A boudoir shoot is about YOU. It shouldn’t be done because someone else wants you to. It needs to be something that you want. A good session is a co-creation between you and the photographer. You collaborate and create a joint project that is both of yours. If you are invested in your own shoot, it will be a beautiful partnership.
Boudoir can mean a lot of things. Your photos can have a feel that is cute and flirty, sultry and mysterious, erotic and provocative. There is not one right choice. You can have the vibe that feels right to you.
Keep an open mind. It is wonderful to have ideas, and I would encourage you not to be shy about them. You are working with experts, though. Be willing to branch out. Be open to trying new poses, angles, and lighting. Don’t be afraid to try an outfit a little out of your comfort zone or a little unexpected.
That being said, start your session with the outfit you feel the most comfortable in. A boudoir session is a vulnerable experience, and you may already be pushing yourself into trying this new thing. Give yourself a moment to ease in.
You don’t have to know how to pose. You have hired a professional for a reason. Trust your photographer to know what will look great in pictures, even if it feels just the tiniest bit ridiculous. Because…
You will feel silly sometimes. Arching your back, pouting your lips, pointing your toes – I don’t know about anyone else, but those are not things that I do in my every day life. It felt a little absurd. But the results were worth it.
And with all that posing, be prepared to be a little sore the next day. Posing is hard work. You will use muscles you didn’t know you had and you'll be bending in ways you didn’t know were possible. Mateusz knows what looks the best in pictures.
Therefore, a photographer like Mateusz who specializes in boudoir is important. The skill set of a boudoir photographer is specifically geared toward the things that will make you look the best in these kinds of images. The person who takes your family pictures may be amazing at that, but that may not translate to boudoir photography.
Feel your best going into your session. Make sure you are hydrated, have gotten a good night’s sleep, and aren’t starving. Little details matter, so moisturize for a few days before, maybe get your nails done, take care of chapped lips, have your eyebrows looking the way you want them to. Boudoir is about more than surface-level pretty pictures. If these things are important to you, take that time to take care of yourself. You will notice it in your images.
Try on all of your outfits before your session. Pack your bag with everything you need the night before. Put things that you are concerned about forgetting in your bag well ahead of time. Coming into your session rushed and stressed will do you no favors.
Wear something comfortable to your shoot. Loose clothing won’t leave marks, and you will have something cozy to change into when you are finished.
Communicate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or express that you were feeling unsure. Talk about your ideas. Everyone at Silk + Salt will be kind and encouraging and nonjudgmental.
Be in your body. Revel in the experience. Show some reverence for this body that has carried you through life. Your body is a part of what makes you beautiful. Feel this moment of choosing yourself. You deserve it.
I really, really wish I had known just how much fun I would have. Focus on enjoying yourself. Not only will it make your session more relaxed and easy, it will absolutely show in the final images.
And finally, I wish I had known that sometimes, the confidence comes after the fact. Often women feel like they need to be absolutely selfish and fearless in their skin to book a boudoir shoot. But the act of having these pictures taken will often create a confidence that was not there prior. Take a deep breath, book the session, and the confidence will come.
