Mighty Aphrodite…Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that for many prospective clients, undertaking a Mighty Aphrodite Erotic or Boudoir Photo shoot may be quite a daunting prospect and you will probably have many questions to ask before you book. We have compiled a list below of our most frequently asked questions in the hope that most of your queries will be covered here. If you need to know anything else, don't hesitate to get in touch and we will be only too happy to help.

Q. Do you "airbrush" the images?

We will perform as much or as little retouching to your chosen images as you require. We will demonstrate the techniques we use at the end of your photo shoot on one of your images so you can see what can be achieved. Spots, stretch marks, cellulite and scars can all disappear like magic...and wave goodbye to those muffin-tops forever. We prefer to keep the images looking as natural as possible, but it is down to you alone how much editing is performed. However, the vast majority of our clients want far less retouching performed on their images than they expected. We find that giving you control of the editing process makes you appreciate your images more as you know that you have not had major body resculpting done and that the images reflect the way you really look. You can see how we perform some of our airbrushing techniques in our demonstration videos. Boudoir Videos

Q. How will I know how to pose?

Leigh will direct you all the way through the shoot - what to do with your arms, legs, head and even facial expressions so don't worry if you have never done anything like this before. It is really easy and fun with lots of stretching and back-arching involved! It is a bit like a mini workout, so can be quite tiring - make sure you don't turn up for your shoot on an empty stomach! If you have any mobility problems, it is worth mentioning it to us when you book so we can advise you which studio sets will be easiest for you. Here is a link to a Boudoir shoot in progress to give you an idea of what to expect. Boudoir shoot video

Q. Some of your pictures are quite erotic - do I have to be so raunchy?

We aim to show a wide variety of styles in our galleries and everyone has a different take on what is sexy - to some it is all in the suggestion and they want to tease rather than reveal. We work at both ends of the spectrum and if you want to keep your lingerie on right through the shoot, that is fine. We never push clients to take anything off - we always say wait and see how comfortable you feel when you are in the studio and you will have the opportunity to bare as much as you dare, or cover up as much as you like! Most of our galleries can be done in a "naughty" or "nice" way, depending on the level of raunchiness you want. A couple of our galleries are a bit more erotic, so these are to be found only in the "naughty" section. If you want softer, boudoir-style images, you just need to avoid the "naughty" sets!

Q. I haven't got a model-like figure...will you be able to make me look sexy?

Our clients come in all shapes, sizes and ages. We have photographed women from age 18 to 67 and size 6 to size 20. Our job is to advise you of the most flattering sets to be photographed in and to pose and light you in the best way for your individual body shape, so we accentuate your best bits and disguise the bits you're not so keen on. We can also perform retouching on your images to get rid of any lumps and bumps, but to be honest we are not big fans of major body resculpting - we prefer to give you good images to start with and not rely on heavy editing to make your shape conform to what society tells us is sexy. Many clients book their shoot a couple of months in advance to give themselves time to lose a little weight or to tone up a bit by exercising more. Knowing that you are going to be photographed in just your undies is a fantastic incentive to start eating healthily and to add a bit of exercise into your day!

Q. How many changes of outfit can I fit in?

We generally advise one set of lingerie for each studio set you are being photographed in with maybe one or two in reserve in case we have time for a change. It depends which sets you go for - if you choose the Artistic Nude set, we would do that set last and you may decide to do the whole set nude, although you can start the set in lingerie to help you feel more comfortable. In each set you will get the chance to do some nude shots and if you decide not to go nude, then we may suggest a change of lingerie instead. Too many changes of outfit are best avoided as you end up spending more time in the changing room and less time in front of the camera.

Q. Do you work evenings and weekends?

Unfortunately we do not work evenings or weekends due to family commitments. Mighty Aphrodite is our full-time job, so we are able to offer morning and afternoon shoots on all weekdays. Our studio hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm. All shoots and album collections are scheduled to take place during these hours.

Q. Can I bring someone with me?

You are more than welcome to bring along a friend or partner for moral support, but we do ask that you do not bring more than one person along with you. You have the option of whether they are in the studio during your shoot, or whether they wait downstairs in the office. If you do have your friend or partner in the studio while we are shooting, we just ask that they remain unobtrusive and quiet while we are working. The shoot is all about YOU and we do not allow anyone else to dictate the direction the shoot takes.

Q. I'm having a pregnancy shoot; can I bring my other child along to have some photos with my bump?

Sorry, we do not photograph anyone under the age of 18.

Q. I'm having trouble sorting out childcare; can I bring my child with me to the shoot?

We have to have a blanket rule and say that children are not allowed at the Mighty Aphrodite studio for several reasons. Because of the nature of our business, our office and studio are not "child-friendly" environments. Also, having a child on the premises, even if it is being supervised by someone else, will be distracting to you during the shoot. You need to be able to relax and have fun during your shoot to get the most out of the experience. If you do need to bring your child with you please bring along a responsible adult to take them elsewhere and supervise them for the duration of your appointment.

Q. Do you do hair and make up?

The services of our make up artist are included in the price of some packages, but we don't offer hair styling. Most clients visit a hair salon before their photo shoot if they want something different from their normal style. We steer away from the old-fashioned makeover portraits where you would spend a couple of hours being plastered with make up and have your hair put in a new style so that you look totally different. We want you to be able to recognise yourself in your photos and if they are a present for your partner, I'm sure he would rather see the real you!

Q. How far in advance do I need to book?

If you are giving the photos as a gift for a birthday, Christmas or Anniversary, or as a Wedding Present for your Husband-to-be, then we need to have enough time to meet your deadline. For Package One and Package Two, you need to have your session ideally no later than 4 weeks before your deadline. This will give you plenty of time to choose the images for your album and for us to edit the images and get your album to you. We can occasionally squeeze in the odd session at very short notice and there is always the option of giving your partner the CD with your proof images instead of the finished album - that way, he gets to choose the images for his album himself! For Package Three, you need to have your shoot no later than 8 weeks before your deadline as our Image Books can take up to six weeks to produce. Obviously the more time we have the better. Please also bear in mind that we are frequently fully booked weeks in advance, so please contact us at the earliest opportunity to be sure of securing a suitable date.

Q. Who will be in the studio during the shoot?

The only people present will be our photographer, Leigh and make up artist and studio assistant, Zena who is there throughout the whole shoot to act as lingerie technician :o) You can bring a friend or your partner with you and they can also be in the studio if you are comfortable with this. Alternatively, if you prefer, they can wait downstairs in our office area, but you can call them up to the studio at any point during the shoot.

Q. Where do I get changed?

Don't worry, you don't have to strip off in front of us! You have your own changing room for the duration of the shoot. There is a toilet, a sink, a mirror and even a shower in there (useful for afterwards if you do the baby oil shots!).

Q. What sort of outfits should I bring?

That will depend on the sets you choose to be photographed in. Once you have chosen the sets for your shoot, we will advise you what works best in each set - for example the Room at the Top set works particularly well with a man's white shirt and light-coloured lingerie. Lacy lingerie and killer heels work in all sets, although the artistic nude set requires you to wear nothing more than a sexy smile.

Q. Does the Preview CD I get contain the high resolution files?

The CD that you take away with you on the day of your shoot contains low-resolution, unedited JPEGS of all the best images from your shoot. These are at a high enough resolution for you to see at a good size on your computer screen at home and are to be used for you to choose the images that you want us to retouch and print. If you book one of our Digital Packages, you will also have a number of medium resolution files included in the package price with the option to upgrade these to high-resolution files. If you book one of our Print Packages you can also buy high resolution retouched files of any of the images from your shoot.

Q. I don't want prints or an album, can I just have digital files?

Our Digital Boudoir Packages come with a number of medium-resolution files included in the price. These files are fully retouched and large enough to print out to a 9" x 6" photograph. These can be upgraded to High Resolution files at a cost of £20 per file. High resolution files are large enough to print to about 36" x 24". You can buy High resolution files as additional products with any of our packages for £45 each. The files come with a signed "License to use" and can be used for personal websites and for unlimited printing, but are not licensed for commercial use (e.g. advertising or promoting a business on flyers or online).

Q. How long do I have to order extra images?

We keep clients' files securely archived for 12 months from the date of their shoot - there are no high pressure sales tactics of only giving you a few weeks to buy additional products. If you want us to keep your files for longer than 12 months, we are happy to do so for a small storage fee of £10 per annum. Back…