Intimate Portraits by Lu

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Intimate Portraits by Lu

Hi, I'm Luana, an intimate portrait photographer. My work focuses on empowerment & body confidence.

04/11/2026

DISCLAIMER: yes, I have photographed people holding mugs. There are some on my website!

"Omg what a hypocrite." Fair, I hear you.

Sometimes a mug is a very good prop. I've used it at the start of sessions to give clients something to do with their hands while they get comfortable. And if you want a shot with your fav mug, or one someone gifted you that means something, I won't say no.

But if someone just says "how about a photo with a cup of coffee?", that's a no. As Gemma Hewett - eMotionFit for a healthy mind and body can testify.

Half the population drinks coffee. It doesn't make you stand out and it’s probably the least interesting thing about you.

Holding a mug, a blurry photo of you walking, a flat lay. Yaaaawn. Everyone does it and you know it! You so know it!

What does that say about your brand? "Hi, I look exactly like everyone else, even though our businesses are completely different."

I can hear your thoughts: “Gosh Lu, you’re not holding back, maybe chill a bit!"

Nah-uh. Ain't gonna chill. When I see business owners who work so hard to help others, then show up online looking like everyone else, it breaks my heart.

You didn't build the business of your dreams to not do it justice. You deserve to stand out from the crowd and find your people.

So what's a REBRAND session with me?

A mix of everything in this post. Variety. Photos that bring up different feelings and reactions. It’s definitely something way more you than holding a mug: we plan it together, so we work out what your brand looks like for you and how to make it stand out.

If you're thinking:
🫠"My photos don't look or feel like me anymore"
🫠"I did a mini session and my photos looked the same as everyone else's"
🫠"I've used the same Pinterest board for years"
🫠"The photos in these slides are so cool"
🫠"I'd love to be confident enough to leave the mug behind"

DM me REBRAND. I'd love to chat and help you unfck your branding.

30/10/2026

In my “helping others feel at home in their bodies” era 💅

Rachael Hyland-Tate and I have created the most uplifting, thought provoking and mindset shifting workshop, and it might be exactly what you need right now!

Aurélie experienced a very small part of this workshop a couple of years ago, and she’s been harvesting the results since. Even better, she’s coming back for more, travelling all the way from London 🤘🏻

For £40, you get an agenda packed with interactive workshops PLUS a duo of experts ready to support you and cheer you on when you reach those lightbulb moments!

DM us ELY EVENT and we’ll send you the link to book.

We can’t wait to see you there!

19/10/2026

✨WOWWWZA✨

What is this?? So so so excited to announce that I have teamed up with Rachael from to bring our local babes a grounded & powerful afternoon.

If you live in Ely (or are local to Cambs) and struggle with body image, this is for you: we have all been there, worrying about our bodies constantly, so much that life seems to just "go by" and we are here to change it!

We don't offer to change your body, but your mindset: your body doesn't need to change to be worthy of your acceptance and gratitude, because you are enough as you are (LOUDER FOR THOSE AT THE BACK!!!).

🗓 Sunday 22nd of November
📍FRESH, 16-18 Broad St, ELY CB7 4AH
⏰ 1-5 PM
✨ £40 (early bird £35)

Join us for a judgement-free, thought provoking afternoon.

Any questions, ask us in the comments or send us a message!

We are looking forward to welcoming 🩷

16/10/2026

On Wednesday, after a few days home in Italy (so knackered), pre-period, and PMSing as f**k, I was the guest speaker at Coffee & Connection, a local, friendly networking event organised by Gemma Hewett - eMotionFit for a healthy mind and body at Willow Grange Farm Shop & Café.

I talked about what I do, why I do it and why it’s important to “take space” as business owners (and humans!).

If you have had a look at what I do at all, you’ll know that I believe EVERYONE deserves to take space.

It’s one of the biggest acts of rebellion in a society that wants us to shrink (both physically and mentally) and profit from it.

A person who’s made to feel small, insecure, unlovable and unworthy is so much easier to control and influence.

So invite you to spend a moment to reflect on HOW you shrink yourself on a daily basis and why.

Is it really your choice, or are you following what everyone else is doing?

Are there areas where you could speak up more? Things (or people) you could let go of because they make you feel small?

Reflecting on these things is a small, first step towards understanding who you really are and how you can start taking a bit more space in this world.

Babe, you are ALLOWED space. You DESERVE space. You can CREATE that space for yourself, and stand in it PROUDLY.

Holla if you need support: I help people & business owners take space with the power of photography.

Bit cringe if you describe it like that maybe, but it works f**king wonders 🔥

Stay You (but take more space),
Lu x

01/10/2026

If posting on a weekday at 10 AM isn’t proof of how much I don’t give a f**k anymore, I don’t know what it is.

I am livid with the world women live in right now, this post could have been 100 pages long, because my words wouldn’t stop flowing.

I don’t believe anger alienates people: I think it alienates the wrong people.

If men feel attacked by our anger, they need to ask themselves a question. I am fed up to be told I shouldn’t tell things as they are because it’ll upset people.

Get a f**king grip.

Men are the perpetrators of most violence, and yet we are told we should hold their hand and tell them nicely how s**t they are: are we even serious right now?

Why are men not angry too? Why are they not livid about the bad rep “other men” are giving them?

Why do they feel attacked instead of thinking “hang on a minute, is this really happening? Is this how women are treated? Where are the consequences?”

The answer to that question is uncomfortable, isn’t it.

The safety of women should come before the comfort of men, yet it doesn’t.

So yes, I am angry and I’ll be vocal about it.

10/09/2026

Reading that article made my skin crawl.

The entitlement when talking about bodies, as if models owed him something.

The tearing down diverse-bodied models.

The COMMENTS!! I thought “wow over 1000 comments, must be people having a go at him”. Nope. It’s VILE.

I am not delulu enough to think that most people believe in the same things I believe in, however, I would always hope that when faced with statistic on women and teenagers wellbeing, most would see sense.

So I rambled. I shared the statistics. And I share my work, because I believe inclusion, representation and diversity does have a place in media.

It should be the norm. And the comments on that article are the proof that more work is needed.

04/09/2026

CRAFTS & CHATS

🗓️ Friday 11th, September
⏰ 10 AM to 12 PM
📍

Join us for a chill morning, bring your own craft and enjoy unlimited free, delicious coffee! Make new friends or enjoy some quiet time away from work and home - whatever works for you!

Add 2 hours of co-working after for just £5, if you want to tackle those last few tasks before the weekend.

*Disclaimer*
We promised Crafts&Chats won’t be as chaotic as Luana in this video! 🤪

Any questions, pop them in the comments!

02/09/2026

Hey babes,

I’m patting myself on the shoulder with this one, not gonna lie.

Did I fool you? 😏

For full transparency, most of these activities were suggested by me after our call and/or questionnaire. The work we do together allows people to open up enough for me to understand exactly what they need from their session, if they don’t already know themselves.

September is now fully booked, but I’m taking bookings for October.

If you ever wanted someone to say “f**k yeah” to whatever you bring to the table, you found her.

I’ll meet you exactly where you are, and match your vibe.

You know where my DMs are - just holla! ✨

Stay You,
Lu xx

22/08/2026

Unpopular opinion: served.

Sue me!

11/08/2026

✨hello ✨

The planets aligned and I have pretty decent availability in the coming weeks.

Hire me to be your bish, this is your chance 🤘🏻

Address

Ely

Website

http://www.intimateportraitsbylu.com/

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