Over the years, as a Boudoir Photographer, I have done plenty of sessions for women that have chosen another photographer based solely on pricing, have had a negative experience and have ended up booking with me for a reshoot. I’ve heard it all. From bad business practices/photographers ghosting, disappointment over the final images, awkward posing, out of focus images and bad lighting, or unprofessional and sleazy “photographers”. It breaks my heart whenever I hear anything like this because it takes a lot of guts to show up in the first place and you definitely don’t deserve the negative experience. As much as I would love to be able to clone myself a million times to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to be photographed by a trustworthy Boudoir Photographer, no one has invented a cloning machine. Yet.
Because of this, I cannot stress it enough that not all Boudoir Photographers are equal. If a Boudoir Photographer is very low in price, remember you get what you pay for (ps. not shitting on new Boudie Photographers here - we all have to start somewhere, but just be honest and real with your client on what you can deliver). If pricing is something that is a main factor in your decision-making, then that’s okay, but it’s important to do your research.
So here are 10 important questions to research or ask before deciding if a Boudoir Photographer for you. Even if you aren’t looking into a session with Leaf & Lace, asking these questions can help you uncover any red flags, stop you from paying twice and allow you to invest into a Photographer you can 100% trust and know that they will meet your expectations.
(Pssst. If you are looking to see if Leaf & Lace is right for you - we answer all the following questions with complete transparency right here)
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1. Are you happy with their portfolio?
This one seems kind of an obvious place to start when choosing a Boudoir Photographer, but first you need to decide if you actually like their work and if you do, does it match the vision you have your session?
To figure this out, start by looking at their photos they share on both their website and social media. Do you like their editing style? Is their editing style consistent or does it vary depending on where they shoot? Spend a good amount of time looking for things like their variety in posing and lighting. I personally believe that a good indicator a decent Boudoir Photographer, especially if you are looking for an empowering experience, is when their portfolio contains body diversity. If they seem to be well established business but only seem to do free shoots for fresh 18 year olds who are aspiring to be models, that could be a red flag for being a dodgy person or a very broke business owner.
Once you have decided you like their imagery, be sure to look through their website and social media carefully! Firstly, by spending time just generally looking through their website, you will be able to get a vibe for who they are as person and as a business. Secondly reading their website’s ‘About’ page and (if they have one) their Blog, will you give you more depth into why they are a Boudoir Photographer and how genuine they are about it.
2. How long have they been shooting portraiture and specifically Boudoir?
This question is important because not only will it tell you how much experience they have as a photographer, but it will indicate how well they understand the importance of being a Boudoir Photographer. Shooting Boudoir is very different to shooting other portraiture photography. It comes with a huge responsibility and a good Photographer will know this. Boudoir is more than just about the final images, its about creating a safe space that is an empowering and positive experience. In general, if someone has been shooting Boudoir (especially if that’s the only type of photography they do) for a number of years, you can expect that they will have a better understanding and be able to provide an experience that positively goes beyond your expectations.
3. Are they the only Boudoir Photographer working for the business?
If a Boudoir Photography business owner starts employing photographers, this is usually a good sign. It usually indicates that business is going well and they are keeping up with demand. Most of the time, businesses will employ photographers with previous professional experience who can match the business’ success, however some businesses will hire anyone, “train” them, have them memorise a pose list and get them to pump out sessions. Although both types of employed photographers might be able to take great photos, if you are paying for the service of an experienced photographer, with excellent array of knowledge and skills to personalise your Boudoir Experience, and end up with the photographer who’s only just developing their skills by regurgitating what someone has told them, you may end up being disappointed in your final images.
If there are multiple photographers working for the one business, it's important to establish who you will be working with on the day of your session. Don’t be afraid to ask about their experience as a Boudoir Photographer and to view their personal portfolio.
Finally, some photographers might take on someone to mentor or who is looking for experience in Boudoir Photographer. This might mean that there is a second shooter at your session. A good photographer will tell you beforehand to make sure you are comfortable with an extra person being at your shoot and of course, if you not, this is something you can express to your photographer.
4. How much editing will be done to my photos and who edits the photos?
If you don’t have an eye for it, sometimes it can be hard to tell how much editing, retouching, airbrushing etc has been done to an image. This question is important to ask it will help you decide if their editing style is too much, too little or just right for what you want in your images. Hot tip - if you decide that you aren’t happy with the amount of editing a Boudoir Photographer does or doesn’t do, its best to find another one. Editing the images is equally as important to the creative process as taking the images.
The second part of this question is important because many people are unaware that some photographers outsource their editing. This can be for a number of reasons including they don’t have time to do it themselves, they don’t like the editing sides of things, or someone does a better/faster job. If they outsource their editing, this doesn’t indicate if they are a good or bad Photographer. It does however, mean that at least one other set of stranger’s eyes will be viewing your photos. It is up to you to decide if you are comfortable with this and you have every right to ask who they are outsourcing their editing to.
5. What are your average turn-around times?
This question is a VERY important to ask if you need your Boudoir Photos or prints by a certain date. As each Photographer has different workloads, schedules and editing process, the turnaround times for gallery deliveries and print production will vary. Even if you aren’t needing your images by a certain date, it is still a good idea to know when you should be expecting your images.
6. Do you offer Hair & Make Up and who does it?
This one is important because firstly you want to know if Hair & Make Up are included in your package or if its something that you gave to organise yourself (if they don’t include it in the package, ask for recommendations) because you don’t want to arrive to your session bare face with a messy bun expecting to be pampered by someone who isn’t coming.
Secondly you want know the experience of the person doing it. Similarly to asking about someone’s photography experience and deciding if you like their editing style, you want to determine if the person doing your Hair & Makeup is a professional, hygienic, has experience working with all different skin and hair types, ethnicities and ages, and can achieve the look you want.
7. Do I sign a contract for the session and a privacy agreement that states whether or not I give permission for my images to be shared publicly?
First of all, a good Boudoir Photographer will have all their ducks in a row - including their paperwork. If you aren’t given a contract or at least Terms & Conditions to your sessions, this is a red flag. By having some form of agreement between Client and Photographer, not only means that you are both on the same page, but it also outlines clear boundaries and expectations to the session for the both of you.
Secondly, a reputable photographer will never share any images of their clients without the client’s written consent. If you don’t receive one, this is definitely a sign of blurred boundaries and would definitely raise questions to how private your images will remain.
8. What are their boundaries as a Boudoir Photographer?
This is VERY important to ask because respecting boundaries goes both ways. For example, some Photographers will allow you bring a friend for moral support during your session, others don’t allow it to reduce distractions. Some won’t photograph full frontal nudes, some will. If you have a particular vision you would like for your Boudoir Session and not sure if its okay, definitely ask (especially in the initial consult) to make sure its okay. As the old saying goes, "Communication is key!" Ps. A good photographer should clearly have their rules and boundaries outlined in the contract or session guides as well!
9. How much will the experience cost in total?
In your research for a Boudoir Photographer, you may notice that pricing and they way its laid out varies across each business. Some photographers offer all inclusive packages and others offer a customisable à la carte menu of services and products. Some Boudoir Photographers will require you to contact them first before they send a pricing list so they can send you the right pricing/packages for your needs. Despite how they do it, a good business owner will always be transparent with you about their pricing and what’s including for that price before you even agree to a session.
HOT TIP - if your Boudoir Photographer doesn’t offer a package that includes everything or extras can be added onto your session fee, ask what the minimum spend is and what that includes. Also ask, if there are add-ons options, how much is the average spend for session fee + add ons
Booking a Boudoir Shoot is an investment so a lot of Photographers will offer payment plans. If they do, make sure you understand the terms and conditions of this and who provides the financing.
10. What should I expect on the day of my Boudoir Session?
By asking this, you will be able to truly determine the type of experience you will have and the type of photographer you are working with. Some photographer’s will send you guides (e.g. for posing, preparation/session flows, wardrobe) to help you ease into the Session. Some photographers will approach their sessions methodologically and follow a step-by-step process of a typical session. Other’s will cater the experience based on how you are feeling towards your session. All are adequate approaches for a successful experience, however, knowing what you are getting on the day will help ease your nerves.
11. Finally - have you ever had a Boudoir Session yourself?
This is another one of those questions that does’t really indicate if they are a good photographer or not, but its still an interesting question to ask. As Boudoir Photography is a very intimate type of portraiture, knowing your photography has a experienced what its like to be in front of the lens will speak volumes to how supportive and empathetic they will be in understanding what it’s like to be in your shoes.
Choosing the right photographer for any occasion takes a bit of legwork, but when it comes to choosing your Boudoir Photographer, it’s definitely not a decision you should take lightly. A part from the fact that you are hiring and trusting a stranger to take intimate portraits of you wearing next to nothing, you are also trusting them to hold a safe space for all your vulnerabilities and leave you feeling empowered. The magic that can happen between the right client and photographer is a very powerful experience and your safety and satisfaction is priceless. This is why it’s encouraged that those who are still figuring out who to book their Boudoir Shoot with, you take your time to research, plan and communicate your potential Boudoir Photographer using these 10 questions.
Good Luck x
Shelby
Ps. Curious to know Leaf & Lace's answers to these questions? Read them here.