Boudoir Pre Session Checklist
Thank you for booking your boudoir photoshoot with me! I’m very much looking forward to photographing you and creating the best photos you’ve ever seen of yourself!
Below are some things to keep in mind leading up to your session to ensure you have the best experience possible. If you have any questions about anything after reading this post, please get in touch with me and I’d be happy to help you further.
Hair and Makeup Services Will be Provided for You
Please do not apply any of your own makeup prior to your session or anything else such as sunscreen lip gloss etc.
Take a shower the morning of your session and make sure your face is clean so my makeup artist has the best canvas possible to enhance your features. Also make sure you hair is clean and dry so it is ready to be styled when we arrive.
Your hair and makeup will be very durable for the duration of your photoshoot. That said, it’s still not a bad idea to bring your hair brush and a small touch up kit. Most women won’t need the touch up kit but it can be useful if something unexpected happens as my makeup artist will not stay for the duration of your photoshoot.
Wear Loose Fitting, Comfortable Clothes
Loose fitting clothes are way more comfy to wear while you are getting made over. Additionally, loose fitting yoga pants or even pajamas will minimize the impressions on your skin for when we start your session.
I’ll Bring Us A Snack
I will provide some fresh fruit, cheeses and crackers for you to snack on throughout your session. If you special diet considerations, let me know and I’d be happy to accommodate with something more to your liking.
Champagne, Wine etc.
If you'd like to enjoy some mimosa's during your session you are more than welcome to bring some! I will provide you with a straw to keep your lips looking perfect throughout the day.
I’m also marijuana friendly so if you’d like to have a puff before your session that’s fine too. In either case just remember that I’ll be giving you some complex posing instruction so while one drink might be great to take the edge off, 3 usually has a negative impact on the photos.
Staying Warm and Comfortable
I always encourage my clients to bring a robe or a blanket to wrap up in between sets. Slippers aren’t a bad idea either if you have them.
The reason this is important is because goosebumps are impossible to edit out of your boudoir photos without destroying the skin texture in your final photos. Keeping you warm between sets can help tremendously.
Boudoir Outfits
Make sure you try on all of your outfits before you session to make sure they fit well. You should also cut all tags off your lingerie prior to your session so they don’t show through the sheer materials in your photos.
We will probably get to roughly 3-5 of outfits throughout the day. You will need 3-4 outfits if you want nude or implied nude photos and 4-5 if you don’t want nude photos.
Remember that it’s always better to have outfits and not need them, than need outfits and not have them. With this in mind, bring everything you think you might want to be photographed in so I can help you decide what to wear.
Alternatively, you can also send me photos of you in your lingerie if you’d like a second opinion on anything you’re considering leading up to your photoshoot.
Accessories
You should also bring any accessories you’re thinking about wearing for your boudoir photo shoot. This includes but is not limited to:
Shoes
Thigh high socks
Stockings
Necklaces
Ear rings
Bracelets
Rings
Watches
Hair Brooch
None of these things are required for your photos so don’t worry about bringing jewelry for instance if it’s not something you’re usually into. In the case of shoes, you can bring one but probably not more than two pairs as most of your photos won’t be captured full length.
Clear your Schedule
Do not plan anything for the entire day of your session. Your boudoir session may go as long as 4-6hrs with an additional 1 1/2 - 2 hrs for your makeover.
If you have evening plans, keep this timing in mind and make sure to budget enough travel time from your photoshoot location. Also please keep me informed of your evening plans so that I can have all my equipment cleaned up in time for you to attend your reservation.
Hydrate!!!
Drink plenty of water the week before your session. You will be posed to look amazing the day of your photoshoot and this can be harder work than most women anticipate. Hydrating with electrolytes can help a lot with posing fatigue. Staying hydrated in the weeks leading up to your session can also greatly improve the quality of your skin which can have a profound impact on the quality of your photos.
You Will Likely Be Sore the Day After
Posing for your photos will be hard work and will use different muscles then most are used to. Almost all of my clients text me the day after their photo shoot surprised at how fatigued the muscles in between their shoulder blades are.
In anticipation of this, plan for light activity the following day. Even better, consider scheduling a massage the morning after your photo shoot if your hotel has a spa!
Morning Workouts Forbidden!
Cancel your plans of a morning workout the day of your session. Again, posing for your boudoir session is much harder work than most women anticipate.
If you tax your body before your session, you will find posing much harder than it otherwise would be and you may get fewer photos as a result. Take my word for it and give yourself the day off. A boudoir photo shoot is a workout in itself for some, and active recovery for those with conditioned bodies.
Get Plenty of Sleep
This probably goes without saying but I want you to have a wonderful experience and for you to look your very best at your photo shoot. Being well rested is one of the best things you can do to reduce physical signs of fatigue (such as bags under the eyes) it will also help you stay sharp so you can follow my posing direction.
Please Arrive on Time For Your Session!
My hair and makeup artists are busy people and often schedule multiple sessions per day. Please be respectful of their time and arrive promptly to your photoshoot location to help them stay on schedule.
Outdoor Boudoir Sessions
If we are planning to do any portion of your boudoir session outdoors, there may be some light to moderate hiking required to get to the photoshoot location.
Make sure and bring comfortable hiking shoes and a comfortable backpack to carry your stuff. In your backpack it would be a good idea to include:
Your outfits & accessories
Water
Hair brush
Compact mirror
Emergency make-up for touch-up
Boudoir Album
If you are choosing to have your final artwork printed as an album, make sure and bring some clothes you'd like to be photographed in for your beginning set of portraits.
Evening dresses, skirts or even a great fitting pair of jeans and blouse are all good choices for your beginning set.
Remember that your album is going to be designed to tell a story, and working out of these clothes will help sell that story to the viewer.
Last Minute Questions?
I will text you the evening before your session to follow up and see if you have any last minute questions before your boudoir session. As always don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about anything before then.
Looking forward to photographing your session!
