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Britain’s secretive sex industry laid bare in this extraordinary series of racy photographs of escorts, strippers and porn stars

These pictures were taken for London-based photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten's new project The Act

THE secretive lives of sex workers are normally hidden from the public eye.

But one photographer has shed light on the lives of women who voluntarily work in the sector - including a stripper, porn star, escort and dominatrix.

 A stripper begins to remove her clothes. These pictures of sex workers were taken by London-based photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten
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A stripper begins to remove her clothes. These pictures of sex workers were taken by London-based photographer Julia Fullerton-BattenCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 An escort waits for her next client. The images were compiled in a book called The Act
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An escort waits for her next client. The images were compiled in a book called The ActCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 A burlesque dancer begins to move. Julia photographed 15 voluntary sex workers for her project
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A burlesque dancer begins to move. Julia photographed 15 voluntary sex workers for her projectCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten

These racy images are the work of London-based photographer Julia Fullerton-Batten, for her new project The Act.

As the name suggests, each of the pictures show the women at work - be that a burlesque dancer in her fancy outfit, or an escort advertising her services in a window.

Julia conducted a year of castings for the pictures, and eventually whittled the women down to a group of 15 - including a ping pong girl, aerial artist, lap dancer and webcam star.

 A call girl advertises her services in the window
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A call girl advertises her services in the windowCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 A dominatrix sits on top of a cage
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A dominatrix sits on top of a cageCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 A dancer shows off her skills on a pole
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A dancer shows off her skills on a poleCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 Each of the pictures were taken on a realistic stage set
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Each of the pictures were taken on a realistic stage setCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 A stripper dances for her customers
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A stripper dances for her customersCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten

 

Each image shows a woman posing on a realistic and specially-designed stage set, from an escort's bedroom to a ping pong table.

While in one image, a dominatrix waits on a metal cage.

Julia told The Mirror: "I have long been curious as to why some women wittingly and willingly forsake 'normality' and voluntarily opt to enter the sex industry, even knowing that in doing so they risk social stigma and the disapproval of their families."

 The Act also includes interviews with the sex workers - which Julia says helped change her perception of the industry
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The Act also includes interviews with the sex workers - which Julia says helped change her perception of the industryCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten
 Julia says the women were 'positive, happy, content and almost carefree' at their career choice
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Julia says the women were 'positive, happy, content and almost carefree' at their career choiceCredit: Julia Fullerton-Batten

The pictures from The Act have been compiled in a large, pink book - which includes interviews with some of the female sex workers.

Julia said working with the ladies helped change her mind about the sex industry - and the stigma around it.

She added: “They were all positive, happy and content, almost care-free about what they were doing. I began to understand and respect to some degree the reasoning behind their career choice.”