Boudoir Faqs
Boudoir is lovely for brides, newlyweds, or couples that have been together forever. One client said to me that, while she definitely enjoys the images now, she’s also looking forward to flipping through them with her husband when they’re both in their 80s so they can ~remember when~ (awesome).
But, you know?, if you’re single, I think boudoir’s a pretty fabulous way to celebrate yourself — the images don’t have to be for anyone else’s eyes to be special.
Also, as far as I’m concerned, boudoir should be FUN! Maybe you spend the morning getting a massage and a mani/pedi before the hair & makeup stylist polishes your look. Maybe you have a friend with you, and you’re both sipping champagne and munching on chocolate-dipped strawberries while you’re prepping. Maybe we’re jamming to Taylor Swift, or Enya, or Avett Brothers, or Nicki Manaj as we begin rocking the session. However you’d like this time to unfold — whatever gets you feeling comfortable, safe, sensual, and happy — the point of the shoot is not only to capture beautiful imagery but also to remember having a fantastic day!
I like to think of these sessions as being about capturing yourself as you are right now, delighting in peeling back the layers (literally & figuratively) that reveal intimacy and authenticity.
The word “boudoir” can illicit a cringe-worthy reaction these days, drawing visuals of cheesy pinups or tacky poses. Rather than take the Glamor Shots approach, my vision of boudoir photography echoes a tasteful & flirtatious portrayal of sensuality and a playful & sophisticated style of capturing a woman’s distinctive beauty.
Both my husband + myself photograph. V’s eye is actually more delicate and sensitive than mine and, as with our weddings and other types of photography, our work is complementary, crafting a comprehensive collection of images based on our individually unique approaches. If you’re uncomfortable with a man being present, let’s talk about it and work it out. But, that said, V’s pretty unassuming, respectful, and, well, entertaining to have around. I’ve never had a client consider him anything other than a fun and creative asset to the shoot.
As for the photography, our fee for the session is $900. We’ll shoot for about an hour, and following the session, I’ll hand-edit about 25 high resolution digital images to deliver to you via downloadable link.
Once I have delivered the images, I can suggest ways to enjoy the images, such as creating albums, photo books, prints and/or enlargements.
I work with incredible hair & makeup artists, as well, so I’m happy to connect you with these fabulous professionals for your own pre-shoot preparation.
One add-on to the photography package that clients love is the simultaneous filming of a short video. My partner, Bryce Johnson of Go Big Films, is an acclaimed videographer (check out his work!), and for an additional $500, he’ll capture our shoot and compile a beautiful short film set to music.
You may have spent the morning getting ready: relaxing, working out, getting your hair & makeup done, picking up a few items for the shoot.
Perhaps you’re hosting us at your home or in a hotel room, in which case we’ll arrive a bit early to set up our gear & lighting. Or, we’ll be waiting for you at our space with our gear & lighting ready to go.
When we first get together, we will chat a bit, say hi, reeeelaaaaax together, and review a few ideas we’ll have for the session based on emails or calls we’ve had leading up to the day. We’ll select 2-3 wardrobe or concepts (such as ‘no wardrobe but strategic sheet-cover-up’) and plot our our timeline so that each ‘look’ has sufficient camera time. We’ll start shooting shortly after chatting and as soon as you’re ready to change into Look 1, and our first pose/set-up is designed to help ease you into the experience.
The entire session will last anywhere between 45-90 minutes (depends on several variables — but you’ll be getting the same number of images in your collection regardless). Music can be playing, there can be a friend with you if you’d prefer, maybe you’re sipping champagne, you can have a stylist on set to help — we’re up for anything! At the end of the session, clients have said they feel refreshed and invigorated (… as well as more than a little relieved!).
At any point in time after we’ve committed to the session, you are welcome to contact me with questions! Some people know exactly how they’d like to look but don’t know how to achieve it. Others have no idea what they can wear or want to wear. Still others have tons of ideas and need help narrowing down their vision.
Any & all of these scenarios is okay and quite common. And I’m here to help! We’ve photographed all types of women wearing all types of garments. Ages, sizes, ethnicities, comfort-levels — you name it. Past clients have brought:
- Find something to wear that will make you feel comfortable, safe, and attractive. Maybe you are stark naked; maybe you’re wearing the cover of the latest Agent Provocateur catalog (with handcuffs to boot); maybe you’re demure and elegant in La Perla; maybe you’re sporting a bohemian muumuu. Whatever works for you. We have no dress code.
- Bring meaningful personal items. For example, if you’re a bride, bring something of your husband-to-be’s so, when he sees the images, he’s surprised to see that you had him there in spirit. Or bring your veil or wedding shoes — something from the Day. If your shoot is for your husband of ten years, maybe bring a gift he’s given you (a necklace, a watch) or something symbolic of your relationship (a stuffed animal he won you at the county fair, or a card he wrote for you, or a piece of your wedding china). If you’re single, bring something that represents you (we recently had a client bring her hunting bow!) — something that showcases your personality. We don’t have to incorporate everything into every photo, but having these personal touches are fun and, to me, better than run-of-the-mill boudoir props.
- Bring items that add to your wardrobe. Jewelry, furs, scarves, hats, wraps — materials with texture and color and flow that will amp up the shots.
- Whatever helps add to the fun! A friend, champagne/cocktail, your favorite music, etc.
Above all, remember that the shoot is about YOU. If you show up with absolutely nothing but a great attitude, that’s okay. The imagery alone will stand by itself. These ideas are meant to be helpful suggestions if you’re looking for guidance!
Absolutely! In addition to photographing boudoir sessions with individual clients (men, woman), we also work with couples. While this type of session is often called a Morning After shoot and is intended to take place in the bedroom, we’re happy to offer alternatives to only shooting in a bed, such as:
- maybe you’re in your underwear together, preparing waffles in the kitchen
- maybe she’s wearing one of his white-button-downs & fluffy slippers while he’s in boxers, and they’re having a living room picnic or game night
- maybe we use studio lighting to create shadowy/dramatic black & white portraits of you two together
Mostly, we look to create a tone of intimacy, whether it’s with one person or with a couple.
We have options!
Most clients choose to photograph our session at my studio. It’s free to use. The space includes neutral-colored walls, bed + bedding, windows/window sills, a door, outdoor shots, and/or a stool/chair.
Other clients enjoy making a day of the session by renting a hotel room and incorporating goodies like the property’s spa, hair & makeup team, and/or room service to make the experience a fun & indulgent one. Still others rent an AirBnb, VRBO, or loft/studio space for the shoot. In these cases, we come to you with our gear and lighting (no extra fee for travel) and have fabulous local suggestions where we’ve previously photographed.
We are also happy to come to your home. But, please remember that a clean & simply decorated space makes for a beautiful session. 🙂
We suggest that clients use a professional hair & makeup artist for the shoot. If you’ve worked with a professional stylist before, you know what I’m talking about! If you’ve never hired a hair & makeup artist, get fired up. Having a professional touch up your skin, make your eyes pop, give you a glowy polished look, and craft your hair into something worthy of a Vanity Fair cover is a fantastic way to get in the mood for this type of session. Plus, the extra boost to your appearance looks wonderful on camera — a little something special for the experience. I am happy to refer you to my favorite stylists, and some are available to come to you for prep.
I don’t supply the wardrobe (I’m not sure *I* would want to wear lingerie that other women have worn; plus I wouldn’t know where to begin with sizing). You are welcome to bring your own pieces… or to bring nothing at all. My bedding is cleaned prior to every session, and some women like the simplicity of strategically covering up with only a sheet.
