Two weeks after this picture was taken, I was back shooting brides.
Two weeks after this picture was taken, I was back shooting brides. Leaving my newborn son. That was tough.
Looking back I feel emotional about that.
But by the time my second child was born I had a team of female photographers to run the business so I could take time out to be with my baby.
Here’s the reason why I could do that.
I’d spotted a gap in the market for a scalable photography business – a female led portrait studio offering boudoir for brides to be. Helping them to create a wedding gift.
I knew I could run a business that delivered a sensitive, creative service that would make women feel comfortable and body confident in front of the camera.
I advertised in bridal and vogue magazines. Within a year, the business was booming.
The success and scalability of the business came down to the studio style, the confidentiality and the thoughtful, female led sensitive service.
Brides experienced my signature collection of flattering bridal poses, shot in a private studio at FYEO Portraits by a female photographer.
The poses they experienced were designed around the dynamic qualities of the feminine shape. Poses involved movement, twists, lifts, bends and stretches, to elevate and structure the body into the most flattering angles from each individual body shape. Whatever the brides shape or size.
With simple, stylish backdrops and artistic sculpted studio lighting, the brides body and the photography did the talking.
What I love most about my business is seeing the way it changes the way in which women see themselves.
Instead of brides focusing on the parts of their body they criticised, they see it with love, sometimes for the first time.
You can do the same. Come and see me, I need you for 2 hours, 2 months before your wedding to create the wedding gift, photos of you gift wrapped FOR YOUR EYES ONLY.
Dm for bookings. Alexandra xx
Two weeks after this picture I was out taking pictures again.
Two weeks after this picture I was out taking pictures again.
I often get asked how I got into bridal photography as a young mum.
I was just 25 when I started my photography business, with my first baby only two weeks old. He’s now 28! I had no maternity leave and worked evenings and weekends, which was tough. Looking back, I might have made different choices because my son needed me and I definitely missed him when I was away.
But I’d spotted a gap in the market for a female-led service that created beautiful, flattering and artistic portraits for brides. I felt my sensitivity and creative approach could make women feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
I advertised in bridal magazines and Vogue, and the response was huge. Within a year, I was employing other female photographers and the business was booming.
I think the success came from creating a signature collection of flattering poses designed around the feminine shape — movement, twists, lifts, bends and stretches, with simple sets and lighting that let the body and the photography do the talking.
What I loved most was seeing women change the way they saw themselves. Instead of focusing on the parts they criticised, they could see their whole shape differently and appreciate things they hadn’t noticed before.
After five years, I opened another studio in the UK. Being one of the first to pioneer boudoir photography also brought international press attention, which helped the business grow even further.
After 15 years of running multiple FYEO studios, I went through a divorce and eventually restructured the business back to its original location.
Today, I have two grown-up children, remarried at 49, and still run FYEO Portraits every day.
And honestly, if I was starting again, I wouldn’t do anything differently.
I love my business. I love helping women feel fabulous, and I still love the romance of helping brides create their secret wedding gift.
