Exactly what kind of images are you hoping to walk away from your session with? Do you find yourself drawn to anonymous images that show off the body? Portraits? So your face is fully showing in most of them? Are you into the lighter/brighter/beautiful side of edits or the darker, sexier tones? Have absolutely no idea? We can do both! 

Something I do want you to do, is send me 3photos of poses that you absolutely love! Try to turn off your fear and over-thinking at this point.  Don't say things like "OHH that's so beautiful, but I would NEVER be able to pull that off!" or "I WISH I could look like that!".  That's not the point of this exercise.  This is so I will very easily be able to get a visual of your style and the type of images you are interested in.  Do you like sweet, bright, and bubbly?  Do you like dark, moody, and seductive?  Do you like shots that capture the entire body? Do you like close-up teaser shots of body parts? Do you prefer more modest portraits? The purpose of this is NOT to find photos to replicate! It is inspiration and now that we'll both know the kind of images you really like, it will be easier to deliver a set of photos that are YOUR STYLE, as long as it syncs well with my artistic style. 

I have a client closet that clients are welcome to use for regular boudoir sessions. However here are some tips for picking out your own;

Make sure to arrive at your shoot with loose fit clothes (sweatpants/ sweater - *ZIP UP*/ pjs pants / no bra or panties). This avoids any "extra lines" from your clothes that don't line up with the lingerie you will be wearing at your set.

Here's some wardrobe tips to calm your nerves and help you decide what to bring::

*THE NUMBER ONE WARDROBE RULE IS::::  Do NOT bring outfits that you don't love! I can't tell you how many women show up with outfits that prompt them to say "I really don't like the way I look in this one, but I'll leave it up to you!". If you don't like the outfit, it's likely that you won't like photos of you in the outfit. Leave it at home.

*Lingerie is NOT a must for boudoir. Don't be afraid to get creative! For a boudoir style shoot, a garter belt and thigh high fish nets would go great with a cropped sweater or graphic tee. A gorgeous bra can be paired with a long flowing skirt. Your favorite tank top can be paired with no pants. A SHEET can be used for everything. Your 20 year old favorite tee shirt paired with cheeky bottoms will get the job done just perfectly. 

*Curvy bodies- BRING ON THE FORM-FITTING ITEMS! I adore bodysuits, tight dresses, and nothing at all….especially for voluptuous bombshells. We often see curvy women trying to cover up more, but often that has the opposite effect they think it will. Allowing me to pose you so that we can see your figure and celebrate it is the way to go!

*Flat-butts- Thongs tend to make a butt look fuller than full-coverage bottoms or g-strings. Play around in the mirror with different styles to see what you like best. And don't worry, I'm a PRO at creating curves in posing where there aren't any otherwise! I can get a killer booty shot with any level of curve (or lack thereof).

*Shorter legs- High heels with a THIN heel rather than chunky! Avoid shoes with thick ankle straps or a square toe. Nude shoes naturally elongate the legs. 

*Thin/no curves-  That’s all in the posing-girl! Form fitting options and nothing at all work great as I pose the heck out of you to make you look and feel bodacious.

*Small chest- Underwires are lovely, as well as NO BRA AT ALL (my personal favorite for small chested women!) And also, small boobs rock. So please don't feel the NEED to create extra "oomph" unless it's something that really concerns you.

*"Mom boobs"- If your breasts are a bit lower or “floppier” than you’d like them to be, just be sure to snag a bra with some support, or form fitting bodysuits that will keep them at bay. Posing will play a huge role here, and I’m really good at that. So…bring your mom boobs my way and we’ll embrace the hell out of them!

*Scars- My personal belief is that scars tell a story. Sometimes clients wish they didn’t have to be permanently reminded of that story, and other times, clients embrace their scars and say they’re a part of them. For this reason, I will never edit out a scar unless a client specifically requests it….and if they do in fact request that retouching, I will happily do that at no additional charge. This is a VERY personal topic and it’s not my decision to make. I welcome scars, but I also support a woman’s decision to conceal them if they would like!

*…get your beauty sleep! *  Seriously!  Photoshop can't fix tired. 

*...Have a healthy Dinner the night prior! Basic dinners can be boring, but this is one night you don’t want to risk upsetting your stomach by experimenting with hot sauces and cheese.
 

*…BRUSH YOUR LIPS- sounds weird, right?! Dry lips are very hard to fix in post processing. In the days leading up to your photoshoot, use your toothbrush while brushing your teeth to also make a few passes over that pucker of yours. This will help shed dead skin. After that, apply a moisturizing lip balm...repeat repeat repeat.
 

*…make it an opportunity to pamper yourself! Go a few days before your shoot and get a manicure and pedicure! This will give you a finished, polished look. Chipped polish can be distracting. Wax / sugaring is always a great idea too! Do it enough in advance that we can pass that "bumpy post shaved" phase!
Clean up the eyebrows! This makes it so much easier for your makeup artist! If you are not waxing, wait to shave until the night before your session and go slow to avoid cuts and razor burn. If you have time to do this the day of the session, you can also wait until then!
 

*…lather on the lotion!  Supple is key for beautiful skin! Be sure to moisturize twice a day for the week leading up to your shoot. Baby your skin all week and make sure you are hydrating your body to get that nice healthy skin glow.

*…plan ahead. Nothing puts a damper on a fun and relaxing photo shoot like feeling rushed or late!  You should plan for traffic and arrive about AT LEAST 5 minutes before your scheduled start time.

*…make a playlist! Music will really help you get into the super model zone!! Try to select music that matches the concept of your shoot.  We have a bluetooth speaker at the studio to stream your tunes if you bring them!  We will have our own music if you don't want to play your own though!  
 

*…Clean your jewelry If you are wearing any necklaces or wedding/engagement rings - clean them before the session so they are nice and sparkly!

*...Remove Tags If you are bringing in your own lingerie and shoes please make sure to remove all tags and stickers. Especially those stickers on the bottom of your heels.
 

*…trust me. I won't make you do anything that is going to make you look bad. I know how to make a woman look good with killer poses, strategic lighting, and appropriate camera angles. I've worked with EVERY body type and insecurity. I've got you covered.  Don't stress. (Easier said than done, I understand.) 

*…party the night before your shoot.  If you're nervous, try a bubble bath and a yoga class.  Hangovers aren't sexy. Lawwwwd do I know it.

*…forget to stretch. Many of these poses, while they look effortless, are quite unnatural feeling. Take a few minutes on the morning of your shoot to stretch your arms, legs, hips, and especially your back. People are surprised to see how sore their muscles get after something as silly as a photo shoot, so any extra flexibility you can add by a quick yoga flow will only benefit you.

*…get a new haircut/color immediately before your shoot.  Now isn’t the time to experiment with a whole new look.
 

*…talk smack on yourself. I don't want to hear about how you hate your hips. I want to hear about how you LOVE your legs. A great attitude will go a long way in having a fabulous and upbeat experience! HOWEVER...if you really feel the need to discuss the thing that bothers you the most about your body, just let me know by saying "I love my ___, but my biggest insecurity is my ___". I will be extra careful to play down your "flaws"...but I will ALSO make it my challenge to take the best damn image featuring your ____ so you have a new-found appreciation for it ;) 

It happens all the time…a client’s photo shoot is a few days away and she begins to panic. I get a terrified e-mail in the middle of the night begging for me to talk them off the ledge. They want to cancel, they just haven’t had the time to prepare, you name the excuse, I’ve heard it. So let me be proactive here and tackle the most common worries I hear, so that maybe you won’t be hyperventilating in the middle of the night on the day before your session.

*STRESS ACNE. Yeah, it happens. Pimples suck. If you think for one second that every woman you see pictured on my website was magically pimple-free on the day of their session, you’re taking crazy pills. We retouch blemishes and bruises with ease on every photo you see. No problem. No stress. Let that pimple try it’s hardest to ruin your day, but your photos will not be a permanent reminder of it.

*BODY ISSUES. I long for the day that women are comfortable in their skin at all stages, for the day that women embrace their wobbly bits and beautiful side creases. That said, I know women well enough to be realistic and understand that many women struggle with self love and no matter how much I tell them they are beautiful, they wish they would have lost just a few more pounds before their session. If that is you, I can assure you, that this ain’t my first rodeo. The majority of the women that come in to see me are working on loving themselves, but struggle. They don’t approve of the size of their thighs, their belly pooch, their dimples. I take women’s feelings very seriously and never want to make anyone uncomfortable. While this is a body positive studio, I will also light and pose you in the most flattering possible way while I shoot you from the best possible angles.

So, one more time, louder for those in the back: YOU ARE AMAZING TODAY. NOT 15 LBS FROM NOW, NOT POST-PLASTIC SURGERY….You.are.amazing.TODAY and I can’t wait to show you!

*POSE ANXIETY. This one’s easy. You don’t have to know how to pose…not even a little bit. I will walk you through every step of the way. I will get into the poses myself and have you mirror me. If we didn’t get it right on the first try, I’ll gently redirect you. It’s not YOUR job to take amazing photos, it’s mine. And I’m pretty competitive about taking amazing photos.

*BEING ON YOUR PERIOD. Yep, it’s the worst. No, it will not affect your finished product. We run an all-female studio and we ALL understand the fear of menstruation on photo shoot day. We keep extra strength Advil and feminine hygiene products on hand, and we have zero qualms with 30 bathroom breaks. Start your morning with some fresh fruit and a heating pad and we’ll take it from there. No worries about bloat or blemishes.

*BEING THE ONE CLIENT THAT I AM UNABLE TO GET A GOOD PICTURE OF. If you’re thinking that all of the women featured on the pages of my website and social media are models, you’re sorely mistaken. I have NEVER….EVER had a client who didn’t love their photos. You don’t have to love EVERY SINGLE ONE of them, but you will love most of them. And you will be shocked that you could love photos of yourself this much. I WILL rock out your photo session and I WILL get a whole bunch of killer images of you. I always do. But if you come into the shoot with an open mind and with trust in me, we’ll get EXTRA. And extra is always good. I’ve never met a woman who I couldn’t capture beautifully. That includes you.

Once the shoot begins, you can expect me to give you tons of encouragement and direction. I will not expect you to super model pose throughout your shoot. I will show you what to do, and encourage improvising whenever you feel comfortable. I will say things to elicit laughter whenever possible, too...so be prepared (or, actually, don't. It's better that way.)  

The poses generally aren't very comfortable and your shoot will give you more of a workout than you anticipate. But I assure you, I know what I'm doing. Get a good stretch in the morning of your session, and the evening after your session. A couple of ibuprofen might need to happen for those lower back aches, but it will allll be worth it!

Your shoot time will FLY by. That's a good thing!! That means it wasn't awkward or boring. Just the right amount of fun! We do run a tight ship during out boudoir marathons in order to stay on schedule so if you are late at all, this will unfortunately take away your shooting time!

At the end of your shoot, if it is a regular session you will be sent out for an hourish while I soft edit your images. You will then come back and we will go through them on a slide show together to pick the ones you want for your prechosen collection. You will get the digitals returned within 2 weeks time. Products are 4-6 weeks. If you are doing a mini session expect to see your proof gallery or images to pick your favs within 1 week of the shoot day. Edited digitals are returned within 2 weeks time.