What to expect in a Boudoir Photoshoot?
Wondering what actually happens during a boudoir photoshoot?
Most boudoir sessions include a consultation, outfit planning, professional hair and makeup, guided posing, multiple outfit changes, and an image reveal where you choose your favourite photos.
Every photographer works differently, but here's exactly what happens during a boudoir shoot with Poledoir in Melbourne.
Hi, I’m Katie
I am a professional photographer of over a decade, specialising in boudoir since 2020. I have worked with hundreds of people of all shapes, sizes, ages, cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. Yet all of them have come in wanting to change - wanting to feel stronger in themselves. And all of them have come out feeling exactly that.
What Happens During a Boudoir Photoshoot?
Do You Have to Get Naked in a Boudoir Shoot?
Absolutely not and any photographer who insists you do - run.
What Can I Wear Instead?
lingerie - Poledoir has a large client wardrobe
oversized shirts
denim jackets
robes - Poledoir also has some very luxe robes!
bodysuits
fully clothed
It’s your shoot - wear what you feel the best in.
H wore some cosplay outfits
Before Your Boudoir Shoot
Video Consultation
When you book a photo shoot with me, we schedule a video call so you can see me and see that I'm just a bit of a goofball and have a chat through any of your concerns, and most definitely your excitement about why you're doing this. You don't have to have a why - a lot of the time people are just like “because I want to.” Some people are doing it for an occasion, and some people are doing it for the reclamation.
Lingerie Fitting and Client Wardrobe
I like to have a coffee meet with you a few weeks before your shoot day, where you come to the studio space, and we get to meet face to face, and you get to try on the lingerie that I've got in my client closet, so that way, on the day, you have no stress about what you're going to wear. Of course, you can bring your own lingerie, or your own denim jacket or your own boyfriend's shirt or girlfriend's shirt, or whatever you want to wear. You may decide that one of the outfits you want to wear is nothing, and that is totally cool, (but it is entirely up to you). You might decide to decide on the day if you want to go full birthday-suit, there's no pressure from me.
Nude illusion with a sheet is a popular optoion
What Happens on the Day?
Hair and makeup
On your arrival in the morning, I hand you over to our hair and makeup artist, Tracey, who will take good care of you. You’ll have a little yarn with her while I prepare you a hot beverage and maybe an alcoholic one to calm the nerves if you prefer - or maybe you’d like to be double parked!
Guided posing
After you've gotten your hair and makeup done, which will be about an hour and a half, you and I will sit down and have a little breathing exercise because I can tell you're going to be nervous. You know why I know? Because after many many years of doing this, everybody's nervous, so we're just going to do a little bit of breathing and a little bit of stretching. Stretching is really important, because you're going to be holding poses and getting into some weird poses for the next hour or two - and so am I, and we need to be limber.
What If I Don't Know How to Pose?
Girl, I gotchu. I'm going to be showing you the poses. That’s why I stretched too! There is no need to worry that you do not know what you're doing. That is why I am here.
With some photographers, that's not part of their package. So if you are looking for a photographer, make sure that that is something that they offer, if that is something that is important for you,
Outfit Changes
We do anywhere from 1 to 5 outfit changes depending on the package you booked, to get a variety of different looks for you
How Long Does a Boudoir Photoshoot Take?
At Poledoir, I ask you to block the whole day to cover prep (90 mins), shooting (60-120 minutes), a break for lunch (60-90 mins) and reveal (60 min).
The Same-Day Reveal
As we wrap up, I ask you if there's anything else you want to do, any last minute requests, after that as you are getting changed - you might go off and grab something to eat for an hour or just stay and scroll, I start to download the photos and doing the initial look through and cull to prepare, to show you your selection.
When Do I See My Photos?
That's right, you get to look at your photos on the day with a edit and everything. They won't be the final edit, of course, but they will be more or less how they'll look.
How Are Boudoir Photos Edited?
My editing style is not to make you look completely airbrushed, but you as you are. I will also do final touches such as tweaks to the lighting. And you know that pesky pimple that happened to show up the night before the shoot, because, of course it did. Together, we will choose your photos that you most love based on the package that you chose, and if you choose to upgrade your package, then you absolutely can do that.
Will You Photoshop My Body?
Nope. Look through my site at all the beautiful people, who are gorgeous because they are them, not because they have been liquified in Photoshop.
What Will I Leave With?
Once you have chosen your favourites, you can go home with your little polaroid-style print out that you get, and your A3 or A4 print, depending on what’s included with your package. And within a few weeks, you'll get all your digital prints.
Will My Photos Be Private?
If you want them to be. All people are asked their comfort levels with what is called a model-release. Some want complete privacy. Some are ok with non-face photos. And some are ok with all shared. It is up to you and you only. I will never pressure you and if another photographer does - run.
How to Know If a Boudoir Photographer Is Right for You
I have spoken extensively on that across these two blogs below.
Ask yourself:
Do They Guide Posing? Do They Offer Hair and Makeup? Do They Have Reviews? Do You Feel Safe With Them?
Talk soon x
Katie
be as dressed or as undressed as you like in your shoot
