How to prepare

Your boudoir session is going to be awesome! These tips will help make your experience a great one and your images will look most fabulous!

On Nerves…

It‘s completely normal to be a little freaked out about your session. Realistically, you probably wear less when you go swimming, but there is something about taking center stage in your undies that makes a person get a little nervous. Just like on the beach, bodies come in such variety. Rest assured, I am a woman with just as many body issues myself as any of us, and I will work to make your session comfortable for you. I have been in front of many, many cameras completely naked and it is nerve wrecking! I assure you that you will be fine and all will be great!

Here are some things that might help if you are nervous:

*Bring music that makes you feel sexy and confident. I can play CDs or iPods/iPhones or Zune.
*Bring a friend with you if you think it will make you feel less nervous. Just one person, please.
*Try on all clothing beforehand and make sure you like how you look in it. Pay special attention to any areas you are concerned about.
*Please, don’t make yourself sick with any fad diets. The real national average women’s pant size is 12, not 5. Plus, I’m a whiz in Photoshop in case you need any skin smoothing
*Get plenty of rest the night before. Drink plenty of water during the week to keep your skin hydrated!

On What to Wear…

Let’s face it, most of us do not wear lingerie very often. Maybe we walk through Victoria’s Secret and consider it, but it can be daunting to wade through all the styles and parts and pieces to come up with something you like that looks flattering on your body.

WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING BEFORE YOUR SESSION to prevent lines and red marks. Skip the undies and bra.

A few suggestions:

*Go all out. A bra and panty set is something you wear every day. Instead, try on something you would love to wear, but think is a little too farfetched for you. A corset maybe? A wild color or patterned bra, panties and garter with thigh high stockings? Cowboy boots and a bouquet of fresh flowers and nothing else? Have fun with it.
*Bring more than 2 outfits even if we will only be shooting 1-2. We may run into a wardrobe malfunction, so you’ll need backups just in case. Bring as many outfits as you can.
*Cut ALL tags out of your lingerie. It can be seen through the fabric and cannot be photoshopped out.
*Bring JEWELRY to coordinate with outfits.
*Bring PROPS. Grab whatever you feel might be interesting and we can sift through and pick out what works for your look. I have seen women bring duck calls & camo, guitars, beer mugs, etc.

Some Ideas:

sexy jeans
short skirts
a tie and shirt
uniform pieces or tools from a career
jewelry
bold colored sexy hat and shoes
a whip
feather or jeweled hair clips
fishnet stockings
mutiple strands of beads
musical instruments
swim wear
long, sexy jackets
sheer clothing
fresh flowers

*Make sure it fits- no gaping breast cups, nothing too tight, etc. If you use boobie enhancers like the “cutlets” – make sure it fits. I cannot photoshop the fake boobies popping out of your bra. I can send the image to a photoshop master but it will cost you extra.
*Locally, there are great places to shop such as Cupid’s Lingerie Store. There are also many online companies selling amazing corsets and other lingerie. One of my favorite places online is www.electriqueboutique.com
*Make sure you will receive your lingerie in time to try it on and return for replacements if shopping online.
*Sexy shoes DO NOT have chunky heels, or wedges. Repeat that out loud for me 3 times. Ok, say it again for a 4^th time!
Sexy shoes are spiky-heeled. Trust me, they just photograph so much better. Thigh high boots (with spikey heels) are awesome as well. I have a pair of white pleather thigh high boots in the studio in a size 7.5 that you are welcome to use. Pay attention to the shoes and bring several pairs. I have several pairs of 7.5, 8 and size 10 stiletto type of shoes. I’m still working on collecting many more sizes to keep on hand.

On Makeup…

*Your makeup (and hair) must be done before you arrive. If you are using a makeup artist that is coming to my studio you must arrive an hour before our shoot so the makeup artist can prep your face.
*Wear your makeup in a way that makes you feel sexy. This may mean it will be a little more dramatic than your normally night out on the town. More makeup is better
*BLEND well. Streaky makeup is hard to fix in Photoshop.
*EYES, eyes, EYES. Wear mascara- double coats if you have long lashes. If your lashes are a little on the thinner or shorter side, try false lashes. If you need assistance with them, I can help you. I have applied many lashes to clients.
*Lips- wear lipstick and bring it with you. Also bring gloss in case we need it.
*Pluck your eyebrows or have them waxed professionally! The time it takes to digitally pluck your eyebrows can be spent making your images look smashing in artistic ways instead. Make sure there are no strays.
*Use whitening toothpaste and mouthwash a week beforehand to brighten up the smile.
*Bring your makeup (and hair products) with you for touch-ups.

On Hair, Nails, and Other Important Details…

*Go all out with your hair. Curl it, tease it, wear an up-do- whatever makes you feel like a vixen. Limp, barely styled locks just don’t cut it. Make sure your hair is finished before you arrive. You can quickly clip it up for a different look, but you will not be allowed to restyle it otherwise during your session.
*Paint your nails or go bare. This includes your FEET. Chipped polish and icky nails are not sexy.
*Make sure skin is soft, smooth and clean.
*Shave or wax as though you were going to wear a skimpy bikini at the beach: legs, underarms and bikini zone. Do not have an all new experience with this- don’t wax for the first time or use Nair for the first time, etc. You can’t be sure how your skin will react to this and a rash will not be photogenic.
*SPRAY TANS MUST be done 3 DAYS in ADVANCE of your session at a minimum. You do not want to look carrot-like and I do not want my props to be discolored. Also, I’m just going to say it- do the bend over and make sure to have all creases of your derriere sprayed because I cannot Photoshop out the lines left, ehem, behind

During the shoot:

*Please inform me of body parts/issues you do not care for and we will do our best to hide, mask, cover these areas. PLEASE trust me. I have been photographing people for 13 years. I know how to hide a fat roll and I know how to photoshop them away. Please, please, please do not keep repeating  to me what you do not like about your body. Please don’t keep mentioning your fat roll or stretch mark or other problem area. We have discussed it once, I 100% understand the situation and I’d like to focus on making the parts you DO love be the highlight. There are certain poses that can eliminate bulge or fat rolling. There are poses that can make small boobs look big! There are all kinds of tricks. Some people stay negative throughout the shoot and negativity sure is hard to overcome during a shoot. Just try to avoid it! If I hear about your fat roll every 2 minutes, I’m going to start to become very disinterested and you do NOT want that!

*Please keep in mind that I can photoshop you but I can’t make your size 18 into a size 2. I mean, sure, anything is possible in photoshop but I don’t do the type of work that will make you look like someone you are not. I can make your 18 typically into a 16. Or you can go from a 12 to a 10. I like reality. Just because you may be “bigger” it doesn’t mean it’s bad. I do love photographing a woman with curves and skinny chicks are just as cool! I have seen every type of body, shape, and size. I have photographed 18 to 80 year old ladies. I have photographed plus sized women all the way to tee tiny ladies and everything in between. Women are beautiful, please keep this in mind!!

*I tend to talk a lot during the shoot. I may tell you about a crazy class I am taking or some silly shoot I did for a personal project. I may tell you about something just to keep your nerves calm. There is nothing worse than complete silence and you begin to wonder if something is wrong. I have been in front of the camera, naked over 500 times, maybe more. (I used to be married to a photographer) But I have also been nude for drawing and photography classes. I KNOW how you are feeling. It’s scary and daunting and intimidating. Please keep in mind that I will talk but I need you to NOT talk while I’m snapping photos. You can talk in between poses, lighting changes and clothing changes. There is nothing worse than someone talking while I am taking photos. All I get are photos of you and your mouth open or in weird “frozen” mouth-talking moments. It’s like being at the dentist. The dentist usually talks to you, but you can’t talk back because he is working on your mouth. You just listen because the dentist knows that talking calms your fears of being at the dentist!

*I cannot be your personal stylist the entire time. Please check your hair and your lipstick throughout the shoot. I have mirrors for a reason! I do not know if you want the part in your hair to be straight down or to the side. I do not know if you wanted your lipstick brighter. Ok, just to say it in easy terms: “I’m not a mind reader” – I’m not sure how else to put that! I don’t know if you are wanting something in particular, please vocalize it. It’s ok to say “Hey, is the part in my hair going straight down or is my hair crooked?” I’ll bring a mirror to you so you can look. I am focusing on poses, lighting, body parts and making sure they don’t look awkward, I’m focusing on my F stop, my shutter speed and everything else in between. So, if your hair is suppose to look a certain way, PLEASE tell me. Personally, I like the messy look just because it is boudoir and well….let’s face it, men LOVE messy hair!

Hope you have fun preparing for your session!

If you have any questions or would like to run an idea by me, please text, call or email me!!!
glamgirlphotography@gmail.com 479-313-5933 (text) 501-803-4969 (call either number)