It's nice to be wanted :-)

I had an email out of the blue from Mighty Aphrodite... you may remember them... I will never forget them...

Zena asked me if I would consider sharing my story with their readers... so I agreed!

Here is my story...

At the beginning of 2008 I had a shaggy shapeless mop of hair and had been wearing glasses since the age of seven! I was a busy working Mum with no time for myself and had been that way for over fifteen years!!

So what happened? My daughter happened! She and I both love Gok Wan and his way of making a girl look again at the way she sees herself. As my 40th birthday approached I became obsessed with my age and everything else paled into insignificance! Eventually, my 15 year old daughter, Emily, suggested that I get a grip, have a new haircut and lose the glasses! So I did!

She came with me to the hairdressers and the hair went! I loved it! Why didn't I do this years ago?? Next I saw the optician and swapped my glasses for contact lens… I haven't looked back since! I even bought make-up and used it!

I felt so different that I wanted to have a portrait done ... but that wasn't enough... I wanted more... I thought of Gok… and I found Mighty Aphrodite!

The idea of a naked photo shoot was firmly planted in my head and wouldn't go away! Don't get me wrong - I am rather timid really - but I simply couldn't shake the idea and felt that if I was really going to make a statement then I should just go for it! I bravely dropped it into conversation one day... and got a resounding yes!

There were so many beautiful photos on their website but I just couldn't get away from one particular image ...

... a girl, naked, bound by chains, suspended in darkness ...

... that was it - the more I dared myself the more I wanted to do it…so I decided to be brave and have a go!

If truth be told I never thought I would actually do the whole naked thing and hoped to come away with a few nice lingerie shots ...

... in fact, when the day came, I allowed myself to follow my heart ... I dared to be brave!

Leigh was great - really down to earth and he made me feel completely at my ease! Nothing awkward or forced and it was really rather fun ;-) Zena was fab too and her compliments and easy manner made me completely relax!

The lighting was carefully done and Leigh knew exactly which shots would flatter me! I bravely told him which shot had inspired me and he said that there was no reason why I couldn’t go for it… I was braver than I dared to hope ... and I am so pleased with the results!

My fantastic hubby, John, was with me for the whole shoot and he thought it was fabulous! He was so proud of me and spent the whole time grinning from ear to ear!

It took all my courage but I did it! I got naked in front of a stranger and had him take photos of me! It was the wildest, most scarey thing I had ever done but it was great!!

The photos gave me the confidence to do what girls do best… shopping! Previously I had been a frustrated shopper, looking for clothes which covered me up and hid the parts I didn't want to show! But now... I looked for tops which showed my shape, I wasn’t afraid of wearing things a little more fitted and I tried on high heel shoes - it felt good - really good!

My confidence soared and I started thinking about my life and about other things I wanted to do... You simply wouldn’t believe where this journey has taken me… ;-)

If you follow my blog I might decide to share a little more...

When You Just Know...

Sometimes you just know when you buy a new top that it's gonna look just fab!

Well imagine my excitement when I found just such a top in a fifteen minute shopping spree to find something to wear for Saturday night!

It's design means that it is perfectly suited to big boobs (not all tops are!) and I just knew I would love it! More to the point - I knew my man would love it too!

So, I tried it on tonight with the skirt and shoes I plan to wear for Saturday night... OMG I love it!

The whole outfit makes me feel sexy and sassy and it had just the right effect on hubbie too!

Roll on Saturday night! ;-)

Life just gets better with age :-)

I am braver now than I have ever been!
I have seen more now, than I have ever seen!
I will dare to try that which I never dared,
I will stand tall and and dare to be dared!

I will push myself and drive my will,
I will look forward and time will tell,
I can do anything,
I can achieve,
All that it takes
Is that I believe...

Hott! Hott! Hott!

Is it cool when a girl says you look hott?
Does 'hott' mean 'sexy'?
Is it OK for a girl to think you look sexy?

Today I saw a friend I hadn't seen in a while! She commented on my new look and the way my hair was different, she told me I looked hott ... this is something a guy would usually say about girls ... it felt wierd!

But when I thought about it, I liked it!

Does this mean that I am comfortable in myself?
Am I allowed to feel good when a girl says I look hott?
Am I strange? (On second thoughts - don't answer that!!)

Anyway, I shall allow myself a secret smile when I think of it and hold my head a little higher too :-)

Crisis of Confidence!!

Well I did say that this would be a record of my 'trials and tribulations' so you can't expect only the good stuff!!

Today we were invited to go swimming with friends. Two families in the pool, swimming, splashing, having fun ... all the usual stuff!

'Yes' I said 'that would be great!' ... and then I had this flippin' great wobbler over what would I look like in my cossie!!!!! How MAD is that?????

Now I know I did the photo shoot but somehow that wasn't as bad as I suddenly felt at being seen in public in my swimsuit!

Now it's pretty horny having this guy spray your naked, oiled body with cold water (to get the right effect for the camera of course!) but that is a million miles away from feeling self-conscious on a 'fat-day' at the local pool!

What a twit!

Anyway, I gave myself a pep talk, put on my best, most confident smile and got in the water as quick as I could :-)

I love swimming - and we had a great time - and now I can't help wondering what all the fuss was about!!

Thank Gok! ( Let's get Naked! )

We all know Gok Wans fabulous TV show 'How to Look Good Naked' where he takes a woman and transforms her, giving her the foundation to build a more confident lifestyle for herself. Part of his 'therapy' is to have the lady take part in a naked photo shoot ...

I too have been feeling the need for more confidence and so I took the plunge ... today I had a NAKED Photo shoot!

It was fabulous! Totally amazing!

I never thought I would be brave enough to go through with it and kind of hoped for a few nice lingerie shots ...

... in fact I allowed myself to follow my heart ... I dared to be brave!

Yes ... I bared all and now have 135 stunning (and sexy!) photos of me! (and for someone who spends all her time behind the camera instead of before it - that makes a change!).

After careful research I chose Mighty Aphrodite in Reading. The photos on their website were amazing and nobody else even came close!

The photographer is Leigh and he was great - really down to earth and he made me feel completely at my ease! Nothing awkward or forced and it was really rather fun ;-)

The lighting was carefully done and Leigh knew exactly which shots would flatter me! I bravely told him which website image had inspired me and he agreed that it would be possible for me to have a go ... I was braver than I dared to hope ... and I am so pleased with the results!

John stayed in the studio for the whole shoot and he enjoyed himself too ;-)

Now all I have to do is decide which shots to have framed ... if I'm feeling really brave I might upload one for you to see ... ;-)

Oh go on then!
Diane :-)