My Boudoir Shoot Experience
A woman in lingerie lays awkwardly on her side in a pile of faux fur, trying to remember her left from right so she can follow the patiently repeated instructions of the boudoir shoot photographer.
*record scratch*
*freeze frame*
Yup, that’s me. You’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation. I’m Sam, owner of Broad Lingerie. Part of owning a lingerie boutique is trying new things before rolling them out to our lovely customers. Usually this means test driving a new bra, or modelling a swimsuit on Instagram. But I wanted to bring you something extra special this winter: boudoir shoots! So I did one myself, to be able to give you tips for your own.
Prepare yourself.
Think about what you want. Do you like a femme fatale vibe, or is cheeky pin-up more your style? Inspiration can start anywhere: your favourite bra and underwear set, a character type, a particular aesthetic. Browse online to collect images that speak to you. And don’t be afraid to be different! For most of my shots I went for a powerful seductress vibe, but my favourite features me, a weird mask made by my grandfather, and a ridiculously floofy robe from Value Village.
And do what makes you feel confident and sexy. For me this included a waxing appointment and setting my hair the night before. For you it may be a fresh manicure, or just a good night’s sleep. On the big day, make sure to drink water and grab a snack. Eating before your shoot will help with nerves and keep you a little more grounded as you shift into that next pose.
Trust your photographer.
This can be tricky depending on the photographer, but I was lucky enough to work with Alice Xue, who’s super kind and reassuring. I’d also seen her work before, so I knew that she had worked with people of different shapes and sizes and created beautiful photos. Make peace with the fact that you’re going to be nervous, but trust that you’re in good hands. I regularly Instagram pictures of myself in lingerie as part of my job, and I still felt shaky on the big day! But Alice helped to guide me into poses and kept a flow of light, comfortable conversation so I couldn’t get too stuck in my head.
There might be a hangover.
To be totally honest, I went home after my boudoir shoot worried about the final results. I was convinced that I was the worst model ever and Alice was just too nice to tell me! So I continued to stress out until I saw the photos — at which point my mind was entirely blown. Remember that no matter what, some of the photos are going to be bad. That’s why Alice took a bunch — so she could weed out the ones where I was mid-yawn or awkwardly posed, and leave me with a selection that I actually liked. Sure, I didn’t love every single shot. But overall? I looked like a babe.
You fool! This isn’t my final form!
There’s a lot of hoopla these days about 100% photoshop-free ad campaigns. And while it’s exciting and important to see natural, un-retouched bodies, I’m a believer in created beauty. A boudoir shot is art, not documentary! So while going through your photos, remember to look at the photo as a whole instead of zooming in on “problems.” If there’s one photo you absolutely love except for that bruise on your knee, don’t worry — it can be fixed. Personally, I’m really self-conscious about the hyper-pigmentation under my arms, but otherwise I was really keen to show my body as-is (including my tummy and where my side swished out between my bra and my garter belt). Alice was super-receptive to my feedback and happy to tailor her re-touching to my needs.
Your turn!
On January 28th, we’re hosting a boudoir photoshoot event at Broad. If my experience sounds like something you’d like to try, you can learn more about the event and purchase your shoot here. Have fun!
