“Don’t let insecurity ruin the beauty you were born with.” -Anonymous 

When it comes to boudoir, I understand that this will be a once in a lifetime experience for many of my clients. The thought of doing boudoir is a big decision that can be met with a lot of anxiety and doubts. That’s why I have worked hard to perfect the process and address every little detail.

 I feel very strongly about making your boudoir session absolutely perfect. Seeing my clients feeling beautiful and confident in their own skin, just the way they are, is so rewarding to me! 

Here are all the important details to address and plan your perfect boudoir session:

Choose the perfect date

Don’t schedule your session in the midst of a busy time at work, during holiday stress, or any other time where you’re not at your calmest. Pick a day you can take the day off and set the time aside for a true pampering experience. You want to have at least 5-6 weeks to prepare, and we will work together to plan this perfect experience. Pinterest will be our best friend, so start looking for ideas right away including poses, outfits, hair, makeup and mood.

Clothing

A boudoir wardrobe doesn’t always mean lingerie. It can be full-on outfits that leave more to the imagination or nothing at all. You may wear cute panties and your significant other’s favorite sports team jersey or jeans and an open leather jacket with a sexy bra underneath. 

What you wear should be a reflection of YOU. Relax and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone either. Your lingerie may include bra and panty sets, corsets, bustiers, bodysuits, or teddys. Sometimes the images where you went outside of your normal wardrobe end up being some of your favorites. 

You should have 3-8 outfits to pick from. I will help you chose the perfect outfits that will flatter your body type specifically. Be sure that all bras include support to give you the perfect amount of lift. 

Shoes

Stiletto heels really make a boudoir shoot! The higher they are, the better. Pump or slides usually produce the best results. Ankle straps tend to make your legs appear shorter in photographs. I recommend black and nude, but you may want shoes that match your outfits too. 

You may also bring shoes to reflect the personality of a particular outfit such as Uggs or cowboy boots.

Checklist for the day of your boudoir session 

• Inspect all clothing for stains, missing buttons or closures, tears, or any other issues. 
• Ensure all garments are wrinkle free. It is impossible to edit out wrinkles!
• Remove labels and tags from all lingerie, panties, and bras. 
• Bring a robe or coverup. Changing our sets takes longer than taking the photos, and I want to ensure you are temperature comfortable.
• Separate full outfits including jewelry and props into individual bags. Not only does it make it simpler for wardrobe changes, but it helps you ensure that you have all of your outfits complete. 
• If you prefer to wear glasses, remove the glass. The glare from the lights is too difficult to remove. 
• Bring your own makeup bag for retouching even if you are having makeup professionally done. 

Hair 

Come to the session with clean, dry hair if you are having it professionally styled. Be sure to let me know if your hair is longer than shoulder length or you plan to wear extensions so we can plan for extra styling time. Don’t use any styling products such as hairspray that stiffen your hair. This tends to look unnatural in photos. 

Makeup 

Do not apply any products with sparkles. They will not show up appropriately. Shiny, oil-based lotions, cream and glosses should also be avoided. 

Makeup should be matte finish, match the skin, and moderately applied. Makeup that is too heavy or cakey often does not photograph well. Also avoid makeup containing SPF or sunblock. 

Avoid under the eye concealers which are too white or green. 

Lip liners should be natural and subtle, not overdrawn. 

Presentation 

Begin thinking of your goal for end products of our session. One of the best evolutions of professional photography these days is the variety of options to display your photos. You may prefer a luxury album. These albums can be discreet 5×5 books, black or colorful, leather-wrapped, or customized specifically to your style. 

You may love your photos so much that you decide to show them off more boldly. Matted prints are another option as well as traditional canvases. 

This may seem like a lot to take on, but excellence always takes time to achieve. When you receive your beautiful images of your gorgeous self, I know you will be proud of them and all appreciate all of our hard work!