The Calendar Girls started the trend for members of the Women’s Institute to cast off their reputation for jam and Jerusalem, along with some of their clothes.
Now to celebrate the organisation’s centenary and their own beauty, members of the Longhoughton and Boulmer WI in Northumberland have been disrobing for a boudoir photo shoot of their own. Paula Rosa Photography worked with ladies aged up to their 80s for the fun session, which is designed to bring out the sitters’ beauty and self-confidence.
Paula Rosa Photography is run by Paula Ansley, a former science professor at Northumbria University. Paula took a career break following a family bereavement and channelled her energies into her love of portrait photography. She is a licentiate member of the Society of Portrait and Wedding Photographers and has been turning her talents mainly towards growing her boudoir photography over the past year. It has proved so successful that she has now quit her academic career to focus on her portrait photography business.
Paula recounts how a few years ago, her husband booked her into a boudoir shoot as a pick-me-up after having their two children. “I was initially nervous but the feeling of both empowerment and confidence was incredible and I was delighted with the results.
“My desire is to provide a similar feel good experience for ladies who would like a bit of a confidence boost; to give them an enjoyable and fun experience, which is all about themselves–or perhaps as a special gift for their other-half. It is extremely popular with brides-to-be and women reaching milestones in life.
“My photography is sensuous, feminine, classy and certainly not ‘explicit’ photography.”
Paula works with women of all ages to celebrate their curves, taking pictures they can cherish forever in gorgeous evening gowns, lingerie or less, or in the case of the Longhoughton and Boulmer WI, more.
She relates how she “had the honour of photographing an amazing 83-year-old lady in a silk hat and dressing gown, an amazing and beautiful lady”. Only shoulders were bared and dressing gowns worn, nothing particularly risqué but beautiful all the same.
“One lady generously called me the female equivalent of Gok Wan as my desire is to boost a woman’s body confidence but through the use of through photography. I was very flattered by the comparison but that is really, in a nutshell, what Paula Rosa Boudoir Photography is all about.”
The Longhoughton and Boulmer WI meets on the first Tuesday of every month and members take part in a packed programme of events and activities, from astronomy to dog racing and talks about current affairs. But this is the first time the group has been involved in a glorious boudoir photo shoot.
WI member Carole Green said: “It’s all about celebrating both the WI and the beauty of all women regardless of age. It’s also because we want to push our boundaries whilst having fun and lots of giggles.
“We will try anything once, within reason!”