Hey babes, It's Taylor.
I'm a professional boudoir photographer located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. I am your ultimate hype girl, bff behind the camera, and trusted confidante in your self love journey. I thrive off of having every little bit of information possible, so here you can expect info dumps and step-by-step guides to help you better understand the world of boudoir through my lens.
How to prepare for a boudoir shoot
Published: 5/27/2024
Let me guess, it took you a real long time to justify your boudoir session? You flirted and dwelled and contemplated it for weeks, months, maybe even YEARS. So maybe you're stressing pre-session. You want to hit ALL the marks and do ALL the things to make sure you get the absolute MOST for your money and worries. Well, fear not. Here is your one-stop NO HOLDING BACK "to-do" list... including the stuff you can DEFINITELY skip if you want and the stuff you most DEFINITELY should NOT skip. Let's get to it.
THE BOUDIE BAG CHECKLIST
THE OUTFITS + ACCESSORIES
Your photographer probably gave you an outfit number. For my clients it is 3 outfits for a standard session. You'll also want to pack any accessories you want to incorporate. For example, if you're doing bridal boudoir you may want your veil, garter, wedding heels, etc. In regular boudoir maybe you'll want your partners shirt, tie, jersey, etc. I also have an accessories closet onsite!
JEWELRY & SHOES
This is what I forgot at my OWN boudoir session. PACK YA JEWLERY GIRL. ALL OF IT. RIGHT NOW! Just kidding - but really. Don't forget your essentials (as in, your literal wedding ring like me). I highly encourage just packing ONE set of jewelry, because with the hustle and bustle of the outfit changes you're highly likely to forget to change it anyways. So pick pieces that are universal to the outfits so that you can take a step out of the changing process.
For shoes, these are pretty 50/50 on popularity! You can most definitely bring a pair if you wish, but you likely won't wear them the whole time.
SKIN TONED THONG UNDERWEAR
This MAY be a skip for you - but if you're using a client closet or doing partial (alluded) nudity, it's always a good idea to have this piece. If you're using a client closet, you'll likely be trying on multiple pieces before finding the perfect one. So you'll want to have the nude undies on underneath for sanitary purposes! If you're hoping to do some alluded nudity photos (ex: sheet photos) but don't want to be double cheeked out - this is great to wear during those shots.
THE WEEK BEFORE YOUR SESSION
3(ish) DAYS BEFORE
- Narrow down your final outfits & carefully remove any tags.
- Begin packing your bag so that you do not forget anything day of.
- If you prefer waxing over shaving, do so now to ensure any skin irritation has subsided prior to your session.
1-2 DAYS BEFORE
- Get a manicure or pick up some press-on nails. My favorites are by glamnetics. They can be found at Ulta and stay on for a week or more if applied correctly! Choose something neutral and timeless, avoid crazy colors or patterns unless that feels like you!
- Moisturize, bestie.
- Finish packing that bag. Double and triple check!
SESSION DAY
- Moisturize again, bestie.
- Do not put any makeup on - leave your face bare and clean!
- Eat something. Do not starve yourself PLEASE. It will be a long day, so eat a light meal to ensure you're fed but not feeling bloated.
- Wear loose fitting clothing and remove any smart watches or hair ties to ensure you're not leaving lines/imprints in your skin!
AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES:
- DO NOT self-tan or spray tan prior to your session if you do not do it regularly. And even IF you do it regularly, do not do it less than a week prior to your session.
- Avoid lingerie that highlights your insecurities. Especially if you don't buy lingerie often, this is a super easy mistake to make! For example: I am self conscious of my pregnancy stretch marks, so I won't wear any low rise two pieces!
- As said, do not starve yourself the day of or try any crash diets leading up to your session.
- Don't be afraid to voice your needs to your photographer. If you feel like you need to take a break, are in pain, need to eat, or otherwise, VOICE IT. These shoots are harder on your body than they look and it's OKAY to break!
- Avoid alcohol 24 hours prior to your session.
