Your first boudoir shoot does not require an alter ego. You can arrive as yourself, with a favourite outfit and a few questions. My part is to help turn the idea into a plan, then guide you through the photographs.
A session can include lingerie, casual clothes or a mix of looks. The mood can be quieter or more playful. We can talk through those choices before the camera comes out.
Lingerie, a shirt or your favourite sweater
A favourite sweater has a perfectly respectable place in a boudoir wardrobe. So does a shirt you enjoy wearing or lingerie you have chosen for the session. Start with pieces that fit comfortably and suit the photographs you want.
We can look at colours, textures and the setting together. If an outfit makes sitting or moving awkward, that is useful to know before it goes into the bag.
You can leave the posing homework at home
Direction is part of the shoot. I can guide your position, hands and expression one step at a time, with small adjustments as we go. You can ask for another explanation or say when a suggestion feels uncomfortable.
For a closer look at how that works, read my boudoir posing tips.
A playlist is optional
If music helps you settle in, tell me what you like. If you would rather keep things quieter, we can discuss that too. You do not have to supply a party atmosphere along with your outfits.
We also talk about coverage and boundaries. The amount you show is a personal choice, and permission to publish photographs is separate from making them.
A gift, a milestone or just because
You might want the photographs for yourself, to mark an occasion or to make a personal gift. Denise’s 30th-birthday session is one example of a shoot with a particular milestone behind it.
Your reason helps shape the plan. If a printed gift is involved, bring up the deadline early so we can allow time for the shoot, selection, retouching and production.
A little preparation goes a long way
Make a shortlist of outfits, save a few references and write down the questions you want answered. My free Boudoir Planning Kit can help with wardrobe, preparation and what to expect.
If nerves are the main thing on your list, there is also a guide to common boudoir worries. You can read it before deciding whether a session is right for you.
Curious about making photographs of your own? Explore my Toronto boudoir sessions or tell me what you have in mind. We can start with your questions and work from there.
