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.
Amanda is a DESTINATION wedding PHOTOJOURNALIST and BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHER based out of Austin Texas.
Juiceland
I met Jennifer at JuiceLand Hyde Park location on a weekday afternoon. She literally showed up in exactly what I hoped to see her wearing, very cute and simple to keep it down earth, cropped top and jeans.
I wanted to take on another location that seemed ordinary and turn it into art. Jennifer has had some modeling experience and was wonderful to work with. We vibed really well together even making her laugh by hyping her up during the photo shoot.
The staff was so nice and the shop was pretty empty we basically had this back room to ourselves. This backroom was beautiful, floor to ceiling windows bringing in a lot of natural light, a bar facing out one window, and a collage of flyers and brochures hanging on the wall that made for a great backdrop. This location also included a small record store, which is why I chose this location in particular. It’s the biggest one I think in all of Austin and it has a legit selection of records to flip through and buy!
This location was really fun for me because I absolutely love natural light so shooting by the window was so fabulous and the records really was the cherry on top. I would be down to do another shoot there again with someone else, there was a lot of space that we didn’t use and still ended up walking away with a lot of great images.
Thank you to Jennifer for being so open to the idea and cooperative and fun during this photo shoot!
Model: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferspall/
French Quarter Adventures
Before my trip to New Orleans recently I put out the vibes into the universe (and instagram) for some more amazing people to photograph. And the universe delivered! I was contacted by a beautiful being, inside and out, for a solo lifestyle shoot just because. HELL YEAH, THATS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! Empowerment photoshoots yessssss!
The weekend of the shoot, we met next door to the Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, one of the oldest bars in New Orleans not to mention the French Quarter. The weather was being exceptionally clear and gorgeous, and was just the perfect temperature. When she showed up I took her all around the residential side of the French Quarter where there wasn't really any tourist. I use to live in New Orleans a few years ago and would wonder the same area taking street photography images, it was what really fired up my passion for photography. So this photoshoot was like a dream come true basically.
We got to know each other more as we wondered around and taking photos, then there was a moment just 15 mins in when my heart was feeling so full. You know that feeling, when all the feelings and vibes are so high and positive and just over powered with love? Yea, that's what was happening.
I have seriously been putting out good vibes because every single one of my clients are always so amazing and go with the flow like me. As awkward as it can be at first being photographed, it becomes a lot easier, much sooner into the shoot than you think. That's because working with me, we interact, we are playful and always, ALWAYS having fun.
I plan on making more trips to New Orleans this year and looking forward to the future photoshoots in the city. It is an amazing place to be, so beautiful and so vibrant, there should always be reason to be photographed in New Orleans, even if there is no reason at all.
In Home 'Sunday Lazy Sunday' Sesh
I can't begin to explain how much fun I had getting to know Alyssa and Justin! A lot think that getting a photojournalist is only for big events like weddings or engagements. But I can't stress enough the beauty in the everyday. All the little moments that builds and grows the love between two people in day to day life. The touches, the looks, the playing with each other. I was fortunate enough to find these two love birds just before their 1 year wedding anniversary. I got to know both of them deeply, their story, before and after they met each other. Their individual passions, their interests and professional work life. I absolutely loved how they found their own love in what they do for a living. The tiresome journey and devotion to pursuing their dreams. It fills my heart up to know that someone enjoys and loves what they do for a living after working so hard to get there.
Now these two have each other, the love when they speak about their professions is almost as much as when they speak of one another. From when they first met in college to their trip to Italy together where Justin snapped his all time favorite picture of Alyssa. These two have that solid foundation and I just pray I am around to see it longer!
Thank you Alyssa and Justin for being so sweet and inviting me into your lives and home! I truly loved the time together and documenting y'alls beautiful love life!
