So you have decided to take the leap and you have scheduled a boudoir session. You have signed all the forms and all the session fees have been paid. You have gotten to your manicure and pedicure, maybe even a massage (because if you are going to pamper yourself, why not go all out!). You have your outfits ready. You are officially ready to step into the session. What can you expect?
Well, to be honest, you can expect to have the time of your life!!!
Arrival
Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a smile! Wether you are doing the shoot at home or on location somewhere, we will take a few minutes to just small talk to help you relax a bit. This is a time for you and I to just chat for a few minutes about things. What your week has been like leading up to your shoot, different things going on in the world and just general chit-chat.
This will also be an opportunity for both of to walk through the various settings we will be using during the shoot. In some cases, like a shoot at your home, It is an opportunity for myself to get a feel of what we could use during the shoot like couches, chairs, bed, curtains, etc. In the case of hotels, depending on the room, it will be much of the same. I do try to do some homework where I can to get a feel of what the layout is like before the shoot so I can come with some general ideas for poses and shots that we can do.
We will go through any Pinterest boards you/we have put together to discuss poses and styles that you like or dislike. Some of this may have already happened virtually, I want to be sure that we are both on the same page to start with.
Finally, we will take a look at what outfits you have brought or have available. We will mix-and-match in some cases and in others, we will use the outfit as-is. We will take the time to make sure that we have a little bit of a plan laid out for the shoot.
Preparation
Now that we have some of the shoot details ready, it is time to officially prepare for the shoot! This is the time when Hair and Makeup will be done. All you need to do at this point is to sit back and relax as the artist does their job.
As for myself, I will pop in from time to time to check on things and get any drinks or snacks you may need while you are getting ready. However, this will also be the time that I am setting up equipment. Lights, cameras, reflectors, etc. as well as preparing the first setting. Ideally, I want you to be able to walk right into the scene and be the star of the show.
Lights...Camera...ACTION!
After your artist is done with hair and makeup, it will be time to officially step into your first outfit. With Boudoir, it is much easier on clients to start more conservative and work toward more risqué from there. That way, you get an opportunity to feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Your first outfit may be jeans or shorts with a basic white t-shirt. It could be an oversized sweater or any number of more conservative outfits. This not only allows you to feel more comfortable, but it also provides some great images right out of the gate!
As we go through the shoot (anywhere from 30 min for Mini Sessions or up to 6 hours for a full length session), I will occasionally show you some of the RAW images (RAW is simply a term used in the photography business that means “straight out of camera with no edits”). This will allow you to begin see YOU and just how good looking you are! Doing this, I have found, helps build confidence with the client and, as I have stated before, “Confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can wear.”
As we proceed through the outfits and poses, I will also help guide you into a particular pose by either demonstrating it myself (don’t laugh too hard...it really works) or by having my assistant help you with posing. If at any point you begin to feel uncomfortable with a pose or a ANYTHING, you just say the word and we go down a different path. This shoot is about you and who you are. Boudoir is meant to push the boundaries and comfort zones a bit, but I will never overstep boundaries with anyone. I’d like to consider myself a gentleman and I will always treat a lady with honor and respect!!!
Throughout the shoot, we may want to take breaks from time to time as this can provide a mental or physical rest. It is also a time to have a drink of water or champagne (not to be over done though). As we proceed through the shoot, you will find yourself feeling more confident and having so much fun!
After The Shoot
Now that the shoot is over, we go our separate ways for a while. This is where the adrenaline rush will be put on hold for a bit as I will be working to give you the best images you have seen in a long time!!! It is not uncommon to have 300+ images in a shoot (in some full sessions, we could have as many as 800 images). I will go through these images and select the best of the best and process them to make you look the best!
Once all the images have been processed I will get a book together of the ones I feel made the top picks and will also populate a private online gallery for you with the others that were great as well. Depending on the session length and variety of poses / clothing / settings, this could be anywhere from 30-80 images.
Then it is time to meet again. This could be at your home, a coffee shop, or anywhere where you feel comfortable. This reveal of the book and online images will make your jaw drop! You will be seeing yourself as you probably never have seen yourself before! The book will be yours to keep and the images will be available online should you decide to download or order a canvas print for the bedroom.
In Conclusion
A Boudoir shoot is all about YOU and capturing an essence of you that is you rarely see. This is such an experience that it will have you chatting with your friends about how much fun it was and how nervous you were to start with but then felt like a beautiful model! You can share your images with your friends and might even talk them into having a session of their own because of how it made you feel. They are THAT powerful. Who knows, maybe you will even want to schedule another one for the future!