Introduction

“Paint me like one of your French girls” takes on a new life after the roaring 20s introduced the camera. Boudoir photography has been highlighting the most beautiful, sensual parts of the human anatomy for as long as photography has been around. Let me help you prepare for your boudoir photoshoot and boost your self-confidence.

Understanding boudoir

Remember that iconic scene in Titanic where Kate Winslet asks Leonardo DiCaprio to draw her? The room they were in was absolutely stunning, with a long white couch, bold gold trim on the walls, and warm, low lighting that perfectly highlighted her features. Boudoir photography is a style that captures intimate, sensual, and romantic images of its subjects. Unlike some other types of photoshoots, boudoir isn't just for professional models. Anyone can do it! If you're on a journey of self-discovery, need a confidence boost, or simply want to express yourself in a bold and unabashed way, a boudoir session might be exactly what you've been searching for.

Model lies on the couch during a boudoir photoshoot.

Finding or not finding ;) the right wardrobe.

First off, everyone, yes EVERYONE, looks perfect naked. However, your confidence might not be there yet. If that's the case, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you do not need to wear lingerie or anything that shows off more than you are comfortable with.

Consider what ass-ets you may or may not want to show off. If your milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard, then you might want to find a cute harness or bralette. If you hear a “Beep Beep” anytime you back up, grab yourself a cute pair of fishnets and a garter belt.

For my more masculine clients, tease us with your favorite pair of jeans. Don’t be afraid to bare it all on my fur rugs. If you’re really feeling adventurous strap into a harness yourself, Boudoir has no rules.

Hair and makeup

Remember that the art of Boudoir is to LOOK effortless, don’t let that fool you. Hair and Makeup may get disheveled due to the actions of the shoot, but you should still come done up. Boudoir shoots are a great time to dive into a “you” day. I would consider the following checklist as a guideline for the evening before/morning of.

Wash everything – take a long soak in the bath or a steamy hot shower and wash everything from head to toe.

For anyone who has hair or skin that dictates their washing cycles, I highly recommend booking your shoot accordingly

This is a great time to shave and exfoliate

HYDRATION – I can not stress this enough, drink water before your shoot, starting the night before.

Moisturize – everything from your hair to your skin. You're hydrating inside and out to get your glow on.

Hygiene – Boudoir photoshoots are the perfect excuse to pamper yourself with a lengthy Hygiene routine. Include things like:

brush Teeth or use whitening strips (whitening is not necessary, but I have had many clients do this as a confidence builder)

Use a face mask

Steam your face

Tend to any unwanted or untamed facial hair

clip and file your nails – or have them done professionally

If doing it the night before – Prep your hair accordingly and sleep

add curlers or bonnets

cut if necessary

add any overnight serums or masks

If not, style as needed and secure hair away from the face to keep it from interfering with your makeup routine.

Lastly, apply your makeup just before leaving the house. This is normally where I lose my masculine clients but hear me out:

Eyebrow gel or some sort of color wand. Just match your hair, it doesn't have to be super thick and can really redefine the emotions on your face. This can also be used to thicken beards.

Concealer or lightweight foundation to cover blemishes.

Of course, all combinations of eyeshadows and liners are welcome

Experiment with different poses in front of a mirror.

Figure out what side you like and practice finding your light. Even trying poses you absolutely hate helps build confidence on set. Most photographers will gently guide you through a series of poses, if you want to spark inspiration take control by adding your own moments in between the poses you've practiced. If you know you look dayum good from the back looking over your shoulder, then you better WORK IT. Practicing gives you control of your images.

Practice your facial expressions.

Unless the composition leaves it out for good reason, your face is a magnet for the audience. We have all had our fair share of laughs over poorly taken pictures, but the last place you want that is during an intimate moment like this. Practice a number of different facial expressions and take note as different parts of your face tighten or soften as you move through them. This will be useful for following set directions from your photographer.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these tips help you next time you’re in front of the camera. Remember that boudoir photoshoots are meant to celebrate your body and boost your self-confidence, So why not become part of history and partake in a boudoir session of your own?

Ways to Prepare for a Boudoir Photoshoot