Would YOU pose nude to boost your self esteem? Growing trend women of every shape and size baring all for VERY personal portraits

It sounds like a mortifying ordeal most of us would shy away from, but more and more women are posing for nude portraits as presents for their partners or morale-boosting treats for themselves.

'I WANT TO LEARN TO LOVE MY CURVES'

Businesswoman Rachael Ritchie, 41, lives in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, with her husband, James, a 41-year-old mechanic, and their daughter, Charlie, 17, and son, Sam, 12. Rachael says:

I've spent 20 years bemoaning the way I look and enduring endless diets in an attempt to change my body shape.
Since I married James in 1991, I’ve been every size, from a 12 to a 20, but at no point have I felt completely happy with my appearance. Yet through all those years of yo-yo dieting my ­husband has always told me I am the most beautiful woman he knows. He buys me pretty underwear and tells me I’m sexy, but still I beat up myself over my curves.

I WANTED TO PHOTOGRAPH MY BODY BEFORE HAVING CHILDREN TAKES IT'S TOLL'

Claire McLauchlin-WHhitehead, 28, is a PR executive. She lives in Manchester with her businessman husband, Anthony, 27. Claire says:

No one knows what I’m doing today — my husband thinks I’m working late. It’s not that I’m embarrassed; I just don’t feel the need to tell people about it.
I’ve no idea how Anthony will react when I give him the ­pictures: they’re a gift for our first wedding anniversary. He’ll either love them or think it’s vain and self-indulgent. I want him to remember that the girl he married 12 months ago is still full of surprises. That I am daring and unpredictable, and ­perfectly capable of running off and having a stark naked ­picture taken without telling him first. 
I’ve always hated my legs — I’m convinced they are bigger and chunkier than they actually are — but seeing the shots made me ­realise it’s all in my head.
I know my body is far from perfect, but having these ­photographs taken is a way of teaching me not to ­agonise over my looks.

'THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE REAL ME - THE WOMAN WHO BEAT POST-NATAL DEPRESSION'

Hollie Brackenridge, 26, is a full-time mother to Scarlette, five, Isabella, three, and 14-month-old Brodie. She lives in Luton with her husband Matt, 34, a vehicle inspector. Hollie says:

Taking off my clothes to be photographed naked is my way of hammering the final nail into the coffin of the person I became after I was struck down with post-natal depression ­following the birth of my middle child.
These pictures are proof that the real me is alive and kicking again.

At first, that picture tormented me. I was barely functioning at the time — just getting out of bed and pulling on clean clothes felt like a huge effort.

Battle scars: Hollie now sees her stretch marks has a celebration of life

Matt was keeping the family together. He took time off work to look after the children and me; he was more like my carer than my husband. I felt a failure as a woman and as a mother. 
Suddenly, that picture gave me something to aim for. So as soon as I lost my baby weight, I vowed to have another set of nude photographs taken as gift for Matt to show him that he has his wife back again.
I was more nervous this time. My body has carried and breastfed two more children. I’m normally obsessed with my stretch marks and the way my body has changed after having children, but, in fact, I realised these ‘battle scars’ are a ­celebration of my life, how far I’ve come and the beautiful children I’ve carried.
As I stood there naked, I felt really good about myself. And I’m more proud of these pictures than the ones taken when I was so much younger.
My body and I have been through so much and these photographs are testament to the fact I’ve survived.
I will hang my favourite on the wall next to the old photograph with great pride