The Most Common Misconceptions About Boudoir Photography The Wine Walk this weekend in Downtown Oshkosh was one of the most fun events I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. Meeting so many members of this community I’m...
The Most Common Misconceptions About Boudoir Photography
The Wine Walk this weekend in Downtown Oshkosh was one of the most fun events I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of. Meeting so many members of this community I’m privileged to be in while sharing one of my most favorite things (wine) was incredibly interesting and filled with so many great conversations (and more than a couple hilarious new memories) and I can’t wait to participate in even more of these events.
It was very informative, as well. While I didn’t get to spend nearly as much time with each individual as I would have liked, it gave me a chance to learn what type of thoughts people have about boudoir photography. I’ve found most people have very positive thoughts about boudoir and want to have a session (or have had one done in the past). Some people love the idea of boudoir and its impact on the subject, but don’t have any interest in having a session themselves. Some people have no idea what it is, and therefore haven’t formed an opinion on it.
I’ve only met a handful of people with negative opinions of boudoir photography, and most of those negative opinions are formed based on some interesting misconceptions. While the Wine Walk gave me a chance to address some of those misconceptions for at least a handful of people right there in my beautiful Downtown Oshkosh boudoir studio, it wasn’t on a very large scale, and I know many people still believe these things because they’ve never been told otherwise.
So, I’m while I’m more than happy to tell people what boudoir photography is, I’m also very passionate about educating people on what boudoir photography isn’t.
Here’s just a few of the misconceptions about boudoir photography that might be scaring you away from having the experience of a lifetime.
You have to wear lingerie or be naked.
This is simply not true at all! While you can choose to wear lingerie and/or in various stages of undress, you don’t have to be. I’ve had many clients elect for a more modest boudoir session with the use of sweaters, stockings, even shorts and long sleeve shirts. Implied nudity, where we use strategically places props like sheets or pillows to cover any of your body, is also very popular for anyone unsure about being photographed fully nude.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: boundaries are incredibly important for any situation, and I make sure we talk about yours at your pre-session consultation before your session. While I encourage my clients to step out of their comfort zone, I’ll never, ever push past your boundaries.
Other people will see the images.
This is probably one of the top concerns about boudoir photography, especially in the age of social media. The misconception here is that because there are images on my website, social media, and displayed in my studio samples, that means that all of the images I take are displayed, when, in fact, the truth is far from it.
Every image I have displayed in my portfolio, in my studio, and on any of my online presences is from a client who has signed a model release in some capacity. A model release is a written document that my clients sign based on what they are okay with being shared: full release, anonymous image only release, or no release at all. About half of my clients choose to sign a model release after they view their images. That means half of my client images are never seen anywhere (at least not from me). They’re welcome to share their images as much as they like, but I value privacy and boundaries for all of my clients. I’ll never share your images unless you give me written permission to do so.
You have to know how to pose.
This one is an understandable misconception, because a lot of the poses you see can look intimidating and hard to get into. The truth is, though, they’re not. I walk my clients though every pose, first showing them the basics so they know what they’re getting into, and then directing them with each pose on what to do with their limbs and facial expressions. I typically don’t touch my clients – I’m happy to help with a twisted bra strap or snapping garters to stockings, but outside of that I avoid touching and physically moving my client’s body by hand. No one want to be touched by a virtual stranger while they’re in lingerie!
Instead, I give very specific directions and display for you exactly what I want you to do. Boudoir sessions look sexy and glamorous, but really, it’s just a lot of me telling you what to do!
You have to bring your own lingerie.
This might seem like a non-issue to some, but for many, trying to figure out what to wear might be a little scary. A lot of people don’t own lingerie because they don’t know what to get or even where to shop for it (and don’t even get me started on how hard it is to find inclusive styles and sizes!). The idea that you have to bring your own items when you don’t have any, or you don’t know what you like or what you feel good in, can be very off-putting when contemplating a boudoir session.
Here’s the truth: not only do I offer TONS of suggestions on where to shop and advice on what to look for, but I also have a Client Closet with several hundred pieces in all sizes and styles from XS to 5XL. This means you don’t have to bring anything to wear to your boudoir shoot if you don’t want to. You can choose to wear only Client Closet pieces if you so desire.
I also offer personal shopping trips where I accompany you shopping at your favorite store and help you pick out items that make you feel great and look fabulous.
It’s expensive.
This one is subjective. Just like anything that you pay money for, everyone will value it differently. To some, a $6 coffee is expensive, but buying farm-fresh and locally sourced produce is worth paying more, because they value it. There is no right or wrong answer on how or what people value.
Is a boudoir session an investment? Yes, it is. Is it cheap? No, and honestly probably shouldn’t be. When it comes to intimate and vulnerable situations like a boudoir session, it can be a red flag if it’s cheap. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
I also know that the investment of a boudoir session can make one seem out of reach, which is why I offer payment plans. We break up your purchase into smaller payments leading up to your session so that when your session arrives, it’s paid for and you can sit back and enjoy your experience without worrying about swiping your card at the end. This option makes the luxury experience of a boudoir session far more attainable to many people than one lump sum at the end.
I’m sure at some point I’ll do another blog about more boudoir misconceptions, so until then, I’d love to know: did you have any of these ideas about a boudoir session? Are there are concerns that you have in regard to booking a session for yourself? Let me know in the comments or reach out at any time to ask. I’m happy to help!
The post Debunking Common Misconceptions | Wisconsin Boudoir Photographer appeared first on Inferno Boudoir 2023.
