Three Things to Prepare for Before Doing Your First Boudoir Shoot

Okay maybe you’re looking for something like, “pack some shoes and a bra”. Or, “prepare for a stranger to see your no-no parts” (just kidding I don’t call them that). But that’s not what I feel like you ACTUALLY need to prepare for (besides I send all of my ladies a “prep guide” upon booking that lists all of my packing suggestions and wardrobe ideas). I find that these three things are what most women are usually not prepared for before shooting with me and thought I could spread some light on what a boudoir (or as I like to call it, intimate portraits) shoot is all about.

Prepare to be completely and utterly blown away. Honestly, prepare to see yourself through a lens you’ve never seen before. I don’t just mean MY literal lens. I mean you will be taken out of your own perspective and into an entirely new one. The kind that says “I can’t believe that’s me”, not because it doesn’t look like you per se but because you never SAW yourself the way the world likely sees you. The way your best friend sees you, the way your partner sees you, the way your loved ones see you, the way YOU truly see yourself but haven’t allowed yourself to for whatever reason.

2. Prepare to do this for you first, significant other second. Most women approach me about doing a shoot as a wedding gift, anniversary gift, or whatever else kind of gift for their significant other. But here’s how I feel about that. This opportunity is a celebration of self. This is a moment to be a rockstar, to embrace the woman you have become, the stories in your past that got you here and the ones yet to be written for your future. This is a moment to capture through imagery your accomplishments, your short comings, failures and successes. They all make up you, uniquely and individually you. Wherever you may be in life, I encourage you to first and foremost do this for yourself. I guarantee the images will show your unwavering certainty in yourself, bursting with love and identity that can’t be matched if your only purpose for the shoot was to gift it to someone else. Of course I’m not saying NOT to gift it to someone, but to put in the forefront of your mind your reasons for celebrating yourself. The gift to a significant other is a privilege they get to receive as they look upon a woman fully and completely in love with herself. Which brings me to…

3. Prepare to give yourself permission to love yourself. We’re told posting selfies is vain. We’re told liking things about us makes us conceited. And then we’re bombarded with ways to “boost our confidence”. Why did they take it from us in the first place? Why did they tell us we can’t love ourselves, we can’t love other women and have to tear them down, we can’t celebrate our successes and our beauty no matter how unique it is. My role is to show you that you not only CAN but that you SHOULD. SO. Love your soul, love your kindness, your laughter, your dimples, the fierceness in your eyes, the shape of your body and the curves of your lips. Love your confidence, your shyness, your emotions, your boldness and your meekness and how sometimes we can be all of those seemingly contradicting things at once and it’s perfectly normal. Prepare to give yourself permission to be unapologetically you, to be unapologetically beautiful and happy in your own skin. Because ultimately, that’s the goal.

Have you ever done a boudoir shoot or something similar? Know someone who has? What was it like? If not, what are you afraid of? I’d love to hear from you about your questions, concerns, insecurities, etc!

If you are interested in learning more, I’m happy to chat with you!