The goal of any boudoir photographer is to make a woman feel confident, beautiful and sexy while leaving her with a lasting memento of that feeling. An experienced professional should be able to anticipate a woman’s movements so that she can be photographed easily. A really great boudoir photographer has the ability to adjust their practices and coach their subject to bring out a woman’s best and most authentic qualities. The idea is to capture her individual beauty, sensuality, and spirit, while making her feel completely comfortable and safe.
Many women shy away from the thought of booking their own boudoir session, they may wonder – “who are these brave gorgeous women who so fearlessly bear their bodies and souls for their Photographer?” The fact is that they are not always experienced models with super self-esteem; they are housewives, entrepreneurs, soccer moms, and career women. Some of them have feelings of inadequacy, grief or sorrow regarding their sensuality or their bodies. The boudoir photographer must override those negative feelings and create a feeling of sexiness, authenticity, and joy.
When looking for the right photographer for you, creativity is an important thing to consider, and so are testimonials, but ultimately the proof is in an extensive and/or professional looking portfolio. Be sure to take the time to do some research in advance and seek referrals to find the right personality fit for you.
Slow is Sexy
Acting sexy in front of a camera is not as easy as it sounds or looks, most women feel a little self-conscious at first, and this is completely natural. Remember not to take things too seriously, have some fun with it. It can be really helpful to practice a little in front of the mirror prior to your photo session. Remember to act out each of your moves slowly, giving the photographer enough time to curate, make adjustments, and take the shot.
Moving naturally in front of a camera and communicating through sex appeal is often the biggest struggle. The foundation of a good boudoir shoot is a woman having fun. Remember that confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can wear. To help you break out of your comfort zone, here are five tried and true tricks from professional boudoir photographers that you can practice. Figuring out a few of these moves in front a mirror before your shoot will help you project that sexy kind of confidence that you see in the best boudoir shoots.
- Brush your hair out of your eyes.
- Shake out your hair, do a head toss.
- Play with the fasteners on your clothing.
- Touch your shoe, then slowly run your hands up along your body.
- Lie on your back, with your legs propped up against the wall, look back at the camera.
Remember, photographers are not stylists. They are photographers.
Hire a professional stylist for your hair and makeup for your boudoir session, and to help you choose your outfit(s) for the shoot. Do not ask your photographer to choose your lingerie for you when he or she arrives – this is considered unprofessional and it puts your photographer in a very awkward position.
Bridal boudoir photo sessions are one of the hottest trends in wedding photography, and the bookings grow in numbers every year. What is it that makes it seem like so much fun? Boudoir photography takes courage, and just the right amount of self-love. What is more alluring than a beautiful, self-confident woman. Perhaps that’s why it feels so sexy; because it brings out our femininity. We interviewed Christy D. Swanberg of Hello There Darling Boudoir to help us break the ice on bridal boudoir, and get a little more insight into what is really involved in booking a professional boudoir photography session.
“I’ve found that most of my brides book me because they want to capture this moment in their lives, or document what they looked like before they start having families. Others just want to relax, feel beautiful, and then “gift” their soon to be hubbies a real treat they will have at their bedside table until they are old,” says Christy.
Giving boudoir albums as a wedding gift has been a popular exchange from a woman to a man, however boudoir photography is for men, and couples, too. Why shouldn’t a man have the same opportunity to capture a particularly momentous time in his life. Christy explained, “I sincerely feel that men should book boudoir, or “dudeoir” sessions. It’s not a real word, but you get the point… Men should feel handsome and confident in their own skin as well.” For those who don’t feel comfortable doing it alone, couples boudoir is a great option, and a lasting memento of your connection to each other.
