Your boudoir photography session is going to be about your empowerment and body embracing or your celebration. Or most likely, mix .
In Inner Spirit Photography’s Calgary studio, nude or boudoir photography lets you express a little bit of your devilish side. That expressive mix of naughty and nice. Our clients do have more fun with being naughty!
Either way, the devil is in the details as they say.
You want to shine, you want your confidence amped up, you want to embrace your power and show yourself in your best light.
Part of that best light, of course, is finding the best photographer, which you will have with us. Let’s get into those devilish details so when the light shines for your closeup, everything is looking amazing.
Before you come in for your session, you need a self-care day. Trust us, it is worth the effort.
You may have thought of a few of these, but I will wager a good number never crossed your mind. However, they will make a huge difference, not just in how the images look, but how you feel while they are being taken and afterwards.
With these 16 overlooked ways to prepare for your empowerment/celebration boudoir photo shoot, you will take your images to the new level.
1-Drink lots of water for one and a half days before your session. This will be hard for many women, yet it makes a huge difference. It will give your skin a beautiful, glowing, dewy look. It also helps to keep bloating down by flushing sodium and other toxins out.
2-Stay away from spray or self-tanners for at least 7 days before your session. Ideally, do a test run a few weeks out so you know you like the look and that the look is not orange, uneven, too dark etc.. A week before your session, get it applied. This will give it time to settle down. A few other reasons:
A) Your tan won’t rub off onto your surroundings and fabrics at our studio. Saves a lot of work on cleanup.
B) You can be sure you did not miss a spot and that it is all even. Self-tanners especially can be prone to this.
3-Don’t cut or dye your hair at least 5 days before your session. It takes a few days for your hair to settle down after a big change. The dyes may occasionally leak onto your skin around your face and hands. We can retouch it out, but it is just easier and better looking if it is not there to begin with. And don’t do an experimental cut or dye just before your session. They usually don’t work out and the session is a loss!
4-Clean the soles of your feet. You probably won’t think of it, but your feet will be in the photos. Women always notice their soles at the viewing. Take a good scrubber to them.
5-Clean and shape your, fingers and toes. I often get in close. Few things are as distracting as cracked nail polish, dull and ragged nails. Once you see them in an image, you can’t unsee them.
6-Touch up your eyebrows. Not a tip for everyone, but if you do like them shaped, look after them before your session. It will add to your confidence knowing the details have been looked after. Do it a day or so before your empowerment/celebration shoot.
For women who wax/thread, get it down at least 3-5 days before your session to avoid redness or puffiness.
7-Don’t eat or drink anything with dyes the day of your session or the night before. This is bigger than most realize. Eating foods with dyes, especially orange and red, will stain your mouth. It is not a good look. Stay away from deeply coloured candies, drinking coloured drinks without a straw, popsicles and so on.
8-Iron all your outfits, even the skimpy lingerie. Wrinkly outfits give you a dumpy look. Sharp fold lines and wrinkles don’t give that luxurious, empowering feel. If you have some outfits that wrinkle easily, bring them in a hanging garment bag.
9-Gather up all your props the night before. Clean them too. Props are great to work with, but in a close-up, dust, gunk, etc., are distracting.
10-Don’t drink alcohol the night before or stay up late. You will look out of sorts and have low energy for your session. We need you at your wide-awake best!
11-Stretch the night before and before you come over. You will be doing a lot of twisting and arching. It is like a mini workout. We will get you up on your tippy toes a lot, so give those calves a good stretch. You will appreciate giving yourself a good stretch when you are done!
12-Have breakfast before you come. You will need the energy. Stay away from sugar loaded foods that will cause a crash or bulky foods that will just sit in your tummy. Naturally sweet fruit like oranges and grapefruits are great as their sugar is slow release. Include water or orange juice. Not eating won’t help you look thinner.
13-Try using gel or spray deodorant. You will avoid the white pilling /build up in your underarms. You will often have your arms up as I move you into different positions.
14—Remove hair ties and any other restrictive items from your wrist. I try to watch for them, but sometimes, they sneak into the shoot before I catch them. If removed at the shoot, you are still left with the impression in your skin, often for several hours.
15-Wear loose clothing. You will have lines imprinted on your body. Remember your socks, bras, and panties; they have straps and elastics that suck them in tight to the body, leaving lines.
16-Bring some ideas, do a Google search and look at the images of the search; you can email, share or text them to me. It really helps get a visual fix on what you are looking for and what you like or are excited to try.
Bonus tips, (yup, we have a few more)
- If you like unusual makeup or are very particular, bring your colours along, our makeup artist won’t be offended.
- For outfits and props, if in doubt, bring them. It is easier not to use them than wish you had.
- If you are a huge dog lover, consider bringing your buddy. We love dogs and can work them into a few shots.
Trust us, doing these few things will make a huge difference to your confidence and the energy you bring to your session. You will feel at the top of your game. It will help calm your nerves too. Doing these things in advance communicates your confidence during the session. Plus, you are so worth the pampering!
You are now READY TO ROCK your Boudoir/nude empowerment or celebration session.
I have an amazing experience waiting for you. It is going to be incredible! As we always say; “Every body is a boudoir body!”