A photographer who captured images of sex workers in a Sheffield brothel has defended their trade saying “they are just normal women”.

In 2019, Lily Miles began a photography project at City Sauna, a massage parlour, after researching the different taboos of society.  

City Sauna, which is run by a mother and daughter, featured on Channel 4’s documentary ‘A Very British Brothel’. “I was quite fascinated by the fact that it was ran by women,” said Lily after watching the documentary.

Lily, a freelance photographer, spent six months picturing the sex-workers, the owners and the clients, describing the experience as “really eye opening”. 

“There were girls there who were the same age as me just paying their way through university. There were people my mum’s age too. They are just normal women,” said Lily.

The series titled ‘Pink To Make The Boys Wink’ is a portrayal of the women who have chosen to work at the massage parlour.

Image Credit: Lily Miles ‘Pink to Make The Boys Wink’

The photographs observe the lives and friendships of the women and what it means to work in a brothel, without any judgement. 

Lily was fascinated by the fact City Sauna is run by a mum and daughter but said:  “It was just quite a normal relationship. It was quite funny, there were a lot of jokes being made.”

Throughout the project, she was keen to ensure that sex work was not shown in a negative light. “The project was mainly about giving a realistic view of it in a light that shows it for what it is.”

Lily is also supportive of decriminalisation of sex work. “They’re all women working together and they protect each other which is telling of why it should be decriminalised,” she said.

 “I think the female-run side of sex work is more positive.”