FEELING NERVOUS ABOUT YOUR BOUDOIR SHOOT?
February 18, 2022

10 tips to calm your nerves before your boudoir shoot

Well, let me tell you, honey, you are not alone. Almost every client we see comes into the studio incredibly nervous on their shoot day. Not only is it normal, it’s rather beneficial as well. Those nerves usually translate to a high energy shoot, which does everything good for you! However!! We don’t want the nerves to go overboard and cause a freak out moment that makes you want to cancel your shoot. So I’m going to give you the advice I give to all our clients before their shoots.

portrait of a woman laying on the floor

READ YOUR PREP GUIDE!

The day after you book your shoot we will send you 30 glorious pages of information that you didn’t know you needed. It will go over styles of images, what to wear, what to bring, what to leave at home, what to do, what not to do, where to prepare, what to expect, how to create a Pinterest Board, and much more! This is THE essential guide on how to get ready for a Silk + Salt shoot and knowing that you’re prepared and what to expect will settle those nerves right down.

woman laying on bed and looking off to the side during a boudoir session in Utah

BOOK YOUR PRE-SHOOT PLANNING CONSULTATION!

About three weeks before your photo shoot we will send out an email with a link to book your pre-shoot planning session over Zoom. If your photographer doesn’t offer these, just ask! Any photographer worth their salt will do everything in their power to help you feel comfortable before and during your shoot. This day is 100% about YOU! At your pre-shoot planning session we will get to know you better so we can deliver a personalized, luxury experience on your shoot day. It’s also an opportunity for you to get to know us because we don’t want you meeting us for the first time on your shoot day! It’s a vulnerable experience and so making sure you’re comfortable with us is an important way we help calm your nerves.

photograph of a woman wearing necklace made out of feathers

MAKE A PINTEREST BOARD!

This suggestion is for those humans who feel better when there is a plan in place that they have some control over. Creating and sharing a pinterest board with us gives us all a visual map of what you want your shoot to look like. We’ve found it’s the best way to communicate your vision for your shoot. However, if you’re the sort of human who gets stressed out by having a homework assignment, it’s definitely not necessary for us to provide an amazing experience for you.

photograph of a couple kissing during their boudoir session in Ogden Utah

TALK TO OTHER HUMANS WHO HAVE DONE A SHOOT!

If you are a woman, you can join our Facebook group, the Salty Witches by Silk + Salt. It’s an incredible group of supportive women who love the opportunity to lift each other up. Lots of our clients are in there and have been exactly where you are now. They’re always happy to help you with any advice or anything else you need to help you feel ready for your shoot.

portrait of a woman standing next to a small dresser

BORROW FROM OUR CLIENT CLOSET!

A lot of our clients’ biggest worry is over what to wear. You don’t have to give this one thought, if you don’t want to, though, because we have a huge client closet with pieces that look amazing on camera in sizes XS-5X. You can just show up on your shoot day and borrow everything from us, if you want to. Most of all, we don’t want you spending money on something that you’re only going to wear once. Borrow from us instead!

photograph of a pearly outfit on a woman during her boudoir session

DO NOT GET DRUNK BEFORE YOUR SHOOT!

I talk about this a little in the prep guide, too, but it’s very important that you stay sober the night before your shoot! Hungover is never sexy or powerful and it really won’t help you feel better right before or during your shoot. Instead, try the tips below. And we always offer two glasses of wine at your shoot, totally optional, to help you relax. ;)

photograph of a curvy woman wearing large wings during her boudoir session in Utah

GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP!

Yes, we can fix certain things with Photoshop, but it will always be better if you don’t have an entire set of luggage hanging out under your eyes on your shoot day. Go to bed early, stop looking at screens about an hour before bedtime, and tell everyone in your house that you have an important meeting tomorrow! Feeling well rested will definitely help you feel less anxious.

portrait of a woman laying on the bed with her eyes half closed

EAT BREAKFAST! AND HYDRATE!

This is more important than you think! A lot of clients think that they shouldn’t eat before their shoot because they’re worried about bloating. But if you starve yourself, your body will feel stressed which will increase your nerves. Mateusz is a master of posing. You don’t need to worry about how your body is going to look on camera because he’s going to ensure you look better than you ever have, no matter your size or shape. Besides, we strongly believe we must stop perpetuating the myth that curves are bad. They are BEAUTIFUL!!! And you are going to rock yours. <3

portrait of a woman looking at the camera

TRY YOGA AND MEDITATION!

It’s ok if you’ve never tried yoga or meditation before. There are hundreds if not thousands of YouTube videos with instructions for beginners. Look up “restorative yoga for beginners” and/or “meditation for beginners”. It’s a great way to relax before your shoot, but it’s also a great way to prepare your back for your shoot! A boudoir shoot is a workout. You need to stretch both before and after your shoot or you will be cursing our names the next day!

woman laying on the bed and smiling

CALL ME IF YOU NEED ME!

If you’ve tried all of the above and you’re still freaking out, just call me! I’ve talked many clients off the ledge and I’d be happy to do the same for you.