Want to give your man some sexy photos of yourself? Well, it’s called Boudoir Photography, and it is the most intimate and romantic gift you can give your man.
There are times of year, such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas and anniversaries when women often think it would be nice to give her partner a sexy photograph or two of herself. Unfortunately, photographers that do this as a specialty are few and far between. Many that advertise it as an afterthought (not their specialty) do not do justice to the female form, and truly do not understand the subtleties of helping a woman to relax for the camera while sitting in their pretty under things. Photographing weddings or babies is a far cry from understanding how to pose and light a women to make them look like a centerfold model.
The following points will help you to find the photographer that’s right for you.
Do your research. How long has the photographer been in business? Not just what he says in his advertising. Do a Google search on his studio name- you should literally come up with page after page of search results. If he or she has been in business for say 10 years or more, there should be lots of search results just from typing in their name. If you can’t find much on them, chances are they have not been around very long.
Your comfort. In a session like this, very little matters more than your comfort. If you are uncomfortable with the situation or the photographer, it will show in your expression. If you are uneasy, your photos will not come out nearly as well as if you were relaxed and confident. Absolutely speak to your photographer in advance of your session. If he can’t look you in the eye or speak confidently when answering your questions, thank him for his time and move on to the next photographer. If at any moment in the conversation you feel ‘creeped out’ or weird, that is a sign that you don’t have the right photographer. Your comfort with him is of the utmost importance.
“Can I bring a friend along?” The answer to this question is a double edged sword. Some women like to bring a friend with them for moral support, or to help them feel more relaxed. If you feel you need to bring along a friend for protection, you’ve chosen the wrong photographer. The reason I say it’s a double edged sword is because, as it turns out, trying to be sexy for the camera is usually easier in front of a non-judgemental stranger than it is in front of your best friend. Many end up regretting bringing a friend, because they end up feeling strange performing in front of them. Or, sometimes they get giddy and can no longer pull off the sexy and mysterious looks they were hoping for. This happens in my studio with more than half of the women I photograph that bring a friend with them.
Know in advance what you are getting for your money. By this point in your life you should likely understand that the most expensive isn’t always the best, but at the same time the cheapest is usually the cheapest for a reason. They are likely the least qualified for the job. I can’t go into quoting specific prices here as that will vary from city to city, state to state, and number of years in business. I can tell you that in most cases you can look to invest at least $400 – $600 for a modest boudoir photography package. Many high end studios with great experience can charge much more, but also offer some unique products such as coffee table books and canvas wall portraits. As a point of reference, in my studio, the average client can look to invest around $800.
Is retouching included? Some photographers charge more for it, some don’t. I believe that the price you pay should always include the retouch charges. You will want retouching. Don’t think for a minute that make-up, lighting and posing takes care of everything. It doesn’t, and never will. Not when there is so much skin showing. Baby photos are cute with rolls of fat, boudoir photos are not. Stretch marks, shaving bumps, hairs out of place, and yes blemishes happen and most of the time the only way to fix that is with digital retouching. If you think the ladies on magazine covers, models and celebrities, and playboy centerfolds come straight from the camera looking like that, then you have another thing coming. I know myself that if I were selling reality, I’d have been out of business long ago. Retouching done well will enhance your assets, and play down the liabilities. Trust me, you’ll want retouching.
Client testimonials. Especially when you don’t know of the photographer in advance, make sure they have some sort of list of clients that are thrilled with what they have done for them. A photo of the person, and their full name, city and state will make the testimonial more believable. Look for phrases such as “I can’t believe how comfortable I was” and “I was so relaxed, and the photos came out beautifully.” Testimonials that are just a few words and have only initials instead of a person’s full name are most likely made up, or the photographer did not have permission to quote that person. I believe the photographer’s web site should be chock full of testimonials from happy clients.
The guarantee. Very little in life is guaranteed. But a photographer that guarantees his work produces a product that he’s proud to stand behind. Any top-notch photographer offers a written satisfaction guarantee that you will be happy or they will retake the photos, or give you your money back. A written guarantee means this photographer is confident in not only his or her skills, but also that you will walk away happy with the photos you had created. Always ask about their guarantee.
Samples of their work. This should go without saying. You simply must like what they’ve already done for other clients. Look for samples on their website of poses and lighting styles you like. You should also look for women of your body type in the gallery. A good boudoir photographer should be able to flatter all body types from short to tall, thin to round. I have been told often I wish I could have seen more large girls in your gallery.” Yet, the truth is I have several ladies at around 200 pounds in my gallery. It is the posing and lighting that makes them look smaller. That’s my job! Every lady deserves to look and feel like a million bucks!
Following the few guidelines above should help you considerably in finding, and ultimately being thrilled with your boudoir photographer. Most of these points can be used to find any service, not just boudoir photographers. Now, if you are ready, go get those sexy photos taken!
