Madame Boudoir Photography Discovers Vintage

Bonjour  Mon Amies

I've not written in a while, hope you have all been misbehaving? If not, shame on you.

On Sunday the 25th September I was up at 5:45am to pack Suzuki Steve my luscious little orange Suzuki Swift to go to my first vintage fair. (Those of you who don't know me - I'm obsessed with all things Orange...but I digress)

As I said, I was up early on Sunday to drive to York for my first vintage fair. I was apprehensive, I wasn't sure what was in store for me and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a natural sales person and I feel awkward about tooting my flute about my work. 

Whilst I drove to York I thought about how I could attract people to my stall. I could adopt a Delboy style sales pitch and marvel them with my suitcase of tricks, but I didn't have a suitcase, or a cockney accent to pull it off so that was a no. I would just have to rely on being myself and see how it went. 

Ol' right me old mucka?!

I arrived at 8am at the York Barbican Theatre and was greeted by Keeley Harris, organiser of the fair, a lovely lady who pointed me to my station and so I started to set up my stall.

My new logo, I am also going to be changing the look of my website

I had examples of my work scrolling on my laptop I made the slide show in Lightroom it worked really well

I handed out 10% off flyers to people at the event

The final stand complete with mini photo booth that can be seen on the photo on the left

An hour and a half later I was nearing the end of my set up and 2 ladies arrived at the stand next to mine. I was greeted with warm smiles and they introduced themselves as Bethany and Anna from The Vintage Beauty Parlour, we hit it off right way . I was surprised to learn that they had driven all the way from Manchester, this fair must be good I thought to myself! 

Whilst Bethany and Anna set up and transformed themselves into fabulous 50's bombshells I could see people queuing outside the glass doors of the Barbican Theatre, I got a knot in my stomach again. Bethany and Anna reassured me that it would be busy but good fun.

(Left) Bethany working on Anna's hair   (Right) Anna looking like Marilyn Monroe's sister

I've learned that when you start your own small business you have to choose your means of advertising carefully as money can be an issue. 

So when Bethany told me about how beneficial the fair was I relaxed and patted myself on the back, I had chosen my first event wisely. All the stall owners and support staff were friendly and welcoming and looking at the eager public queuing outside, the Discover Vintage Team had worked very hard to attract the masses. 

Bethany working on a lovely event goer whilst her son and husband-to-be watch patiently

Anna and Bethany squeezing in one last makeover for a mother and daughter before it was time to pack up

The Discover Vintage Home and Fashion fair was a marvellous day, before I knew it 4pm had arrived and it was time to go home, I can't wait for the next event. I had some really good practice talking to strangers about my work. We helped distribute their others fliers and sold each other's services and I got to take a few pictures of their brilliant work. 

PLUS I got a lot of complements about my stall and about my work which has energised me to continue my business and keep working at it, so an all round success me thinks!

à la prochaine fois my lovelies 

PS. We've got a lot coming up in the next few months. 

Our Studio Launch & special rates for Christmas bookings and gift purchases

Here's to new beginnings CHEERS!

I've recently taken one of the biggest steps in my life and set up my own studio. It's only small but it's mine and I am very proud of it. If I'm really honest I am scared as hell. 


There are the obvious reasons i.e. will it work? will I make money? blah blah blah - BORING! 

But as Charlie Sheen says: 'I am a warlock'. 


I've taken some inspiration and energy from him, for instance, if he can turn a seemingly public firing from CBS, laugh in the face of patronising TV interviewers and turn it into a multi-million dollar tour thus becoming more famous now than he ever was, then...well, why can't I?


I hear your mental dialogue: but Kim you aren't famous, you don't have your own TV show and you don't have millions like he does. Yes, yes minor details - but it's his positive self belief and winning attitude (excuse the obvious pun) that I'm talking about here. 


So I've opened my own studio and have gone professional and whilst it scares me every day to know its all on my shoulders I don't think I could go back to working a 9-5. Every minute of every day I'm pouring myself into my work and doing the best I can and I hope that in the coming months other people will see that too!


SO if you are reading this thank-you, now that you've come to the end of my first blog go and have a look at www.madame-boudoir.com and www.midoriphotographic.com which is my wedding website. (Diversity, diversity...)

You never know, we might meet in front of the camera one day.