I know there are a lot of you out there with questions for me that you may not be comfortable asking.Well, wonder no more. I’m going to give you the answers to the top five questions people are often afraid to ask before they book their photo session!
Q: If I choose to have a boudoir session do I have to be nude or topless?
A:Absolutely Not! As a matter of fact, Ido notdo nude photography.Your boudoir session is designed around what you are comfortable with.We will do implied nudes (bits must be covered), underwear, his shirt, tank tops… whatever represents your comfort level.We have even done Wonder Woman outfits and Star Wars t-shirts for boudoir images!
Q:Are my pictures going to be published on Facebook or on other social media?
A:We only post images that we have been granted written authority to use.If you choose to keep your images completely private, we will absolutely honor your request.
Q:What if I can’t pose? I have never modeled and don’t want to look silly, can you help me?
A:As a professional, it’s my job to pose you to look your best and I will talk you through each pose. There is no need to worry! Most of the women I’ve photographed have never modeled and in fact are usually the ones in their family taking the pictures at all their events. How often have you heard someone ask “How come we don’t have pictures of Mom?” Mom is usually the one behind the camera!
Q: Do you do other photography besides boudoir?
A: Yes! I specialize exclusively in Women’s Portraiture, but that does not just mean boudoir photography. I also do editorial style Fashion and Fitness photography, Pinup, Bridal, Maternity, and Headshots for business or social media. If you have a style of photo you want done and are not sure, give me a call or drop me an email and we can talk about it! (I do not do weddings or event photography)
Q: Am I obligated to buy images if I come in for a session; and do I have to pay for my session and my images all at the same time?
A: You are not obligated to buy any images after your photo session. We charge separately for your session and your image purchase. This allows you to choose the session type and image collection that best suits you. Your session fee must be paid to book your date and you select your favorite images at the end of your photo session. You would pay for your selected images the day of your shoot. We also offer a convenient, interest free, 6 month payment plan for image collection purchases.
I hope I have answered your questions but if there is anything I have not covered, please use the comment section on this blog or our contact form to let me know what else you would like to know.
Remember, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL TODAY! EMBRACE IT! CELEBRATE IT!
Time has flown by and it is the day before your photo session!
You have been preparing all month for this and have gotten your clothes ready, your shoes are shining and your nails are polished. You have had a blast surfing Pinterest for those images you pinned to show your ideas of what sexy, fun, glamorous and sophisticated are. You followed all the information in the guides and emailed all your questions and are ready for your big day! Now it is time to take a deep breath and relax a little.
Here are a few last minute tips for the day before your session:
Shave and use a moisturizer. Moisturize everywhere, from your nose to your toes.
Double-check that you have everything you will be bringing for your session – clothing, lingerie, high heels, jewelry, props…
Relax and have a stress-free evening.
Try to get at least eight hours of good sleep.
It is the day of your session! Your Big Day has arrived.
Whether you are doing a boudoir, glamour, fashion, pinup or some other type of shoot this is the day you have been waiting and preparing for!
This is YOUR DAY and it’s time to get ready!
Bath / Wash and dry your hair but don’t use any products to style your hair if we are providing hairstyling for your shoot.
Use a clear deodorant but don’t use perfumes or colognes.
Eat a light breakfast before leaving the house (Do Not skip breakfast)
Try to leave a little early to your session in case you get stuck in traffic or are delayed. You don’t want to be late.
Arrive in loose fitting cloths to avoid marks on your skin- yes be careful even with your socks! Lines from the clothes you wear to your shoot take time to fade and can be challenging to cover up especially in a boudoir shoot!
Relax and try not to be nervous. We’ll make sure you look your best and are guided throughout the entire process making sure you’re as comfortable as possible. Try to remember that nothing is sexier and more attractive than a confident woman. This is your day and a wonderful experience so enjoy yourself and have a great time!
Awesome! You did it!!! You were beautiful, sexy, and looked amazing!!
Now it’s time to take a break for about an hour before we sit down and view the very best photos from your shoot. You can relax with some snacks, coffee, tea, juice or water and fill out your post shoot questionnaire. While you are relaxing, we are preparing your images for you to view on our large screen. We will sit together for your slideshow and from these images you can choose your favorites. You will be able to select from our various print packages to show off your amazing photographs. We’ll get right to work preparing your images for print and have your order ready for you to pick up in just two to three weeks.
Here is an excerpt from a follow up email from one of our lovely ladies after her boudoir/fashion photo-shoot:
“Hi Marilyn!
I just wanted to email you and see how you have been doing… I love the photos, I don’t remember if I told you. I like how they came out and I am so very proud of them. I also wanted to let you know that since I have seen you, my confidence has risen. I absolutely love that we had a chance to meet. You are definitely an inspiration.
-T”
Thank you for taking the time to read our posts and learn more about what an experience with us entails. We would love to meet you and set up your very own Big Day!
So here we are with part 2 of our 3 part blog series: Preparing for your Photo-shoot. We are so excited that your BIG DAY is almost here!!
Last time we talked about what you need to get started on the month before your session. By now you have already booked your session and have the date for your big day, and you have finished your pre-shoot consultation and questionnaire. Your private Pinterest board should be all filled up with images that inspire you. Your session, no matter whether it is boudoir, fashion, pinup, maternity, bridal, will be individually planned for you based on the feedback we receive from you and the items you pin. You will have already added some poses, outfits and hair and make-up ideas so we can get your sets, lighting and your stylist ready to make this a super experience for you.
You are less than a week from your shoot and the excitement is mounting! You have your clothes picked out and some really amazing shoes, jewelry and props ready to go. This is when the importance of continued communication is vital. We have you either post to your private Pinterest board images of your outfits or send them to us via email. This allows us to see more what you are envisioning for your images and lets the hair stylist/make-up artist ensure they are also ready for your day.
Now that we are almost to your big day, we want to share more of the items you should be keeping in mind.
• If waxing is your thing, make sure to wax a few days before your session as to avoid redness and irritation.
• Pluck and shape your eyebrows.
• If you want to get your hair cut and/or colored, make sure to allow yourself a few days before your session to make sure you are happy with it.
• Either give yourself or have a professional manicure and pedicure. It does make a huge difference in your pictures.
• Don’t go out tanning and don’t use a spray or liquid tanner the week of your session.
• Try to cut way back on salt and increase you water intake. Lots of water makes for beautiful skin but the extra salt may cause water weight.
• Try on the clothes and lingerie that you have chosen to make sure everything fits well and be sure to remove any and all labels that might be seen.
• Make sure to clean and iron the clothing you will be bringing and hang them rather than fold them so there aren’t any wrinkles or fold marks.
We also want you to remember that you can email or call us any time to go over anything you have questions on. Another thing to do at this time is review our Image Collection information and let us know if you need any clarification or if you are interested in purchasing any specialty items. We will be doing your image viewing the same day as your session and want to ensure you have any questions answered before your big day. So now we are almost there!! Five days to go until the day that is all about you!
Next time we will talk about what important information you need to know the day before and the day of your session so check out our next blog – The Day Before Your Session and Your Big Day!
As a Woman’s Portrait Photographer I am often asked to explain more about the genres of photography I create.
Some types of photography are easy to explain like business head shots, and maternity.
Business portraits have been used for years and with the increase in social media and web development, your business photo is often the first impression you make. Maternity photography, though not a venue that has the history of business portraiture, is also a very well-known and now common reason for someone to visit a professional photographer. Maternity photography ranges in style from outdoor, family type photography to more dramatic, artistically posed studio portraiture. My maternity photography takes place in our studio and ranges from the more dramatic editorial style to maternity boudoir and focuses solely on the mother-to-be. Both styles of maternity pictures help a family celebrate this momentous occasion and create special memories.
As I go through other styles such as pinup and boudoir I find people asking more questions about how these are specifically done.
I explain that pinup photography gets its vintage look from the hairstyle, makeup, clothing and props used. These reflect the era that someone is trying to recreate their look from. So if you are a fan of the roaring 20’s, the war era 40’s, the “Happy Days” 1950’s style or even the cinematic film noire, we will work with you to capture that in your session. Pinup is also often a cross-over into boudoir photography if you are a fan of Gil Elvgren or Alberto Vargas. Many of their pinup images are women in lingerie as well as their images that influenced the Nose Art on war planes. Boudoir photography itself is also often a misunderstood genre. Though it can range from images that could be considered artistic nudes to football jerseys, boudoir photos should be reflective of the individual and always be done in a way that is respectful of the comfort of the woman who is getting them done. Personally I do not do images in the artistic nude category but will take pictures that while keeping you covered in all the right places, may suggest that you have nothing under that sheet. (Nude colored panties and a strapless bra are awesome for these types of photos) I have done boudoir photo sessions for women in a wide range of outfits from long sleeve dresses and boyfriend or husband’s button down shirts to super hero costumes, Star Wars t-shirts, traditional lingerie and the suggestive with a sheet. Each session is based on the woman’s comfort and the outfits she brings that have special meaning for her or her significant other.
Once I get to fashion, fitness and what I love to describe as “nerd chic” people begin to see that there are so many options to choose from that each session is truly a personalized experience.
Whatever your choice of photography, if you are inspired by a look or an era, there is a genre it will work with and it can be recreated and captured photographically for you to frame, hang or give as a gift. I would love to spend a day with you creating your individual experience and capturing it for you to save and share.
Have you ever felt unprepared for a special event or meeting? Were you sure you had forgotten to bring something or you were just not ready to get up and give your speech? I know I have! Imagine if you had to give that speech in sexy lingerie in front of people you had never met before. Yikes!!
Because of this, I want to share a little information about why I feel communication between a photographer and a client is so important, especially if you are planning a boudoir photo-shoot.
From our first in-person meeting at your pre-shoot consultation, all the way through picking up your images when they are finished, an open line of communication is critical. Scheduling a pre-shoot consultation at my studio lets us meet and get to know each other before your big day. You have a chance to see the studio where your photos will be taken and get ideas of what our sets look like and what we have for props you can use. During this meeting you will fill out a pre-shoot questionnaire to let me know more about your likes and dislikes as well as gathering information for our stylist. We spend time going over forms and contracts to make sure everything is clear and any questions can be answered. This is also when we talk about what you have envisioned for your session. Some women come in with a clear idea of what they want out of their shoot and others are unsure what the difference is between boudoir, fashion and pinup.
Meeting in person lets us look at different images together to know we are on the same page as to what you want and removes possible misunderstandings from emailed messages. To help with this we will create a Pinterest board for you so we can share images prior to your shoot. They can be images we feel would work for you or images that YOU find inspiring or that show the type of mood or look you want to create during your session. There are so many times when we post an image that it sparks a totally different view of possibilities for our clients. Your idea of sexy or fashionable may be very different from the last client we worked with. It is important that we can see examples of images that reflect your interpretation so we can meet your expectations during the shoot. The Pinterest board is also shared with your stylist so they can see what you are envisioning for hair styles and makeup for your special day.
Once you have gotten started on your journey toward the Big Day of your photo session, we will send you periodic emails with any questions or updates leading up to your session to help us get to know you better. We also encourage you to email or call us at any time with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your scheduled shoot. It’s all about the communication!
The whole process normally takes about 4 weeks from pre-shoot consultation to the day of your session. Images ordered during your same day viewing session take another 2-3 weeks to arrive and be packaged for you to pick up. So plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to book your shoot and receive your images if you are doing this for a special occasion!
Are you unsure or confused about what to wear for your boudoir session? Fully clothed, partially clothed, or implied nudity can all be sexy. It’s important that you plan your clothing items around what your comfort level is. You can bring items you already have and feel beautiful in or you can purchase new specifically for your shoot. If you plan on shopping, make sure you’ve tried the clothing on, moved around, and love it. Don’t wait until you get dressed for your shoot to try something on for the first time. You may find it’s the wrong size or you just don’t like how it fits on you. You will look the sexiest when you feel confident and good about yourself.
Remember, this experience is ultimately about what you want, what you like, and what you want to see yourself in. Your clothing should reflect your taste and personal style.
Lingerie:
Vintage slips, a teddy and/or camisole always photograph well. A corset or a bustier with thigh high stockings, a garter belt, and heels are a common choice. Start simple and go from there. Think about what colors look good on you. If you have something your significant other finds especially sexy, bring it along! We do suggest you avoid the Baby Doll outfits as they have a tendency to give even the thinnest girls a heavier bell shape that does not photograph as well.
Casual Attire:
Everyday clothing is another option to bring with you. Items such as lacy or sheer tops, lose knit sweaters, jeans, shorts, sportswear, and pajamas can look cute and sexy if photographed properly. A simple white tank top or silky t-shirt is a must have!
Bra and Panties:
Most importantly, bring a varied selection of bra and panty sets. Start with basic black and white, but also bring colors and patterns if you have something you particularly like. Bras and panties can be photographed alone or paired with other clothing items or accessories. Make sure they fit well and don’t cause bulges from tight elastic bands.
Something of His:
If this is a gift for him, then bring something from his wardrobe. You might pick one of his favorite ties, a button down shirt, a sports jersey, or military uniform; anything that makes the images more personal and sexy to him!
To wrap this up, it’s always great to bring a variety of outfits that make you feel great when you put them on and items that show your personality. Don’t forget to bring some accessories with you like jewelry, scarves, hats, high heels, boots, gloves, stockings, garter belts, military tags or whatever it is that has special meaning to you. This is your day and it is going to be awesome!!
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while and decided now is a great time to just get this done! I hear “reasons” all the time from women why they can’t do a boudoir session and I’m telling you today that those “reasons” are really just excuses! I’m a huge believer in loving yourself as you are today in this very moment, and if you aren’t quite there yet, we can help empower you to see yourself as the confident, individual Dream Girl that you are. So, without further ado, here are the Top 10 excuses women tell themselves (and me) why they can’t do a boudoir shoot right now, and my responses to them and YOU!
#1) I need to lose 5 or 10 lbs. first
Most women who say they need to lose weight before their session are really just afraid they won’t like what they see in their photos. I’m not trying to discourage you from committing to a weight loss journey if it is for your health and emotional well-being, however, you DON’T need to lose weight to look good in your photographs! I believe that every woman is beautiful as she is right now, and I know how to pose you and use studio lighting to enhance your best features. In addition, utilizing our professional hair and makeup services before your photoshoot provides you with the extra confidence boost to feel ABSOLUTELY GLAMOROUS!
#2) I’m not very photogenic
The right photographer can take awesome photos of ANY woman no matter her shape, size or experience. Pose coaching and directing is a huge part of what I do, and is essential even in the images that appear “candid”. Coaching you into the pose, allows you to relax and not worry if you’re “doing it right”. You will know exactly what to do and how to do it. I will make sure you don’t feel awkward in front of the camera.
#3) I don’t own any sexy lingerie and garters / stockings aren’t my ‘thing’
Here is a small list of what clients wore in some of our favorite photoshoots:
Matching bra and panties
Yours or your significant other’s button-up shirt
Tank top or camisole
Oversized sweater
A satin robe or kimono
Or just a bed sheet…
Whatever it is that shows your personality works! And remember, this can also be a great opportunity to go shopping and get something new.
#4) What if he doesn’t like my pictures
Trust me, he will! Most significant others already love you for who you are and think that you are beautiful in your everyday look. We will be photographing you looking amazing, sexy and confident. No man in his right mind wouldn’t appreciate gorgeous images of the woman he loves. Here is a quote I received from a previous client:
“… He was so pleased with how they all came out. He actually teared up. He said how happy I looked and that he was really glad I ended up doing them even … He loved how special they were. And I know he will treasure them…”
#5) I’m shy and don’t know how to be sexy
That’s perfect! As a matter of fact, it can be easier to photograph women who don’t have a preconceived interpretation of what “sexy” looks like. I can direct or provoke a thought that will effortlessly capture a sexy expression in a way to appear completely candid. Just wait until you’ve seen your pictures!
#6) Everyone will see my pictures
No, no, no! You may have seen boudoir portraiture on our web page, blog posts, advertising and possibly our newsletter; Portraits that YOU may not feel comfortable sharing with the public. However, we only share photographs of women that allow us to display their images so that other women can see the potential beauty that lies within them. We have every client sign a release form that either grants or denies us rights to showcase your beautiful portraits. The choice is completely yours if you want them to remain completely private or not.
#7) I can’t afford a boudoir photo session
I won’t pretend to completely know your financial situation. HOWEVER, I will say a couple of things. First, you may not be able to drop several hundred dollars at this very moment, but we can help make your dream photoshoot come true by setting up a payment plan for you. Second, you can save for a photoshoot just like you would a girl’s night out, a vacation, or that designer handbag you really want! A boudoir photo session is an investment, but it is something you may only have the chance to do once in your life. If you want a confidence-boosting, unforgettable experience with quality portraits to cherish for a lifetime, you can have it!
#8) I’m too old to have boudoir photos taken
Are you too old to feel special, appreciated or beautiful? You get to choose to embrace who you are throughout life’s many beautiful stages. You may not be that same girl as you were in your early 20’s but now you’re even better…you’re a woman. A strong, beautiful, independent woman.
#9) I don’t feel comfortable getting naked in front of strangers
That won’t be a problem with us because we do not shoot nude photography. We may imply nudity but you will be covered in all of your photographs. Boudoir portraits can be as covering as you want them to be. There is a spectrum of how revealing you want your portraits to be from fully clothed to a tasteful ILLUSION of nude. The important thing to remember is that we will meet you where you’re at. We will never have you do a pose or wear an outfit that you are not comfortable with. Also, remember that we will not share your portraits with anyone you don’t want seeing them, so you can feel comfortable showing more skin in front of the camera. In most cases, you will be wearing more than you would for a day at the beach.
#10) I’m not married and don’t have a boyfriend
Boudoir is more for YOU than anyone else. Realizing your beauty is one of the most incredible things a woman can experience and having amazing portraits of yourself looking absolutely ravishing is life changing. Here is a quote from one of my clients that actually made me cry when I read it that explains it all: “It was so much fun. I cried telling about my confidence issues, but I soon realized that I’m not the only one who feels that way. Today, I felt beautiful. Today, I felt powerful. Definitely makes me want to take a second look in the mirror and tell myself “I am worth every good thing that people say about me.” I am awesome and beautiful and quirky. I need to own it. That’s me. Like it or love it, it’s me!”
I hope I was able to address some of the excuses that we all tell ourselves. What it all boils down to is fear of the unknown and now that it’s no longer “unknown” you have nothing to be afraid of! So… what are you waiting for?
Book Your Boudoir Session Now and trust in us as professionals to take great care of you and help you bring out that side you’ve never seen before.
A graduate of the New York Institute of Photography, Marilyn has won awards for Best Artist and loves doing editorial style work as well as contemporary portraiture.As a member of the Better Business Bureau and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, she takes pride in operating a professional studio and being part of the local business organizations.
