Boudoir photography is growing in popularity. Each day there are new ads advertising this increasingly trendy genre. Chicago itself has an impressive number of photographers offering their skills and experience in capturing female beauty and sensuality.

On one hand, it is wonderful that clients have a lot of options to choose from. On another hand, too many choices can be confusing and make the selection process more difficult.

The question is- how do you choose the right boudoir photographer if you have a hundred options? What do you need to look at and be cognizant of before you decide on a session with a particular photographer?

These are some of the things you should consider while looking for a boudoir photographer.

1. Artistic Style

Just like with any form of creative work, boudoir photography has different styles. Are you looking for something more kinky or classy? Is lighting important to you? Do you prefer high light, bright images or low light, moody photography? Make sure to look through the photographer’s portfolio and blog photography carefully to see what style their work reflects.

2. Creativity

Some photographers are more “technical” while others are more creative and artistic. Look through their portfolio to see if their work is a little different with each client or if they repeat the same poses, angles, locations, lighting tricks with each and every client? Creative photographers will try to make this session unique to you, your preferences and personality. 

3. Expertise

One of the most important things to look at is the professional expertise in boudoir. Does the photographer seem like a jack of all trades and their website offers engagement, wedding, boudoir, newborn and headshots photography or is the intimate photography their niche? Chances are that you will get better results with someone who specializes in this unique genre rather than someone who occasionally shoots boudoir among hundreds of other photos.

4. Location

Another thing to consider while looking for a boudoir photographer is the location of the shoot. Does the photographer shoot in a professional studio? At home? In a hotel? If they use a studio, what is like? Light and bright? Dark? Rustic? This will often tell you what kind of photos you can expect in that location. Also, does the studio have access to an outdoor space to diversify the shoot? Are there any other interesting places nearby that could be utilized if need be?

5. Gender

Because boudoir is such an intimate form of photography that is often revealing, you need to define your own level of comfort when it comes to the gender of your photographer. Would you feel comfortable posing in front of a male or would you prefer a female photographer?

6. Read the Reviews

Only after you had found a photographer who meets most or all of the above criteria, read their reviews online. What do other clients say about them? Are they professional yet personable? Do they promptly respond to emails and inquires? Were they satisfied with their experience?

Hopefully this is a helpful guide that will make your boudoir photographer selection process easier and more effective.

In my previous posts I touched upon the topic of variety among boudoir sessions. No two sessions are the same. They are all very unique and arranged for according to clients preferences and level of comfort. Looking at my blog you can see the different character and ambiance of photographs. Some of them are very intimate and seductive. Other are more conservative revealing only a glimpse of a body.

You may also remember my shoot with Laura, a beautiful violinist who actually brought her violin to the session. It was a very magical experience that help us reach a whole new level of intimacy and personality . when it comes to boudoir.

I always encourage clients to make their boudoir experience as personal as possible. We all have hobbies and things we are passionate about – so why not incorporate these passions into our sessions?

Today I wanted to share with you another reveal of boudoir – fitness boudoir. Until recently I was not even sure if fitness boudoir existed … But then I met Alina and I am positive that together we successfully created a whole new genre of boudoir photography. It is obviously an exaggeration and I say it very lightly but it definitely felt as we were creating something new.

Alina is a fitness lover, passionate about sports and a healthy lifestyle. She has worked very hard to transform her body into its mesmerizing form. And she has each and every right to feel proud of it and want it to celebrate it.

We found a fun, urban location near out West Loop studio. Colorful graffiti and industrial elements in the background added an interesting edge to the feel of the shoot.

I hope this is the beginning of an interesting series od passion driven boudoir. Whether you are a book lover, a sport maniac or a professional horse rider , we can create an exciting boudoir session that will reflect your true personality.

I recently asked a friend of mine if she would be interested in having a boudoir session. Mind you she is a busy woman in her mid-forties, a mother of three kids with a plethora of everyday responsibilities that often leave her without a breath not to mention any time for luxury or self-care. I expected a very long list of “why nots” but instead she glanced at me and without any hesitation said “Sure, why not?”

How often do we women carelessly say yes to pleasures and indulgence? How often do we do things that make us feel really special without feeling guilty or like we do not deserve them? My guess is we do not do that often enough.

Instead we come up with all the countless reasons as to why we should not do something that could be potentially very fulfilling, satisfying and liberating. I understand that an intimate boudoir session can make a lot of us feel intimidated and even scared. 

We worry that our bodies are not perfect, that we may need to lose or gain weight before we can undress in front of the camera. Sometimes we feel we are too old for that type of experience. Our self-doubt and fear begin to tell us stories that make it difficult to leave our cozy comfort zones. And there is a rather simple solution to that- let’s not believe too much or take at face value everything our minds are telling us. 

Even though a boudoir session seems stressful for many women, it is really an invaluable opportunity to let go. Let go of fear and self-limiting beliefs. It is a unique time when you can shed your self-consciousness and really immerse in your feminine, sensual energy. The experience of that energy is a priceless reward for the courage you had to step out of your comfort zone.  

So WHY NOT? 

Inspired by a recent conversation with one of my male friends, I decided to forever resolve doubts regarding whether a man should purchase a boudoir session as a gift for his loved one.

During a social gathering my friend bashfully asked me if I thought it was a good idea for him to book a boudoir session for his wife as a gift for her upcoming birthday. I looked at him quite surprised and said “Of course! Why not?”. He said he wasn’t sure if men should do that and what his wife would think about it after all.

It turns out that he was not the only one who questioned the appropriateness of such gift.

Jewelry, flowers, books and perfumes… They are all wonderful gift ideas but after a while you start to look for something else. Something more unique, special, timeless. A gift that will have a meaning, an impact.  A boudoir session meets all of these criteria. 

There are so many reasons why your wife, girlfriend or fiancé would appreciate a boudoir session. It is a very intimate and often transformational experience that celebrates her body, beauty and femininity. It is your way of telling her how gorgeous and attractive she is to you. It is a gift that can ignite or re-ignite a sparkle of seduction and lust in your relationship. 

Lastly, it is a gift that can give her a permanent boost of confidence and enhance her self-esteem. 

My friend decided to get his wife a boudoir session after all. The results were spectacular and she was very grateful for his thoughtful and creative gift. Needless to say, he was very impressed with the alluring images of his wife as well. 

My advice when it comes to gifts giving is to lean toward more unique gift alternatives- chances are that we all have gotten flowers and jewelry at some point. Being gifted an experience that makes us look and feel beautiful is something that every woman should be offered at least once in her lifetime.