Let’s get some ideas flowing!!
Let’s get real here, doing a boudoir shoot is a hell of a way to show your courageous and adventurous side, but it can also cause a huge ball of nerves! The whole thing can cause a million questions to run through your head! I get it! Take a deep breath love, you got this! To relieve some of that tension, however, I’m going to give you a list of prep ideas for you..because why shouldn’t your photographer help you out, right?! I adore you ladies, so I want to make sure you have this list! So here we go:
Make sure you don’t have any facial procedures done within a week or 2 of your session (you should really give 2 weeks in between!) You don’t want any redness or rashes on your face for your photos!
STRETTTCHHHHH a few days before. We will be getting into some poses that you need to be a little more loose for!
Hair Removal-I recommend shaving the night before and waxing a few days prior. You want to allow your body to heal and any redness to go away before your session. Using creams like Nair should be o.k. 24 hours prior, but if you know it causes redness then take those few extra days in between! Make sure you pay close attention to all hairy areas you know you don’t want shown in your photos!
Hands and feet play a larger role in your boudoir session than you might think. Make sure your heels are crack free, feet are clean (you can really pick up on dirty feet in photos), maybe get a mani and pedi so your nails look perfect, and lotion those puppies up for your photos so they look cute as a button..if thats possible! (Feet hater here!)
Make sure you have a clean, exfoliated and well moisturized face. And don't scrub your face until it's raw or red-be gentle. If your hair functions better with a day or so between washes, wash your hair the day before or more so your hair stays curled. Your hair also plays a huge role in your photos so you want to make sure it looks good and moves well!
Avoid clothing with stains, rips, and iron/steam any items that are super wrinkly. I suggest hanging your outfits up wrinkle free all together so when its time to come for your session, you can put them into a bag all together! I do have a steamer here if needed in case the bag caused wrinkles.
Be mindful of accessories and props. Bring a pair of shoes if you want shoes in your photos, however we really dont use them a lot.
Be thoughtful when selecting accessories and jewelry. Try your jewelry on with your outfits to make sure you like the way it looks! I wouldn’t want you to wear them for your photos, and you end up hating the look! Make sure you have these items ready days before your session so you don’t forget them.
Make sure you have all clothing, accessories, and anything else you want for your session prepared and ready to go the night before! That way you don’t have to stress the day of!
Do not drink (a lot) alcohol the night before in case you wake up feeling sick! Get plenty of rest, and make sure to eat breakfast in the morning, at least 2 hours before your shoot! You do not want to come on an empty stomach!
You will have the time of your life, don’t be nervous!
Its best to come to the studio in baggy clothing wearing no bra or underwear so you don’t get lines in your photos!!!
Lets break down a few things you could bring to your portrait session to make your photos really pop! Let’s start with:
JEWELRY
Bring something meaningful to add a layer of personal depth and style to your portraits. A must have necklace that you bought for yourself, your grandmother's antique pearl bracelet, special wedding jewelry, a meaningful pair of earrings you've received as a gift, or just something that you feel beautiful in!
You don't need to bring jewelry for every outfit, although you can. Especially if you have really visually distinctive jewelry (like a huge string of pearls!), we may only want to include it for some pictures. You really want to make sure each set of jewelry matches your theme and vibe. You don’t want to have a really edgy and dark portrait with Hollywood glam costume jewelry. You would more likely wear a choker or edgy piece to wear to match the vibe of it! Have fun with the jewelry, it always adds so much to the portrait!
If you don’t want to bring any, dont worry I have some here you can use!
NEXT IS SHOES..
Tall heels with a closed toe will make your legs look super long and epic! I generally recommend avoiding shoes with a "chunkier" heel or shoes with an ankle strap, as those can visually shorten your legs. Heels can really elongate your legs, make your feet look elegant, and add a totally glamorous look to your portraits. Shoes in white, black or beige are the ones I would go with, though a pair of red heels are always sexy with anything you wear! Heels in lingerie, a robe, or even just a sexy dress can be just what you want to add to your photos. Don’t want to bring shoes? No problem, bare foot is always sexy and seductive! We usually only use shoes if you absolutely need them included or we are doing pinup! It’s totally your choice!
I have shoes here if you want to just use mine! Mostly they are just for show!