How to Best Prepare Yourself (Mentally and Physically) for Your First Boudoir Session

Lauren Jones

of Boudoir by Lauren in Morristown, New Jersey talks to those first timers for boudoir and how to prepare yourself for your amazing session!

If you’re anything like most women I’ve photographed, you’ve considered a boudoir session out of your comfort zone. You probably haven’t been gearing yourself up for the day that you pose half-naked in front of a complete stranger!

Yet, here you are, about to cross off another item of your bucket list, and you have no idea how to prepare.

Not to worry! The truth is, that you don’t have to be a supermodel or have any training whatsoever for a boudoir session.

No, you don’t have to starve yourself, or workout to utter exhaustion to do a boudoir session.

The truth is, you should do a session where you are and as who you are. Right now.

When I started photographing these boudoir sessions, inspired by a client who wanted to replicate some 1920s pin-ups, I realized how much joy and confidence these sessions bring to the women who do them. Not because they got into the best shape of their life (although some book a session to celebrate victories) but because they wanted to feel beautiful.

Do you know how it feels to discover you’re beautiful as you are, not as you could be?

How do you even prepare for a session now, as you are? What if you want to schedule a session next week? How CAN you prepare? Very easily!

First of all, get excited! This pampering experience is like going to the spa, only you walk away from the experience with EVEN MORE to look forward to in the result of a lifetime of sexy images that you can be proud of!

Secondly, go shopping. Mandatory? No. Frivolous? Possibly. Hype-inducing? Definitely. I don’t mean going to Victoria’s Secret and buying the skimpiest piece of lingerie that you don’t even want to try on. Go to Forever 21, or that vintage thrift store around the corner, and find some cool accessory that you would never wear in public! Your photographer will probably send you a list of must-have items, but most of those are things you already own, like black panties, and your favorite pair of jeans!

Thirdly, keep your skin healthy. Yes, you read correctly, your skin. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, use moisturizer so you don’t have rough elbows, knees and feet. Don’t go tanning. Trust me, you’ll look way more orange than you expected. You’ll also want to be careful of your tan lines if it’s summer and you’re planning on wearing something that doesn’t follow the same lines as your bathing suit! (Think bikini bottom tan lines in your new g-string…)

If your session includes hair and makeup, there’s not much more you need to do! If not, then…

Fourthly, schedule a blow out and hire a makeup artist. Yes, you probably know how to do your own hair and makeup at this point in your life, but trust me. You want a professional who is looking to style you for the camera, not the office.

Your photographer should have some good contacts for these services, so ask them about it!

Fifthly, relax. You are mostly likely going to feel awkward when you first arrive at your session, but your photographer didn’t choose boudoir as their photographic focus without some prior experience! You may start thinking “I should have brought a friend…” but in my experience, you will regret that decision as soon as you start to get into your groove!

You ARE capable of being seductive, beautiful and bold when you allow yourself to be. With a friend present at your session, you may go from feeling secure to feeling reserved once you start!

Lastly, trust yourself. Your session is not going to look like anyone else’s. That’s a good thing. It’s what makes you so beautifully unique and you. In my experience, many women have an expectation that makes them hope, but also fear. In the end, though, the session brought them an experience they didn’t expect, a new found confidence in themselves, and proof that they are stunning and original, with the photographs to prove it.

So. Are you ready?