Boudoir FAQ / 9 of Your Boudoir Questions Answered
I've been a portrait and wedding photographer for 12 years now and I was really excited this year to add Boudoir to my list of services! So I shoot weddings, engagements, family sessions and now boudoir. This past January I did my first ever Boudoir minis Marathon. And it was AMAZING. I had so much fun, the girls had so much fun, it was such a good time. So I immediately scheduled another in March...and now I’m thrilled to add the next one at a new location in June!
If you’d like to grab a spot for your own Boudoir Experience, click one of the links:
March 28, 2021 in Clinton, Iowa
June 12, 2021 in Davenport, Iowa
If you still have some questions, you’re in the right place! As amazing as it is, I am fully aware that Boudoir is kind of intimidating to some people (most people…me too!). So I wanted to go ahead and give everyone an opportunity to ask some questions via Insta-stories. I picked the top 7 to answer for you, which will hopefully help ease your mind and give you more information so you know what to expect.
What should I wear?
Definitely my number one question is “What the heck do I wear?”
Have you ever googled a restaurant before going to it because you don't want to show up too fancy or too underdressed? Well I have! So I completely understand why this is a top-asked question. And the answer is easy because anything goes! You can wear lingerie, just bra and panties, you can wear nothing but the bedsheet. You can wear a cocktail dress, just jeans and a T-shirt or underwear and an oversized, off the shoulder sweater. For shoes you can do heels, boots or even bare feet. Honestly anything, whatever you feel confident in and sexy in is the right answer. Maybe not a Snuggie… actually, you know what, bring a Snuggie I will show you how sexy you can be in a Snuggie!
2. Do you have props?
At this time, I don't really provide props. I do have some blankets, tulle, pearls, a few little things. But I actually really prefer personalization. So if I have the same props for everybody, it's not gonna be YOU. I love when people bring their own props that have meaning to them. Think - husband’s necktie, button-down shirt, bottle of perfume, your glasses, that necklace your love got you for Christmas, scarves, anything that reminds you of your partner or anything that is unique to you. OR, hear me out…don’t bring anything extra because honestly, no one's going to be looking at the other stuff anyway!
3. How should I do my hair and makeup?
A makeup artist is included and she is awesome! So far I’ve been fortunate enough to work with Nikki Murray of Nikki M Artistry. Let me tell you, every single girl at the January Boudoir Marathon looked amazing! Nikki asks questions to understand you and what look will work best for your style, personality and outfit(s). However, I decided it’s easiest to leave the hair up to you. You can get it done professionally but I honestly don't even recommend that because you're gonna be messing it up pretty quick! It’ll be on the bed, flipping from side to side, hands going through it, and so on. So it's just gonna be a big, sexy mess by the end anyway! But if you want someone to throw in some curls for you, go for it!
4. Will my photos be posted online?
I absolutely will not post your photos without your permission. I know this is such a personal thing. Some people are like, heck yeah, put them all out there and some people just want them for their eyes only. That is up to you, not up to me, to decide. So you do not have to worry, they will not end up on the internet for all to see unless you're okay with it. Full disclosure, I will probably ask permission to post a few because I'll be obsessed with your pictures but you can always say NO! I won’t be offended in the least.
5. Have you had your own boudoir session?
No, I have not done a boudoir session myself. But it's something that is definitely on my bucket list. It will probably happen in the very near future! And side note, I always try out poses before I make other people do them so I know they aren’t completely crazy to ask of a person. Some, you'll do much, MUCH better than I did (lol).
6. Can you work with my body type?
If you’re talking technically, yes, I am comfortable with posing any size, any height, weight, age, I don't care, I got you. But the cool thing is that most of the poses will work for pretty much any body type and it's way more important how you feel than what your size is. Your boudoir session will be the time to let go of the negative self talk. I know it's hard some days, it is for me too. But this is the day that you LOVE yourself. You be proud of your body, you celebrate how freaking beautiful you are, and we take some amazing pictures that I know you are going to love!
7. Is it silly to do a boudoir session if I’m single?
No, no, no, no, no, no. Giving these pictures to your partner should be an afterthought. This is about you, accepting your body, loving your body and being the amazing badass babe that you are! This is for you.
8. Can I bring a friend to the shoot?
Yes, absolutely you can bring a support person. Unfortunately, because of COVID, I do have to limit it to one. So at the shoot you can expect to see me, my assistant, the makeup artist and then of course you and your friend!
9. Why did you get into Boudoir?
It's actually been something that I've thought about over the years and I've been asked to do them many times. I've done a couple just for friends but I usually referred out because to be honest, this is such an important type of session to make sure you get it right. I don't think that just any photographer should just offer Boudoir. I think it's something that you need to really educate yourself in.
I used my time over the pandemic and especially over quarantine to dive into some education so that I know I can serve you to the best of my ability. I know how to pose you, how to make you feel confident, comfortable and relaxed.
If I'm being completely honest, I have struggled with self love and it's really hard to preach something when I'm not living it. So to be saying things like, “let go of the negativity, love yourself, celebrate your body” and then internally I'm hating my own body and being negative toward myself… it just didn't match up. I am happy to say that I have really come a long way in accepting myself and loving the skin that I'm in.
Even though I'm trying to lose weight, I already love myself and that makes it so much easier. For me, it's not about being thin and it's not about getting there so that I will love myself. I already do. It's knowing I'm worth it.
Anyway, I'm getting way off topic, but this is why I feel like NOW is the time because I want other women to feel so incredible, because you are.