A mother-of-two who survived breast cancer plans to open a photographic studio in Canterbury to help empower other women who have lost confidence in their looks.

Alison White, of Hicks Forstal Road near Hoath, was forced to put her wedding photography business on hold when she was diagnosed with the disease in September 2010.

A mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy left the 48-year-old without hair and low on confidence.

She said: “I was bald for eight months before my hair started to come back and I felt very low, scared and ugly. I’d put on my make-up every day and put on a smile for my kids, but I just felt shocking. I wasn’t the woman I was because the treatment is horrific.”

Almost three years later,Alison is back behind the camera after undergoing reconstruction, being given the all-clear by doctors, and is more determined than ever.

She now plans to use her photographic skills to help women of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds feel good about themselves.

She said: “I just want to turn what was such a hellish and negative experience into something positive, not just for me but for ladies who have gained weight, gone through a divorce, had children or also gone through cancer.”

Alison, who moved to Kent from Essex 10 years ago when she was re-united with her teenage sweetheart, has been photographing boudoir shoots from her home for the past year with “amazing” feedback.

I’m starting to feel like the woman I was and good about myself again.

She said: “I’ve had ladies come in from the age of 18 up to 70 all with different body issues, from cellulite to the odd mole.

“They come away feeling so empowered by what they have done – they’ve had a makeover and been made to feel glamorous. That’s probably the best reward for me, to see people’s smiley faces after they have seen their photos.”

As well as helping women regain their confidence, Alison says she hopes to use her new studio to help raise money for breast cancer awareness at an event later this year.

She added: “I’m starting to feel like the woman I was and good about myself again. If I can help other women get through what they are going through, then great.”

Alison’s Red Bow Boudoir photographic studio opens at Lakeview Business Park, outside Canterbury, this month. Call 01227 860216 or visit www.redbowboudoir.com