Preparing for Your Boudoir Session

Often, our clients will have questions about the session, so I wanted to create a full list of boudoir photo shoot tips to help you prepare!

By booking the amazing boudoir experience with us, you will be receiving a complete guide helping you get ready for your fantastic photoshoot.

Before we worry about anything else, we always like to start by telling our clients to take care of themselves before their shoots! Don't forget to stretch (you will thank me later! lol) , drink lots of water, exfoliate, moisturize. Spend extra time taking care of your skin, it's going to be your main outfit! 

Whether you’re coming in for your first boudoir photo shoot or your 50th, make the most of your experience by following these boudoir dos and don’ts:

Do: Wear loose clothing to your appointment in a fabric that won’t irritate your skin. Consider a simple cotton top and loose pants or a skirt.

Do: Treat yourself to getting your mani/pedi done before your shoot. When doing polish we find it works best visually to have the polish on your nails and toes match. If your polish is chipped, we'll have you remove it before your shoot. 

Do : shave/wax everything that needs it!  Waxing should be done a couple of days before your session so that your skin isn’t irritated.

Do: Bring any accessories you might want to use, like jewelry,or even glasses. Do NOT bring props unless we agreed to it during a consultation. 

Do: Kickstart your hair style with a good blow out. Arrive with clean and dry hair, clean and moisturized skin (no makeup).

Do: Drink extra water during the week before your shoot so your skin is plump and hydrated. Before your appointment, make sure to eat a light but nourishing meal.

Do: cut out all tags from your clothing options including the launder instructions inside the garmet (little white tags w/ care instructions). 

Do: remember that sometimes no outfit can be the best outfit. Some of our favorite images were photos taken when our client wasn’t wearing anything clothing-related, and simply covered up with a white sheet, towel, pillow, or a prop (sheet & furs provided by us) or simply well posed. The old "less is more" in action here! ;)  

Do: Get fitted for a bra. This is probably one of the single most important thing you can do to prepare and look the best for your boudoir shoot. If you haven't been fitted for a bra in the past year, please get fitted. If you were ever fitted at Victoria's Secret, please go get fitted. We've had some of our clients, who are employed at Victoria Secret confirm our suspicions that they really don't do the best fittings, and will stick you in whatever is close enough to sell you a bra. (It actually happened to myself! ) While we love the lingerie VS offers, please do not get fitted there only .

Measurements are only half the battle when it comes to finding the correct fitting bra. There are several different breast shapes, and certain styles of bras work best with certain breast shapes. Tip: Make sure to tell your fitting assistant you're doing a boudoir session. ;)

Do: have panties that match your bra! Even if you have beautiful and expensive pieces, please make sure you have at least one matching set.

Do: think texture! We recommend sticking with more solid colors over prints. Our favorite colors are black and jewel tones. We love any texture as it adds interest to your photographs. Lace, beading, glitter, straps, chains, ect. are some of our favorite things.

Do: bring VERY high heels. We love a good pair of flats in our day to day life. Boudoir though is a fantasy and it's true the higher the heel the better your butt looks. Even if you return them after your shoot, it's always a good idea to bring a pair of "do-me" shoes. We love black and nude pumps, with a spike heel and a pointed toe. Unless you love the shoe, we don't recommend ankle straps. Visually they shorten your legs.

Do: load up on accessories.Bring larger scale accessories.  Pearls, long necklaces, gaudy costume jewelry, hats, fishnets or sheer black hose, and most importantly--cute shoes!! Small and delicate jewelry can work too but when choosing jewelry, think statement pieces! We love earrings over 10mm in size. The more your jewelry catches the light, the better it will be to photograph.

Don't : Over pack. We'll go through all the options you bring at the beginning of your shoot. 3 changes are usually more then enough! Less is more, remember? 

Don't: feel like you have to drop a ton of money on new items for your shoot. Although it can be nice to have one really elaborate piece of lingerie, we can create stunning images with the items you already have in your closet.

Don't: Don't do anything drastic like a cleanse or fasting. Please eat something before you shoot. Posing for our boudoir sessions is kind of similar to a yoga session. You'll be holding muscles you normally don't, and often times be inverted laying down. We don't want anyone to feel faint or light headed. The small amount of body change you feel from cleansing or fasting will not be visible in the final photos. We photograph everyone so their body looks awesome. Even if you think you're a bit bloated after you eat, we promise you will never be able to tell in your photos.

Don't: Please refrain from spray tanning! Your natural skin will photograph best! We've had so many clients have malfunctions with their spray tanner, resulting in weird color patches and drips. The spray tanner also settles in every fine line of your skin, making you look much older. If you absolutely must tan, we recommend UV tanning, which while harmful for your skin, photographs better. Make sure you use extra moisturizer as to not dry out your skin.

Don’t: Wear tight or constricting clothing to your shoot, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you wear your skinniest jeans to your appointment, you may be unpleasantly surprised to discover unsightly red marks in your photos.

Don’t: Overdo it on the alcohol, which can make your skin look puffy, or eat heavy meals that will make you bloat.

Don’t: Bring anything you don’t feel 100% comfortable in. For example, lots of women want to shoot boudoir photos wearing a thong, but if you hate thongs, wear something else.

Don't Bring in baby doll style lingerie. Many women are self conscious about there mid-section. We all feel comfortable with a bit of loose flowy coverage. When you put more fabric at an area you're trying to hide, it highlights it and makes it look larger. We want to highlight your waist! If you're uncomfortable with your mid section, try a high-waisted panty, teddy or bodysuit!

Don’t:Forget your shoes! Keep in mind that you won’t have to walk in them, so consider bringing some sexy stilettos.

Now that you’re prepared to have the boudoir photo shoot of your dreams, it’s time to book an appointment wit us!! Our boudoir photos will give you amazing self-confidence and make special gifts for your partner or just for yourself. CONTACT US today, pack your hottest lingerie and get ready to discover your inner vixen.

Do you have any other tip ? We would love to hear from you!

If you have any other questions about what to bring or how to prepare for a boudoir shoot, please let us know and we will be happy to help!