Should you get your bikini waxed? Is tanning a "yay" or a "nay"? Not sure what to bring?
These are just a few questions my clients wonder about in the weeks or days leading up to their boudoir photo shoot. As your boudoir photographer, it's my job to be sure I've answered as many questions as possible before you even ask them! In the efforts to help you better understand what preparing for a boudoir photo shoot entails, here is a small excerpt of tips I offer my clients in my “Boudoir Prep Guide” that I send prior to their boudoir session.
One Week Before
If you wax, do so a good five days before your session to avoid red bumps and irritation.
Get a mani and pedi if that's your style. Polish-free nails are absolutely ok too, but chipped polish will bug us both, and is tough to fix in photoshop. Clean, neat nails, whether manicured or not, are key.
Drink plenty of water so that you are hydrated. This will ensure your skin is luminous. Contrary to popular belief, drinking lots of water also helps to minimizing bloating.
Another way to minimize bloating is to cut back on salty and fried foods, alcohol (sorry to say!) and anything that might make you gassy.
Pin some of your favorite boudoir shots and poses on Pinterest & send them my way. The idea isn't to duplicate the exact photos but it will give me a good feel for what you like (and we can always try to get close to the inspiration). Follow me on Pinterest @brooklynboudoir and we can even create a "secret" mood board together.
Please don’t go tanning ESPECIALLY if you don't normally tan! Tan lines and burns do not translate well on camera, nor does burned skin. To that end, please do NOT spray tan either! It can come out blotchy or orange in photos, and might rub off on your clothes, or the bedding. Not a good look. You don't need a tan to look great!
Plan to bring a neutral colored panty, a black one and at least one thong with you to your boudoir session. Depending on the shot (and your comfort level) your panties may be showing in your photos… so leave the panties that you’ve had for the past 20 years with the overstretched elastic waist at home 😉
One Day Before
Moisturize and shave - Unless you’re going for that au naturel look, which is totally fine by me! However, if that’s not the style you’re looking for, please do remember to shave and moisturize prior to the session. A few stray hairs can be removed here and there but we don't want to rely on that.
Get plenty of sleep! Easier said than done, I know! But do your best to get some rest so you look and feel your best.
The Day Of Your Session
Please don’t wash your hair the day of the session. Even refrain from using dry shampoo. Freshly washed hair isn’t as easy to work with for our stylist, and we want to assist them in creating your fabulous look! That said, greasy hair isn't good either! "One day" hair is ideal for hair styling.
Moisturize! You should arrive with your face washed, makeup free and well moisturized. Your should moisturize your body as well. You don't need anything fancy -- classic Jergins or even coconut oil works great!
Aim to show up 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. There's nothing like showing up late, being frazzled and feeling stressed to ruin your day. Subways run late, ubers bail, life happens! Planning to show up earlier than planned with help you feel relaxed and start the session off right.
Wear loose-fitting clothing like yoga pants, leggings, or a jumpsuit to your shoot. Don’t wear anything tight-fitting that will leave red marks on your body (such as skinny jeans or fishnets). Wear a loose-fitting shirt and either a sports bra, tank with a built-in bra or no bra at all! The goal is to avoid red marks or indentations on the skin.
Wear clear deodorant (or no deodorant… I won’t judge). You don’t want white getting on your clothes or having those white deodorant bits in your underarms.
Eat something light. I know it’s hard when you want to feel your slimmest but being hungry during your session will not be fun. Without a small meal, you'll feel low energy which will make you look & feel tired. You will also tire out faster and crash by the end of your session. A boudoir session can feel like hard work if you’ve never done one before! You need to eat something, even if it’s just an energy bar.
Stretch! Sounds crazy but some of the poses can be challenging. It's almost akin to a workout! Many of my clients tell me they are sore the next day! So your shoot is a good excuse for skipping the gym that day
Put yourself outside of your comfort zone. Many people plan to be entirely covered up during their session, and that’s totally okay if you want to go that route! But once the session gets going, many ladies start to have fun and get a little more daring! It’s all up to you how much you want to show. I highly recommend pushing your comfort level because there is no one to judge you and this could be a once in a lifetime experience for you. Remember, this session is for you and about you. So regardless of how much you decide to show or not show, it’s all about creating fun, sexy, and classy photos. Many times the magic happens when you let your guard down and let all those pesky insecurities go.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – Relax and take a deep breath! It’s okay to feel a little nervous before your session but please don’t worry – you are in good hands!
A boudoir session is unlike any photo shoot you have ever done before and it does require a little bit of preparation! My goal is to ensure that you feel great, look great and that you fall in love with yourself in the process. Hopefully this post helps you feel more confident about preparing for your shoot and ease any doubts you may have, and this is just a small portion of it. Don't worry -- I got you!