Boudoir Photographer: Choosing the Right One for Your Photoshoot

Boudoir Photographer: Choosing the Right One for Your Photoshoot

Getting a boudoir shoot done can help you get back in touch with your sensuality, especially after life changes such as childbirth. True, it’s a bit outside most women’s comfort zone, but it can be an amazing experience! However, it will only be amazing if you pick the right boudoir photographer. You need to choose carefully to get the best experience (and, of course, the best results. Here are a few things to keep in mind!

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Boudoir Photographer

Comfort

We can’t stress this enough. You have to be very comfortable with the photographer you choose. Boudoir shoots have an intimacy to them and if you aren’t 100% comfortable with your boudoir photographer, it will show. Besides, you won’t have the experience you want. There’s always a risk that you might even choose somebody who is a little, shall we say, skeevy.

Full-time, professional boudoir photographers who do this as their job know how to do it right. Avoid photographers who do boudoir as a side hustle or, worse, a hobby. You don’t know their motivations (and they aren’t likely to give you as good a result anyway).

It’s vital to meet the photographer in person and tour the studio before making a decision. Make sure you are comfortable not only with the photographer but also with any assistants who might be working with them. In-person meetings may be a little awkward these days, but that is rapidly changing. Video conferencing won’t give you all of the subtle body language cues you need to know. Also, ask if they will let you have somebody with you. Having a friend with you can help make you a lot less nervous (just don’t let them try to direct the shoot).

Style

The second most important thing is this: Does the photographer take the kind of pictures you want? Every photographer has their own style and their own studio. From the choice of lighting to composition to the advice they might give on what to wear, they are all different.

The best way to establish this is to look through the photographer’s portfolio. You should also talk to them about what you want your photos to look like, and pay special attention to what they say. A good boudoir photographer is wanting to give you what you want, not just add to their portfolio. At the same time, though, if their base style is not something you love, you might want to look elsewhere.

Retouching

Ask whether they retouch images. Retouching can make a huge difference when done right or can make your pictures look “fake” when overdone. You want to look your best in the photos. Make sure they understand your personal comfort level with retouching, too. You may not, for example, want them to make your breasts look bigger!

Privacy and Portfolio

Photographers often want to use the best photos in their portfolios. Some photographers will have every customer sign a model release so that they can use the pictures if they want.

A reputable boudoir photographer does not do this. Instead, they will make it entirely voluntary whether or not you are willing to let them share your photos, and which ones. Also, ask where they store your photos. It’s convenient to have them in an online gallery so you can choose the ones you want to be printed at your leisure, but that’s also vulnerable to hacking. Make sure you understand the privacy agreement.

Lingerie Advice

Does the boudoir photographer you choose offer advice on what to wear? Most of us don’t know what we look good in. A good photographer can give you advice (or have a female assistant give you advice) on the best things to wear to accentuate your body type and coloring.

Shopping for new lingerie is part of the process, and then you will have it not only for the shoot but to entice your partner. A really good photographer will go shopping with you or send their assistant, or help you shop online. They will give you fantastic advice on what to buy and introduce you to boutiques you might not have known about. Oh, and help you make sure it fits, which as most of us are wearing the wrong size of bra…

When choosing your boudoir photographer, you need to think about how comfortable you feel with the photographer and whether you love their work first off, but also about how they protect your photos and how they will help you with every part of the process, including the pre-shoot shopping trip.

Colorado Springs Boudoir offers everything you need to have an amazing boudoir experience. Contact us to find out more or to book your session today.