Boudoir FAQ
Your boudoir session will be a closed event. You and your photographer will be the only people at your session. Should you opt-in for our hair and makeup option then your hair and makeup artist will be there for a few images to make sure that everything looks great on camera!
We totally understand, plus who has the time to clean your house these days? Most sessions take place in our studio in West Midtown Atlanta, but we HAVE photographed in homes, AirBnbs, hotels, and event halls! If we are shooting on-location (not at our studio) we require that we see pictures of the space in order to vet it. I want to make sure I’m not being led into an Indiana Jones-type of lair. I’ve listened to too many crime podcasts to not need to see photos of where I’m going.
Our boudoir sessions last anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on which session you choose. I know that’s a big range, but we like options!! While we know you’d love to spend all weekend with us drinking champagne and getting amazing photos, it just isn’t feasible and eventually the champagne runs out anyway.
Unless you are booking a couple’s session we ask that you do not bring any friends or significant others to your session. Our ability to laser focus on capturing gorgeous images of you will be interrupted and definitely lacking. We will spend brain power trying to make sure everyone is comfortable, has enough snacks, isn’t too bored, likes the music, knows where the bathroom is, loves our jokes, doesn’t feel ignored… it’s a whole thing. Let’s just keep it the two of us!
**The exception to that rule is that you can have someone around for hair and makeup, but after that they will need to quietly exit and let us have all of the fun. We have plenty of fun activities for them to do around the studio!
Champagne the beverage? Sure! She is always welcome, though that’s an extra step for you! Part of our process is grocery shopping for you so that you feel like a celebrity. We’ll have everything you request! If you have a specific and rare request then feel free to bring that along, I can’t go truffle hunting in Italy right before the session (not that I don’t want to).
Take deep breaths, give yourself a pep talk, do the hokey pokey. But really, that nervousness and awkwardness will likely be there in the beginning. However, because we are going to pose the hell out of you, the awkwardness you will feel won’t show in the camera. We show you images on the back of the camera as we go through the session so that you can see how NOT awkward you look. Just know that it is in our best interest to make sure you look your best because we want you to buy the photos afterward.
Absolutely not! You’re hiring us, remember? I’ll instruct you the entire way, giving you specific directions on what to do with your body/hands/face/ etc. My mantra for posing is “the weirder it feels the better it looks”. You might practice in the mirror and think something looks great, but remember I’m at a different angle from you…so chances are it looks a little ‘not great’ in camera.
Please see above.
It might take a little extra thought, but I assure you we’ll have a bunch (pun intended) of great poses for you to choose from.
There isn’t a lot of toe-touching that is involved with posing for a boudoir session, so you’ll be ok. I may need you to touch your elbow to the back of your neck… so good luck.
To be quite honest, this doesn’t happen. (but, if it does happen then we will schedule a complimentary re-do of your session. No questions asked.) We work diligently before your session to make sure we are on the same page with your likes, dislikes, and comfort level so that each image you see will be VERY hard to part with.
I know that I said that this doesn’t happen, and you immediately said “lol, yeah but you haven’t seen me, so it could happen”. I call bullshit on that idea and again say: I’ll give you a complimentary re-do if you don’t like your images.
It depends on what you mean by photoshop. Would you like for me to smooth out your skin, remove a few blemishes (or a regrettable tattoo), or nip/tuck a few places? I can absolutely do that! Sadly, super-imposing your head onto the Chiquita Banana lady isn’t a part of my photoshopping, no matter how much you love bananas.
Yes!!! And we’ll play Usher’s ‘YEAH’ the whole time. We’ve got a whole set of items that could be made into whips and chains and handcuffs.
You should let us take care of it, but we also understand that some clients have preferences for the makeup artist that touches their face. For that we would recommend photo-ready makeup. The camera will wash out about 50% of what is on your face and for that reason a heavier foundation, bronzer, blush, highlight, false lashes, and brow definition are highly recommended. For lips, a pigment close to your natural lip pigment is fantastic if you’re going for a natural look.
Would you like for us to post your boudoir images? This is entirely up to you. Of course I’ll be posting the banana costume, but for every other boudoir image in your collection you’ll need to give me permission in order to post. This is usually done before your session via a contract, but we can always adjust that contract after your shoot!