If you’re considering booking a boudoir shoot, you may be feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. A boudoir session is a wonderful way to celebrate your body and treat yourself like the QUEEN that you are. But, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to prepare, don’t worry! This blog post is here to help. Here are some tips and tricks to help you look and feel your best before, during, and after your boudoir shoot.

Look Your Best

A few days before your boudoir shoot, treat yourself to a mani-pedi to help you feel pampered and ready for your photoshoot. However, it’s best to avoid getting waxed or having a professional facial 2-3 days before your session. These treatments can sometimes cause redness or blotchiness on your skin, which can detract from your photos.

If you tend to get dark circles under your eyes, try this simple trick: the night before your session, place two spoons in your freezer. The next morning, apply some pressure and slowly glide the spoon underneath your eyes from the innermost part (by your nose) to the outer part (near your ear)- it drains fluids and removes puffiness! 

When it comes to your hair and makeup, you can choose to do your own, or you can add professional hair and makeup services to your package! We often partner with GLOSS, an amazing Philly-based team of makeup and hair artists. If you are interested in having someone come in and do your makeup, simply let me know at least 2-3 weeks prior to your session, so we have enough time to plan and schedule.

Dress Your Best 

When choosing outfits for your boudoir shoot, it’s best to avoid anything tight that will leave strap lines on your skin or lines on your legs. This is especially important if you’re bringing multiple outfits. We don’t want to see indents from your previous outfit in your next set of photos!

With that said, it’s always a great idea to bring multiple outfits to your boudoir shoot. This is a great way to add some variety to your photos and express your unique style. Consider mixing up the types of lingerie you bring, including two-piece sets, bodysuits, half clothes/half lingerie, fully exposed looks, and more.

Accessories are also a great way to add variety and personality to your boudoir photos. If you have any jewelry or accessories that you love, bring them along! I have sheets, scarves, blankets, and even some body jewelry available in the studio for photos as well. Flowers also make a beautiful prop for boudoir photos!

When it comes to colors, choose whatever makes you feel good! We often associate sexiness with black and red, but white lingerie can also look pure, innocent, and angelic in photos. These three colors always photograph well and look amazing with our editing style.

Choosing the Perfect Outfits

You are always welcome and encouraged to send us your outfit choices, and I’m more than happy to help you choose the perfect fit for you, your body, and your session. If you are planning to buy an outfit for your shoot, be sure to invest in an outfit that makes you feel sexy and comfortable and shows off your favorite features. I commonly recommend brands like Nasty Gal, ASOS, Hidden Intimates, and Torrid for a great selection of styles, sizes, and prices. Many of my clients have also come with a handful of options from Shein that all work out beautifully for photos (but may not last you very long). Don’t forget to cut the tags off of your lingerie before you arrive, and put them somewhere safe so you can remember how to properly care for your items!

Lastly, the best outfit can sometimes be no outfit at all! We love a tasteful exposure, whether it’s covered up by flowers, a sheet, some type of prop, or out in the open, we are here to embrace your inner GODDESS!

Be Yourself

It sounds cheesy, but seriously, let your unique personality and interests shine through, and don’t be afraid to get a little crazy! Who says you can’t order pizza and make ramen noodles in lingerie? Or if you’re a video game fanatic, let’s incorporate a controller into the mix and capture some shots that your partner will never forget. If you’re a nature lover, let’s head out into the woods and snap some shots in your lingerie and hiking boots. The key is to make it artsy and sexy and most importantly, make it YOU. So, bring on the crazy ideas, and let’s make this boudoir shoot one-of-a-kind!

What to Expect

Photodelphia Studio is located in University City, Philadelphia. Sessions are by appointment only and are currently booked three weeks out. There are multiple unique accent walls, original hardwood floors, and a few backdrops for you to choose from while you’re here. If you would like to have your session in your own home, hotel, Airbnb, or somewhere else we can arrange that as well!

To make sure you feel like royalty, I’ll provide the snacks and a drink of your choice (champagne, wine, beer, coffee, etc.). We don’t want to party too much to the point where we get sloppy or have bloodshot eyes, but enough to let loose, have some fun, and feel good! 

At Photodelphia, I encourage all my clients to love themselves and love their bodies! Sessions with me are full of positive affirmations and encouragement. We will pose and position you in ways that show off your curves and your body without you feeling self-conscious!

Boudoir sessions are a very intimate and exciting experience at Photodelphia, but I understand that you might want to share it with someone special! If bringing a friend along will make you feel more comfortable, you’re more than welcome to (or your significant other if they want to hop in for a few spicy photos). 

Retouching of Your Photos

Every photo that you receive will be carefully edited. I generally remove any visible acne and acne scarring because I want you to look at these photos and see how beautiful you are, not your small temporary imperfections! I can lightly edit cellulite and stretch marks to be less prominent or not show at all (depending on the amount). For women with severe stretch marks or cellulite, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to edit them out, but I can smooth the skin so it is not the first thing you see when you look at your photos.

Privacy of Your Photos

Your privacy and comfort are my number one concern! I would never post any photos without written consent from you. I make sure every client signs a contract before the session, and if you prefer to keep your photos to yourself, that is completely fine! Let me know, and I will be sure to include that in your contract. I also have a private boudoir Instagram account for our women-only clients, so feel free to let me know if you would or would not like to be featured. Clients are NEVER tagged in any boudoir photos posted online.

Photo Delivery

I know you’re excited to see your photos, and I promise to deliver them to you as quickly as possible. You’ll receive a sneak peek with 10+ of the best photos within 2-4 days of your session, and I’ll deliver the full gallery within 3-6 weeks of your session date. As many of my reviews state, I usually return your photos to you as quickly as possible because I’m just as excited as you to finish your photos!

If this sounds like the perfect day of self-love to you, you can schedule a session here! Once I receive your inquiry, we will hop on a Zoom call to get introduced, chat about your ideas, and review my packages. Once we’ve decided on a package and solidified a date, I’ll send over the proposal to get you booked!

If you have any questions about Photodelphia’s services or what to expect, feel free to reach out! I’m always happy to help, and I’m here to make you feel like the queen you are! Get ready to celebrate you and your body! 

xx, Harley