14 Questions You May Be Too Embarrassed To Ask Your Boudoir Photographer.
Are you considering booking a Boudoir Photoshoot but feeling a little unsure about what to expect or what to ask?
Don't worry, you're not alone.
We’ve been photographing women for a long time (around 20 years), and probably seen and heard it all. As fun as boudoir certainly is, it's still not every day that women get to shed their clothes in front a photographer they really don't know. So this can often lead to a lot of anxiety in the run up to the shoot day.
Also, due to the intimate nature of this style of photography, potential clients may have questions about the process, that might be awkward or may seem a bit personal to ask.
This is why we’ve compiled a list of questions you may have been wondering about boudoir, but were a bit embarrassed to ask. so let's get started.
Do I have to get naked for a boudoir session?
We often get asked this question and the simple answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT!.
Although Boudoir sessions traditionally take place in lingerie, there is no requirement in any boudoir shoot for nudity. In fact, for a Madison Bou Boudoir Experience you don’t even need to wear lingerie. You can request a more modest experience with jeans and T-shirts or stretchy jumpers or swimwear. (Read more about ‘Modest Boudoir’ in this article - MODEST BOUDOIR )
One of the best parts of a session is that it's a perfect excuse to go shopping and buy some new outfits, but in general, boudoir is more about beauty than nudity. The key is to wear outfits in which your are comfortable and have a great time.
That said, Nudity certainly can be involved in sessions, and it’s fait to say that we’ve lost count of the number of clients who return to view their pictures and tell us that their biggest regret is that they didn’t at least try and be a little braver. A Boudoir Experience is a huge confidence builder and there’s nothing quite like facing a fear about your body and overcoming it and then looking back and realising how beautiful you really are.
Additionally, there are lots of ways that you can be photographed with more of an "implied" nudity look.
Implied nudity typically is where our client may be nude (to some extent), however, she is using sheets, or arms, or the angle of the shot to cover parts of her body. In this way, a client can get a "nude" shot...without really exposing parts to the camera.
The important thing to keep in mind, though, is that you’re in control at all times!
2. What should I wear?
The short answer to this is ‘Anything you feel good in’
It's entirely normal to feel uncertain about wardrobe choices for your boudoir session. We can provide guidance on outfit selection based on your personal style, body type, and the look you want to achieve
A pair of trousers and a jacket can look uber sexy worn like this or buttoned up for a more ‘modest’ look. Both are perfect for your shoot.
3. Do I have to change in front of people?
No. Since we photograph our clients in a variety of luxury locations in Yorkshire, they all come with bathrooms and that is a perfect private area to change in. Sometimes we set up a changing room for this purpose and we may also do your hair and makeup in this room. Wherever it is, you will always have complete privacy to change.
All our venue includes comfortable bathrooms for private changing. Here is the walk in shower in the Penthouse Suite at the Great Victoria in Bradford
4. Do I need to know how to pose?
Nope, not at all! It’s our job to help guide you through the entire posing process, providing direction and feedback to ensure you look and feel your best in front of the camera.
The simple truth is that unless you are a full-time professional model, no one really knows how to pose in front of a camera. (Posing for selfies, doesn’t count. In fact we spend a lot of time deprogramming that ‘trout’ face, backward lean selfie pose from so maany people. Models never do that and nor should you. We’ll direct you to look natural and relaxed in front of the camera.).
Posing, however, is an important part of a session that contributes to the final look of your photos.
Keeping hands, arms, and legs where they belong can give a polished professional look to your pictures.
Although posing can have an impact on a photo, the bottom line is your session is about having fun so don’t stress about posing too much. We will direct you every step of the way and help you to look comfortably relaxed in your pictures.
5. Can I request specific poses or styles?
Certainly you can! Remember, Your boudoir session is all about you and we try and make every session as unique as possible and while we pose everyone differently we know that some people come to us with some favourite ideas in their heads and we will do everything we can to recreate this for you. We'll always work with you to create a personalised experience that reflects your unique personality and style.
6. Can I bring a friend or partner to the shoot?
Absolutely! Having a trusted friend or partner present can provide support and encouragement during your session. Just be sure to let us know beforehand. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that, in our experience, having extra people around you can often make you more self conscious rather than less. If you think this might be the case then consider asking your friend to wait outside while your having your photoshoot. Honestly, this is a really personal experience and we want you to do whatever works for you but do keep in mind that you need to stay as focussed as possible and not distracted in any way.
7. Do I have to bring my own lingerie to a boudoir session? Or is it provided?
Every studio is different in this regard. Some studios provide a variety of outfits to wear for your shoot, however, over the years we have tried providing outfits and discovered that, in the main, our clients have their own style and taste and often photographs of different women wearing the same outfits can seem a little bit ‘generic’. Instead, what we do is guide our clients through outfit choices well before they turn up for their photoshoot. It saves us having to transport lots of outfits with multiple sizes and prevents any issues with hygene etc. (Who wants to wear second hand knickers and stockings?)
A Madison Bou Photoshoot is likely to feature clients with lingerie and outfits that fit properly and feel comfortable and suit the personality of the woman wearing them.
Sometimes we’ll bring items that we think will look good for the shoot or items we’ve been given by the designers for use in shoots that we believe will enhance some images and give the client some more options. In general, though, we want you to allow yourself to be you. This is the most empowering thing about a boudoir experience.
8. What if I have certain areas of my body I'm self-conscious about?
It's entirely normal to have insecurities about certain parts of your body. Rest assured, though, we’ve done this many times before and have become skilled at highlighting your best features and minimising the areas you dislike. Communication is key, so please don't hesitate to discuss your concerns openly.
Not everyone loves their ‘Tush’…. If not, we don’t show it.
9. Will my photos be retouched?
After doing this for 20 years we actually get asked this question very rarely. People generally come to us because they want the style they see on our website and we have purposely overloaded our site with hundreds of pictures so that you know that what we do isn’t just our ‘best’ work but ur ‘everyday’ work.
Retouching is a common practice in boudoir photography to enhance the overall look of the images. You can request specific additional retouching, say, if you want tattoos removed but, in the main, if you love what you see on our website, this is how your pictures will look.
We use Photoshop for retouching but also, sometimes we create slightly surreal images like this for a little extra ‘wow’ factor.
10. Do I have to wear lots of makeup for a boudoir session? (I don’t normally wear makeup)
You don’t have to wear lots of makeup but we will certainly encourage you to wear some makeup.
Most women don’t have an issue wearing makeup but some do want a more natural look and we can certainly do this.
We take a similar view with makeup to retouching with photoshop. Often the best look is the look wwhere you can’t see what’s been done. Everything looks quite subtle and flawless.
Whether you prefer more or less makeup though, professional makeup is essential to the final look and feel of a boudoir session. We always ask clients if they have viewed our galleries online and like what we do then that is what we will do for you.
So Makeup and (in general lashes as well) are essential to a session, and typically you can get away with more makeup than you normally would wear because of the lighting we use for your session. Camera ready is often quite different to ‘going out on the town’ ready.
11. What if I'm not feeling confident on the day of the shoot?
It's natural to feel a little nervous before your boudoir session, but know that we are here to support you every step of the way. Take a deep breath, relax, and remember that you're in capable hands.
12. Will my photos be kept private?
Your privacy and confidentiality are top priorities. We will discuss privacy measures and any concerns you may have about sharing your images.
13.How do I prepare for my boudoir session?
We will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for your session, including grooming tips, wardrobe suggestions, and any other relevant information. If you’re keen to know a few things now then click below for our Boudoir Prep Guide.
14. Are women doing boudoir sessions for themselves? Or for someone else?
Short answer: Both!
Long Answer: Although from time to time I speak to women who have always wanted to do a boudoir session, and come in purely to get the photos done "just because," for the most part, the driving factor in booking a session is still typically an anniversary, Christmas, or for a wedding gift.
Although the final product is often as a gift for a partner, boudoir sessions are really the most fun you can have making a gift, and the best part is you both get to enjoy the results for many years to come.
Whatever your initial motivation is for booking a Boudoir Experience, we find that, almost every single client gains an enormous amount of self confidence from doing this. They tell us time and time again that they gain so much personal ‘empowerment’ from the experience and look at themselves in the mirror in a far more positive light after the experience is over. Because of this reaction, we see all the time, we genuinely believe that it’s you who will ultimately gain the most benefit from this. So, whether you do this as a gift or not, the benefit to you will be far more than you would expect.
Often clients come to us to create wedding gifts for their grooms
Remember, there are no silly questions when it comes to boudoir photography. We are here to support you, answer your questions, and create a comfortable and empowering experience.
So go ahead, ask away, and get ready to embrace your inner confidence!