My best friend was 40 this summer and I wanted to get her something a bit different as she'd already had all the spa weekends, balloon rides, etc. So I bought her a boudoir photography shoot with a company called For Your Eyes Only. She's quite a risque character and was really pleased with the gift.
I decided to have my own shoot too so we had a lovely day at the studio having hair and makeup done before prancing around (in separate studios I hasten to add!) in an assortment of lingerie and less!
The team at the studio were all girls and made us feel very relaxed.
A few weeks later we were able to access our photos on the website using the passwords we had set up. The photos were amazing! Not at all "page 3 stunner" but very black and white "Athena" type. Think Gok Wan type pics. My friend cried with happiness when she saw hers because the lighting and poses have made her look fantastic.
I'm so pleased that she's happy with the photos. After having two DCs she has the usual body hang-ups and was delighted to have something to restore her self-esteem and confidence and make her proud of her body.
Sadly, her BF does not share her feelings. He is very over-protective e.g. makes a fuss if she gets the milk off the door step in her dressing gown. He won't accept that the shoot was done by a totally female team and that the website is secure. So he is concerned (unnecessarily I think) that the photos will end up all over the internet. My friend has tried to assure him that the photos are private and she will not be sharing them but he says he "knows what she is like". He is even cross when she suggested she might have one as a canvas in the bedroom, as any friends or family who stay over might see it!
More worryingly, he is suggesting that she has somehow damaged their relationship by letting somebody else (albeit a female photographer) see something that he considers special to him. Don't get me wrong - he isn't a domineering abusive character and they have a very healthy love life - but he has put her on a pedestal and doesn't understand why she wanted to do the shoot, as she looks like that to him all the time.
Although she assures me that she loves the photos and that's all that matters, I feel responsible for causing this problem in their relationship. He usually makes her so happy and this is their first serious ruck. It's been a couple of months now and they haven't resolved the issue.
AIBU to think that he should just get over it and accept that his gorgeous girlfriend just wanted something more than his reassurance to improve her confidence?