The Info

We want you to know

If you're intrigued, but at the same time, intimidated by the thought of doing a boudoir session, you're not alone.  The fact is, I don't think I've ever done a session with someone who wasn't.  When I first started shooting boudoir photography, I assumed that it was the thought of being practically naked in front of a complete stranger that made people nervous.  But while we might not be that comfortable in our undies in front of someone else, it's nothing most of us haven't done before.  We've all had dorm mates, roommates, team mates, sisters, friends, significant others, etc. who've seen us in our underwear. So what is it about the thought of doing a boudoir session that we find so terrifying?   I think the aspect of a doing a boudoir shoot that scares women the most is having to be sexy.

 Let's face it, most of us just aren't comfortable with the thought of having to be sexy in a non-romantic situation and are unsure of our ability to even to do it.  I get email after email from prospective clients along the lines of "I really want to do a shoot, but I'm not as pretty/young/sexy/skinny/curvy/in shape/etc as the women on your website."  While I agree that the women on my site are beautiful (and all are actual paying clients, no models), the funny thing is that they, too, had the very same doubts and fears that you do.  Don't believe me?  Either did Lara, a recent client of mine, until she saw her images.  She said:  "Wow - these are beautiful - you have completely outdone yourself! I know you are great at what you do, I have looked at your website tons of times, but I didn't think I would look that good too. (I know terrible to say about yourself) I am so excited now about giving these to Steve!"  

So, if you're worried about being sexy, relax!  It’s my job to pose you and draw out the expressions that suit you the best.  There are so many more kinds of sexy than just the Marilyn Monroe/Kim Kardashian/Jessica Rabbit over-the-top sex pot.  Maybe you're more of a girl next store, ingénue type.  There's a reason that "his/her smile" frequently tops lists of sexiest characteristics!   Maybe there’s a sexy side you don’t even realize you have just waiting to come out!  Not matter what, leave the work to me.  All you need to do is trust me, relax and have fun!

During a Session

What to Expect...

When you're ready to book, we'll pick a date.  I book boudoir sessions on week days or weekends, depending on what works best with your schedule.  Keep in mind that weekends tend to fill up faster, so I suggest booking a little farther in advance if that's what you need.  Because I shoot with predominantly natural light, I do not offer evening sessions (natural light is much more flattering for this kind of photography and helps us avoid that eighties "glamour shots" kind of look).  At that time, I'll answer any questions you might have about your boudoir session.  I'll also send you a copy of my contract, in which you'll be able to choose whether or not to give me permission to use your images publically or keep them private.   There is a $100 booking fee due at the time of booking your boudoir session.  It's applied to the sitting fee and is non-refundable, but if you need to reschedule for any reason, you'll have 90 days to rebook.

The day of the boudoir shoot, we'll start by looking through all of the outfits that you've brought and decide which we'll use in what setting.  We'll also talk about any specific shots you'd like and what your overall goal is.  As we begin shooting, I like to start easy and work our way into the more revealing outfits.  Believe it or not, it only takes 5-10 minutes for most women to relax and start enjoying themselves!  Throughout the shoot, I'll coach you, posing you and drawing out different expressions.  If you have ideas of your own, that's always welcome, but definitely not necessary.  I like to have a variety of shots, from innocent to sexy to artistic.  Everyone has a different comfort level with nudity, so it's up to you how much you want to show, as long as we keep it tasteful and artistic.  As we go along, I'll show you images on the back of the camera so you can see for yourself just how good you're doing!  Payment of the boudoir session fee (minus the $100 booking fee) is due at the end of the session.  I take Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, checks and cash.

In about 1-2 weeks, I'll have your proofs ready.  Rather than bring you back here for a sales session, I have you view the proofs in private and at your leisure.  I'll post them to a password protect, online album.  This is for viewing only and is where you can choose your end products (please see my pricing page for product options and prices).  For a two hour shoot, there will normally be between 200-250 images.  I'll include about 20 edited images, just to give you a good idea of what a finished image will look like, but you can choose from everything we shot.  If it's not edited yet, it will be before it's printed, etc.  My approach with retouching is to keep it subtle and very natural looking.  I'll get rid of cellulite, stretch marks, blemishes and dark circles and minimize wrinkles where needed, but the idea is to just give you a little help here and there, not make you into a totally different person.  I'm a firm believer that it's the little imperfections that make us unique!  However, if there's something specific you'd like done, just let me know.  If it's beyond the scope of normal editing, there may  an additional charge depending on how time consuming it is. 

Keep in Mind

As You Start to Plan....

  • We'll use 5-6 outfits during the 2 hour session, but feel free to bring more along and we can narrow it down when you get here, as well as decide which outfit we'll use where. It's definitely better to have a lot to choose from! Usually a couple of pretty bra and panties sets, something a little sexier like a corset or bustier works well. We can also do "nude" shots where you use a sheet to cover and count that as an outfit if you'd like.
  • Some good local stores to go to find lingerie are Victoria's Secret  www.victoriassecret.com  Adam and Eve http://www.adameve.com/t-retail-store-locations.aspx   (surprisely good selection of lingerie, especially corsets).  Online Resources:  Adore Me https://www.adoreme.com/   Fredericks of Hollywood  www.fredericks.com    (good place for stockings and corsets)  Agent Provocateur www.agentprovocateur.com    Hips & Curves  www.hipsandcurves.com (good resource for plus size ingerie!)
  • While you might feel silly doing it, some people find practicing expressions in front of a mirror can help (if you're not one of them, feel free to skip this!). I'd recommend choosing a picture you like of a model in a magazine or catalogue and then try to duplicate her expression. Give it a little time as it's harder than it seems. Don't worry if you're not getting it perfectly; I'll coach you during the session as well.
  • Be sure eat something the day of the shoot and make sure you drink a lot of water that week! Being hydrated helps your skin look good on camera.
  • Please cut the labels out of your lingerie so that they don't show through in the pictures.
  • Spray tans are not necessary! The way they appear in digital photography is not always flattering, so your natural skin tone is usually the best way to go.
  • Your fingers and toes will show in most of the images, so make sure your nails and feet are in good condition.
  • Make sure that you have shoes and accessories to go with each of your outfits and that the bottoms of your shoes are relatively clean as they'll show in some of the pictures. If you're not a shoe person, I'd just buy a cheap pair or two from a store such as Payless or Ross. They don't necessarily have to be comfortable as you won't be standing or walking much in them!  The higher the heel, the better.  Stockings can be a fun addition if you’d like to use them.  Try to find actual stockings (the ones that are held up by garters) rather than thigh highs (the ones that stay up on their own) as they don't dig into your thighs and are more flattering.