to makeup and hair styling. She knew exactly what would suit me, and the results were incredible. I had told her what I wanted, and she made it happen effortlessly. From the makeup to the hair, everything was spot-on, and it gave me the confidence boost I needed. Plus, I got to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the pampering. A few glasses of prosecco certainly helped calm the nerves too!

When I was getting changed into my first outfit, I made a decision—I was going to make this the best day ever and really have fun with it. So, when I was ready, I flung back the dressing room curtain, struck a pose, and had a laugh with Jon and Danielle. From that moment, everything felt so natural. They made it such a fun experience, and it felt completely normal to be walking around in my underwear without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious.

Danielle was there to help me with any tricky outfits, making sure everything fit perfectly, and she guided me through each pose with ease. Meanwhile, Jon was snapping away, capturing every moment. The whole thing was so relaxed, and I was genuinely enjoying myself. Looking back now, I can’t believe how quickly the time flew by and how much fun it all was. It didn’t feel like a photo shoot—it felt like a day of laughs, fun, and confidence-boosting moments.

After the shoot, I had a few hours to relax and enjoy a lovely lunch at a local pub with a couple of glasses of wine. I was walking on cloud nine, absolutely buzzing from the morning’s experience. I felt amazing as I wandered around the village with my hair and makeup still looking on point. It was such a confidence boost, and I couldn’t stop smiling.

When I went back to see my photos, I was absolutely blown away. Before the shoot, I had convinced myself that I’d be the one person whose photos wouldn’t turn out great. I thought there wouldn’t be a single one I’d like, and that my insecurities would somehow show through. But when I saw them, I was genuinely shocked. I couldn’t believe that the person on the screen was me.

I loved every single photo. I was speechless, with tears in my eyes—I was so emotional. The person staring back at me looked just as good as all the other women I’d seen in Foxlow’s shoots, and I couldn’t believe I could look like that. It was such a powerful moment, seeing myself in a completely different light.

I decided to get a large canvas from the shoot, which now hangs in my bedroom. I absolutely love it—it’s a beautiful reminder of the experience and how amazing I felt. I also have a small folio and an album that sit on my coffee table, so I can easily flip through them whenever I want.

Even though I did this photoshoot for myself, I’ve shown quite a few people because I’m so proud of the results. But honestly, I look back at them all the time for me. It’s such a personal reminder of my journey and how far I’ve come in feeling good about myself.

So much has changed since my photoshoot, and I would actually love to go back and do it all again someday. The experience was such a turning point for me. I’m definitely much kinder to myself now. Before, I hated having my photo taken and was always so critical of my appearance. But that’s all changed.

I’ve learned to appreciate myself for who I am and not to focus on picking myself apart. The shoot showed me a side of myself that I hadn’t seen in years—confident, strong, and beautiful. Now, I’m more accepting of how I look, and I can enjoy being in photos without worrying so much. It’s been a real shift in how I see myself, and I’m so grateful for that.