How to Choose a Boudoir Photographer in New Zealand
A boudoir shoot asks a lot of trust. You are letting someone photograph you at your most exposed, so the photographer you choose matters more than the outfits, the studio or the props.
Here are the eight questions I would ask, if I were the one booking.
My own answers
It would be unfair to write a list like this without answering it myself.
Read the eight questions first, then my answers are at the end.
1. How does the first conversation feel?
Before you book, you should be able to ask questions, talk through what you are imagining, and get a proper reply, without being pushed. That first conversation is a good preview of how the day will feel.
If you come away more relaxed than you went in, that is a good sign.
2. What exactly is included in the price?
Compare what you get, not only the headline number. Some photographers charge a session fee and then charge for each image you want afterwards, which can add up quickly once you see photos you love.
Ask whether the price is a complete package. How many edited images does it include? How long is the session? Is hair and makeup included or extra? You should know the full cost before you book, with no surprises after the shoot.
3. Who will be in the room?
Ask whether the photographer is a man or a woman, and whether anyone else will be there, such as an assistant, a hair and makeup artist, or someone working in the next room.
There is no single right answer. What matters is that you know before you arrive, and that it suits you. Ask, too, whether you can bring a friend for support.
4. What happens to my photos?
This is one of the most important questions on the list. Ask it plainly: will my images ever be shown anywhere without my permission? Are they kept after delivery, and for how long?
Any boudoir photographer should be happy to answer these questions.
5. Are the reviews from boudoir clients?
Star ratings are a good start, but read what the reviews say. Plenty of photographers shoot families, weddings and corporate work as well as boudoir, and all of those reviews count towards the same star rating.
Look for reviews from women who did a boudoir session. They tell you what it felt like to be in that studio, which is what you are trying to find out.
Expect fewer of them than you might for other kinds of photography. Many women keep their boudoir shoot private, and when it is a surprise gift a public review would give the game away. So plenty of women who loved their session never leave one.
6. Will they show me how to pose?
Most women have never done a boudoir shoot before, so you should not need to know how to pose. Ask how they guide you. Do they demonstrate each pose? Do they help with the small things, like your hands and the angle of your chin?
Posing and lighting decide how a boudoir photo turns out more than anything else. If a photographer has training in those two areas, it is worth knowing.
7. Does the portfolio show women like me?
Look past the cover image. Does the gallery show a range of sizes, shapes and ages? Does it show the style you want, whether that is soft and light, dark and moody, covered up or nude?
If you have scars, have had surgery, or have any other worry about your body, ask whether they have photographed that before.
8. How much time will I have?
Ask how long the session runs, and what happens if you need a little longer. Nerves take time to settle, and the best photos usually come once you have relaxed.
My own answers
Here is how a session with me works, against each of those questions.
- The first conversationMessage me as bold or as bashful as you like. I offer you a call to talk it all through, with no pressure and no right answers.
- PriceComplete packages from $750, all listed in full. You choose which images I edit. Every woman deserves a few polished images, but it is just as important to remember you were beautiful without the polish, so you also keep some of your unedited images. If you fall in love with more, extra edited images are available, but I will never ask you to buy them.
- Who is in the roomJust you and me. I am a female photographer and I work alone. You are welcome to bring a friend for support.
- Your photosNever shared anywhere without your permission. I delete my copies once your final images are delivered.
- Reviews5.0 from 14 Google reviews, all from boudoir clients. For years I never asked anyone to leave one. I have only recently started, because reviews help other women see what the experience is like.
- PosingI demonstrate every pose myself. My Master Level accreditation from The Portrait Masters focused on posing and lighting.
- BodiesEvery size, shape, age and colour, including women with burn scars, before a mastectomy and after weight loss surgery.
- TimeEach package has a guide time on the pricing page, but I never rush you to finish. A 1.5 hour session can easily run to two or two and a half hours if you need longer to settle. I only photograph one woman a day.
Read the reviews, see thepricing in full, or readwhat to expect at your first shoot.
Quick answers
What should I ask a boudoir photographer before booking?+
Ask what is included in the price, who will be in the room, what happens to your photos, how they guide posing, and how much time you will have. Read reviews from boudoir clients specifically.
Should I choose a female boudoir photographer?+
That is a personal choice. Many women feel more relaxed with a female photographer. Whoever you choose, ask who else will be in the room and whether you can bring a support person.
How do I know my boudoir photos will stay private?+
Ask the photographer whether your images will ever be shared without your permission, and whether they are kept after delivery. Any boudoir photographer should be happy to answer.