For a long time now I have admired the work of the amazing Velvet D’Amour, photographer and owner of the wonderful Volup2 Magazine, which celebrates Diversity with an emphasis on Curves.

Volup2 Magazine

Her photography is out of this World. You can see that Velvet simply has an eye for an angle, for a beautiful background, the quick lift of an eyebrow that completes a shot, the faraway dreamy look that captures what words cannot say.

As I mentioned, I really genuinely admire her SO much.

This meant that when I saw a competition to win a shoot with her at the marvellous Sugnall Hall, with an 8 page editiorial in the magazine, I had to enter.

Sugnall Hall

I was so surprised and honoured when I made it to the last nine. I genuinely didn’t expect to even get that far.

Annie is the centre photograph. Very worthy winner!

Sadly I wasn’t the successful person, however the honour went most deservedly to the stunning Annie Cox 

So, imagine my surprise when I got an email from Velvet asking if I was interested in going along to Sugnall Hall on the Sunday for a shoot. She had been told by the wonderful Hayley of Curvesncurl  all about my transition from a dumpy, frumpy, fat, miserable, self hating woman to someone who had embraced her body and changed her life and attitude.

Velvet thought this could make the start of a great article, so I arranged and time to be at the venue and waited for the weekend.

Now, this is then when I went into a bit of a meltdown. What on earth was I going to wear?!?!?

To be fair, I am not short of a dress or two, but I wanted something REALLY special for these shots. In a panic, I message the lovely Hayley and begged her for advice, knowing she had shot with Velvet a couple of times.

She was so very helpful and told me that Velvet shot very quickly with great results. This meant I could take several outfit changes which she would potentially get all  of them shot within the hour that had been reserved for me. Well, this was even better and so I dug out several outfits that I thought would fit the bill.

I ran these by Hayley and she told me they were brilliant choices, so I packed my case and went to bed early, knowing I had quite a drive the next morning.

Sunday rolled around and I got into the car for the two hour drive up to Staffordshire. To be fair, the actual route was pretty good. But it rained constantly which made for a very long and tiring journey.

No make up and hair not styled… ready for the journey

Eventually I was directed down a very small country lane which literally was just big enough for my big old car to get down. At the bottom was the wonderful Sugnall Hall. A Manor house that has been in the same family for the past 5 generations. Having huge amounts of land, everywhere around was green and verdant and so so quiet. Literally a perfect haven.

Some of Sugnall’s grounds

I was ushered into house by the lovely Kate. It was stunning. Wood panelling, original ceilings and mouldings. I was taken upstairs to meet the fantastic (and very funny) Rachel who was due to do my hair and make-up.

I had been asked to email her in advance and tell her what sort of make-up/hair I would like to have. Well, I am never that good on making a decision so I basically emailed her saying

‘I want to look like a glamorous, stunning woman. Not a 40+ mother and wife. I want to be a Goddess, just not a very secret one anymore’

I showed Rachel the clothing that I was going to be wearing including my Pin Up Girl Clothing Monica Dresses (in purple and silver lurex) my olive green voodoo vixen dress and my GatsbyLady Flapper dress.

She thought that a faux poodle hair do (as my hair was too short to do a proper one) with some smokey green and gold eyeshadow could look pretty impressive.

I just put myself in her hands and let her work her magic.

Loved everything about it

And what magic she worked!

I could not believe how different I looked. My hair was fantastic and the make-up just stunning. My eyes looked huge and the eye-shadow made my hazel eyes really stand out.

What a change!

Velvet came to meet me and said she was ready to shoot. I took all of my shoes and clothes down with me as we had decided to shoot in the sitting room which had the most marvellous heron/crane wallpaper, moulded ceilings and even original fire screens.

The Room I was to shoot in

I had gone downstairs in my cream corset and black ruffled pants. I had chosen a pair of fishnet hold ups and was waiting for direction on what to do first. Velvet actually wanted to shoot my in my underwear first.

Well, that certainly broke the ice. Lounging back on a long sofa, shot after shot was taken with Velvet giving the best directions and what poses to try.

I was really lucky that the amazing Georgina Horne of fullerfigurefullerbust was there at the shoot and had brought a few of her Catherine D’lish robes which we could use.

I struggled to find the beginning and end of the robe, but have to say I felt like royalty when I put it on. More shots in the corset and knickers were taken and then it was time for the first outfit choice.

The Voodoo Vixen dress was next, which I paired with a feather hair accessory made by my friend Jane  and we tried a variety of poses. On a chair, on the sofa, laying back, bending forward. Again there were so many poses that Velvet got me to try. I was so at ease and really starting to get into the whole process.

Living my best life!

A quick change later and I was in the Purple Monica dress. It was then that Velvet remember there was a purple Catherind D’lish gown upstairs and thought it could look quite good together.

I popped upstairs to get it and I have to admit, Velvet was totally on the money. The colours were identical and I literally felt like a Goddess when I was standing there in a really strong pose. If I am honest, of all the shots taken, those ones were my absolute favourites.

After the purple combo, I put my second Monica dress on, which is a black and silver glitter lurex. I paired with a 6″ Silver glitter heel (couldn’t walk in them, but perfect for standing in for 5 minutes)

The Marvellous Hayley

Velvet gave me brilliant direction again and those photographs came out amazing too. I felt really empowered and strong. Without seeing the results, I think that these will be really quite special.

My last outfit choice was the Gatsbylady Molly dress in burgundy and gold. As I was still wearing a corset, I was conscious of the fact that this dress would possibly be really loose. I was so pleased when it looked perfect on. I paired it with a flapper hair accessory made by the wonderful Emma .

We moved to a different part of the room and shot in front of a big old fashioned window and radiator. Whilst some may have thought it was an odd shot to set up, I actually loved the composition of it. Velvet had me spinning around to get the dress moving and it was tricky to spin, smile and stop on cue. It was great fun though.

Sadly it was nearly the end of my hour and we had a couple of minutes for a last few photographs. Velvet used a vintage table with what I think was a Chinese silk interior and she directed my to put my arms as wide apart as I could.

All done!

Now, as someone with huge wobbly, flabby arms this was something that was a little bit daunting for me. The pose meant that my ‘bingo wings’ were really hanging down.

But I know that Velvet really knows her stuff and felt that she wouldn’t have put me in that pose if it wasn’t going to work. So I just did it.

And it felt really LIBERATING!

Sadly time was up. I had loved every single second of it. Velvet was just the most fantastic person to shoot with as she really ‘gets’ it. She understands how a plus size person moves, stands, feels and worries. She put me at such ease and I literally would have done anything she asked.

Five changes of clothing and it still looks amazing!

Giving me a huge hug she thanked me for coming and that the shots were going to be wonderful.

I have absolutely no doubt about that as she is outstanding in what she does.

I hung around with all the fabulous ladies for a little while before it was time to get back in the car for the drive home.

I had such a fantastic time and I know that when the photographs are sent through for me to choose from, I am going to struggle so much.

Literally picking my favourites will take a lot of perusal and decisions making, and I am never great at that!

Back at home

I can’t thank Velvet, Rachel, Hayley, Georgina and Clemmie (whose family own Sugnall Hall) enough. It was a grand adventure for this girl to have and I am super excited to see all the results.

So…. watch this space for the grand reveal soon.

Till next time,

Txx