How To Be Confident For A Boudoir Photoshoot
So you want to do a boudoir, but don’t know the first thing about being sexy, how to pose yourself or where to even begin about looking confident on camera. I am a boudoir/sultry photographer based out of Austin Texas, and I have traveled all over for clients that hire me for this exact reason to help them with. So I’m going to help you get there. You don’t have to do it alone.
First Question: Are you confident in your everyday life? We gotta work on that first sis.
It’s ok, we have all been there. Boudoir shoots, believe it or not, are 90% mindset. It’s not about having the perfect outfit, location or even photographer. (Even though those do help and are important) The MOST important thing is your mindset.
A talented photographer can’t teach you how to be confident and love yourself, you need to teach yourself! I know, its hard work, mentally you have to fight every self-negating thought in your head with a positive one, so it can make you feel like an imposter. But trust me when I say, you have to train your brain, because no photoshoot will cure that for you.
So let’s get your mind right! Self-love starts with proper self-care. Are you doing things that bring you joy or deplete you of your precious energy?
Start With A Gratitude Journal
- This is probably one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. Start with writing 3 things everyday, and if more come to you, write those down too. Do this everyday, consistency is key! You have to put in the work, so carve out a few minutes to write these down. It can be as small as a yummy cup of coffee, or the sky was clear and blue today. Whatever swells you up with joy are the things to journal.
Train Your Brain
- When you start writing down things that bring you joy, you’re actually doing more than you think. Internally you are building new nueropathways in your brain and you have now given your brain a NEW task. Finding things that bring you joy. You're going to start noticing all the things that you like vs. the things you don’t like. Changing the way your brain operates will make it easier to find the things you love instead of focusing on the things you lack or don’t have. Give yourself kudos for this! Praise yourself, your inner child and goddess thanks you! YAY, new and positive nueropathways!
Love Your Body, Don’t Punish it
- This is big one. The actions you have throughout the day has a huge impact on your mindset. When you workout, are you doing it because you know your body is a temple? Or because you at that cheeseburger and now ‘paying the price’? What you do and WHY is important. Next time you think about taking a jog or doing some lifting, do it FOR her (your body) not because you don’t like her now.
When you’ve tried this out, please send me a message! I would love to hear about your journey and how this serves you in your own unique way! :)
HOW TO CHOOSE A BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER (5 TIPS)
I have heard from Austin lingerie shop owners that women often walk into the store with no clue how to set up for a boudoir. The boudoir photographer they booked gave them NO guidance on what to do and they were left clueless to figure it out on their own. What I have come to believe is, because I was also that woman years ago, IT DOES’NT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY WITH THESE 5 TIPS!
FIRST OFF, you are a total badass and ahead of the curve looking into doing boudoir, which means you ARE ready.
YOU ARE BRAVER THAN MOST.
Looking for a boudoir photographer can take some time and be a tough choice. This is a huge step for you and a very intimate and vulnerable experience at that. It can’t be just anyone, so let’s make sure you have the tools you need to weed out your choices!
If you want to feel prioritized, RELAXED during the shoot and invest in yourself to get it done RIGHT, then here are some tips to help you find a great photographer.
1. THEY HAVE TESTIMONIES
Nothing screams louder than reviews! Look at the reviews, read what people are saying. Pay close attention to the message they are sending. Did they have fun? Did they feel relaxed? Are they happy with the end results? Was the photographer personable and professional? Get on those reviews gal!
2. SHAME? NO GAME!
Seeing how they conduct themselves and what they share on their photography accounts will tell you the type of person they are. You don’t want a talented photographer that isn’t body positive, this includes only photographing one type of person. Call bullshit on that, every woman deserves boudoir. A good photographer works with all body shapes, sizes, ages, comfort and experience levels. This will ensure you will have nothing but the best angles in photos and don’t have to worry about creating poses for yourself. That means no need to scour Pinterest for what to do in this case. Yay!
3. THAY ARE PREPARED
(Pictured is Underwear, a upscale lingerie shop @ 908 W. 12th St, Austin, TX 78703)
Whether this is your first or 10th time, having a photographer who is prepared and ready to give you what you need to pull off a stunning boudoir, is a sign they care! There is nothing worse than signing up and having no clue or professional guidance to pull it off. You don’t have to go it alone and it’s definitely no fun wasting time googling and searching for the right places to shop and print photos. Save time and energy and make sure they did all the heavy lifting for you by asking them ‘Do you have boudoir guides for clients?’. They will know the right places to go, which shops will be right for your body type and style with amazing staff to help! Who wants to wander into a lingerie store with no clue and lousy staff?!
4. THEY MAKE TIME TO HEAR YOUR STORY
Feeling comfortable, having a fun and relaxed time, and not worrying about how you look during the shoot doesn’t just happen by mentally prepping yourself. Think about it, being half naked in front of a camera with a total stranger is daunting!
Your photographer wanting to get to know you before anything else goes into motion will help you feel more at ease. They must be attentive, validate, and listen. It bridges that gap between strangers and friendships and helps some of the walls to come down. So you instead can enjoy yourself and trust in them they will be sensitive to you, knowing what you’re about. Everyone has a story and why they want a boudoir, it can be more than just pretty photos, it can be a breakthrough in your life being documented. This builds a great segway into #5…
5. HAVING A CONNECTION
Photographers making time and hearing your story will only go so far unless you feel connected with them. YOU GOTTA LIKE EACH OTHER! This goes against the norms of just picking the most talented and I’m here to tell you, you can have a relationship AND the most talented photographer. YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL. I’m going to get spiritual on ya and say, the energy you put out there will bring the things you want into your life. Saying no to the wrong choice for you, will bring the right photog into your life. Because you are making room for them to enter. SO DON’T SETTLE! There is a difference in expressions and energy in a photo when you both have built a genuine connection with one another.
Follow these 5 tips and best believe you have saved yourself a lot of time and energy looking on the internet for the answers. More time to enjoy watching Parks and Rec and The Office, and less time with headaches and stressing yourself out to find the answers all by your lonesome.
**If you feel like you need more insight, shoot me a message on my contact page. I’m always happy to hear what my readers have to say and what we can discuss it further. Help me help you.