Boudoir Photo Shoot FAQ
This boudoir photo shoot FAQ answers to the most common questions I receive. If you don’t see the answer to your question below contact me here and I’d be happy to help.
Where Are You Located?
I am located in Sonoma, California, however, all of my photo shoots take place on location in the San Francisco Bay area. I accommodate the following areas for no additional fee.
Sonoma County: Annapolis, Bloomfield, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Boyes Hot Springs, Camp Meeker, Carmet, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Cotati, Duncans Mills, Eldridge, El Verano, Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente, Forestville, Fulton, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Graton, Guerneville, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Larkfield-Wikiup, Monte Rio, Occidental, Penngrove, Petaluma, Rio Nido, Rohnert Park, Salmon Creek, Santa Rosa, Sea Ranch, Sebastopol, Sereno del Mar, Sonoma, Temelec, Timber Cove, Valley Ford, Villa Grande, Windsor.
Napa County: American Canyon, Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Moskowite Corner, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford, St. Helena, Yountville.
Marin County: Alto, Belvedere, Black Point-Green Point, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Inverness, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, Larkspur, Lucas Valley-Marinwood, Marin City, Marshall, Mill Valley, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Venetia, Sausalito, Sleepy Hollow, Stinson Beach, Strawberry, Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, Tiburon, Tomales, Woodacre.What Does a Session Look Like From Start to Finish?
For an overview of my process you can check out my boudoir photo shoot overview here. In short, every session with me has five main events:
• Planning
• Booking
• Makeover
• Photo Shoot
• Image SelectionHow Much Does a Boudoir Photo Shoot Cost?
Sessions start at $1,952.00 and includes:
• Your photo shoot
• Professional Hair and Makeup
• 6 image folio box
• Full/web res jpegs of every image included in your collection
• One reveal session where you can choose to purchase any additional images you want from your session.
To estimate the cost of your session, simply add your session deposit of $500 to the amount of images you think you’ll want from your session. For a full list of image presentation options you can check those out and calculate the final cost of your session using my price menu.
The final amount you spend on your artwork is entirely up to you, however you probably won’t know the exact number of images you’ll want until you see your final collection at your image reveal.
As a frame of reference, my average client spends somewhere between $3,500-$7,000 on their final collections. Some spend less and some spend considerably more, but this is a good, realistic range you can expect for a folio box or boudoir album like I show.How Long Does a Photo Shoot Last?
A photo shoot with me is an all day event. Typically we start your makeover at 10AM. Your makeover with my artist will take roughly 2hrs. Then from roughly 12PM – 6PM is when we photograph your session.
Some women are fatigued from posing sooner and some go a touch longer but the price difference is the same in either case. This is because the cost of your session is based on the final collection of images you choose at your reveal, not time in front of the camera.Can I Bring Someone With Me to My Photo Shoot?
Absolutely! I will never tell you that you can’t bring someone with you if that makes you feel more comfortable. If you decide you’d like to bring someone, take great care to choose a person who has good supportive energy. This might sound obvious, but in the past, I’ve had clients compromise their final images by inviting someone who shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
Alternatively, I’ve also had husbands, boyfriends, friends and even mothers who’ve attended sessions that I’m convinced had a positive impact on the final images by their presence.
In short, choose the person you invite with great care as it can have a profound impact (positive or negative) on your final photos. Even otherwise wonderful people can sometime suck up bandwidth from the creative process, so I personally prefer less people. That said, I’ll never tell you that you can’t bring someone along if that’s what you or your partner prefer.Does Jason Take Shot Requests?
I’m happy to entertain shot requests. However, if you’re booking me for your photo shoot, you are doing so because you love the style of the images I show in my portfolio. Trying to recreate someone else’s photography of someone else will likely not get you images consistent with what I show.
If you would like to tell me about the images in my portfolio that resonate with you, I will take note of these images and help you design your session accordingly. That said, I still can not guarantee you’ll get any requested images. This is because every woman is an individual and needs to be posed specifically for her unique body type.
Additionally environmental factors such as lighting can change day to day and even minute to minute. It is for these reasons (among many others) that I can not guarantee any requested shot. Things tend to work out best if we talk about your intended session before hand, and then allow me to guide you towards photos like I show.Does Jason Guy Photograph Couples Boudoir?
I do not offer couples boudoir to first time clients. Special consideration will be made upon request for repeat clients only.
How Far In Advance Should I Book My Boudoir Session?
Depending on the time of year and your intended session, I usually book sessions 1-3 months in advance. I am happy to discuss specific session dates following an initial consultation. To book a consultation, you can contact me here.
Will I Have Full Access To All Captures From My Session?
If you want a watermarked proofing gallery of all the images from your session, I can provide that for you. However, most people don’t request this because they don’t have the specialized sorting software I use to go through the thousands of images I capture during your photo shoot.
For most, it’s a much better experience if I provide a curated gallery of my favorite selections from your session, allowing you to choose from the best images. This makes the process easier for you and ensures your final selections are more consistent with the style showcased in my portfolio. That said, if you prefer a proofing gallery of all the images, I can provide that for you.Can I Buy Just the Digital Files?
Yes, you can find my digital-only pricing here. The price is exactly the same whether you want just the digital files or if you decide to have them printed physically. The only difference is that I have to charge sales tax for all physical prints.
Why is There No Difference in Price?
The reason there’s no price difference is that while modern digital devices are convenient, paper prints offer a superior viewing experience. Additionally, printing is a minimal expense compared to the labor involved in crafting your images. Since my goal is to deliver the best possible images, I believe it’s a disservice not to deliver high-quality prints so you can appreciate the full potential of your photos.
The most important reason there is no price difference, though, is that the true value of your images lies in the time and expertise required to capture and hand-edit your images, not in the cost of printing. My pricing reflects my commitment to delivering the highest quality work I can and ensuring your images are presented in the best way possible.How Long Does It Take to Receive My Digital Images?
You’ll receive a culled gallery of your best images within 7 days of your photo shoot (often sooner). Once you select your favorites and complete payment, I’ll begin editing. My goal is to deliver your fully edited digital images within 14 days of final payment. This means you’ll have your finished digital files within 3 weeks of your session assuming you get back to me with your favorites in a timely manner.
How Long Will It Take To Receive My Boudoir Album?
Under ideal circumstances, expect your album to arrive approximately 6 weeks after your photo shoot. Here is what the design and approval process looks like:
• Review: After you’re photo shoot I’ll give you a proofing gallery of your images along with a rough draft of your album. My goal is to get these to you within 7 days of your photo shoot, but I’ll often get them to you sooner.
• Final Edits: Once you receive your proofing gallery and album design, we’ll then schedule a screen share to finalize your album together. After you approve your album design and submit final payment, my goal is to have all of your images edited and a final album design sent for your approval within 14 days.
• Approve Your Final Draft: Once you approve the final draft of your album, I’ll then place the order for your album with my lab. My lab typically delivers albums within 3-4 weeks after ordering.I Need My Photos For A Special Event. When Should I Book My Session?
If you need your photos for a special event, book at least 2.5 months in advance, earlier if possible! My schedule and existing bookings may extend this timeline, so the sooner you reach out, the better.
Is Hair and Makeup Included With My Session?
Yes! Every session with me includes a full makeover my hair and makeup artist as part of your session deposit. Your makeover will include:
• Pre Moisturizing
• Foundation / Contouring
• Eye Shadow W/Custom Mixed Colors
• Eye Liner, Wing Tips, Waterline etc.
• Mascara / Strip Lashes
• Lip Liner and Stains W/Custom Mixed Colors
• Hair Straightening or Curls
For hair and makeup inspiration for your photo shoot, you can learn more about your makeover with Ducky Rickman here.What Is the Point of Boudoir Photography?
A common question I’m asked (especially from men) is what is the point of boudoir photography? In general, women have boudoir photos taken to change their perception of themselves, and thus, improve their self-confidence.
Although changing the way a woman see’s herself is far and away the most common reason my clients have done sessions with me in the past, it’s definitely not the only reason. Some women also have photos taken as a gift for a special someone.
Others who already love their bodies also use their boudoir photo shoots to document their body progress and celebrate their fitness achievements.How Do I Prepare My Body For a Boudoir Photo Shoot?
Focus first on strength training, high-protein/fiber meals, daily stretching, and getting solid sleep. Health is beauty you will see in your boudoir photos. The longer you consistently practice these habits, the better your photos will be.
The following are some final polish things a lot of my clients like to do before they’re photographed and the best timing for each:
• Wax 3–5 days before (not the day before)
• Shave (if not waxing) the night before
• Hair cut and color 3–5 days prior
• Brow Shaping 1-5 days before
• Nails 1–2 days prior
• Lash Extensions 1-5 days before
• Teeth Whitening 2-4 weeks prior
You can find more details on all of these grooming & personal care prep tips here.
This guide breaks it all down the healthy lifestyle tips my clients taught me about how to age slower and look better naked.How Do I Look Thinner in Boudoir Photos?
Practicing healthy habits like a protein- and fiber-rich diet, vigorous exercise, and good sleep hygiene is the single best strategy for looking thinner for your boudoir session. As a final polish, the following will all further define your waistline for a more shapely look.
•Lingerie for your body type: This tool will show you how to measure yourself and make lingerie recommendations for the best lingerie styles for your body type and budget.
• Posing & Camera Angles: Most of my clients underestimate how good they’ll look, until I pose them and show them what they look like on the back of the camera. You can learn more about how I pose women for boudoir photos here if you’d like to practice in front of the mirror.
• Strategic Shadows: Light doesn’t just illuminate, it shapes. Meaning, you can slim your body by positioning yourself so long shadows fall over your tummy or anything else you want to diminish while also highlighting your strongest features. You can learn more about how I light women for boudoir photos here if you want to try some of these lighting technique yourself before your session.