You don’t have to be a model to look amazing in boudoir photos. Size, shape, age, and ethnicity do not matter, your physical body is only one part of the equation. If you want to look good in boudoir, these boudoir beauty tips and tricks can help you prepare.
The boudoir quote: “Beauty is self confidence applied directly to the face.” is true, but it doesn’t hurt to prepare your body in the days and weeks leading up to your photo shoot. Tiny details make a big difference and these beauty tips will help you get the best results from your time in front of the camera.
Boudoir Beauty Tips
1. Make sure Aunt Flo isn’t visiting
Plan your boudoir photo shoot for at least a week after Aunt Flo has visited. We want you to feel empowered and positive. Sometimes Aunt Flo puts a damper on the experience. If for some reason her timing is off, reach out to see if we can reschedule. While we can’t guarantee it, we’ll do our best to accommodate your situation.
2. Keeping your skin healthy & hydrated
For healthy and hydrated skin, drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine and alcohol if possible. You’ll want to care for all of your skin, not just your face. Cleanse and moisturize daily and exfoliate several times a week. Oh – and don’t forget the bottom of your feet!
3. Eat healthier
Eating healthy is always a good thing and important before your boudoir session. Avoid greasy foods that may affect your complexion. Also avoid salt or anything else that may make your body retain water.
4. Say goodbye to unwanted body hair
If you prefer to wax, schedule it three to five days before your boudoir session so any irritation will fade. If you shave, pay particular attention to underarms, bikini line and your face. Also check your eyebrows to be sure they give you a clean, natural look.
5. Do you need a tan?
As a boudoir photographer, I want your photos to represent who you are. If you are usually tan, then tan is fine. If not, you don’t need a tan to look sexy.
If you decide to tan, be careful. You don’t want to burn your skin, splotchy red isn’t the color of skin you’ll want. You also don’t want to tan to the point of looking like an Oompa Loompa in your boudoir photos.
If you decide to spray tan, I recommend you be careful. I had a client who spray tanned with a particular product for years. She trusted it to make her look good. The day of the shoot she came in with orange patches and streaks all over her. This time it didn’t work, and she ended up paying extra for additional editing to even out the problem.
6. Healthy hair helps
Another important boudoir beauty tip is to keep your hair clean and healthy leading up to your shoot. Make sure to touch up roots or stray grays if needed the week before your session.
I advise you not to experiment with new products, colors or hair styles before your appointment. If something happens and you don’t like the results, you’ll be stuck with them.
Wash your hair the day before the photoshoot with some volumizing shampoo and blow dry with volumizing mousse.
If you have booked our luxury boudoir experience, our in-house makeup artist and stylist will make sure you love your look before the shoot.
7. The details
The day before your boudoir photoshoot, schedule a manicure and pedicure. Not only are they relaxing, they will make your nails and feet look amazing. These details really add to the look of your photos.
8. Makeup tips
Our luxury boudoir sessions include complimentary in-house makeup and hair from a licensed professional artist. Still, some clients prefer to do their own. No matter which way you go, you will want to give some consideration to your boudoir makeup styles. Read the linked article to find out more. If you are doing your own makeup, I recommend you get everything you will need and practice before the day of your session.
9. De-stress
This is another important beauty tip for boudoir photography. Plan your schedule so you can de-stress the day before your shoot. Try to avoid any last minute shopping or preparations. Have everything ready in advance so you can relax. Spending a quiet evening will help you feel and look more comfortable in your photos.
10. Get your beauty rest
No doubt you will be excited and nervous leading up to the session. Everyone is. Try not to allow this to interfere with your sleep. In fact, the entire week before the shoot, aim for 7 to 8 hours of good sleep each night. You will appear more rested and beautiful in your photos.
11. Use clear deodorant
The last thing you’ll want is a white pasty film under your arms!
12. Get in the mood
There is nothing sexier than confidence. If yours is lacking, don’t worry, you’ll find it in abundance the day of your boudoir experience. Still, you can start the process by reciting some positive affirmations to yourself. Use the affirmations linked or find some of your own favorites to use. They can really help!
Another way to get in the mood is to listen to your favorite tunes. Keep things upbeat and positive with a light mood because your boudoir experience will not only be fun, but life-changing!
Another Boudoir Beauty Tip To Put Your Mind At Ease …
Worried about bruises, a pimple, stretch marks or cellulite? Don’t. Temporary marks like bruises and pimples are removed during retouches because they aren’t permanent and shouldn’t be there.
If you don’t want to see stretch marks or cellulite they too can be cleaned up in editing, but I advise you to be careful.
First, you do not need to be Photoshopped to be beautiful. That is your mind’s way of telling you you aren’t good enough. It just isn’t true.
Second, your partner sees you as you are and still adores you. Years ago, this topic blew up in the boudoir industry. A husband became upset when a photographer airbrushed out his wife’s stretch marks. He felt it downplayed the birth of their children, an important part of his love for her.
I will do whatever makes you happy, but again, you don’t need photoshop to be beautiful!
Boudoir photography isn’t about having the perfect body. Everyone has flaws that make us uniquely special in our own way. Boudoir is about celebrating you as a person and allowing you to see yourself as others do, an amazing human being. So follow these boudoir beauty tips and you’ll be on the right track to get beautiful photos!
Ready to start planning your Boudoir Experience?
I would love to chat with you and go over all the details of our process, sessions and what you are wanting to create so we can plan the perfect boudoir experience for you.
Ready to chat NOW?
Text me at: 410-596-4127
Office Hours are Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.
You may also email me at: thomas@thomasboudoir.com
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