Your complete boudoir photoshoot prep guide for Glow & Tell, Mount Gambier
You booked the boudoir shoot.
You stared at the confirmation email.
You felt excited.
Then, approximately five minutes later, your brain went:
“WAIT. WHAT AM I ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?” 😅
What do I wear?
Do I need to tan?
Should I get my nails done?
Do I need to lose weight first?
What happens when I actually arrive?
And, perhaps most importantly… what on earth am I supposed to do in front of a camera in lingerie?
Deep breath.
You don't need to know how to pose. You don't need to be a model. You don't need to have your entire life together.
That's my job.
This is your Glow & Tell boudoir photoshoot prep guide, taking you from “I've booked!” all the way through to walking out of the studio feeling like you just did something a little bit iconic.
Step 1: You've booked. Now what?
From here, your biggest job is simply to start getting excited.
You don't need to spend the next few weeks completely transforming yourself.
You don't need to go on a crash diet.
You don't need to suddenly become a Pilates girlie.
And you absolutely don't need to wait until your body looks different.
Your body is not a prerequisite for your photoshoot.
Boudoir photography is about photographing you, exactly as you are.
If you've booked your session because you want to celebrate yourself, reconnect with your body, mark a milestone, feel confident, create something just for you, or simply because you've always wanted to do it, that's enough.
Step 2: Decide what you want to wear.
This is one of the questions I get asked the most:
“What am I supposed to wear?”
The answer is much less complicated than you think.
Bring a few options.
You don't have to know exactly what will photograph best before you arrive. We can look at everything together and decide what works with your body, the set and the vibe you're going for.
Some easy options include:
- Lingerie sets
- Bodysuits
- Babydolls
- Oversized shirts
- Knickers and an open shirt
- G-strings
- Corsets
- Stockings
- Robes
- Your partner's shirt
- A favourite outfit that makes you feel incredible
- Something meaningful to you
- Something completely ridiculous that makes you laugh
And yes, Kmart is absolutely allowed.
Your outfit doesn't need to have a designer label attached to it to look amazing in photographs.
Bring more than you think you'll need.
If you're unsure between two outfits, bring both.
I'd rather have options than have you sitting at home thinking:
“Maybe I should have brought that other one…”
You can also bring accessories such as:
- Heels
- Jewellery
- Stockings
- Garters
- Sunglasses
- Jackets
- Oversized shirts
- Your favourite perfume
- Anything sentimental or personal you'd like incorporated
You don't have to use everything you bring.
Step 3: Don't forget the boring-but-important stuff
There are a few little things you can do before your session that make a surprisingly big difference.
01
Moisturise
Give your skin some love in the days leading up to your shoot.
A good moisturiser can help your skin look hydrated and glowing.
But don't slather yourself in body oil immediately before your session.
Too much oil can make skin unnecessarily shiny under studio lighting and can transfer onto furniture, sheets and outfits.
02
Drink Water
You don't need to suddenly drink three litres of water because Instagram told you to.
Just stay normally hydrated.
03
Get plenty of sleep
Your body has enough to deal with without adding an accidental 2am TikTok marathon the night before.
If you can, get a decent night's sleep.
04
What about tanning?
You absolutely do not need a tan.
If you love having a spray tan and you've chosen to have one for your session, that's completely fine.
If you don't normally tan, you do not need to start now.
Your natural skin tone is beautiful and completely photographable.
If you do choose to have a spray tan:
- Choose a shade you're comfortable with
- Don't go dramatically darker than you normally would
- Follow your tanning technician's instructions
- Allow enough time for the tan to develop
- Avoid applying extra oils or lotions immediately before your session
And please don't feel like you need to be bronzed to look good in your photographs.
Tan is optional. Feeling comfortable isn't.
05
Hair, makeup and nails
If you've booked a Glow & Tell session with hair and makeup, you don't need to arrive looking camera-ready.
That's literally what we're there to help with.
If you've booked a session without hair and makeup, simply arrive feeling like yourself.
If you haven't, you don't need a full glam transformation.
Your usual makeup, fresh skin, brushed hair and a little confidence can be more than enough.
Nails?
Again, completely optional.
If you love having your nails done, go for it.
If you're not a nail person, don't panic.
Your hands will appear in some photographs, but nobody is going to zoom into your manicure and issue you a performance review. 😂
06
Avoid anything that leaves marks on your skin
This one is worth remembering.
On the morning of your shoot, try to avoid tight clothing that leaves deep marks on your skin.
Things like:
- Tight bras
- Tight underwear
- Socks
- Tight leggings
- Sports bras
- Anything with strong elastic
If you're able to, wear loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment.
An oversized shirt, loose dress or comfy trackies are perfect.
Why?
Because you don't want to arrive with lines across your skin and then spend the first part of your session waiting for them to disappear.
OOHHH, and if you want to be my fave client, Cut the tags off your lingerie.
Less editing = Happy katie
The day of your boudoir shoot
This is where the nerves usually start.
You wake up and think:
“I'm actually doing this.”
That's normal.
You might feel excited.
You might feel nervous.
You might feel like cancelling.
You might feel all three before breakfast.
You are not expected to walk through the studio door knowing what you're doing.
Your only job is to show up.
I'll guide you through the rest.
The day of:
Arrive at Glow & Tell Studio
When you arrive, we'll take a little time to settle in.
There's no need to rush straight into lingerie and start posing.
We'll talk about what you're hoping to get from your session, look at your outfits and get you comfortable with the space.
If you've booked hair and makeup, this is when we'll get you camera-ready.
We'll also chat about anything you're particularly comfortable or uncomfortable with.
You are always in control of your session.
If there's a pose you don't like, we don't do it.
If there's an outfit you change your mind about, we skip it.
If something doesn't feel right, you can say so.
Boudoir should feel empowering, not like something you're being pressured into.
The posing starts
And this is usually the part people are most terrified about.
“But I don't know how to pose!”
Perfect.
You don't have to.
You don't need modelling experience.
You don't need to know what to do with your hands.
You don't need to know where to put your legs.
You don't need to know how to make your body look good from every angle.
I'll direct you.
I'll talk you through the poses, where to look, what to do with your hands, how to move and how to adjust your body.
And we don't have to nail it on the first attempt.
I'll guide you through it.
Think less:
“I need to know how to model.”
And more:
“I just need to listen and move.”
That's it.
We'll move through different looks and setups
Your session isn't one long awkward pose.
We'll move through different outfits, poses and setups throughout your session.
Some might be soft and romantic.
Some might be playful.
Some might feel powerful.
Some might have you thinking:
“WHO IS THAT WOMAN?”
That's the fun part.
You don't need to know exactly what your final gallery will look like while you're shooting.
I'll look at the light, your movement, your expressions and what is working in front of the camera and guide you from there.
You will probably surprise yourself
There is often a strange moment during a boudoir session where you stop thinking about the camera.
You get into the rhythm.
You start moving naturally.
You stop worrying about whether your stomach looks a certain way or whether your legs are positioned perfectly.
You start having fun.
And that's when the magic happens.
You don't need to manufacture confidence.
Sometimes confidence comes after you've done the thing you were nervous about.
After your shoot
You've done it.
The hard part is over.
You'll leave the studio having created a gallery that is completely yours.
And hopefully with that very specific feeling of:
“I actually did that.”
Your images will then be carefully selected, edited and prepared for your final gallery according to the package you've booked.
No awkward sales pitch required.
No pressure to buy hundreds of extra images.
Just your photographs, your experience and the memories of doing something that was entirely for you.
