Welcome to one of the fastest growing genres of photography! People recommend it to their friends and keep coming back for more sessions for many reasons, but common to most cases is that it’s a huge confidence boost as well as a lot of fun to shoot. Watching nervous clients relax and enjoy the boudoir photography experience as they see how their session is turning out is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
Before going any further, let’s define boudoir photography to set it apart from other styles. Quite simply, boudoir photos center on the subject’s inherent beauty and sensuality in an intimate way. It may involve (but does NOT require) lingerie, tasteful nudity, black & white, high-contrast lighting, or glamorous surroundings.
Many clients say that everyone should do a boudoir session, but why should you? It’s a fair question. Any reason is valid, but just a few of the most common are:
- You’re getting married and want to give your partner a memorable wedding gift.
- You’re visibly pregnant and want artistic photos of it highlighting your femininity and sensuality.
- You’re approaching an anniversary or special day and want to relight a fire in your relationship.
- You’re struggling with your body confidence and want to feel beautiful and sexy.
- You’re about to undergo a major body change, like surgery or pregnancy, and you want to memorialize your body as it is now.
- You’ve already gone through a major body change and want to discover your beauty and sensuality in its new form.
- Your online presence could use some spicy content more interesting and professionally produced than selfies.
- You want to model professionally and need some sexy photos in your portfolio.
- You simply love your body and want to celebrate it!
Another major reason for the booming of boudoir photography is its wide variety of styles. You may be familiar with elegant or bridal boudoir, but there are so many more! Different styles suit different people and often depend on what will be done with the final photos. There can be overlap between these boudoir styles or with other styles of photography, such as beach, nature, and lifestyle.
Here are some common styles to consider; note that I can provide sessions for any of these:
- Dramatic: Low-light and high contrast for a moody look, often in black and white. Often considered the most “traditional” boudoir look.
- Luminous: Bright and evenly-lit for an airy look. Usually lots of whites so the subject themselves stand out. The visual opposite of the dramatic style.
- Elegant: Luxurious, classy and tasteful. This focuses on a pleasant, high-class aesthetic with sensual or seductive overtones rather than a more playful or overt sexuality.
- Bridal: Similar to elegant while incorporating the wedding dress, a veil, white lingerie, or all three. Generally contrasts the grace and innocence of the bride with her sensuality.
- Maternity: Highlights the inherent beauty of carrying a child. Like bridal, it’s usually light and airy, and while it usually reveals a lot of skin, it creates a soft, touchable feeling leaning into fine art as opposed to a seductive approach.
- Pin-Up: Flirty, sexy, and a little scandalous, this aesthetic has its roots in vintage magazine photos young men would “pin-up” to their walls. Today, this can have a vintage look, but not always.
- Playful: Cheeky and flirty, this casual style can overlap with lifestyle or have a more editorial look. Visual style can vary, but the tone is light and fun.
- Erotic: Puts the subject’s sexuality front and center. This can involve more explicit angles, props like toys and ropes, or sexual activities like touching or insertion. Any or all of these are captured in an artistic style consistent with boudoir.
The following styles are less common but just as valid and often more unique and fun:
- Lifestyle: A subset of playful, this style creates intimacy with a candid, even voyeuristic look at the subject going about their daily life, usually partially clothed.
- Vintage: Like elegant, but with a nostalgic flair. Romantic and old-fashioned, from the poses to the outfits.
- Fine Art: Abstract, creative, and artistic. This style focuses on the natural beauty of the subject. The infusion of sensuality into each image is what makes it boudoir instead of pure fine art, though that line can be very thin.
- Cosplay: Crosses the joy of dressing as a beloved character with the sexy, flirty pin-up or playful style. The costume may be a raunchier take on the character, or the sexy touch can be all in the posing and framing.
- Fantasy: Similar in concept to cosplay, but crosses into a more ethereal and less property-specific realm, often involving princesses, fairies, or elves. The shoot may take place outdoors in nature.
- Shower/Bath: Creates a tactile feeling with beads of water and/or wet clothes against skin. Usually involves at least implied nudity shot in a dramatic style.
- Sports/Fitness: Just as it sounds, this style is not unlike lifestyle except that it follows the subject exercising, usually highlighting their physique.
- Beach/Swim: One of several outdoor styles, this is essentially the swimwear shoot style one finds in an issue of SI Swimsuit, Playboy, or both.
- Nature: Quiet, serene, and secluded. The love on display of nature’s beauty includes the body of the subject, who may be more or less clothed.
- Urban: The thematic opposite of nature, this style captures the subject provocatively posed and/or dressed in the midst of the concrete jungle. A good fit for those with an exhibitionist leaning.
How Does It Work?
Registration
As with any shoot, the first step is to register. This is simply an informational form so that I can start planning your shoot: https://forms.gle/M4YeDXCKgaxjxjvv5
When prompted to select the “Shoot Type,” select “Boudoir.” Because of the wide variety of styles this entails, be sure to explain in brief what your goals are and what style you envision when you reach the question, “Is there anything else you’d like us to know before your session?”
You’ll also be asked about your favorite body features and the wardrobe you’re interested in wearing. Again, this just helps in understanding what you’re looking for, what ideas I should bring to the table, and what I can do to create photos you’ll love.
Planning
Once you’ve submitted your registration, I’ll contact you to help plan your shoot. We’ll go over your needs in more detail and discuss costs. You’ll be invited to send over any mood boards or reference photos you may like; this is optional but often helpful. From that, I’ll create my own mood board and shoot plan, which will include the location, schedule, and wardrobe ideas.
I have a number of locations available for rent for your session. Depending on the style and experience you’re looking for, we can also shoot outdoors or even in your home! Prior to the shoot, I’ll also consult on wardrobe options and make sure I fully understand your stylistic wants and needs.
Once we’ve finalized the details, I’ll send you a contract and a release, and we’ll be ready!
Shooting & Photo Review
The plan for your shoot will be personalized and provided to you before anything is signed. In all cases, I will arrive at the shoot prepared to give you any direction you want/need for posing and getting the best photos, but I’m adaptable and happy to follow your lead as ideas may strike you. I’m experienced and comfortable working either way and anywhere between. I’ll show you photos periodically as we shoot so you can see what we’re capturing.
After the shoot, I’ll need just a little time to get your photos organized so I can provide you proofs (usually within a couple weeks or less) in an online gallery from which you can choose your favorites. These are unedited photos NOT designed to be shared. You’ll just let me know which ones you like, and I’ll edit them and have them back to you shortly, usually in a matter of weeks, so you can print or share them freely! I’ll also be glad to design a photo book for you for an additional fee.
Still Not Sure?
No problem! Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
If you want to consider other types of shoots, look here to see what might suit you: