Answering a very popular question: What should I wear to my boudoir photoshoot?

A most frequently asked question, and a question that so many of my clients ask.

Not just my clients, but everyone jumping into this boudoir landscape.

I don’t think there’s a universal answer, and no two boudoir photographers are alike, but because I both a) love fashion and personal style, and b) love the classics, there are some things I’ve come to learn over the years.

You want to look back on your photos in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50 (you get me) years and recognize yourself. That means, if you like hats, or jewelry, or playful items such as wings or jerseys, then have at ‘er! Bring ‘em! But if there’s a chance that you’ll look back at your images and see it as a kind of over-the-top costume, like you were actually going for an 80s glamour shoot, then I’d skip the lewk. You don’t want to say to yourself, years down the road, “Who was I trying to be?”

That’s my preface, my foreward, my first tip - it’s gotta be YOU. You can experiment with different styles, after all, lingerie styles change over the years and it’s totally okay to explore that, but if it’s too ‘feather-boa-esque’ and that’s normally not your vibe, maybe give that one a pass.

With that out of the way, and that advice really can go a long way, here are some more tips for outfit-planning for your boudoir shoot.

Black is classic. You really cannot go wrong with black. Black lace, black mesh, and even fishnet, photographs really really well. Bodysuits (or teddies as they are also called), bra+underwear+garter belt+stockings getups, black bra and underwear sets, strappy sets - all of these are seductive, classic, empowering. You cannot go wrong with black.

No-colour colours. No-colour colours are your browns, navy, moss or forest green, burgundy, even mustard I would almost consider neutral-ish. Every vibrant, saturated colour has a neutral (desaturated) version of itself. These are similar to black (or white/offwhite) in that they can be seen as neutral. If you’re in doubt, but want some colour, look to the no-colour colours.

Colours. Red, pink, vibrant blues or purples, pastels or neons - the question to ask yourself, is it you? I like all of these colours, and they can all be cool when styled and shot correctly. So if you want to express yourself with colour, go for it!

Styles. As mentioned earlier, bodysuits, bra and underwear, bra+underwear+garter belt+stockings, strappy anything, tassels and fringes, peek-a-boo underwear - all great for your shoot. Lace, black fishnet, embroidery, mesh, body chains and body harnesses - these are all standbys which you can count on looking great in your photoshoot.

Robes and White Shirts. Clients love robes and white shirts and they really are classic. I would steer you towards a mesh robe vs a satin robe (satin can cover too much, and loose items don’t photography that well, especially when they are opaque). The length of the robe is important for proportion, as anything too short can look costume - so stick with mid-thigh or longer for the robe. White shirts are great, but I find them limited in what we can do with them, so I will usually start the outfit change with the white shirt, get a handful of shots playing with the shirt in various ways, and then remove the shirt to finish shooting the outfit. The white shirt should be oversized and structured, as a general rule, without any gathering at the shoulders, sleeves, or bust.

T-shirts and other day-wear. This absolutely can be done, but it needs to be done right and there are so many styles, it’s pretty much a case-by-case basis. Proportions matter, cropped and tight is good. A cropped, tight ‘boy beater’ (ugh, I hate that term but how else can I describe it? Please educate me) is a good idea here, for simplicity’s sake. Loose can work too, but it really needs to be the right style, so if you bring it I can tell you. If you want to do the sweater and socks thing (not my jam when we have so many better options), big and loose, esp around the neckline, is good. Even boxer-brief style underwear can be mad cool, and sporty styles like classic Calvin Klein high-rise thong/sports bra sets look sexy af.

Thongs photograph better than full bottom. For the way that I use light, thongs photograph better because light reflects off the skin, vs clothing, which absorbs light. We don’t like it when the light gets absorbed, especially on the booty, because then we don’t get to see all of your glorious curves! So, stick to thongs (or half-bottoms) when possible - we wanna see cheek!

Nude or a nude with a sheet. If you’re bold, this is like black - you can’t go wrong. Nude tends to look more classic and more artistic than looks with lingerie. It’s a bit softer, more vulnerable (the way I shoot it), and you don’t need to worry about the fucked up garment industry’s sizing standards (more on that another day!). Nude can be you and just you. So, if you’re feeling it the day of your shoot (and of course you can decide after you’ve met me in person!), then I recommend a nude look as well. You can use a sheet to cover up, which is more implied-nude!

Shoes. Let’s talk about shoes! I love shoes! Shoes make the legs look longer, and they just add a whole element of sexiness and style to your photos that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to get barefoot. But - I’m liking the very natural, very chill, very low-key woke-up-like-this vibe that shoeless brings to the shoot. So I like to mix it up, and do both! When choosing shoes, the higher the better, but a cool combat-esque boot can work too, if you want to bring some edge. Feather sandals with a resin heel are an awesome choice for a super sexy and fun shoe as well!

Jewelry. If jewelry is something that you normally wear, or if you have some special, significant pieces that you want to commemorate through your photos, then wear it. But, if you don’t normally wear jewelry, or don’t have any jewelry, this is fine to skip.

Don’t hide. I know many clients hope to ‘hide their tummies’ or have something about their body which they deem as imperfect, and, let me be honest with you: I’m not going to ‘shoot around’ your perceived flaws, because I promise that they won’t be an ‘issue’. Usually, we think we have parts of ourselves that are ‘problematic’ and frankly, you just need to face down this thinking, head-on. You may have the insecurity, and it may linger in your thoughts, but try to be disciplined in the face of that fear, because you’ll find out that you feel amazing and empowered during your shoot, and you’ll get to see that reflected back to you when you see your photos during your viewing and ordering appointment.

My preferences. My personal preference is high-hip bottoms (I don’t think underwear that sits low on the hip, or straight across the hips, is as sexy as a high hip that shows curve). Also a personal preference, a few padded bras are okay, but try to add some variety in the looks and skip the padding on a few looks - there’s something about padding which I find a little dated.

How I do things. I do a little style sesh with my clients before we shoot and I’ll look through all of your pieces and give you lots of feedback. You’ll also have an opportunity to try things on with me pre-shoot, and I can give you even more feedback. By the time we pick your outfits, you should feel super confident about your choices. I usually shoot about 5 looks, so you will have some room to play!

My closet. Hundred. of. pieces. Seriously, I have hundreds of pieces of lingerie (and I’ve got some shoes, too!). You could probably show up with literally zero items, and I would have enough for you to wear for your shoot. So honestly, if you’re working with me, don’t sweat it. I know my shit and also I have a very stacked, luxury garment closet which I’ve carefully curated in my 7+ years of doing this work.

These are just some of the things I’ve learned over the years, that I can think of off the top of my head. I haven’t even covered bridal or couples yet! But for now, these tips should hopefully provide you with a good starting point, so you can feel confident to style/shop for your boudoir session.

Of course, if you want to know more about how I shoot and structure my boudoir sessions, what’s included, what to expect, more tips on what to wear, and some great suggestions on where to shop for your shoot (a list of really cool places I’ve found over the years!), then book a consult with me and I’ll help light the way for you!

Hugs,
P

PS. Linked below is a session from a badass client who bought ALL of the photos from her boudoir session. What an inspiration!