Preparing for your Boudoir Session
Traverse City Bridal Boudoir Photographer
First, I want to get something out of the way.
He LOVES your body.
You don’t need a different body, more confidence, or modeling experience.
As women it is SOOOOOOOO easy to overthink what we wear and how we look,
but the wonderful thing about your man is that he is already 100% sold out on you.
You don’t need to sell him.
These pictures are guaranteed to be one of the best gifts he will ever receive.
This includes the things we so quickly mark in our minds as “imperfections”. Scars.
Stretch marks.
Birth marks.
Curves.
Your man is here for it.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way….
What to expect:
I will arrive to the location early, and get the space ready. This includes moving furniture around for better posing, adjusting lighting, and removing distracting decor.
I will also be adding some studio lighting, candles, or twinkle lights, to add light depth.
To help you relax I will have a portable heater going (so no goosebumps) and some music playing (no awkward silences).
When you arrive on location you can come in your regular clothes and change there.
We will start with an item that would be considered more on the “modest” side compared to your other items.
Something like a slip, body-con dress, teddy, etc.
Something you may feel comfortable with being on the background of your man’s phone.
This will help you get comfortable and a better idea of what to expect.
From there we will change it up.
Unlike your wedding day I will walk you through every pose step by step.
Most boudoir poses are… dramatic… to say the least. They aren’t always the most natural or comfortable poses, so I will walk you through each one and explain as I go.
I will have about three-four stations set up that we will rotate through with each outfit.
At each station we will change up the pose with adjustments to small details like hands, posture, and angles.
I promise you don’t need to know how to “act sexy” I will give you simple cues that will make you look confident and natural.
What to bring:
A few lingerie sets (simple solid colors always photograph beautifully)
An oversized sweater or button-down shirt
A robe (sheer or satin, etc.)
Body-con dresses or slips
Something personal (his shirt, your favorite piece, etc.)
Stockings/knee high socks
Heels
Jewelry
You can also bring some story telling props as well:
Your vail
Your wedding gown
His wedding tie
His favorite book
An item from his favorite hobby (football, jersey, instrument, skateboard etc.)
His favorite coffee cup
Bring more than you think you need (we can always narrow down at the session)
Things to consider days before the session:
-Fake nails or manicure & pedicure
-Getting your engagement ring cleaned
-If you plan to tan (spray or natural), try to do so 2–3 days before your session so the color has time to settle and look even
-If you wax, schedule it 2–3 days before to avoid redness or irritation
-Shaving is best done the day of or the night before
Things to consider the day of the session:
-Professional hair and makeup
-MOISTURIZE your skin leading up to your session, but avoid anything too oily right before we shoot.
-Drink lots of water
-Avoid certain foods that tend to make you feel bloated or uncomfortable
