Today I wanted to share with you guys my top three priorities for boudoir sessions! There are many elements that go into my boudoir sessions, like fun music, gorgeous hair and makeup, and bubbly refreshments. I also make sure to include three very specific elements in each session too. I don’t think that these boudoir-specific priorities necessarily apply to all photography sessions, like seniors or weddings. I’ll let you know exactly why and how I focus on these elements to make them really stand out! 

Number One – Posing

Posing is 100% my top priority and is essential to a successful boudoir experience! This is especially the case with boudoir because the subjects typically have less clothing on and they aren’t hiding behind their partner, kids or props! Our job is to make women look their very best and feel amazing in their photos and posing is going to be a huge key to achieving this! You can fix a lot of elements in Lightroom or Photoshop but you can’t fix posing in post-production. If your client lets you know that they aren’t super confident in their tummy or arms, and you don’t have a pose that flatters those areas, they may not like themselves in the final photos. Our goal with boudoir is always to make women feel beautiful and confident!

Number Two – Focus

My second priority is making sure that my photos are sharp and in focus! We can all agree that there are some fun and artistic effects to play with when images aren’t in focus – and I actually prefer having some softer images for boudoir! Photos with a softer focus can be romantic and don’t call attention to fine lines and details that may not be flattering. However, the key to softening images in post-production is having sharp, focused images to start with. If a photo isn’t in focus, you can’t fix that! Again, the attention is all on one person in these photographs. You want the focus to be on them!

Number Three – Lighting

Are you surprised that this isn’t #1 on my list? While lighting is still super important to consider, it’s not my top priority! With boudoir, I actually think that lighting should one of the last elements to consider! Surprising, right? Boudoir allows you to create beautiful art with dim or even bad lighting because it’s all about the pose! Posing determines your client’s confidence and comfort. Obviously lighting is essential in photography, but you ultimately want a flawless pose and sharp image to help your client feel good about themselves. Lighting is fun to play with (light and airy boudoir photos are my favorite!!) but remember, it isn’t my top priority! So definitely keep lighting in mind when going into each boudoir session, but just remember, you can play with lighting in post-processing but you can’t fix a pose after the session!

I encourage you to remember and use these top three priorities in order! Using them with weighted value will help you create gorgeous, flattering photos that your clients will fall in love with. Because posing is my top priority, I want to make sure you have access to posing resources too! I have a blog post with boudoir posing tips, and a free download of my Top 10 Boudoir Posing Secrets. You can also sign up for my boudoir posing course waitlist and join my Light and Airy Boudoir Facebook group where you can get tips and tricks from me and be a part of a community of boudoir photographers!

Were you surprised about these top priorities? Let me know in the comments if these elements are different than yours and why! I love hearing from you and would be happy to answer any questions you have about my priority list!

-Emma