THE TOP TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU BOOK A BOUDOIR SESSION
CHOOSE YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER CAREFULLY
No one wants to live with regret, and when it comes to choosing a boudoir photographer, it’s a bit trickier than most of our normal, daily decisions.
There’s so much information out there and a lot of amateur photographers advertising some great deals. (Like photoshoots for a tenner!)
It’s hard to know where to start and not get sucked into a seductive offer and end up regretting it later. Remember, you’ll be visiting a stranger and you’ll likely be standing in front of that stranger either completely naked or partially naked. Not something you want to do lightly. You’ll need to keep your wits about you and not just jump into this with no consideration or research beforehand.
Of course, if you’ve never booked a photographer before then how do you know what to look for?
A bit like buying a car for the first time. What do you look for? Rust, engine squeeks, worn tyres?
Booking a boudoir session is a big decision.
For most women, it’s an intimate experience, similar to a bucket list activity or permanent tattoo. (I’m sure you’ve heard too many tattoo horror stories to make choosing a tattoo artist a serious affair. )
You want to know you can trust the person you’re booking and that your pictures will be fabulous and safe.
Checking out reviews and portfolios is a place great start and keep in mind that legitimate photographers will have a more legitimate presence online. Website, Facebook Page, Client Reviews etc.
SOME QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK YOUR BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER
• What is your experience shooting boudoir?
Look for someone with experience photographing a broad range of clientele, i.e. age, size, comfort level, etc… Many photographers will have experience with semi or professional models, but it’s much more important to have shot real clients in a variety of lighting situations and locations. Keep in mind that photographing babies or weddings is very different to photographing Boudoir. A Boudoir Photographer needs to be well versed at relaxing nervous subjects. Communication skills are really important and this type of photography is as much about psychology as it is about photography.
• Who will be photographing you? (If speaking with a studio with multiple locations or photographers)
It’s important to know that you will be photographed by someone with real expertise and not just an associate/trainee photographer while the main photographer is in another studio photographing families.
• How will you help me look my best?
This is less important for other genres of photography but it’s almost essential for any Boudoir Experience to have professional Hair and Make up before your session. (Which makes it even more surprising when a Boudoir Photographer offers a photoshoot for nothing. Someone has to pay for the hair and make-up)
• How many outfits does my package include and how long will the session last?
A Boudoir Experience should feel like a luxury experience. You shouldn’t feel rushed because the studio is busy and has other clients to fit in as well as you.
What if it takes you the entire duration of the session to get comfortable in front of the camera? Everyone’s different and some need a little more coaching than others. What if you don’t feel as comfortable in your outfits as you expected, wouldn’t you want to change into something else? The more pampered you feel, the less rushed you are, the more likely it will be that you’ll love your pictures.
Do I need to be able to pose?
A great pose can really make an image go from “eh” to “awesome” Being able to guide someone into a flattering pose should not be undervalued.
Also being able to direct someone to a place where they feel comfortable moving on their own is a true art. This is what sets Boudoir Photographers apart from Wedding Photographers. (Although mindful posing is also the art of a wedding photographer, it’s a little more subtle in it’s execution)
Where does the photoshoot happen?
Is it in a studio, a Hotel room, House, for example? Actually, the answer to this shouldn’t worry you too much as long as you know the pictures are to your taste. However, you may feel more comfortable in one environment than another. You also might be able to choose where the shoot takes place.
How much variety of images do you get for your shoot?
You should get a pretty good sense of the variety of poses and lighting that the photographer uses by looking at their website but asking the question will confirm your thoughts. Is every pose that you’ve seen the same? Is the lighting the same? Does it feel as though every client is treated as if on a conveyor belt the same as everyone else. ( Legs in the air, on the bed, in the chair and that’s it, done. Next! )
Privacy - What happens to your pictures after the shoot. Does the photographer use them for marketing?
A client’s privacy should be top priority. We would never use pictures without explicit permission from the client.
Some of our clients are teachers, for example, and would probably face serious consequences if their images were to be leaked online. We use professional password protected galleries and store all back up files with passwords for protection.