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...

No! That's not me!

How bizarre! I just logged in to my blog to see what was my last entry (forgetting how long ago it had been!!) and saw the photo of me as I used to be ... aaarrrggghhh! Scarey!!

That's not me at all - at least I don't feel like it's me! I look so different! Although I did find myself trying to adjust my non-existent glasses the other day!

I much prefer my 'new' self ... although she's not getting much of an outing these days... grand ideas get squished when you wake up and life just smacks you in the face!!

The reason I clicked onto my blog in the first place was reading an email from Leigh, the photographer who did my naked shoot a year ago last September... He and his wife have had some shots taken of themselves for a couples shoot - a new product! Click on this link and see what you think...

Mighty Aphrodite Naked Photo Shoot for Couples...

Would you dare...? I would!

So... will I do?

Wow! Has it really been a year? A whole 12 months since I turned 40??

What an amazing year!

At the beginning of last summer 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!!

2005

So what is new?

Well... my haircut is new! My contact lens are new! My wardrobe has taken a leap of faith and won and... I even own make-up!!

So what happened? My daughter happened that's what!

We both loved watching Gok Wan and we love his way of changing a girls clothes and making her look again at the way she sees herself.

As my 40th birthday approached I could only focus on the number - it was everywhere, overshadowing everything! I became obsessed with my age and everything else paled into insignificance!

Eventually, my 15 year old daughter Emily suggested that I should have a new haircut and lose the glasses!

So I did!

She came with me to the hairdressers and the hair went! Well not all of it but alot of it! I loved it! Why didn't I do this years ago??

Next I saw the optician and had a contact lens trial which went so well that I started wearing them full-time and haven't looked back since!

After that came the shopping - oh yeah! It's what girls do best!! 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, and wasn't afraid of wearing things a little tighter instead of simply picking a larger size!! I tried high heel shoes and it felt good - really good!

I even bought make-up and used it!

The absolute icing on the cake for me was when I went to Reading, 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!!


My confidence soared and I started thinking about my life and about other things I wanted to do...!

I have had many opportunities in my life and I'm ashamed to say that I have passed many of them over through lack of confidence. Missed adventures simply because I was too scared to try!

What did I miss out on? You wanna know what? Well, the biggie, for me was missing out on a weeks sailing trip on a tall masted rigger when I was in the Sea Cadets. I had the chance to sail for a week on T.S. Royalist but they wouldn't let me go when I said I didn't like heights - one of the tasks aboard would be to climb the mast and rig the sails... I regret to this day ever letting on that I was scared!

Another time we were on a camping trip and I had the chance to go abseiling... once again I chickened out for fear of the height! It wasn't even a high one!! What was it with me??

So I decided... I was gonna take the bull by the horns and make my 40th year one to remember!

Life begins at 40 right?

So I wrote a list - yes there is an actual list!

WHAT DID I DO? Oh My God - LOADS!! I don't think I can even remember stuff!
Go Windsurfing - I did this for my birthday on 7th September 2008 - Great fun but Gary had the patience of a Saint!
London Theatre Trip - John took me to see 'Jersey Boys' September 2008, it was a brilliant show and a fantastic start to my year!
Do the Playtex Moonwalk - On 16-17th May 2009 I completed the 26.2 mile power walk and raised £375.50 for Breast cancer Charities!
Amsterdame09 - In June 2009 I cycled 250 miles from York to Amsterdam and back and raised £651.50 for Marie Curie Cancer Care
Great Yorkshire Show - I went for the first time ever and spent the day taking photographs - doesn't sound much to some but I loved it!!

WHAT HAVEN'T I DONE? (Yet...!)

Walk up Snowden - maybe combined with white water rafting??
Abseil Down the Humber Bridge - This is no longer allowed but I do have an abseil challenge planned to replace it!
Attend a Rock Concert - This is definitely gonna happen!!
Have a go on a Climbing Wall - not done yet - its gonna be scarey but I'll do it!
Lose a stone in weight - not holding my breath for this one but you never know!
Indoor Sky-Diving - I haven't done this yet but I will - in fact this is looking like it might be a family trip :-)
Walk the Catbells - a weekend in the Lake District should do it!
Nightclubbing - just never had the opportunity!
Be at the London Eye for New Year 2009 - no tickets booked yet but let's see!!

So, the highs... were the highest, the low was sooo low (there was only one - Battersea Park at about 2.30am on the morning of Sunday 17th May 2009 - but it got better!) - MY WHOLE YEAR WAS AMAZING!!





Thanks John - you have been such a rock in supporting me throughout all of this! I love you I have only one thing left to say ... There ain't no stopping me now!!

Leg or Breast?

Christmas is about the only time you can ask this question without a funny look or a clout over the head with someones handbag ...

... so, vote now in my seasonal quiz - do you prefer Leg or Breast?

There might be another saucy photo in it for you ;-)

OMG They've Arrived!!

Oh My God!
My 'Naked Photo Album' has arrived!
It was delivered by courier this morning!

Aaaahhh! I can't believe it!!

It feels so good looking through the album - I can't believe it's me!

Leigh you did a great job!
The photos are stunning!
I am sooo pleased!
Thank you so much xx

...and now I just want to run around and show everyone!!! Arrrggghhh!

I feel like a kid with the best toy in the world!

Hey Karen - you said you wanted a look - ring me - we got a date to make :-)

Silly Buggar!

I have recently told another friend about my blog - I'm ashamed to say that not everyone knows about it yet! I've been asking myself what is stopping me from telling everyone - and the answer came to light as I was emailing my friend ... everything just came pouring out!

I thought I'd share the contents of my email......

Hiya :-)

So glad you're still speaking to me! I never know how people will react when they find out what I've done! I must say though that the people who know have all been brilliant - really pleased for me (and some have even been jealous!).

I'm a really insecure soul at heart and I am still scared that there are people who will refuse to speak to me after finding out what I did!

I didn't tell anyone that I was going for the shoot - not until afterwards - and even then it was the 'face to face' bit that was hardest - hence the blog - somehow it seems much easier to say things in the blog than in person!

Once I'd had the photos done I felt absolutely amazing! I got alot of male attention at the service station we stopped at on the way home so perhaps I was giving out 'vibes' - John thought this was quite amusing but I felt like I had a huge Neon sign saying 'I JUST DID A NAKED PHOTO SHOOT' - I did enjoy the attention though!!

Once I got back to 'real life' I still felt fab and I wanted to tell everyone about my naked photo shoot but I was never one to shout for the limelight!! I found the blog the easiest way to tell people!

It's really strange because I am really proud of the photos and it is by far the bravest thing I have EVER done - remember John is - or was - the only man to have ever seen me naked!

There are a few people who I think know about my blog but who haven't mentioned anything about it - I'm afraid to talk about it with them in case they DO know and think me rude ... or alternatively in case they DON'T know in which case I'm afraid that they will disown me!!

I haven't even dared to tell Mum or Dad!!!!!

Am I a silly buggar or what?

Anyway, I should be getting the photos back soon in an album and so if you would like to see them (in an artistic way of course!) then I would be really proud to show you :-)

With Love,
Diane :-)

And so to my PoshPinkArmy... if you know me and you read my blog then you will find out when my photos arrive. If YOU would like to see the album then I would be most proud to show it to you :-)

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!!

As Promised!

I am a woman of my word and so for those of you who said 'yes please' to another 'Mighty' photo - here you are! (As nobody said 'no' then I can hardley deny you can I?)

As for the choice of photo - well you have Gumbo to thank for that! I've heard he is a 'hip' man and so in thanks for his sponsorship for Amsterdam - here you go!

Kinky or What?

Remember the naked photo shoot I had last week - wow - can't believe it was just last week! It feels like it should have been a part of my life forever! I have felt so good since doing it and John has no complaints either ;-)

But I have a dilemma...

I have decided to get a large print of one of the shots (the one which made me do the shoot in the first place!) and a couple more framed for the bedroom but I would also like to get a few photos from the shoot to keep in an album!

The question is - which ones? Do I choose discreet? Flirty? Raunchy?
The chains ones are definitely my favourites - am I kinky or what?
Not my usual thing but hey - I'm 40 now :-)

I need to choose my final selection quite soon so as to not get caught up in the sudden influx of customers to Leighs studio after reading my blog ;-)

Hey Leigh (I know you read this!) - do I get commission ;-)

Oh well - better get back to choosing ...

Where did that idea come from?

Following one of the comments on the previous post I had better answer Vals question - where did I get the 'Naked Photo Shoot' idea from?

Well as you know I recently cut my hair - rather drastically - and gave up my specs in favour of contact lens - and as a result felt so different that I actually felt like I should have a photo done ... not a naked one at this point - just a regular portrait!

I wondered if I could get my make-up done at the same time - well, I've never been one for much make-up and I thought it would be rather fun!

That led onto thoughts of outfits and internet searches and I found Mighty Aphrodite!

The idea was firmly planted in my head and just 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!

They do loads of different photos, including much more modest shots and all of the images on their website are beautiful, 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 accepted the idea - so I decided that I should be brave and have a go! John rang and did the booking for me and the rest, as they say, is history!

It was amazing and made me feel great! I get the feeling back whenever I look at the pictures - I still can't believe it's me!

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 :-)