A Step By Step Guide To Your Boudoir Experience
Hello fiends!!
I’m Taylor and I’m a full time boudoir photographer from Edmonton Alberta! In this blog I wanted to share a step by step guide to your boudoir session including: booking your boudoir session, preparing for it and what exactly a boudoir session looks like with me here in Edmonton, Alberta. I don’t want there to be any surprises once you finally take the plunge into booking your Edmonton boudoir experience and I’m hoping with sharing as much information as I can with you about my boudoir photography sessions, it’ll ease some of those anxious feelings you might have!
Step #1
First things first, you have to find a boudoir photographer you love. This means you not only love their photography style but you resonate with them as a human being. Boudoir photography sessions can be a very vulnerable experience, so knowing and loving the person behind the camera is a big deal.
Search “your city boudoir photographer” on google and instagram, do your due diligence and always READ REVIEWS when searching for a reputable boudoir photographer. Find as much public info as you can about the photographers you’re researching like who they are, where they’re from, what they include and their price ranges.
Some boudoir photographers don’t make this info public and in those cases just hop right on to step #2.
Step #2
Once you’ve found a boudoir photographer you LOVE, send in an inquiry from their website. These are usually located on their “contact” page or on their boudoir specific web page. Most professional boudoir photographers will encourage inquiries to come through their website email, rather than an instagram DM.
My first step after an inquiry as an Edmonton boudoir photographer is, I want to get on the phone with you asap and chat all the details of my boudoir sessions, get to know you as a person, pick out a collection that best suits what you’re looking for and design a boudoir session that is perfect for YOU.
Come prepared to your boudoir session phone consultation with any questions you might have. Here are some things you might want to ask your boudoir photographer:
Do you share the images we take?
Where does the session take place?
Is professional hair and makeup included?
Do you supply the lingerie?
Will you pose and guide me throughout the entire session?
Step #3
Once you’ve decided on the perfect boudoir photographer for you, it’s now time to pick your date, sign your contact and make that initial retainer payment!
Professional boudoir photographers require a signed contract and non-refundable retainer fee to book in your studio date. This fee compensates the boudoir photographer for studio costs, their time and talent and turning down other potential clients for that day. Retainer fees, otherwise known as your “session fee” usually do NOT include any products or images and any professional boudoir photos are purchased on top of your session fee. This is how I operate my professional boudoir photography business in Edmonton, Alberta
A signed contract is also required to protect all parties legally. If no contract is in place for your boudoir session that is a massive red flag in the professional photography industry.
Step #4
Get excited!! You’ve officially done the hardest part. Some might think the session itself is the hardest part but sometimes just convincing yourself that you're worth it and finally pulling the trigger is the hardest part of this experience.
As a boudoir photographer here in Edmonton Alberta, in the weeks leading up to your session I send out multiple emails including a boudoir session prep guide! This guide details what outfits are best, how to prepare your skin and how to get in the right headspace for your boudoir experience. Make sure to take full advantage of your boudoir prep guide because your boudoir photographer will have some amazing tips and tricks on how to get prepared for your boudoir session.
With just a couple days to your session, I’ll send out a questionnaire to get all the final details ready for your boudoir session. This questionnaire includes questions like “what’s your favourite genre of music” or “what’s your size range” so we can get the studio and full client closet ready for YOU!
Step #5
Show up!! This is obviously a very important step to having an amazing boudoir experience. Once you get to the studio at your scheduled time, I’ll greet you and you’ll meet our hair and makeup artist for the day. We love for you to arrive for the day with a clean face and clean dry hair. Washing your hair the day/night before your session is usually perfect depending on your hair type. You can get comfy in our hair and makeup artists seat as she’ll be glamming you up for roughly 1-1.5 hours. She’ll ask you questions like what you’re wanting for your hair and makeup, this is where you can show her photo inspiration or just let her take the reigns!
I truly believe the professional hair and makeup portion of this experience is crucial! It gives you some time to sit back, relax and get pampered for the day. The Edmonton Alberta hair and makeup artists I work with are truly the best and know exactly how to ease those pre-shoot nerves.
Check them out…
Step #6
The session!! We start by “shopping” through the client closet and picking out a few favourites, then we’ll run over some posing tips and tricks and finally you’ll hop into your favourite outfit!
We work through a couple poses and prompts in each outfit and I usually always show you each boudoir pose first so you can get a good visual. I give you full guidance throughout the entire session from facial expression tips, all the way down to always telling you to point your toes. No matter how nervous someone might be coming into their boudoir session, there’s always a point in the session where a switch flips and you can see those nerves melt away and they are just present, enjoying this space and themselves!
I joke with my clients that sometimes these sessions can feel a bit like yoga class and you may be a little sore the next day because your moving your body in ways it isn’t used too.
My boudoir photography sessions can last up to one hour. In that hour we usually get 3 different looks. I like to pick out two outfits and have your last “look” be our “in the sheets” set. This set can be done in many different comfort levels and is usually always ends up being a fan favourite from the gallery!
Thanks so much,
for making it this far, I’ll close this Step by Step Guide To Your Boudoir Session out with a few FAQ’s for Edmonton boudoir photographers
FAQ’s
Is hair and makeup included?
YESSSS absolutely it’s a huge part of the experience
Do you supply the outfits?
Yesss I got you! Each session includes full access to the client closet! But if you want to treat yourself to some lingerie before your session, I’ll always give my favourite recommendations OR just bring something you already have!
Do I have to get naked?
Nope definitely not! Your comfort level is my top priority and your boudoir session can be anything you want it to be, however my boudoir studio will always be a safe place for you to step out of your comfort zone and into that birthday suit!
How much is the total investment?
You can get this answer by adding $300 + your collection of choice = total investment cost. My most popular collection, Level Up comes in at a total of $1800 ($300 + $1500) for your entire boudoir experience AND a luxury lay flat album with your favourite images printed inside.
Click below to check out more collections and boudoir session info
