A boudoir session is mostly talking, laughing, adjusting a strap, and being told exactly where to put your hands. You are never left standing in the middle of a room trying to work out what to do with your body. That is the part people worry about most before they book, and it is the part we take off your plate entirely.
Here is the whole thing, start to finish, so there are no surprises on the day.
Before the shoot: the questionnaire and consult
Every session starts with a questionnaire. It is where you tell us the things that are easier to write than to say out loud: what you want the images for, what you love about how you look, what you would rather we did not emphasize, whether you want your face in the frame at all, and how private you want the whole thing kept.
Then we talk it through. Outfits, the feel you are after (soft and warm, dark and moody, or something in between), where you want to shoot, and how many looks are realistic. A session with a plan runs calm. This is also the moment to ask the awkward questions. Nothing you ask is one we have not heard.
Where it happens
Boudoir sessions happen in a few different settings: a studio space, a hotel room, or your own home. An in-home session puts you in a space that is already personal, with your own bed, your own light and your own things around you. We will help you choose the setting that fits the images you want.
What to bring
Bring more than you think you need, and bring the things that actually fit. A bodysuit that sits right beats expensive lingerie that digs in, every time. Useful extras: a robe or oversized shirt for between looks, a pair of heels even if you never wear them, simple jewelry, and anything with personal meaning, like a partner's shirt, a leather jacket, or your own boots.
Skip anything brand new and unworn until you have tried it on at home in front of a mirror. For more on fabrics, colors and what photographs well in Florida humidity, read what to wear for a boudoir session in Jacksonville.
Want hair and makeup done? That can be arranged for your session, so mention it when you book.
One small prep tip: elastic marks from tight bras, socks and waistbands take a while to fade. Wearing something loose for an hour or two before your session saves retouching later.
The first few minutes: starting covered
The first few minutes are not about getting a great photo. They are about getting comfortable. We talk, get the light where it needs to be, and start with you covered, in a robe or an oversized shirt, sitting or leaning rather than standing. From there, we build at your pace.
Posing: you are directed the whole way
Then the direction starts, and it does not stop. Not "be sexy." Actual instructions: chin down a touch, weight into your back hip, breathe out, look toward the window, now look back slowly. Small adjustments, one at a time, shown rather than described when that is easier.
As the session goes on, the direction turns into movement, because movement looks like a person and holding still often does not. The frames in between the instructions are usually the ones people pick.
We will also show you shots on the back of the camera as we go. Seeing one frame you love, a few minutes in, changes the rest of the session.
Privacy and retouching
Nothing from your session is used publicly, on the website, on social media or anywhere else, without your permission. The questionnaire asks how private you want things kept, and that is what we work to. Keeping your face out of the photos is always an option.
Retouching follows a simple rule: remove the temporary, keep the permanent. A blemish or a mark from your clothing goes. Your tattoos, your scars and your natural shape stay, unless you ask otherwise.
What you get after
How many images you receive depends on the session you book:
- Boudoir Investment: $650 base rate, with 15 fully edited, high-resolution images. Choose from multiple locations or an in-home session.
- Boudoir Mini: $200 per person for a group of three or more friends. Each person gets their own 30-minute session and 3 fully edited, high-resolution images.
The boudoir photography page has the full details on both, along with recent sessions.
Turning your images into something you can hold
A lot of boudoir images never get looked at again once they are sitting in a phone folder. The Treasures collection exists for exactly that: handcrafted albums and wall prints, available as curated packages or mixed and matched from an à la carte menu.
An album is also the most private way to keep your images. It lives in a drawer, not in the cloud.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to pose?
No. Every frame is directed, from where your chin sits to where your weight goes. We start covered and simple, and build from there.
Can I keep my face out of the photos?
Yes. Tell us in the questionnaire and we will plan the whole session around it.
Will my photos be shared anywhere?
Not without your permission. Nothing from your session is used publicly unless you say so.
Can I book with friends?
Yes. The Boudoir Mini is built for it: a group of three or more friends at $200 per person, with a 30-minute session and 3 edited images each.
Can I bring something personal to wear?
Please do. A partner's shirt, your own boots or a meaningful piece of jewelry often make the strongest images.
When you are ready, get in touch to start your questionnaire, or read more about boudoir sessions in Jacksonville.