Boudoir photo privacy is a top priority for my studio. If privacy is a concern for you, I’m going to share how I keep your boudoir images private. I’ll also share the questions you should ask any boudoir photographer you hire regarding your privacy.
This article will cover:
- Who will be present during my boudoir session?
- Will my boudoir photos be shared online?
- Why would a client sign a photo release for boudoir photos?
- What is a photo release?
- If I share my images can I select which ones get shared?
- What happens to my boudoir photos after the session?
- Who sees my boudoir photos?
- What happens to boudoir photos I don’t choose?
- How do you protect my privacy when printing images?
- Do you keep archival photos?
- How are they stored and for how long?
- What type of security do you have for archival photos?
- Questions you should ask your boudoir photographer about privacy and security.
- Can I get copies of the digital files?
- How can I safely store digital files?
- Other privacy considerations regarding boudoir.
You may click on any of the topics above to jump straight to that section of the article.
Who will be present during my boudoir session?
An important consideration for boudoir photoshoots, especially considering the sensitive nature of the session. The last thing you’ll want is a bunch of eyes on you as you pose in lingerie or less. Always find out who will be there and why.
At my studio, when you arrive, if you have a luxury session, it will be me, your photographer, and a female member of my team who is a professional makeup artist. After the makeup session, the makeup artist will leave so only you and I will be in the studio.
Some clients are more comfortable with another female present. If so, you have the option when scheduling to keep the makeup artist on premises. She then can help with any makeup touch ups and provide whatever support you need.
You are also welcome to bring along a friend if it makes you feel safer. There are certain rules for this that vary by studio, so ask your photographer ahead of time if you plan to bring someone.
Why would a client sign a photo release for boudoir photos?
My clients are proud of their photos and the way they look. The sessions build their confidence, and they want to share that feeling with others. Their photos may inspire other women to book their own session and become empowered too.
What is a photo release?
A photo release is a legal agreement allowing the photographer to use your image or images for their website, online profile, social media, in studio albums, artwork and advertising.
All clients make the choice to share their images, or keep them private.
If I share my images can I select which ones get shared?
Yes.
What happens to my boudoir photos after the session?
After your boudoir session, I transfer your photos from the camera to two encrypted hard drives. One is my working drive where your photos will be retouched. The second is a RAD drive which stores and also creates a backup of your images. An encrypted file of the RAW images is also backed up on a secure cloud server that is off-premises in case major equipment failure on my studio network.
Who sees my boudoir photos?
I do all of my own photo editing and retouching. I am the only one who sees your images between the time of the photoshoot and the reveal and ordering session.
What happens to boudoir photos I don’t choose?
They are deleted. The camera files are rather large. If you do not want a photo, I delete it from my hard drives to save space. The encrypted file of the raw images on the cloud is also deleted.
How do you protect my privacy when printing images?
I use a professional photography lab dedicated to printing luxury boudoir albums. After your album or prints are designed and approved, the files are uploaded directly onto their encrypted sever for printing.
This lab is only available to professional photographers and has a stellar reputation in the industry. Additionally, your personal information never accompanies any of the files.
Do you keep archival photos?
Yes, for a limited time.
How are they stored and for how long?
The raw images, edit files and final prints are stored digitally on two encrypted hard drives. One drive is strictly archival and the other is the RAD which creates a second backup on the system in case of drive failure.
Once your products are printed and accepted, all the encrypted files are deleted unless a client signs a photo release.
If a release is signed, those images will be stored in an approved media folder for usage as allowed by the release.
What type of security do you have for archival photos?
All files are stored using a 256 bit encryption to keep your images secure.
Questions you should ask your boudoir photographer about privacy and security
In addition to all the topic questions above, here are some extra questions you may want to ask your boudoir photographer:
1. Do you have a proper model release and do you ensure you get a signed copy from everyone who’s photos they share?
Yes.
2. How do you store these forms?
They are scanned and stored in an encrypted file in two locations.
3. Can I see your studio prior to the shoot to ensure my safety?
Definitely. It also gives us a chance to meet and see if we are comfortable working with each other.
4. Does the space have an alarm system and security cameras?
The studio space does not have any security cameras for client privacy. My office, where files are stored and edited, along with the outside entrances to my home/studio also have security cameras.
5. Does the photographer’s website have an SSL certificate? (HTTPS:// instead of HTTP://)
Yes
6. What happens if a breach occurs? Is there a plan for disclosure?
Files are stored with an encryption and password that would be extremely difficult to break. A common criminal would not be able to do it. Chances are if they can’t read the drive, they would reformat it for sale or their own use.
By not storing archives after clients have accepted their products, they are safe. If a breach did occur, current clients in the process would be notified.
It is important to know that no identifying information is kept with your images. We would also have the backup of the RAW images available encrypted on our cloud server.
It is important to point out that I have never had this problem and take every step I can to keep a breach from happening. Hopefully your photographer will practice the same care on your images.
Can I get copies of the digital files?
Some of our luxury album packages include a USB drive with the selected images in digital format. Digitals may also be purchased separately.
How can I safely store digital files?
Storing digital files safely and keeping them private can be difficult. They also aren’t the type of images you want printed at the local photo counter or on a big public photo site like SnapFish. That is why I always recommend our luxury albums.
If you do go the digital route, here are some ways you can help keep your images safe.
1. Don’t store your images on the cloud
Dropbox and Google Drive are great for sharing photos, but some of the features that make it easy to share also make them easier to hack. Store your pictures on your computer’s hard drive or a USB drive that you can keep hidden away when not using.
2. Use very strong passwords
Get a password management tool that lets you keep track of difficult passwords. Also, make sure you are using a different password for every site.
3. Use an authentication code
Some sites will allow you to set up so when you try to log in, you have to enter an authentication code. You can have these texted to your phone, or use an authentication app.
I highly recommend authentication codes for all online activities. One of my private emails was once hacked and it was the password recovery address for some of my other online accounts. That became a major mess which was eventually worked out, but ever since, I always take extra steps to be as secure as possible.
4. Weird Security Answers
There are ways to reset your account passwords by answering security questions. Hackers can find stuff pretty easy on the internet and guessing your first car or mother’s maiden name could happen. Unless … you make up a weird security answer. Maybe your first car was a tricycle and your mother’s maiden name was Evel Knievel. They are a much harder code to crack!
Other privacy considerations regarding boudoir
Once a photo is on the internet, it will always be there, so weigh the decision to share carefully. Some professions, like teachers or counselors could potentially lose their employment if their photos were released. So this is a very important decision.
In addition to everything I shared above, there are other steps I take to protect your privacy when sharing photos online.
I make certain my client’s name is never associated with their photo. This will prevent someone from doing a search for your name and seeing a boudoir image pop up in the results. Instead, I will use one initial, and in some cases, I have even changed that at the request of a client.
In some social media platforms, some clients have requested to be tagged. Other clients prefer I do not tag them so they remain anonymous. It is their decision when signing a release.
If your boudoir photographer “only wants to share your image in their private Facebook group,” be careful. While you would think a private group of women would be respectful about privacy, you can never be 100% certain. It is very easy to download photos and share them in other places you may not want them.
Understand that I am not saying don’t share your boudoir photos. I just want you to consider the subject. There are a lot of women who love their photos, are proud of them and don’t mind sharing. There are others who are very private and don’t want them shared.
My studio caters to your personal privacy preferences. I protect all my clients and respect their choices – always.
I hope you’ve found this information on boudoir photo privacy helpful. If so, please consider sharing it on social media to help spread the word and protect other women from not vetting their boudoir photographer properly.
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.
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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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