Your First Boudoir Shoot: What to Expect

Completely. Plenty of women turn up a bit nervous, and by the end of the session they are owning it. Nerves are not a sign you are the wrong person for this. They are a sign it matters to you.

What helps most is knowing there are no surprises. You will know what happens before you arrive, and nothing happens on the day that you have not agreed to.

It starts with a message. Send one through thecontact page, as bold or as bashful as you like. Tell me a little about yourself and what you are imagining. There are no right answers.

I will then offer you a call. We talk through the kind of photos you want, what to bring, and how the day will run. If you would like professional hair and makeup, I can arrange it for an extra $220 with enough notice.

A deposit holds your date and the rest is paid before the shoot. If you have a deadline in mind, like a birthday or a wedding, get in touch at least four weeks ahead.

Outfits are the question I am asked more than any other, so there is a whole guide to what to wear. The short version: bring more than you think you need, and come to the studio in loose clothes so there are no elastic marks.

It is you and me. I am a female photographer, I work alone, and there is no assistant or anyone else in the room. If you would feel better with a friend there, bring one along for support.

I only photograph one woman a day, so nobody is watching a clock. Your favourite music goes on. We do not start with the camera. We start by talking: the photos you have in mind, any injuries or limitations I should know about, and how your outfits work together.

Then we do a few practice poses, so you know how I guide you before the camera comes out properly. By the time we start shooting, you have already done the hardest part.

You do not need to know a single pose. That is my job. I show you each one myself, then guide you through the small details that make a big difference: where your hands go, how you hold your shoulders, the tilt of your chin.

My Master Level accreditation from The Portrait Masters focused on posing and lighting. Those are the two things that decide how a boudoir photo turns out. When a boudoir photo does not work, it is almost always the posing or the light, not the woman in it.

Then you are exactly who this is for. I photograph women of every size, every shape and every age, and the way I light and pose you is built around your body, not somebody else's.

You do not need to lose weight first or wait for a better version of yourself to turn up. Come as you are today.

If you have scars, or you have had surgery, tell me beforehand what you would like brought forward and what you would rather was not the focus, and that is what I will do. I will also ask which part of your body you love most, so I can make the most of it.

No. Lingerie is popular, and so is an oversized white shirt, a denim jacket, a blazer or a chunky knit. Covered up can be the best frame on the card.

Nude is an option if you want it. Some women decide before the day and some decide halfway through. Either is fine, and you can change your mind at any point. A nude frame is often less revealing than people expect, because so much of it is shape, light and shadow.

My packages list 1.5 hours, 2.5 hours or unlimited time. In practice I usually take close to double that, because the talking and the practice poses come first and I never want you rushed.

Eat something beforehand and bring water. Time on your feet under lights is more work than it sounds.

Next comes your photo reveal session, where you see your images and choose the ones you love. I edit your favourites and deliver them as high resolution digital downloads.

Every package also includes the same number of unedited images, as a reminder that you looked this good before any editing. If you love more than your package covers, extra edited images are $80 each, with no pressure to buy.

Only you, unless you tell me otherwise. Your images are never posted or shown anywhere without your permission. Your session, your body, your call.

Once your final images are delivered, I delete my copies. Keep a few backups of your own, because I will not have them.

Prices vary a lot between photographers, so always check what is included, not only the headline number. Mine are laid out in full, with no hidden costs:

• Tease, $750. 1.5 hours and 6 edited images. A gentle first taste, and a good fit for first timers.
• Temptation, $950. 2.5 hours and 10 edited images.
• Total Knockout, $1,200. Unlimited time and 20 edited images.

Every package includes matching unedited images. The full detail is on the pricing page.