If this is your first time in a boudoir photo shoot, you might be feeling a little nervous or unsure what to expect. This checklist will help you make sure you don’t miss anything. And even if it’s not your first time, we all definitely need a checklist to keep us sane in a potentially stressful day.
Sexy Lingerie
Sexy lingerie is a given. It’s a boudoir photo shoot! The question is, what kind of sexy lingerie is right for you? It all depends on what you want to show off.
That curve from the back. Go with something conservative in front, then dazzling at the back. The contrast will surprise and allure your partner. A flashy color will heighten the effect.
That bust line. Plunging v-necks show off what you’ve got. Even if you’re on the slender side, it makes for a slim, sexy invitation. Just don’t forget to find the best fitting bra to show it off!
Those long, long legs. Here’s a trick: a skirt a couple of inches above the knees and some cinching right below the bust make your legs look like they’re going on for miles. We’ll give you more tips in a minute to enhance that look.
High Heels
The first principle of high heels: they should make your legs look longer. Does that apply to all heels? Not at all! Let’s show you what we mean.
Straps or no straps? If you’re going for pumps, you might think that no straps make your legs seem longer because there’s nothing breaking the leg line. However, like the cinch at the waist or below the bust, that strap will “cinch” your ankle, making it look slimmer and your leg longer.
Pumps or boots? Oh, that’s an interesting one. We usually assume thigh high boots belong in a boudoir shoot. However, if our legs are on the shorter side, boots can make our legs look shorter. Even ankle-high boots would not quite work. So try them out before the shoot and see if they work for you. At the end of the day, it’s your shoot. You call the shots.
Stockings
Want those mile-long legs? One way to achieve them is through thigh-high stockings. Their silicone strips are perfect for keeping the lace stockings smooth and high, achieving an effortlessly sexy look. You can also find stockings without a silicone strip, and manage them with garter belts. The higher your stockings, the more comfortable you will probably be with tighter and shorter lingerie. You’ll feel more dressed up but look gorgeously attractive.
Look modern. A solid strip and simple sheer stockings look minimalist and clean, modern and classic at the same time.
Look sexy. Yes, you can take out the fishnets now. Lace strips, fishnet-pattern stockings will speak volumes about how you want to present yourself.
Look like a bride. We’ll give you a few more tips on this later, but here are some stocking-specific guidelines. Firstly, wide lace bands, of course. Secondly, absolutely sheer stockings. The sheerer, the better. The more it recalls wedding veils and lace, the better.
Accessories
Lingerie tends to focus the eyes on the body, so one fun approach is to focus large accessories on the head and hair. What do we mean by that? Pin-on tiny hats and items, top hats, and even twenties-style hair bands can all come into play. They frame your face, heighten your eye makeup, and balance out the lingerie look.
Flowers are also a nice touch. The natural colors and shapes lend a touch of originality and freshness to the picture, a feel of timelessness. Choose your flowers to go with the feel you want to bring to the photo.
We really like to add fur to the picture. If flowers give you a touch of freshness, fur adds just the right amount of wildness and luxury. Short jackets, wraparounds, and maybe even hats can be part of your ensemble.
Bridal Pieces
A bridal boudoir photoshoot is fun because you can really get creative with almost any item connected with a wedding day. In fact, because the mental picture of a wedding is so strong, the contrast between that picture and the lingerie reality is always a pleasant surprise.
Use that veil! That veil is a perfect addition to your boudoir photoshoot. It’s already lace and sheer material, you just need to figure out what to wear it with and how to style it. With your back to the camera, and only a veil flowing down? Matching thigh-high stockings?
Bring in the bridal accessories. Odds are, your jewelry will either be newly-bought or a family inheritance. Definitely, your engagement ring is new to your wardrobe. Use those accessories in the lingerie shoot to highlight their detail on your body.
Sewing kit
Never assume your photographer or stylist has their own sewing kit. Even if they do, what if they forget it? You don’t want to assemble a new get-up from scratch just because a button fell off. Even before the day of the shoot, make sure you have any matching thread or pins you would need for your outfits. If your outfits have buttons or zippers, you might want to carry extras of matching buttons or zippers. And—this might seem simple, but bear with us—a good pair of thread snippers are indispensable. They are shaped to reach threads without snagging on others or needing to open wide.
How are you feeling about that shoot now? Pretty great?
