Okkkkkayyy let’s chat about boudoir photography, guys. I see you...curious in doing a boudoir shoot...but wondering where the hell do you actually start?
You want to hire someone with killer work…
You don’t want it to be awkward...
You’re kinda nervous about the idea of getting naked in front of a camera…
You aren’t 100% convinced it’s going to be an amazing shoot…
Everyone has a different pricing structure & you’re confused…
I’ve got you, boo.
It’s a lot to take in.
This is my profession so I know the industry like the back of my hand, and I have some tips & tricks to make you feel super confident when picking your boudoir photographer.
Before I share, let me preface with this:
you deserve to love your photographer.
It’s a vulnerable experience & you should feel like you can really trust the person you’re hiring. You’re giving them your $$ after all, and you should expect to feel good about the process. It’s totally normal to have some butterflies about it, but you should feel an underlying current of knowing your photographer can make some serious magic & trusting their process.
All photographers are a little different, so here are 3 tricks to help you find a good fit for you!
#1: Get to Know Their Personality Online
Is this permission to stalk us photographers? Hide in the shadows, answer polls, and shoot us DMs about our dogs, coffee & TV binges?
Um. YES.
It’s important to get to know the person you want to hire so you know if your personalities mesh well. For example...I’m a very direct person, so when I shoot I’m super directive and walk my girls through everything. I’m good at communicating through the process, and I have a very laid back energy. I also swear a lot so that may or may not be your vibe.
Here’s YOUR QUESTION: What kind of personality makes you feel the most at-ease?
It’s not always a question of: ‘who are you most alike?’. It’s whoever makes you feel the most comfortable, so you can just relax & enjoy your empowering photo shoot.
#2: Look at Their Pricing Structure
Boudoir photography is where you’re going to find a variety of pricing structures. The most common type of boudoir packages are structured this way:
*Base price for session that includes hair & makeup
*Reveal Session to purchase prints/albums/collections.
The average total cost for these sessions is typically: $1,500-3,000 and up.
Another structure is an all-inclusive starting package, which is then customizable for your own needs. This is the niche I fall into! Here’s how I structure my packages:
Full boudoir session (with no set time limit because I don’t like to operate off a deadline when shooting)
Professional hair & makeup
Private in-home studio included
50 professionally retouched, downloadable digital negatives
custom designed magazine delivered straight to your door
My packages are a flat fee of $750, and my girls customize from there if they’d like.
- Good to note: Most boudoir photographers are going to offer payment plans to help break up the cost. All my payment plans are in-house, so I can work with each girl’s budget individually.
YOUR QUESTION: What pricing structure/experience are you most drawn to? What matches your personality the best?
#3: Do you like their work?
I think I’ve saved the best for last. Do you like their work? This is the question of the day. Boudoir photography is just like any other kind of photography: it’s an art. You’re going to see the viewpoint of the artist in the photographs. And they will vary widely. Here’s a couple popular styles to observe & see what you like:
Glam boudoir: think Marilyn Monroe style...lots of styled poses and rich colors in the images.
Light & Airy: think of pictures with very little shadows, where the whole image is brighter. Often has lots of pinks/green hues.
Moody: lots of dark shadows, evokes a “mood”, often edited with lots of orange undertones.
Film-like: I use that term loosely because film has a lot of different vibes, but these tend to be more lifestyle shots, edited a little closer to how it looked in real life, but with a little extra ‘umph’. Often uses more grain to bring out the emotion.
(In case you’re wondering, I fall into the last category!^^)
Some photogs are going to be a little bit of a mix. For example, I mostly shoot & edit more in the ‘film-like’ style, but I also have a good amount of moodiness mixed in.
YOUR QUESTION: is their style CONSISTENT? And do you LIKE it?
You can always reach out to a photographer to ask more questions about their work!
Okay that’s it! My top 3 pieces of advice on how to hire the right boudoir photographer for YOU.
1. Make sure you mesh with their personality
2. Review their package structure
3. Know you love their work!
I hope you feel more confident in your search & know what to look for now.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below and let me know.
- Jessie