My First Boudoir Experience – What to expect and how to prepare for it

Are you contemplating on whether or not a Boudoir photoshoot is right for you?  Or, maybe you already booked your appointment and are looking up how to better prepare yourself for it.  Orrrr maybe you just heard of Boudoir and it has peaked your interest.  Whatever the reason may be, you have come to the right place.  In this space, I will be going over my personal experience doing a professional Boudoir photoshoot, how I prepared for it, what you should expect, and my overall thoughts about the whole process and finished product.  (Spoiler alert: I absolutely loved this whole experience and it really is life changing). 😉

What is Boudoir Photography?

Originally derived from a French verb, the word Boudoir, often refers to a woman’s private bedroom or sitting room.  Boudoir photography is a style of photography that often involves a woman in lingerie posing in sexy positions.  The photos come out very intimate and romantic, making sure the viewer is blushing the whole time.  Boudoir photo albums can be made and gifted to a very special significant other or kept by the subject as a constant reminder of how beautiful she/he is.  Personally speaking, my finished album was a gift to my husband on our wedding day, but realistically, it was more of a present to myself!

How do you choose a photographer?

During my search, there were 5 very important things I looked out for.

• The photographers photo and editing style

  • Each photographer has their own unique way of photographing.  Some professionals like more deep contrasting colors, while others prefer a lighter/softer look.  Just like a painter, 10 artists can draw the exact same portrait, yet all the finished products will not be the same.  By going to several websites and checking out their gallery images, you will get a good sense of how they photograph.  Narrow it down to a few that you like the best!

• The setting and background

  • While still on their website, look at the setting and the background you will most likely be posing in.  Some boudoir setups are elaborate with vintage props and furniture, while other setups are more modern and simple.  Some photographers offer destination locations like beach shoots or forest shoots.  The options are endless.

• Pricing

  • The next thing I look for is pricing.  Boudoir pricing can add up very quickly.  It is a great idea to call ahead of time to get an inclusive estimated price range for the finished products.  Most professional photographers will charge anywhere from $100-$300 per hour.  If hair and makeup is included, that could also be an extra couple hundred.  There is also the added cost of how the photos are delivered to you.  Of course, digital photographs will cost much less than an album.  I know these prices can be quite intimidating, but I must say this really is a once or twice in a life time opportunity.  The photos last longer than a lifetime and I highly encourage everyone to try AT LEAST once in their life!  Like I said early, talk with your potential photographer and get a detailed breakdown of all the costs you will expect to incur.

• Location

  • Location of the photographer is also very important.  Most boudoir professionals will have their own studio which you will be traveling to.  My photographer was only a 5 minute drive from my work place!  Super convenient.  Choose a place you are comfortable driving to.  If you are doing a destination photoshoot, at the beach for example, ask your photographer if he or she will be charging a traveling fee.

• Reviews

  • The final thing, and maybe the most important, are the reviews for the photographer.  Go on Google and Yelp and really read through the ratings for this photographer.  Since this is such an intimate setting, it is very important to find someone reputable.  I searched for key phrases like “made me feel comfortable” and the photographer being “very professional.”  Get to know your photographer over the phone, ask questions, and hopefully they will put all your worries behind you. 🙂

How to prepare for a photoshoot

Depending on the photographer you decide to go with, they will be sure to give you step by step instructions on what to bring and how to best prepare for the shoot.  Here are some tips you may want to consider.

1. Wax or shave any wanted hair from your body. (If you are going to wax, be sure to do this at least a couple days beforehand.  If you are like me, my skin gets red and irritated the day after waxing.)
2. Pack 3-5 sexy outfits you would like to wear for your shoot.  If you are unsure, bring several, and your photographer will help narrow it down for you.  Remember, the larger the variety, the better!
3. Hair and makeup is usually including in most shoots, but if not, figure out where and how you will get that done before your shoot.

My personal Boudoir experience

I will start by saying, I was incredibly shy and nervous about the thought of being photographed semi-nude!  Never was I the type of girl who embraced her body and loved to show it off.  I was an athlete growing up and a somewhat tom-boy with three older brothers.  Being sexy and showing skin was so foreign to me.  My growing curiosity for boudoir really helped me open up to the idea of it.  My boyfriend at the time (now husband), mentioned he thought a boudoir session would be a great memorabilia for him.  After our engagement, I decided a boudoir photo album would be a great gift for my husband on our wedding day.

My photographer, Michael Sasser

After tons of researching, I decided to go with Michael Sasser from Sasser Stills Boudoir (sasserstillsboudoir.com).  I had the most amazing boudoir experience with Michael.  We talked on the phone a few times about the process and what I should expect.  I voiced my concerns about being shy and quite intimidated by the whole process, but he reassured me and made me feel super comfortable.  If you live in the Los Angeles area, I recommend you check out his website and reach out to him.

Hair and makeup

Day of, I showed up at his studio and he had a hair and makeup artist ready to go for me.  This was the first time I have ever gotten my hair and makeup professionally done.  She asked me what look I wanted and I honestly had no clue!  I told her to do what she recommended and wow, did she do an amazing job.  I had never seen myself so beautiful.  This was actually one of the reasons I decided to get more into makeup.

The photoshoot

Once my makeup and hair were finished, I definitely felt more confident, but there was still quite a bit of nerves in me.  I never modeled before this; was I suppose to smile?  I didn’t know how to make a model face!  All these fears were quickly swept away by Michael.  He related to me and made me feel at ease.  We had a talk about how much skin I wanted to show in the photos and what I was comfortable with doing.

I came with a large bag of lingerie options and he was able to narrow it down for me.  He told me exactly how to pose and even demonstrated it himself for me to see.  He taught me how to do the model face and really made me laugh and feel so relaxed.  My tight shoulders loosened up and I was really starting to enjoy myself!  Michael was very reassuring and gave so much positive feed back.  I felt like an actual model that was really killing the photoshoot!  After an hour and a half, the photoshoot was finished and I went to eat lunch while Michael took time to edit the standout photos.

Picking the photos

Michael called me back inside and had a slideshow of the photos to pick and choose from.  One by one, I said yes or no to the photos.  He also added his expertise and told me which ones he really liked as well.  I ended up liking 30 photos and purchased all of them with a custom album.

The finished product

After receiving the finished product, my mind was blown.  The 10″ by 10″ (25.4cm x 25.4cm) high quality photo booklet had thick pages.  It also came with a 12″ by 12″ (30.48cm x 30.48cm) hard cover case.  This album was exceptional and greatly surpassed my expectations.  The photos were absolutely beautiful.  I couldn’t believe I was the girl in the pictures!  Me? Sexy? No way! … YES WAY!

The After Glow – Is it really worth it?

My most favorite part of this whole thing was the amazing after glow and forever lasting boost of confidence I felt.  Looking at myself in these photos really made me appreciate myself and my body.  Every woman (and man) has a beautiful body and it is up to us to love ourselves for it.  Rather than criticizing my back fat, I learned to love those rolls.  I am beautiful!  We are all beautiful!  To this day I consistently look back at my photos and smile.  I remember the love and appreciation I have for myself and my body.  You can never put a price tag on loving yourself, which is why I feel this experience is so worthwhile.  I honestly recommend everyone getting a boudoir photoshoot.

If you enjoyed this post, check out my previous review on the Neewer Ring Light.  Have a great week lovelies. <3 Till next time!