Dame Denise Lewis for Coco de Mer ICONS Campaign.

Confidence Has No Age

What a privilege to shoot Dame Denise Lewis for Coco de Mer's ICONS campaign - her first ever lingerie shoot, at 53.

I've photographed women in underwear for years, and for me it's always been about much more than making a beautiful picture. To capture someone's sensual self on camera, you have to create a vibe on set that makes your subject feel 100% comfortable.

Denise is naturally confident, but this was a new experience for her. She arrived having never modelled lingerie before, or even worn suspenders - and it was brilliant watching her step into this new, sexy side of herself.

It also didn't hurt to be wearing such beautiful lingerie. How we present ourselves matters, and what we choose to wear can make a huge difference to how we feel. Coco de Mer's Lucy Litwack later described a "palpable shift" in Denise when she put the pieces on - suddenly the energy on set was electrifying. Denise was smoking hot :)

Denise said afterwards:

"Taking part in my first lingerie shoot in my fifties is a statement that confidence isn't age-dependent and visibility is power."

The campaign has been a huge success, with fantastic press coverage, including The Times and The Daily Mail. But what I loved most was seeing how much Denise enjoyed the shoot - and how completely she embraced it.

I really believe we can become more confident, more playful and yes, sexier as we get older. The reaction to these pictures suggests I'm not the only one. I think Denise proves the point rather beautifully.

Examples of Press Coverage