Stressing out about how to prepare for your shoot? We’re here for you, girl!
Before Your Shoot
Don't stress about preparing for your session, we're here for you! We'll go over everything from what lingerie is best, to what you can do to pamper your body beforehand. We're excited to help you get the boudoir session of your dreams!
Before we worry about anything else, we always like to start by telling our clients to take care of themselves before their shoots! Drink lots of water, exfoliate, moisturize. Spend extra time taking care of your skin, it's going to be your main outfit! If you're shaving or waxing do it a few days before. We can handle a bit of stubble much more easily in post processing than razor burn!
Please if at all possible refrain from spray tanning! Your natural skin will photograph best! We've had so many clients have malfunctions with their spray tanner, resulting weird color patches and drips. The spray tanner also settles in every fine line of your skin, making you look much older. If you absolutely must tan, we recommend UV tanning, which while harmful for your skin, photographs better. Make sure you use extra moisturizer as to not dry out your skin.
Use this session as an excuse to pamper yourself! Whether that means taking the time to do a pedicure and manicure on yourself, or booking an appointment for someone else to, it's always a good idea. When doing polish we find it works best visually to have the polish on your nails and toes match. If your polish is chipped, we'll have you remove it before your shoot.
Please eat something before you shoot. Don't do anything drastic like a cleanse or fasting. Posing for our boudoir sessions is kind of similar to a yoga session. You'll be holding muscles you normally don't, and often times be inverted laying down. We don't want anyone to feel faint or light headed. The small amount of body change you feel from cleansing or fasting will not be visible in the final photos. We photograph everyone so their body looks awesome. Even if you think you're a bit bloated after you eat, we promise you will never be able to tell in your photos.
Lingerie Do’s and Don’ts
Lingerie is Important for your session. While you don't have to bring a ton of lingerie, we recommend all clients at least bring a very well fitting black bra and panty set. We have supplemental wardrobe we can add to that set, and we'll be able to create many different looks that way.
DO Get fitted for a bra. This is probably one of the single most important thing you can do to prepare and look the best for your boudoir shoot. If you haven't been fitted for a bra in the past year, please get fitted. If you were ever fitted at Victoria's Secret, please go get fitted. We've had some of our clients, who are employed at Victoria Secret confirm our suspicions that they really don't do the best fittings, and will stick you in whatever is close enough to sell you a bra. While we love the lingerie VS offers, please do not get fitted at there stores. We ADORE For the Girls in Easton for fittings. Not only are they a local independent, woman owned, business, they have simply amazing fittings. Measurements are only half the battle when it comes to finding the correct fitting bra. There are several different breast shapes, and certain styles of bras work best with certain breast shapes. For the Girls has the experience to be able to help fit you correctly, and have absolutely beautiful lingerie. We promise you'll find something beautiful and well fitting. Tip: Make sure to tell your fitting assistant you're doing a boudoir session! We aren't affiliated with For the Girls in anyway, they're simply the best!
DO have panties that match your bra! Even if you have beautiful and expensive pieces, please make sure you have at least one matching set.
DO feel free to over pack. We'll go through all the options you bring at the beginning of your shoot. We will select pieces based on what we know will photograph best. It's always better to have more to choose from!
DON'T choose g-string panties. G-strings have a tendency to make your butt look a bit flat. We recommend doing a cheeky panty, wider thong or hipster. They make the butt look round and voluptuous!
DON'T buy thigh highs that are "stay-up" and have a silicon or plastic on the inside. No matter how thin you are, the stay-up stocking that use plastic to grip your skin will instantly give you sausage-leg. Either buy the higher end thigh highs made to be worn with a garter belt, or bring in a pair of black panty hose. We can cut the panty hose, and when worn with a garter belt will look just like a well fitting pair of thigh highs.
DON'T Bring in baby doll style lingerie. Many women are self conscious about there mid-section. We all feel comfortable with a bit of loose flowy coverage. When you put more fabric at an area you're trying to hide, it highlights it and makes it look larger. We want to highlight your waist! If you're uncomfortable with your mid section, try a high-waisted panty, teddy or bodysuit!
DO think texture! We recommend sticking with more solid colors over prints. Our favorite colors are black and jewel tones. We love any texture as it adds interest to your photographs. Lace, beading, glitter, straps, chains, ect. are some of our favorite things.
DO bring VERY high heels. We love a good pair of flats in our day to day life. Boudoir though is a fantasy and it's true the higher the heel the better your butt looks. Even if you return them after your shoot, it's always a good idea to bring a pair of "do-me" shoes. We love black and nude pumps, with a spike heel and a pointed toe. Unless you love the shoe, we don't recommend ankle straps. Visually they shorten your legs.
DO bring larger scale accessories. Small and delicate jewelry won't photograph well. It's also hard to edit around. When choosing jewelry, think statement pieces! We love earrings over 10mm in size. The more your jewelry catches the light, the better it will be to photograph.
Luxe Boudoir thinks all bodies are beautiful.
The way we edit reflects this. Most of our editing process involves smoothing skin, removing blemishes and smoothing body contours, and getting creative with color and contrast. The only changes in your body shape we make are slight. We may bump up your cleavage a bit or smooth the shape of your arm, but it will still totally look like you! If you have a birth mark, scar or stretch mark you'd like us to leave on your body, please let us know. We don't want to drastically change the body you've got! Most of the techniques we use to make your images amazing involves hair, makeup, lighting and posing. Your makeup will need to be much darker than you're used to wearing in your everyday life! With how bright our lights are, and how we smooth the skin it's necessary to still have definition in your face.