Boudoir is self-love, and you absolutely deserve boudoir. But you don’t just deserve sexy photos, you deserve a comfortable and transformative experience. You deserve the right photographer for YOU. As you research and choose what boudoir photographer is best for you, here are a few notes on what to look for to ensure you get Earth-shaking photos and have one of the best experiences of your life.

Look for: Experience

I’ll start with the most obvious. You need to love their work. Not just like it, I’m talking fall-on-the-floor LOVE it. Take time to look through the photographer’s gallery and ask yourself: were you wowed? (The answer doesn’t come from your head, it comes from your heart.) Did you gasp or literally say “yasss” out loud? Or were the images just cute and ok? A photographer’s experience can literally be seen in their final images, and the best ones come from those who have been around the block more than a time or two.

Hint: look at their website/social media and see if they feature lots of different people or if they focus on just a handful.

While you look through their body of work, check to make sure you see someone like yourself. Experience isn’t just about the length of time being a photographer, it’s also about the variety of body types pictured and different levels of sexy encapsulated. You want to make sure your photographer knows how to work with YOU. Because boudoir is inherently so vulnerable, I advise being very wary of inexperience when you choose your boudoir photographer. You don’t want rookie mistakes or subpar final photos.

Look for: Studio Details

Boudoir is intimate and sensual, so the space where it happens is extremely important. If you’re not comfortable, you won’t be able to fully express yourself which might ruin your whole experience. Here are a few key points to consider.

1. Do they shoot in a professional studio or a home studio? There is nothing inherently wrong with either choice, so think about the context of each. If it’s a home studio, are there other people living there? Is the neighborhood a safe area? What guidelines are in place to ensure the experience is professional and not casual? If it’s a professional studio, is it private? You need to consider your boundaries and what will/will not interfere with your comfort level.
2. How many people are in the studio during the session? Photographers differ in the level of support they need; some have understudies, tech assistants, etc. Do you feel good being around a photography team or would you prefer a one-on-one session?
3. What posing elements does the studio offer? When you are looking through a photographer’s gallery, try to notice not only what the poses are, but what posing elements are used. You probably want to be featured on a bed (classic!) but does the studio have other offereings? Ask about the variety in the studio.

Look for: Services

The last thing you want on your big day is to be stressed, so make sure you understand if the studio is curating an experience just for you. Do they help choose your wardrobe or provide a client closet? Are professional hair and makeup services provided? Can the experience be tailored to you as an individual? Do they offer pose coaching? Or will you be in charge of researching and organizing all of those details on your own? On your shoot day, you will FINALLY be able to focus on yourself, and you want a studio to set you up for success.

Some studios are full service, and some are not. Consider why you are doing your boudoir shoot and what will serve you best on your journey. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, if this represents a major shift in your life, if this is your celebration of finally loving yourself, a photographer that focuses on luxury and pampering is a great match. If you frequently do photoshoots and don’t need much guidance, a full service experience might not be the best for you.

Look for: Pricing and Product

Photographers in general, including boudoir photographers, have a booking/retainer/session fee due at the time of booking. This covers the stylists’ services, the processes that go into creating the session, and the photographer’s time. As far as product, studios offer either packages of a set quantity or they offer a more a la carte option where you can cherry-pick what you want. Both are good options.

Studios vary widely in the products they offer, so make sure to select a photographer that can order what you want. In-house ordering is something to look for because you want to be able to order from the photographer directly. A lot of studios offer prepayment or financing options, so make sure to ask about those.

When you compare photographer prices, remember they are artists and professionals. What they charge will likely reflect their talent and experience. If you choose a photographer purely on who is cheapest, it will likely lead to “you get what you pay for”. That’s certainly not what you want when you can have a life-defining experience. If this means you have to save up for it, it’s totally worth the wait for a top-notch photographer.

Are you ready to choose a boudoir photographer and want to see how Boudior by Ria shapes up? Schedule your complimentary phone consultation today!

xoxo,

Ria