Welcome to my online boudoir guide!

I’ve put together the following information, in order to help you prepare for your upcoming session. These tips and suggestions are based on my 15+ years of experience as a boudoir photographer. This is forever a work-in-progress, though, so if you have any suggestions for things to add, please let me know!

Hello!

I’m Kel. That’s me, in the photos above. As I mentioned, I have over fifteen years of experience as a professional boudoir photographer. I’ve been doing black & white nudes for over 25 years, but I didn’t start shooting “boudoir” until 2008. My main goal, with each session, is to provide my client with an empowering experience that makes them feel sexy and confident.

Email is the beat way to contact me, but I’m always happy to speak with potential clients on the phone or via video chat too. I am also available to meet up at my studio for a consultation, if you’d prefer to meet in person. There is no charge for any of these discussions/meetings and I will not ever pressure you to book!

To learn more about me, please visit my “about” page.

Location, Location, Location…

The first thing you’ll need to decide is where to have your photos taken. If you’ve booked a mini session, those are held at my studio, Monday-Thursday. My studio has a private dressing room and restroom, for your convenience. If you’ve booked a full session, you have almost endless possibilities for your boudoir setting. We can shoot in your home, outdoors, in my studio, or at a hotel or other location of your booking.

Please note: It is my policy that clients do not bring anyone with them to their session (aside from sessions for couples), regardless of location. You are welcome to bring someone with you to your consultation and I’m also happy to meet up with you in a public place prior to your session, in order to help you feel more comfortable.

Boudoir isn’t just for women!

Once upon a time, boudoir photography was something in which only women participated. Thankfully, this is no longer the case. I am extremely welcoming and happily serve clients who are men, women, non-binary, and transgender. I also photograph couples (more info on that below).

What to wear…

While the lighting and posing are MY job, choosing what to wear will be YOUR job. First and foremost, wear what makes you feel great. That is really my only advice. It does not matter to me if you wear black lace, white cotton, torn up jeans, lingerie, a dress, a furry animal costume, or if you pose in the buff. The more confident you are in your attire, the more that will be reflected in your photos…and THAT is what matters. If you look in the mirror and pick yourself apart…it’s probably not the right thing to wear!

If you’ve booked a mini session, you’ll wear one outfit for all of the photos. If you chose to do a full session, you may have multiple outfit changes, but I recommend sticking to 3 or 4. Any more than that and the session begins to feel choppy and it’s hard for both of us to get into a natural flow…and that natural flow is what produces strong images.

If you feel you have problem areas, please keep that in mind when choosing what to wear! For example, if you hate your arms, consider wearing something sleeves. If you’re unhappy about your tummy, look for lingerie that hides it. Do NOT wear something with the expectation that I will “fix” it for you, with editing.

In terms of colors…please keep in mind that colors (red, green, blue, pink, etc.) will look gray in b&w photos. Depending on your skin tone and the color of the garment, it may look washed out. If you want your attire to show up the best that it can in b&w, try to wear things that are black and/or white, rather than colors.

Nudity…

As I mentioned above, I’ve been creating fine art nude imagery for over 25 years, so this is something I’m very comfortable with. There aren’t very many of these images on my website (most do not sign the model release) , but I would say about half of my clients end up posing nude. Some plan it ahead of time, but about half make their decision during their photo shoot.

I promise you… I don’t care what your naked body looks like! I’m looking at light and composition, while likely cracking jokes. I’ve seen so many naked people over the years (both with boudoir and childbirth) that it really doesn’t phase me at all.

Prop it like it’s hot.

If you’d like to include props in your photos, please let me know ahead of time. I love the challenge of incorporating props into sessions in a way that looks somewhat natural. It helps if I have a heads up first, though, so that I can think of ideas.

If you have a hobby, sport, or job that you’d like to incorporate into your session, I love coming up with creative ways to do that! I’ve included so many fun themes over the years, including things like: Mechanic Work, Books, Guitars, Culinary Arts, Painting, Vintage Jewelry, sports, military, firefighting, farming, construction work, food and drink…and so many others!

Makeup & Hair…

While some boudoir photographers require their clients to have their hair and makeup professionally done, that is not how I roll at all. I ask my clients to do what they’re most comfortable with. If you WANT professional MUAH, absolutely have it done! I will even provide you with contact information for my go-to hair and makeup artists, all of whom will come to my studio to get you all dolled up (for full sessions only).

If you are comfortable doing your own hair and makeup, awesome! If you prefer no makeup at all, fantastic! Just remember…if your skin is naturally uneven or splotchy, it’s going to look that way in your photos. If you want your skin to appear evenly colored, you may want to consider a light foundation.

Please note: Hair and makeup services are not available at the studio for mini sessions. If you would like professional MUAH for your mini session, you can arrange to have it done at your home or other location prior to your shoot. My preferred artists work on-location, so traveling to you is no problem for them.

Fake it, ‘til you make it!

Almost everyone gets nervous for their boudoir session…especially first-timers! It’s totally normal to be both excited and a bit scared. I totally understand and get nervous myself, anytime I have to be on the other side of the camera. The good news is that the nerves almost always disappear within the first five minutes of shooting.

I usually tell nervous clients to just PRETEND that they’re the sexy beast they envision for their photos (aka, fake it til you make it). Before you know it, you’ll be relaxed and having fun. If needed, we might even turn on some loud music and dance around for a few minutes (yes, myself included), just to get warmed up.

If all else fails, I have mimosas at the studio!

Skin, body hair, and self-care…

SKIN:

Avoid artificial tanning (spray, bed, creams, etc.) as it just doesn’t translate well to photos. In color images, fake tans look orange and any imperfections in the tan will show. In black & white, your skin will look dirty/muddy, which is fixable, but more work for me.
Tan lines will show! If you are rocking some tan lines from summertime, please understand that they will be visible in your photos (unless they’re covered, of course).
If you are susceptible to dry skin, bring your lotion with you! Dry skin will show up in photos and can’t be fixed in editing.

BODY HAIR:

If you shave or wax, please make sure you time it accordingly. You don’t want to be bright red from being freshly waxed and you don’t want stubble from shaving too soon.
Please note: Body hair is absolutely acceptable for boudoir sessions…for all genders! The above comment is only for those who DO want to remove body hair.

SELF-CARE:

If you routinely color your hair, make sure you schedule accordingly, as I do not fix grown-out roots in editing.
If you do not wish to do photos while menstruating, keep that in mind when scheduling your session.
Do not plan on doing photos if you have a visible rash or excessive bug bites.
If you run unusually hot or cold, please let me know ahead of time so that I can adjust the temperature (for studio sessions). I personally run very warm, so if you start to get cold at your session, let me know and I’ll turn the heat up!
For those who are nursing babies…make sure you feed and/or pump prior to your session, if needed. Babies and children are not allowed at boudoir sessions, but we can absolutely take a break if you need to pump or even if you want to go feed your little one, who is nearby.

Pre-wedding boudoir sessions…

Often referred to as “bridal boudoir,” these sessions are for ANYONE who has a wedding coming up, not just brides. I even offer these sessions to my wedding clients at a discount! We can incorporate your wedding accessories (jewelry, veil, shoes, tie, blazer, cuff links, etc.), but it is not required. These sessions are a great way to give yourself a little confidence boost before the big day and they also make a great gift for your new spouse.

Please make sure you schedule far enough in advance that I can deliver the final product before your wedding day. Mini sessions should be booked at least 3-4 weeks in advance, while full sessions should be booked at least 6-8 weeks before your nuptials. If you’re in a jam, rush orders can be accommodated for an additional fee.

Want to show off your baby bump?

Not only is pregnancy amazing and beautiful, but it’s also sexy! Only mini sessions (at my studio) are offered to maternity clients at this time, but you’re welcome to include your partner if you’d like!

As for when to book, that depends on the individual. Most clients book their sessions for when they’re 6-8 months pregnant. You definitely want your bump to be visible, but you don’t want to wait so long that you’re swollen and miserable (who feels sexy when they’re feeling like that anyway?).

Boudoir with your partner…

I am very selective about who I take on as clients, when it comes to couples (or thruples, if you’re polyamorous). It is my policy that I meet at least one of you before agreeing to work together, unless you come highly recommended from someone I know really well. If you are not local, we can set up a video chat, to do our “in-person” meeting, but a phone call usually isn’t enough.

There a few reasons that I’m so much more selective, when working with couples…

We need to have a good “vibe” with each other. This holds true with wedding clients too. If I feel that our personalities aren’t a good fit, I will not take you on as a client. We need to have some sort of connection, in order to create artistic images.
There can be control issues, when working with couples (i.e. the client wants to direct the shoot).
I need to make sure we’re on the same page, artistically. As you can see, my couples boudoir is sensual, but still very tasteful. If you’re looking for something that falls outside the scope of what I do, I may refer you to someone else (like an erotic photographer or a pinup artist).

Other things worth noting…

Make sure your outfits coordinate. You don’t need to wear matching lingerie, but you should at least look like you belong together in the same photograph.
Trust me! As difficult as that may be, you’re going to have to trust me when it comes to posing. It may feel like your belly is hanging out and your chin is doubling up, but you have to trust that the final product will look like my work (you know, the reason you hired me).
We’re all adults here, so let’s just get this out now…Yes, you might get turned on during your session. I mean, you’ll be wearing very little (if any) clothing, while snuggling up to and kissing on your romantic partner(s). If you need a few minutes to, uhh, cool off, just ask if we can take a break. No biggie and no questions asked!

Editing…

Generally speaking, I am pretty “light handed” with my editing. I try to use lighting and posing to my advantage and when those things are done well, you’ll look great and very little editing is actually needed.

Here are some things I will edit/fix…

Blemishes (zits, minor scratches, bug bite, etc.).
Under-eye bags/circles (I will lighten them, but not remove them completely, as that looks unnatural).
Most bruises (exceptions include large bruises, black eyes, etc.)
Wardrobe issues, which are a result of posing.
Snag or hole in your stockings.
Lipstick on your teeth.
Small stain on your outfit.
Double chins.
Small scars (depending on location and only if you request it).

Here are some things that I cannot or will not fix in editing…

Tan lines or sunburns.
Body hair.
Most stretch marks (I can usually remove small ones, if you ask).
Cellulite (Posing and lighting usually makes this a moot point, but if this is a concern for you, please let me know before your session and I will do a little extra editing, if needed).
Large scars.
Tattoos (removal of small ones can usually be accommodated for an additional retouching fee).
Roots that don’t match the rest of your hair.
Hair frizz.
Changes in clothing color, pattern, design, or fit.
Rolls (skin/fat rolls are natural, but I also try to pose you so that they’re as minimal as possible).
Goosebumps.
Splotchy skin (not an issue, if you have your makeup professionally done).

After your session…

Once your session is over, I will start the editing process. My turnaround will depend on how busy I am at that time. So, it may only take me a week to do my post-production or it might take me eight weeks. I will communicate with you at your session, though, to give you an idea on what to expect for your wait time.

If you booked a mini session, you’ll receive your digital files through an online gallery. Full session clients will meet at my studio a few weeks later for an in-person ordering appointment. At that time, we will sit down with all of your proof prints and you’ll decide what you want to order. Then it’s just a matter of waiting for your items to be delivered!