Preparing for a boudoir shoot is simpler than you think: moisturise your skin, no sunbed or self-tan in the last week, wax (if you wish) about 48 hours before, get your outfits ready, sleep well and keep the morning for yourself. Hair and makeup are taken care of for you.
You’ve booked your boudoir session. And now the little voice in your head starts to panic. “Do I have the right body?” “Do I need to wax everywhere?” “What if I’m terrible in photos?”
Breathe. I’m a boudoir photographer in Waterloo, near Brussels, and here I answer the real questions my clients ask me.
Practical tips
Your skin
Moisturise your skin in the days before your session. It’s tip number one, and yet the one most often forgotten. Well-hydrated skin catches the light differently, and it shows in the photos. Ideally, start a week before.
Self-tan, spray tan and sunbeds are best avoided, to prevent surprises (streaks, uneven colour). In any case, nothing in the last week before your session.
Hair removal
No, you don’t need to be waxed everywhere. Really. It’s your session, your body, your rules. If you want to wax or shave, do it about 48 hours before (not the night before), to avoid little red bumps without leaving time for regrowth. And if you’d rather come unwaxed, that’s perfectly fine.
Your lingerie
Plan three outfits, and bring more: we choose together on the day. Slip in a piece that’s outside your comfort zone. What feels “too much” in your bedroom is often perfect in front of the lens. Solid colours (black, white, red, nude) usually work very well. And if you could only bring one outfit, make it a bodysuit.
Glamuse has a very wide selection (partner link). My favourite brands: Aubade, Maison Close, Atelier Amour. All my ideas are in What to wear to a boudoir shoot.
Hair and makeup
Good news: you don’t have to do them yourself. I work with a professional makeup artist and hairstylist who comes in before every session. Simply arrive with clean hair and a clean face, without makeup.
- Wash your hair the night before, without a mask or silicone-based conditioner. If you use a silicone-free product, apply it only to the lengths and ends.
- Curly hair: wet it completely that morning, with a silicone-free mask or conditioner. No brush, only a wide-tooth comb, and let it air-dry. No mousse.
- The night before, put a little cocoa butter on your lips: lipstick holds less well on dry lips.
This is often my clients’ favourite moment: the stress fades, we talk, and you start feeling more and more at ease. In other words, the preparation is part of the experience.
The mental side (the most important part)
Nerves are normal
Almost all my clients arrive with butterflies in their stomach. It’s universal. And almost always, they disappear during makeup or in the first minutes of the session. Why? Because a good boudoir session starts with a conversation, not with “stand there and smile”.
You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to be used to being photographed. Guiding you is my job, from head to toe, down to the smallest detail. Read How to be photogenic: the 5 mistakes I see at every session.
“I’m not made for this”
There is no body “made for boudoir”. That idea is one of the biggest lies the image industry has sold us. My clients are between 23 and 64. They wear anything from a European size 36 to a 52. Some have scars, stretch marks, curves they’ve hidden for years. And they’re often the ones who leave with the photos they’re proudest of. Read Boudoir photos with stretch marks.
How do you get into the right frame of mind?
A few simple tips: avoid looking at photos of models the night before, get enough sleep, and if possible, keep a moment just for yourself on the morning of your session: a walk, a quiet coffee, a playlist that puts you in a good mood.
And above all, remember why you’re doing this. For you. Not for anyone else.
On the day
Eat light, but don’t come on an empty stomach. Don’t skip meals to “have a flat stomach”: it doesn’t work, and you’d lack energy to move from pose to pose.
Come in loose clothes, with a top that opens at the front, so you can change without spoiling your hair and makeup. A belt, jeans rivets or underwear that’s too tight leave marks on the skin that take time to fade.
Keep the whole day. Nothing is rushed, and we take breaks whenever you need. Check your route and the traffic too: the studio is in Waterloo, about 30 minutes from Brussels Airport.
Bring what makes you feel like you. A special piece of jewellery, a perfume you love. A robe is waiting for you at the studio for the breaks.
What to bring to a boudoir shoot
- Your outfits, three or more, on hangers
- A pair of heels
- The jewellery you love, and a personal piece if you have one
- Your favourite lipstick
- A snack
- Your means of payment
Frequently asked questions
How do you prepare for a boudoir shoot?
Moisturise your skin from a week before, no sunbed or self-tan in the last week, wax (if you wish) about 48 hours before, get your outfits ready, sleep well and keep the morning for yourself.
Should I wax before a boudoir shoot?
Only if you wish. If you do, about 48 hours before, not the night before. Coming unwaxed is perfectly fine.
Do I need to do my own makeup?
No. A professional makeup artist and hairstylist takes care of your makeup and hair. Arrive with clean hair and a makeup-free face.
What should I bring to a boudoir shoot?
Three outfits or more on hangers, a pair of heels, your jewellery, your favourite lipstick, a snack and your means of payment. A robe is ready at the studio.
What if I’m nervous?
That’s normal, almost everyone is. The nerves usually disappear during makeup or in the first minutes of the session. I explain and show you every pose.
Questions before your session? Read the FAQ, the practical answers in Boudoir photoshoot in Brussels, discover how a session works or write to me. A successful session begins long before I press the shutter.