Here are my top tips for a successful boudoir session!
Planning and booking a boudoir photo session can be daunting, so here are my top tips and best advice to make the process go smoothly.
Most important is choosing your boudoir photographer! Choosing a photographer that you vibe with is just as important if not more than choosing someone based on solely the style of their images. More than anything, you want to choose someone you feel comfortable with, who will help bring out your confidence and allow you to relax in front of the camera. Here are some steps to help you choose the right boudoir photographer:
- Read reviews. The best way to know what kind of experience you’re going to have is to hear it directly from the clients themselves! Most photographers have reviews on google as well as on their websites.
- Hop on a call! It’s super important to have a call with your photographer before booking with them. This gives you an opportunity to get to know them a bit, and to see if you guys vibe with each other. And this is the perfect opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the experience and talk about the style you’re looking for. A good photographer will also have questions for you!
- Ask to see a full gallery. Usually, a photographer’s portfolio is a curation of their best work. If they are indeed experienced and have done many sessions, they won’t have every photo from a session in their portfolio online. Ask to see a full gallery so you can get an idea of what a full session looks like when working with them! If you love what you see, and love the conversation, then you know you’ve got a great photographer.
- Make sure they have a professional contract. A good contract will outline the expectations and responsibilities of both parties to ensure the best possible experience.
Choosing Outfits
What to wear to your boudoir photo session is a big question for a lot of women looking to book a boudoir session. I’m going to give you a few tips to help make the decision easier.
Some boudoir photographers will have a client lingerie closet, but not all of them do. This does not mean that they are not an experienced boudoir photographer! It is simply a preference and a part of the experience that some offer. Lots of women don’t even want to use clothing that isn’t their own, which is why many photographers do not go this route! If, however, they do not have a client closet, they absolutely should help you with ideas for your outfits. But to save you some time and prepare you ahead of time, these are my top tips-
Colors:
Choose colors that flatter your skin tone! We all look a little better in certain colors in the summer than we do in the winter, so keep that in mind when purchasing your lingerie or choosing outfits. And black and white look good on anybody, so you can never go wrong with one of those options!
Try them on first!
I cannot express this enough. Even if it’s coming out of your own closet. The last thing you want is to show up for your shoot with a bodysuit you haven’t worn in two years to find out it doesn’t fit you right. If you’re ordering online, make sure to order far enough in advance that you can try them on and exchange if need be.
Bring Options!
As a boudoir photographer myself, I love when my clients bring all the fun outfits. If you can’t decide, bring them all girl! We can help you decide what will look best in the photos. Even if you choose to use your photographer’s client closet, It’s a great idea to bring at least one piece you feel super confident in.
Bridal Boudoir
White lingerie goes without speaking, but you can also bring other accessories! If you already have your veil for the wedding, bring it! Definitely don’t forget your engagement ring, and bring a pair of white heels if you have them. Some brides like to bring something of their future partners. Think a button up tee, a hat, a jacket, or anything else special of theirs that they can incorporate into their boudoir session.
Hair and Makeup:
While it’s definitely not a necessity to get your hair and makeup done professionally, I always encourage my clients to do so! Why? First of all, getting pampered and glammed up by a pro, looking your damn best, provides a huge confidence boost. And since you’re spending a good amount of money on your boudoir photo session, you definitely don’t want to look back and wish you had gotten your hair and makeup done. Lastly, professional makeup artists know what looks good on camera!! With a high quality, raw format photograph, your makeup always looks less intense on camera than it does in person. A good makeup artist understands just the right amount of glam needed for a boudoir photo shoot. Trust them!
But, of course, some girlies are phenomenal at doing their own hair and makeup and ultimately the decision is up to you! Some photographers offer this as a part of their package, while others do not. Another thing to consider when booking if you’re looking for that experience too!
Posing
In order to get the best photos in your boudoir photo session, it’s important to work with a photographer who knows how to pose their clients! This is especially true if it’s your first boudoir session. Most boudoir photographers will have a posing guide they can send you, or will create some type of mood board full of posing and shot ideas for you! While this isn’t an absolute necessity, I find that it helps my clients to prepare. For this reason I offer a comprehensive posing guide as well as mood board creation for each of my boudoir clients! At minimum, your photographer should be able to walk you through and demonstrate each pose. Just know, you do not have to have ANY experience coming in to your session! It’s our job to make you feel and look beautiful!
Tips for the week leading up to your boudoir session
Your photographer will almost certainly give you some tips on how to prepare for your boudoir photo session, but here are some of my top tips just in case!
- Drink plenty of water the entire week leading up to your session. Hydration is key to glowing, clear skin! Not just your face but your body and hair too. Water water water! This is a huge one.
2. Try on any outfits you are bringing that week to make sure they fit!
3. Try not to drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before your session, even longer if you can! Alcohol is incredibly dehydrating, and can also make some of us break out. I always offer mimosas to my boudoir babes during their session, but definitely skip the booze the night before!
4. Come to your hair and makeup appointment with clean, dry hair and clean, moisturized skin. Bonus points if you dermaplane before hand! This allows for a stunning, seamless makeup application.
5. Try to avoid spray tans. More often than not, your entire body is not perfectly one color. Often times your elbows, knees, feet, or hands can be blotchy. This can be extremely difficult to photoshop. Hit the tanning bed, lay in the sun, or if you absolutely must, apply self tanner if you are confident in a seamless application. Just be aware that your photographer may or may not be able to fix any streaks or blotchy spots.
6. Be sure to wear comfortable, LOOSE clothing the day of your boudoir session! No tight pants, socks, underwear, or bras. Don’t wear anything that could leave lines on your skin! You will be wearing very minimal clothing during your session, and as stated above, photoshop can be a hit or miss. For example, I can easily edit out acne or bruises, but lines going all the way down your leg or around your waist can be a challenge. Show up dressed like a sexy bum with killer hair and makeup! Lol.
That’s all for now lovelies! I hope this helped prepare you for an upcoming boudoir session, or inspired you to take the leap and book!
Stay tuned for more tips about all things boudoir and wedding photography! And check out my boudoir portfolio for some inspiration:
