When it comes to working as an independent escort in the UK, there’s no doubt that a professional set of photos will level up your marketing efforts and business. Something I’ve learned since I started working as an escort in the early noughties: big-spending clients, for the most part, are attracted to high-glam images. This means well-thought-out outfits in clean, crisp and/or opulent surroundings, with a magazine-quality finish.

One of the best-regarded photographers in the industry, who works hard to hit the brief, is AT Glamour London, also known as Alan Thomas. I’ve known Alan for many years, and he sits very highly in my estimation for the following reasons:

• He’s nice to be around
• No bias—he will work with you whatever your body size or vibe
• He’s organised, efficient and won’t mess you about
• Alan’s rates are reasonable for what you receive
• He doesn’t over-stretch himself and won’t keep you waiting ages for retouched images after the shoot

I put some questions to Alan and he’s been kind enough to answer them for this post. If you’re an escort thinking of upping her game, Alan is definitely someone to consider.

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Hi Alan, thanks for taking part in our interview! Tell us a little a bit about yourself, your photography background and how long you’ve been photographing independent escorts.

My pleasure! Thank you for asking me 🙂
Hey, I’m Alan (AT Glamour London), photographer and retoucher in the adult industry. I studied photography both at Alevel and university, and decided to continue pursuing the subject. After shooting so many genres, I ended up talking with an escort photographer and then worked with him for 2 years before officially starting my business in Jan 2011 (15 years ago!).

You’ve amassed one of the best reputations in the UK escort industry for trustworthiness and reliability. Tell us what aspect(s) of your service you think have earned you that reputation?

OCD and organisational skills, lol. I’m a sucker for spreadsheets, keeping inboxes clean, workloads down, deadlines met etc. In all seriousness, I’m not 100% sure… I’d like to think it’s because I’m a professional with good terms, a friendly/chill attitude, I treat everyone equally, and try to have consistency with work.

You work with a makeup artist – why do you recommend a makeup artist during shoots where the model’s face will get blurred?

Yes, I work with a lovely lady named Holly. Though not compulsory, I would always recommend one. In instances where the model’s face is blurred it can still be a good idea because the makeup may help you feel more confident, and depending on the area or level of blur, some of the face may still be seen. The artist will also style the hair which will still be in view, they can help with outfit selection, outfit dressing, and shoot assistance.

You generally shoot from posh homes and other locations, why do you prefer location shoots to say a studio or hotel room?

I of course still shoot in both studios and hotels, but residential locations and large areas of beauty are definitely my preference. Studios are great if you are going for a plain background, have a specific concept to work on, or just need a small lifestyle setup for a couple of outfits, but past this they can be difficult for multiple varied setups. Hotels are also great if you are showing the hotel as part of your brand, or the room/suite is specific to the idea/styling you have. Where hotels fall is that they are usually quite small, ‘cold’ decor, with little natural light, and 99% of the time you’re not actually allowed to professionally shoot in them.

Residential locations are good because they’ve been hired for a specified use, they offer multiple set options and various furnishings to use for sets and poses. Usually these homes would also offer a good mix of natural light, and ambient light, possibly with varied decor/furniture around the home. I also love areas of beauty which are great because they can be so unpredictable, beautiful and unique. The limitations with this however, is that they are very concept orientated. For example, a typical glam pose in white Calvins in a natural infinity pool on the top of a mountain might be a little weird, lol.

Privacy and personal information is obviously a big friction point in our industry. How are the images you take stored and for how long?

I store files on an external drive, and once the drive is full it goes in to a storage box for 24 months.
After 24 months the drive is wiped and recycled. The only files stored online are those I’ve sent to the client, with which full online ownership is given to the client after the edits are sent. Therefore, it’s up to the client whether they want to keep them online, store offline, or delete.

What should a model bring along to your shoot? And what are the most frequently forgot-to-bring items that she should always pack?

• Checking and double checking their outfits and accessories before leaving to make sure they have everything.
• Don’t bring too many outfits, but at the same time don’t bring too little. Always bring a couple over the suggested amount so that you have backup options or extras if there’s time to do more.
• Bring at least 2 pairs of heels! People often forget good ‘shoot’ shoes, or they only bring one pair which may not match an outfit or two.
• Any specific makeup items.
• Any accessories or personal items that might make your shoot more ‘you’.
• Lastly, a good attitude. Positivity goes a long way in producing better images.

Does the model get full usage rights of all images? Will her images ever be used in your portfolio without consent?

Yes, the model receives all of the images I take. Initially in low resolution JPG but high resolution JPG can be requested. The images can be used for anything the client wishes, the only thing I ask is that if any images are to be sold or drastically changed that it is agreed with me as I still retain copyright and creative ownership.

I will never use/sell/post anyone’s content. In order for me to use any image in any way I will always formally ask post shoot for consent. This is also in my terms.

Any advice for a model who’s never done this before, doesn’t know how to pose and/or is feeling very nervous?

There’s a few things I’d recommend:

• Do some image and pose research, and as crazy as it sounds, practice some posing in the mirror or with a friend to see what’s comfortable.
• Do plenty of photographer research, confirm they have a good reputation, good terms (both professional and monetary), work with people in a similar industry, and have a portfolio you like.
• Have a conversation with your chosen photographer before booking to get a feel for their attitude and professionalism.
• Bring a friend/colleague for moral support.

If at all helpful for anyone, I have a little blog post about planning a photo shoot: https://www.atglamourlondon.co.uk/planning-a-photo-shoot

I mostly aimed this interview at women, but I know you photograph men too. Outside of the escort industry, what other adult niches are you involved in? (e.g. online creators, dominatrices).

Predominantly, I built my business around female full service workers. Though, as you mention, I do also shoot male full service workers, content creators, dominatrices, and agencies that also work within these sectors.

In the past, I worked a bit in pornography (both amateur and large scale production), and occasionally I might shoot some adult content (stills or video) for private galleries, but this isn’t often.

Finally, where is the best place to keep up to date with your news and availability? 

I’ve got a few options people can keep an eye on:

You can join my newsletter here: https://www.atglamourlondon.co.uk/contact
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atglamldn
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/atglamourlondon.co.uk
X: https://x.com/atglamourlondon

Also, more than happy for someone to DM/Whatsapp me for more info, or request to be notified of cancellations. You’ll find my number on my website.