The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Boudoir Photography
A photoshoot is a vulnerable experience, and a boudoir or intimate shoot can be even more so. In this post, I answer the most frequently asked questions I get from my clients.
1. DO YOU SHARE MY IMAGES?
Short answer, I share nothing without your explicit permission.
My number one priority is to ensure your complete comfort. A boudoir photo session can be a life-changing, but also a scary and vulnerable experience. Some clients are comfortable sharing their photos with the world, some only with their friends or partners, and some not at all. It’s all up to you, and I respect your wishes around that without question or judgment.
2. DO I HAVE TO WEAR LINGERIE?
Definitely not. Many of my clients are not into lingerie. Some common things I hear when I talk to my clients on the phone consult:
“I don’t have any sexy lingerie.”
“I have lingerie I used to love in a closet somewhere, but I don’t fit in it anymore.”
“I just don’t like wearing lingerie!”
Somehow, we have all been indoctrinated with the idea that a woman can only be sexy when she is young, has a ‘perfect’ body, and wears expensive, branded things from Victoria’s Secret.
Being sexy is not about what you wear, it’s about how you feel, and you can feel sexy in any outfit whether it’s lingerie, your swimsuit, your jeans and jersey, or your laze-at-home old tee. These are only a few outfit ideas that might inspire you, so feel free get comfortable and to add your own!
3. IS HAIR AND MAKEUP INCLUDED?
Hair and makeup is included in all of my shoots! Getting your hair and makeup done is an experience my clients find highly pampering and relaxing, and it gets you in the mood for the shoot.
I only work with professionals who are comfortable in a wide variety of hair types and skin tones. Your hair and makeup artist (HMUA) will work with you to get the look you want, whether it’s “I just woke up like this” or full-on glam. You get to bring any ideas you want for inspiration and collaborate with your HMUA.
4. DO YOU PHOTOSHOP MY IMAGES?
I edit all images to adjust lighting, exposure, and colors.
I also do some skin smoothing. Today’s professional cameras capture much more detail than the human eye normally notices in everyday life, and some skin smoothing is simply required to compensate for that. Some of my clients, however, prefer a more ‘natural’ look, and I’m happy to accommodate that.
Beyond skin smoothing, I do NOT “edit out” anything permanent. My clients come to me because they are on a journey to love and accept themselves better. I believe it can be damaging to that mission to remove parts that make you who you are.
That being said, it’s completely okay to have parts of yourself that you’re learning to love and are not thrilled about. If there’s anything that is extremely unnerving to see in your pictures like an old scar from a traumatic event, we can talk about how to approach minimizing it through posing or in editing. I’ll work with you to take those concerns into account and make you look your absolute best!
5. WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU OFFER?
I offer a variety of albums and wall art. My clients love the feeling of a physical product and flipping through their albums regularly as a reminder of how the experience of a boudoir shoot was transformational to them.
6. DO YOU ALSO OFFER DIGITALS?
You will get low-resolution digital images for every picture that you include in an album or buy as wall art. These digital images are great for sharing on social media or messages, but not for high-quality prints.
If you’re interested in high-resolution digital images, you have the option to add them to your package for a minimal fee per high-resolution picture.
7. HOW MANY OUTFITS SHOULD I BRING?
A typical shoot lasts about 2 hours, which gives us enough time for 3-4 different outfits. However, if you can’t decide, bring more! I will be delighted to help you pick at your shoot.
8. WHERE DOES THE SHOOT HAPPEN?
I’d be happy to do a shoot on location at your home, or in a space we choose together like an AirBnB. Unfortunately, at this time, I do not have a dedicated studio for us to shoot in,
Your home: Some of my clients prefer having the shoot at their home. The advantage is that it’s a space that’s familiar to you, and has all of your things that you’d like to incorporate into the shoot. However, you’ll need to ensure it’s cleaned up, ensure privacy. This can be particularly difficult if you have kids or pets.
An AirBnB: This gives us the advantage of choosing a dreamy location with optimal natural light. For some of my clients, it’s a wonderful experience to get away from their day-to-day life and do the shoot in a different location. However, that also means you have to plan a bit more on things you have to bring to the shoot. At the moment, I have compiled a list of several AirBnBs that would be perfect to shoot in and have accounted for their cost in the session fee (approximately USD$ 30// MXN$ 735 for the day). However, if you were to choose a more expensive location, you will be responsible for the additional costs on top of what is included in your session fee.
And, that’s it! In the case you have more questions, please reach out—I’ll be super glad to hear from you and happy to answer your questions and address your concerns!