The number one concern women have about getting a boudoir shoot is that they’re not going to like how they look in their images, and they’ll have wasted their money.
Getting bad images is one thing, but having to pay a lot of money for them just makes the experience that much worse… and no one wants that.
Below are my 3 key ingredients for a successful boudoir shoot that assures me the woman is going to love her images.
1. Find Out What She Likes And Dislikes About Her Body
Sounds rather blunt, doesn’t it? But it’s all in how you approach it.
Whether a woman is contacting me to schedule a shoot or just wants more information, after I’ve established some rapport and she hasn’t already volunteered this information to me, I’ll ask her…
“Are there parts of your body you want to emphasize and parts you want to de-emphasize?”
Once I’ve opened the door to that topic, women will freely and openly tell me what they like and dislike about their bodies, or perhaps, what’s still a work in progress.
Having this very honest discussion, I get a sense of relief from them because their number one concern about not looking good in their images, because of their fears and insecurities, is being addressed.
I tell them this gives me a strategy for planning their shoot. I can now advise them on what outfits to wear that will flatter them, as well as, pick poses that will make them look good… because after all, that’s what it all comes down to.
It’s similar to talking to a plastic surgeon. You want to be as open and honest about the changes you want regarding your looks in order for the doctor to give you the best results… results you’ll be happy with.
I know a lot of photographers will not want to raise this topic with their clients for fear they’ll be perceived as criticizing them… and maybe because I’m a guy or perhaps it’s just my personality that it’s a non-issue for me.
If the woman gets offended then she’s probably not my client because I need certain information from her in order to give her what she ultimately wants, and that’s images she’ll love of herself.
2. Pick The Right Poses For Each Individual Woman
Women come in all shapes and sizes and every woman does not look good in every pose. There are some poses you will look better in than others depending on your body type.
Some poses will flatter your form while others won’t.
Also, knowing what you want to emphasize and de-emphasize (from number one above) will affect my decision in choosing what poses to use for your particular shoot.
Posing is a critical part of a boudoir shoot, and doesn’t just happen by accident. I guide each woman into every pose to make sure her feminine form is being expressed to its full potential.
3. Choose The Right Outfits
Some intimate apparel can have a slimming effect just by how it’s designed, while others can make you look shorter and bigger than you actually are.
You want to be strategic with your outfit choices and that’s something I help you with well before your session. You also want to make sure your outfits fit properly, which should be comfortably snug.
Going back to number one above, if there are parts you want to emphasize, certain garments will work better than others, and if there are parts you want to de-emphasize or hide altogether, other outfits will work better for.
Besides the look and design, there’s also the color and texture that needs to be taken into account so there’s proper contrast and or complementary coordination happening with your skin tone, hair color, and eye color.
I probably take color into consideration more so than any other boudoir photographer I know of because I’m not just picking colors based on your skin tone and hair color but also how they fit into the overall set you’ll be photographed in.
Conclusion
Having these three key ingredients working together not only assures the woman that her insecurities and concerns about her body are being addressed and that she’s going to love her images, but also gives her confidence going into the shoot.
Related Articles
How To Guarantee Your Boudoir Images Turn Out Awesome!
3 Pitfalls To Avoid That Could Ruin Your Boudoir Shoot
Thanks for your time,
Charles Mitri
Bella Mitri Boudoir
