Category: Boudoir Blog

What to do before you come to the studio

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Boudoir Experience and How To Prepare

Ok, now that you’ve booked your boudoir shoot, what do I have to do to prepare for my boudoir session? Every woman asks that, and it can be kind of nerve racking. There are tons of nerves and emotions leading up to a boudoir shoot, and that’s ok! I’m here to help! I wanted to write down some guidelines and suggestions to ease and organize your minds and prepare you for this awesome experience!

Where to Shop

Collecting your wardrobe for a boudoir shoot can be a bit overwhelming. My goal is to make this as simple as possible. There are plenty of places online to shop. Before you buy online, I recommend going to a brick and mortar store to get measured. For example: Victoria’s Secret does free bra fittings. There are plenty of other lingerie stores that do this as well.

You’ll want to remember to bring a variety of looks to your shoot. Don’t just bring bra and panty sets. If it is too fancy to wear to work, then it is probably perfect for your shoot!

When you schedule a session with us, you will receive a list of some of my favorite places to shop.

What should I wear? What should I bring?

Wardrobe is always the first thing on every ladies mind as soon as they schedule their session, but don’t worry! You got this! And I am always here to help. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to call, text, or email. I’m used to getting texts from ladies while they are out shopping. Remember: Leave tags on everything you buy because we might not use it all.

Here are some quick ideas of what to bring. We will send you a more detailed list upon booking your session.

-Even though we do have a large wardrobe closet for our ladies to choose from, we can never guarantee size or fit. So, we do ask that you bring your own as well.

-Bring at least 5-6 outfit choices with you (more than that is definitely ok! We will shoot at least FOUR looks. It is awesome to have options! Try to choose variety for outfits (not all bra and panty sets).

-Bodysuits look great in photos and you can find some great ones at H&M, Forever 21 and even Amazon! Also try to bring a variety of colors of lingerie, and accessories to match.

-Choose color. Black is great, but not for every outfit.  If you’re a bride to be, a good option is to pick some lingerie that will be the colors of your wedding.

-If you are self-conscious about your middle, bring at least one corset or bodysuit. Shapewear is PERFECT also. Fitted things will actually be more flattering! We want to show your curves!

When choosing corsets, stick with corsets with a sweetheart neckline. When corsets are straight in the bust area it flattens your girls instead of flattering them!

Shapewear is often overlooked, but it is a GREAT option! It is SUPER flattering and looks incredible in images!

Where Do I Start?

Once you arrive our professional hair/makeup artist will be ready to create the perfect look you’re going for! All you need to do it show up! Your retainer fee includes your professional hair/makeup services and we have sets/props that will create a variety of looks within your photoshoot. While you are in hair and makeup, we will go through your wardrobe and plan out your shoot. We use flattering lighting and and posing for every body type. We will pose you from the angles of your head the whole way down to your fingertips! As you can see there’s nothing to worry about, we’ve got you covered!

With our all female staff you’re in good hands, and we can’t wait for your shoot! Once you book your shoot, we’ll send you a fun questionnaire where you can tell us exactly the look you’re going for! The day of your shoot, your stylist will be prepared to create the perfect look for you!

Xoxo Kimberly. We are really looking forward to meeting you. 💋

WHY I LOVE MY JOB

“Seeing the pictures. I never felt so beautiful.”

“I was high on life after the experience. On cloud nine. There was a sort of type of euphoria the whole weekend. Let me tell you going grocery shopping when you are all dolled up is such a confidence boost. Thanks Kimberly for all that you do….. lots of love and gratitude.” 

“The moment I saw my pictures, I wanted to tear up. They were so beautiful!! Thank you Kim!!”

“Thanks again and I can’t wait to see the rest. My husband is going to love them and really appreciate my beauty.”

These are just a few words are from ladies just like you. They were apprehensive and unsure. They were nervous and scared. They were self conscious and had low self esteem just like so many other women out there. But after their sessions, they leave me in tears with their words. It is one of my missions to make as many ladies as I can smile, cry tears of happiness and find their confidence. This is WHY I love my job and what I do. 🙂

THE TRANSFORMATION IS REAL

When you arrive for your session, it is very typical to feel nervous and unsure. This is mostly like a huge step outside of your comfort zone. You’re a little sweaty, shy, and not knowing what to expect. This is so normal and you are not alone. However, I promise you that our team is here to help you feel as comfortable as possible and while you are getting your hair and makeup done, Kimberly with be with you. Chatting with you, getting to know you and you are getting to know her as well. So then by the time we are ready to enter into the session portion, you are ready to go and excited like the nerves never existed. You will wonder what took you so long to schedule your session with KAP.

Let’s talk about what’s holding you back. I guarantee I’ve heard it before. I promise, you are not alone. So, lets bust through your excuses. When we get nervous, we make excuses. We make excuses not to love ourselves or take care of ourselves. Sometimes life is just busy, we are too crazy at work, or always have to drive someone SOMEWHERE. Sometimes it’s more important to spend time with our spouse. We also use excuses like “I wanna lose 15 lbs first!” and “I just don’t have the money right now!” I wanted to write this to show you all that no matter the excuse, you CAN do it! Let me show you that no matter the excuse, you are worthy of self love!

GETTING TO THE WEIGHT OF THE MATTER

Let me tell you; you do not need to lose 5 lbs…or 10 lbs…or 20 lbs. You need to love yourself. Right now! Did you know that the body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American Females? ONLY FIVE PERCENT!

Take that excuse about your weight and throw it out the window. Because you know what? I’m a PRO at posing. I can do more with lighting, posing, and angles than you can do in 6 months at the gym. Really.

We ALL have body issues and we as women are so damn hard on ourselves, which is all the more reason to have a boudoir photo shoot. There is no better day to start loving yourself than today.

If you insist of losing a few pounds before your session, book your session NOW for 2 or 3 months out and have a goal in mind. When you have something to shoot for and a target date, goals are more achievable.

I DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR THE MONEY FOR MYSELF

I get it. Investing in yourself is hard! Whether that investment is time or money.  As a woman, I’m always putting other people first—my husband, my kids…even the dog.

Sound familiar? But it’s time to do something for you. It’s time you reclaimed yourself. It’s time you invested in yourself, your well-being and your confidence. You deserve it too. 

I’M NOT A MODEL LIKE ALL THOSE OTHER LADIES. I CAN’T POSE LIKE THAT

I talk to women every day and you know what they say their biggest fear about having a boudoir session is? You guessed it. It’s Posing.The good news is you have nothing to worry about! I’m here to make you look amazing. I’m an expert at posing and lighting and will shoot from angles that make you look your best from head to toe. I’m confident you’re going to be blown away by how good you look. Just show up and I’ll do the rest (I’ll even do the poses first to show you).

So, in conclusion, I have heard it all and I do not think it’s a secret that most women struggle with self image. Why do we struggle with this? I think it’s because too often, we internalize the unrealistic physical expectations that are portrayed through the media and often feel dowdy, unappealing, and inferior. I’m here to tell you, that you’re lovely.

Some of us have forgotten what it’s like to feel beautiful and strong. We are too busy with our lives, our families, our jobs. We feel tired and sometimes, a little unappreciated. Some of us are trying to fit into an impossible ideal of perfection. Have you ever thought that things would be better if you could just fix one little thing? You won’t find perfection by losing a few pounds or trying to hide each wrinkle or imperceptible blemish. A boudoir session is wonderful way to take a little time for you and can help you feel confident, strong and beautiful again. You are truly beautiful right now and a boudoir session will remind you of this every time you look at your images. When you see how fabulous you are, the confidence that exudes from your photos will spill over into other areas of your life. ❤️❤️❤️

It’s not about how you look but rather how you feel about the way you look. Confidence is truly a beautiful thing. Confidence is what we all need. Confidence, self acceptance and personality is what I bring out in the women I photograph. I need you to know you’re perfect now. It is my job to coach and find the model that I know is in you.

The thought of a boudoir session can be scary. When talking to women about their session, I get asked all kinds of questions. So I wanted to compile a list of the most frequently asked questions to give you some insight on preparing for a boudoir session with me!

DO YOU SHARE MY PHOTOS?

One of the most common questions we receive is “Do you share my photos?” Answer: Our number 1 priority is making sure our ladies are comfortable and we will ONLY share if you give KAP permission to share. We understand some ladies are not comfortable with us showing photos from her boudoir session and we never ever ever make anyone agree to showing her photos. We have an optional Model Release form that every lady has the option to sign or not. You don’t sign, we don’t post or show. The only time the model release is required, is when we are having a model release special because we are trying something new or we need an updated portfolio etc… Some ladies will even agreed to our model release but ask us not to show her face. And that is ok as well. This is your session and your photos. We will always respect your wishes.

DO YOU SUPPLY LINGERIE?

Yes we do have a large collection of outfits including heels ranging in size from 6.5 – 10.0 and some accessories as well that you are more than welcome to borrow from. However, we do always ask you to bring a few outfits of your own as well because we can not guarantee size and fit. We go over this more extensively once you schedule a session.

I DON’T OWN LINGERIE! I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR OR WHERE TO SHOP! HELP?!?

No worries, as stated above, we do have a very large boudoir closet to help you out. We will also email you a list of places to shop and also a list of what items look good and what doesn’t. So, you will be well taken care of. 🙂

HOW MANY OUTFITS DO WE GET? HOW MANY OUTFITS SHOULD I BRING?

We typically get through 4-5 outfits/looks. We ask our ladies to bring at least 4-6 different looks and then when you are here at the studio, you can look through ours as well. We will then choose the best outfits for you. Also remember to bring a variety of items. Also a good rule of thumb is, if you would not wear it to work then it is probably perfect for your shoot!

IS HAIR AND MAKEUP INCLUDED?

YES!!! Professional hair and makeup is such an essential part of the boudoir photography experience; it can make or break your photo shoot and that’s why we only work with the best makeup and hair artists! Our professional stylists have years of training and experience. Not only do they know how to give you the perfect look you’re wanting, but most importantly they know how to do makeup for the particular lighting and retouching techniques we use. 
Hair and makeup is a fundamental part of the experience and the transformations are amazing. Our team will help you create the look you are going for. One of the best parts of the experience is for once, someone else is going to take care of YOU. It’s an amazing day of pampering. 

WILL YOU EDIT/PHOTOSHOP MY PHOTOS?

We do light edits with exposure and color balance. We also ask you pre-session what extensive editing you would like. This way your session is catered to you. Some ladies that have a mole on their cheek may love their mole while others say “it’s being removed next month, so get rid of it” Same goes for stretch marks or cellulite. Some say leave it but most say get rid of it. It’s all up to you. 

READY TO BOOK?

To book your boudoir photo shoot with Kimberly Ann Photography we require up front a non refundable session fee. This fee secures your date and time and includes our professional hair and / makeup artist and the shoot itself. It does not include any prints or products. Those you purchase separately at your ordering appointment. Ask about our special retainer fee discount for joining our private VIP facebook group!

VIP LADIES ONLY GROUP: JOIN HERE

Ready to reserve your session? Complete the form below for a free consultation. We can’t wait to work with you!!!!

“I was expecting to be uncomfortable and very nervous but once meeting Kim face to face and talking, the nerves went away. She is so nice and just made the shoot a breeze!!”

Hair and Make-up: Shelly, Dream Hair Studio

Kimberly Ann Photography is located in East Troy, WI in Southeastern WI. Feel free to contact us by filling contact form at the bottom of this post, email Kimberly directly at kimberlyannphotography@yahoo.com or call 262-492-3893. 💕

Q: Have you ever done a boudoir shoot before? If yes, how did your shoot with Kimberly compare to your prior experience?

A: No, I was new to Boudoir!!

Q: What was your own personal reason for wanting to have a boudoir session? Was your session a gift for anyone special, or just for yourself? 

A: My reason for wanting to do the shoot was to feel better about myself. I have been trying to loose weight and after a seven year abusive relationship, my self esteem was down. This session was just for me!! 

Q: Why did you choose Kimberly Ann Photography for your boudoir experience? 

A: I chose KAP because she was so easy to talk to and made me feel so comfortable! Such an amazing experience!!

Q: How did your session with Kimberly Ann Photography differ from what you were expecting before entering our studio? 

A: I was expecting to be uncomfortable and very nervous but once meeting Kim face to face and talking, the nerves went away. She is so nice and just made the shoot a breeze!!

Q: What was your favorite part of the boudoir experience? 

A: My favorite part was the different outfits and scenes. The way Kim thought out each outfit and where it would look best in the studio was a great feeling! I also loved after and seeing all the pictures  🙂

Q: Other than beautiful photos, of course, what else did you take away from your boudoir experience? What type of impact did it have on you?

A: I felt more confident with myself and my body after my shoot. The moment I saw my pictures, I wanted to tear up. They were so beautiful!! Thank you Kim!!

” The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams! ” ~Eleanor Roosevelt 💖

Hair and Make-up By: Shelly, Dream Hair Studio

Kimberly Ann Photography is located in East Troy, WI in Southeastern WI. Feel free to contact us by filling contact form at the bottom of this post, email Kimberly directly at kimberlyannphotography@yahoo.com or call 262-492-3893. 💕

Q: Have you ever done a boudoir shoot before? If yes, how did your shoot with Kimberly compare to your prior experience?

A: No, I had never done a Boudoir photo shoot before!

Q: What was your own personal reason for wanting to have a boudoir session? Was your session a gift for anyone special, or just for yourself? 

A: It was a gift for my husband 🙂

Q: Why did you choose Kimberly Ann Photography for your boudoir experience? 

A: A couple of my friends highly recommend her.

Q: How did your session with Kimberly Ann Photography differ from what you were expecting before entering our studio? 

A: I wasn’t expecting it to go so smoothly at all. But, I felt comfortable right away, which I didn’t think would happen. 

Q: What was your favorite part of the boudoir experience? 

A: Seeing the pictures. I never felt so beautiful.

Q: Other than beautiful photos, of course, what else did you take away from your boudoir experience? What type of impact did it have on you?

A: It was a big confidence booster. I have always felt self conscious about myself and this helped me alot to not look down on myself.