BOUDOIR SESSION GUIDE WINDOWS

“Don’t be too concerned with having the perfect furniture,” says Johnson. Have fun with your props but remember that simple is best and fancy isn’t a requirement. If you’re using a real mattress, try putting a piece of plywood under the bedding to make it easier for your subject to pose on it without sinking in. But be sure it looks like a real bed when it’s made. But have a scrim on hand to help diffuse the sunlight when it’s too intense.Īn air mattress is a great option, since you can easily move it around the room and they’re often quite firm.

BOUDOIR SESSION GUIDE WINDOWS

Shoot in a room with windows to take advantage of natural light. Some helpful items include a bed or air mattress, a couch, a chair, and some wall art or a tapestry for the background. All you need is a private room, some natural light, a piece of furniture, and music to lighten the mood. Many boudoir photographers work out of a home studio. “It’s good to have more options than we need in case something doesn’t photograph well.” Some more wardrobe tips from O’Connor? Give bodysuits a try, and never underestimate the power of a good pair of shoes. We usually shoot about four,” says O’Connor. “I like clients to bring in five to seven outfits. Offer basic tips for dressing on your website or via email before you get started. “If somebody doesn’t like their hair and makeup, they’re not going to like their photos,” says O’Connor.

The important thing is for your client to feel happy with their look. You may choose to work with a hair and makeup artist as part of your package or leave that up to the client. “People will say, ‘I wish I had the bravery to book a shoot,’ and I’ll say, ‘It only takes 30 seconds of bravery, and then you’re set, because if you don’t come, you lose your money.” She recommends including a nonrefundable retainer fee in your policy to help prevent clients from canceling at the last minute out of nervousness. “The hardest part for the client is booking the shoot,” says Johnson. It can help to write out some policies and suggestions on your website and to have a consultation phone call or video chat with clients before their shoot. “The more you shoot, the more you’ll grow your art and your own confidence, and that confidence will be contagious to clients.”īefore you dive into this art form, get ready to answer a myriad of questions about the boudoir experience. “I encourage anybody who’s considering doing boudoir work to shoot as much as they possibly can,” says O’Connor. Your self-assurance behind the camera will help inspire their bravery in front of it. Because of that, it’s more important than ever to build up your own confidence as a photographer before you bring paying clients into your boudoir studio. These photo sessions can unlock new levels of confidence in the people you photograph, but they can also bring up insecurities and discomfort for those not used to posing this way. “A lot of times people start out doing it as a gift to their significant other,” says O’Connor, “But they’ll later say, ‘I had no idea it’d be such a gift to myself too.’”īoudoir images can build up a subject’s confidence. Bethany O’Connor runs a boudoir photography studio in Rhode Island. Boudoir photoshoots are often purchased as a gift for a special someone, but they’re also an amazing way for clients to celebrate themselves. However anyone, anywhere on the gender spectrum, can use a boudoir session to express a side of themselves typically seen only behind closed doors. Most boudoir pictures are taken of women in stereotypically feminine poses.

Boudoir session guide