When it comes to presents, I’m a huge believer in giving experiences as gifts. From zoo-keeper experiences and fancy picnics to bad karaoke bars and flights to not-so-distant lands, there’s something so special about creating those unique moments in life that just can’t be replicated by objects. The kind of moments that become stories. Stories that get passed down to younger generations, eagerly listening to stories of all the mischief their grandparents got up to when they were your age. And you know what goes really well with those epic memories? Pictures to prove that it happened!
The great thing about giving the gift of boudoir photography is that the experience resonates with every one of my clients on a different level. For some, it’s a celebration of reading a certain age or reaching a life milestone, like getting married/divorced or smashing a career goal. For others it might be finally feeling confident and comfortable in the skin you’re in, either through physical or emotional changes (perhaps even both). There are the clients wanting to document their body before and after a life-changing event like pregnancy – and there are also those wonderful clients that believe if the day ends in a Y, it’s the perfect day to celebrate their bodies. Every single one of these clients will tell you that a boudoir photoshoot with me is so much more than ‘just’ the finished images; saying that it’s “the gift that keeps on giving” might be a cliché, but it’s true. Throughout the years, I’ve photographed many a boudoir shoot, and can wholeheartedly say that it’s the absolute best feeling in the world; to empower and inspire confidence in my clients about how they look and help to guide them on their journey to self-acceptance and the realisation they really are that sexy.
If you’re wanting to treat yourself to a boudoir shoot – or perhaps treat a friend or loved one – this blog is here to guide you on how to give the gift of boudoir photography and what to expect.
Giving the Gift of Boudoir
After you’ve taken a look at my portfolio, my testimonials page and decided to book with me, we’ll talk about when and where the shoot is going to take place. if you’re planning to gift the images from the shoot, we’ll need to book a date in the diary around three months before the date you want to have your finished images. This will give you plenty of time to choose which of the final images you want, and me the time for me to edit them in my signature style.
Alternatively, if the shoot is for someone else, I also offer gift vouchers, valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Unless you absolutely know your gift recipient will love this boudoir experience and want the shoot to take place on a certain date with enthusiastic consent, I wholeheartedly recommend the gift voucher option to give them time to plan for their boudoir experience.
One of my personal favourite features of my boudoir package is that the shoot will take place in a location of your choosing, giving you complete freedom to control where your shoot takes place. We can shoot in your home, in a decadent hotel or perhaps a private apartment with beautiful features. This freedom allows us to create you something completely bespoke rather than limiting us to specific sets of poses. You can always make use of the hotel or apartment after and plan a night on the town! The choice, as they say, is yours!
Preparation
I’ve got this covered! After booking with me, I’ll email you a free copy of my ‘Prepare for your boudoir shoot’ guide. This includes a list of incredible lingerie brands I recommend (ones to suit every budget) and a beauty checklist of things to do the month/week/day before your shoot date. There’s a packing list in my ‘Prepare for your boudoir shoot’ guide of what you should bring with you on the day too. You can always wear something you already have in your wardrobe instead of buying something specifically for the shoot, but the information in the guide will inspire you to think outside of the box.
If you’re booking this boudoir shoot as a gift for someone, perhaps once you’ve revealed the surprise, you could always go shopping together to make the lingerie part of the whole boudoir experience too!
If you’ve any questions, you can always ask me in your pre-shoot consultation; ‘meeting’ via Skype or Facetime (or just a standard phone call, whichever you prefer) is a great opportunity to ask me questions and for us to get to know each other a bit. I’m happy to chat about any ideas you’ve got for your shoot.
Consent
Want to hear the sexiest part of gifting a boudoir shoot? Enthusiastic consent. This is collected as part of the shoot contract, so if you’re booking a shoot for someone else to take part in, please note that I will need to ask the gift receiver for their enthusiastic written consent before the shoot takes place, and will also ask again verbally on the day of the shoot. We can work this into your reveal plan so as not to spoil the surprise early, but please be aware that this is an important step that must happen before the shoot.
Shoot Day
On arrival, we’ll get you settled into hair and makeup with one of my resident professional stylists for the full makeover experience, where you’ll be made to feel like a queen. Demure, powerful and yet relaxed; comforted in the knowledge you’re around people who’re going to inspire greatness (and glamour!) in you. It’s important to me that you look like you on your very best day, so you’ll spend about 90 minutes being pampered and made to feel like a goddess. We’ll have a good chat and before you know it, you’ll be slipping into something glamorous ready for your moment in the spotlight! There’s no need to be nervous though; you’re with friends, and it’s paramount to me that you feel comfortable.
The shoot itself is quite a physical process, after which you’ll feel like you’ve done a gym workout! Pin-up poses require a little core strength, so we’ll aim to shoot for around 60-90 minutes, giving you plenty of time for a quick breather and an outfit change, maybe even two! Working from your natural body movements and nuances, I’ll guide you into poses that accentuate your figure, enhancing your curves whilst still reflecting your personality. We’ll put on some of your favourite music, have a dance between poses and have lots of fun; this is an experience you’ll remember forever, and I plan on making it memorable!
Receiving your images
After your shoot, you’ll receive access to your very own private, password-protected gallery, which will include proof images of the best shots from your boudoir photoshoot. There’s usually a choice of about 50 images in a wide range of poses, from which you’ll be able to choose your favourite images to be edited in my signature style and sent to you in high resolution via a digital transfer link.
If these images are to be a gift for a special someone, I can work with you to create a mind-blowing album. The ‘Little Black Book’ I put together for clients is one of the most popular choices and has always been well received, but I can work with whatever your needs are. Maybe you want to frame some prints for a ready-made gift. There are a host of imaginative ways you can gift the images and I’m happy to help with that. And yes, if you decide at any point you want to upgrade your package to include more images, you are absolutely welcome to.
The de-brief
After a boudoir shoot with me, your new skills in how to pose will resurface for years to come. When a camera appears at any social gathering, you’ll know how to pose yourself instantly. You’ll look back on the images and remember “I felt amazing that day” and “I never thought I could do it, but I did and look at me now!”. Comments such as these have graced my inbox for nearly 10 years now and I’m so pleased I can help women to feel empowered and confident in their own skin.
Know someone who’d LOVE a boudoir shoot with me?
Get in touch now and give the gift of boudoir!
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