We have fun. We get hair and makeup done, we chat and become acquainted or catch up on old times, we dress up and dress down, and we make it one heck of an experience for everyone involved. And by we, I mean me, my client, and a makeup artist. I don't have a team; it's just me. No one is running around with a clipboard, and no one else is fixing lights for me. Clients get to have fun and feel beautiful, and I do all the technical stuff.

Once the makeup artist is done, it's just my client and me, and we get right down to business. And by business, I mean oo-ing and ah-ing over beautiful lingerie, checking over our inspiration/mood boards, and going over posing pointers and what she can expect to hear me say during our session. Simple as that.

When does the Boudoir Experience start?

The boudoir photo shoot experience starts at the first inquiry. After we get to chat for a bit and nail down some basic info, I send a more detailed questionnaire. The questionnaire gives everyone a chance to start thinking about how we want to run our session. Is she going for a dark and moody look, or a light and airy look? Are we keeping it casual with natural light and cotton pieces, or are we glamming it up with sequins and fancy lighting? I would say that if you checked out my work on my website or Instagram, you'd agree I have a pretty consistent style of lighting and shooting. But curveballs are my jam. I love new locations and different ideas from clients. I also love it when they say, "You're the expert, I trust you!" because that leaves me open to exploring the ideas that are always jumping around in my head.

I've been a photographer for a long time, and even before that, as a teenager, I assisted my parents, who are also Master Photographers and international print competition judges. I've photographed weddings, events, family portraits, newborns, seniors, and everything in-between. I can quickly adapt, and I think that's what makes it all so exciting for me and reassuring for my clients. Once the questionnaire comes back, and we talk it over, we discuss possible boudoir photo shoot dates.

Once we have an appointment, we lock it in with a retainer and continue planning. We research what's already been done and share inspirational photos using a mood board on Pinterest or email photos and links back and forth. I want to make sure I'm making her vision come to life, so getting on the same page ahead of time is essential. And if she doesn't have an idea, that's fine too. We're going to make some beautiful photographs together whichever way it goes down. I provide her a few of my blog posts that talk about, Preparing for a Boudoir session. There is also a lingerie guide to shop from or at least help her decide on her ideal style. I also let her know how to prep herself the actual morning of the session.

The morning of the boudoir session, my makeup artist and I will meet her at our shoot location. The studio is the other location where it's going down! We'll look over the outfits she brought so we can get a good idea of how we want her hair styled, as well as her makeup, and then the makeup artist will get right to it. I know that some photographers provide champagne or other alcoholic refreshments for the makeup chair, but I don't. I don't feel that it's necessary, and drinking can also make someone's face and eyes look more tired than awake. I want my clients to look and feel their best throughout the session, and I prefer to use conversation to lighten the air instead of alcohol or other substances. If she insists on bringing some, I let her know all the things I feel, and if she still wants to, then hey, that's fine with me!

Once we get done with makeup, we thank our makeup artist and send her on her way. I've only had one or two clients insist on paying a makeup artist to stay throughout the session, and it's so great to have the help! And while I'd love to have that more often, it's not the norm. From there, we decide which outfit we'll start with first. We usually begin more covered-up to ease into the whole shoot process and end up with the least clothed option.

You might not think so by looking at my photos, but every person I photograph comes in nervous. They've likely never done something like this before, and like you, they aren't sure what to expect. They could read all of my blog posts and get the low down over and over again, but they'll still be nervous until a certain point after the shoot begins. In my experience, starting with a beauty shot or two and letting the nerves go slowly is the best way to ease into this type of session.

Twenty minutes in, they've heard all of my posing directions, and they start to do the things themselves! When I start seeing the chin lift, the eyes and lips relax, and the wrist twist, I know I've gotten them to a more relaxed place, and that's when the fun starts. She's become more confident in her movements, and now she can focus more on letting loose and giving more of herself to the camera. I know some photographers do, but I don't adhere to a strict posing flow. I believe that every client moves differently, and not every pose works for everyone. I especially don't want to ask her to get into a position she can't and end up sending her into a self-conscious downward spiral.

From the moment she walks in for hair and makeup, I start to observe her movements and nuances and keep a mental note of those during the session. Flow posing is also for high volume photographers, and I'm not pumping out multiple boudoir sessions in a day. Ideally, I photograph one girl and then have her back the same day for an in-person viewing and ordering session.