Use these 10 questions to ask a boudoir photographer during your consultation to find the boudoir photographer for you.
Are you considering a boudoir photography session? It’s a remarkable experience that can boost your self-confidence and help you see yourself in a different light. But, before you schedule the actual photo session, there’s a crucial step you shouldn’t overlook – the consultation.
Why a Consultation Matters
Think of the consultation as the foundation for your boudoir photography experience. It’s your chance to get to know the photographer, to share your vision for the session with them, and to see if the photographer would be a good fit for your goals and aesthetics. Working with a photographer you can trust will make the entire experience more comfortable and fulfilling.
Most studios offer a free consultation. Honestly, I would hesitate to book a session without first speaking with the photographer. During this conversation, the questions you ask play a vital role. They help you choose the right photographer who makes you feel at ease and who can bring your vision to life.
So, what questions should you be asking? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the essential questions to ask a boudoir photographer during your consultation. We’ll also answer these questions for you as if you were having a conversation with a member of our team at Show Your Spark, located outside Boston in Braintree, MA.
Let’s get started.
1. What’s Your Boudoir Photography Style?
You will want to learn more about the photographer’s style to ensure it aligns with your vision for your session. Check out the photographer’s website and social media platforms to see what kind of images they create. Each photographer has their creative take on photography, using their own unique sets, scenes, posing styles, and camera settings and filters. If you like what you see and can see yourself in those types of poses and sets, that is a great first step.
Ask the photographer who and what inspires their photography. Inquire about why they started photographing boudoir sessions. If you have specific styles in mind (e.g. romantic, sensual, vintage) ask them if those are styles they excel in. The answers to these questions will help you determine if this is the boudoir photographer for you.
At Show Your Spark, we hope you will resonate with the style and story of founder and photographer, Lindsay Hite.
2. How Do You Handle Wardrobe and Styling?
If you ask different boudoir studios, you will find a variety of answers to this question. Some studios require you to bring your wardrobe with you. Others will have a closet you can borrow from for your session. Some studios provide hair and makeup artists as part of their session fee. Others offer hair and makeup artists at an additional fee. In contrast, some studios will have you do your own makeup. You’ll also want to ask what role the client plays in making these decisions and how many of the decisions are made by the photography studio.
At Show Your Spark, we take a collaborative approach to wardrobe and hair and makeup styling. We want you to have the experience of your dreams and artwork that you are proud to display.
We begin the process during the initial complimentary consultation where we have the chance to learn more about you, what lights you up from the inside, and your reason for a Spark Session (our version of a boudoir session). Closer to your session, we also offer a pre-session consultation to discuss the vision of your session at more length. This is where we dream, plan, and get creative! In addition, we also offer a Pre-Session Vision Planner to help envision more details about your session.
Once you arrive at the studio, we give you a tour of the studio and our sets. We take a look at any wardrobe pieces you might have brought with you and give you time to peruse and borrow from our Client Closet. With outfits selected and sets determined, we collaborate with our hair and makeup artist who brings all the pieces of your vision together with her final touches.
3. What should I expect during a Boudoir Session?
This is where you will want to get nitty-gritty about the details. You’ll want to know how long to block off your calendar for the experience. Ask about the typical flow of a boudoir session to help ease your nerves so you will know what to anticipate. You’ll also want to know what is expected of you that day and what you should bring with you to the session.
At Show Your Spark, we only book one client per day to allow time for you to warm up at your own pace and truly step into your power. Hair and make-up begin at 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. Your session takes place starting around 90 minutes after Hair and Makeup begins. After about 1-1.5 hours, your session will conclude and you’ll have a lunch break and relax. We’ve got a guided meditation for you to enjoy while we edit and get your slideshow ready for your Ordering Session! After lunch, we will be ready for you to experience a cinematic reveal of your photographs and your Ordering Session! The full day concludes by 4:00 p.m.
4. How Do You Create a Comfortable Environment?
Boudoir photography is an out-of-the-box experience–often outside of one’s comfort zone. You are going to want to make sure you feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed enough to show your authentic self to the camera. It all comes down to trust between the client and the photographer. Don’t forget to ask if the photographer works with a team that will be present for the session as well.
At Show Your Spark, we want you to feel at home in our space. From the moment you walk through our doors, we want you to feel welcomed, safe, at ease, and among friends. We take a trauma-informed approach to photography, giving space for the emotions that might come up during your session and always prioritizing our client’s consent for every aspect of the day.
A day in our studio is a day dedicated to YOU– your preferences, your comfort, your agency, and your empowerment.
We’ll greet you warmly at the door, have a conversation, discuss the day ahead, crank the music of your choice, and have an incredible time together.
5. Can I Bring a Friend or Partner to the Session?
Again, every studio has a different policy about bringing someone to your session with you. So, if this is something you want to do, you will definitely want to ask this question.
It might sound ideal to bring along a friend or partner with you to a boudoir session. After all, you might be feeling a little insecure and think that having a loved one with you will bring you an extra boost of confidence and support.
However, consider that the opposite might be true. With a loved one present, you could actually find yourself more self-conscious as you mentally wonder what they are thinking of the whole experience and what you look like during the session.
At Show Your Spark, we do not permit you to bring anyone to the session with you. We want you to enjoy the day to your fullest, without any inhibitions. For you to do that, we believe you should come alone. Many clients find the Spark Experience emotional, healing, empowering, and confidence-boosting – in part because they were able to leave the rest of their lives behind as they entered our studio and had the freedom to express themselves to their fullest with abandon. Consider the experience to be a place for personal cocooning– there’s only room for one undergoing the transformation.
6. What’s Included in the Package?
Singing on for a boudoir photography session is often a leap outside of one’s comfort zone and an investment of financial and emotional resources. Before booking a session, you are going to want to fully understand what’s in the photography package. Most studios offer a Session Fee that includes the photography session itself, hair and makeup, a certain number of wardrobe changes, and posing guidance. The portraits themselves, print or digital, are not typically part of the Session Fee.
Each studio will have its unique set of artwork packages. You’ll want to think about which elements of the packages are most important to you- digital prints, wall art, album art, additional add-ons, access to additional wardrobe options, or bonus scenes. Then find a studio that aligns with your wants and needs for your boudoir experience.
At Show Your Spark, we offer a Session Fee and separate artwork packages. We will discuss these details during our initial consultation call. After booking, we offer an additional complimentary call dedicated to helping you select the best artwork collection and offerings for you and your home where your artwork will live.
7. Do You Retouch Photos, and How Extensively?
The topic of retouching photos can be quite controversial. You will want to ask your consulting photographer if they retouch their portraits and how much. As appealing as it sounds to have your perceived blemishes wiped away with the click of a button, you might want to think again.
Heavy retouching can lead to body dysmorphia and other mental health conditions. This is why you’ll want to ask your photographer how they handle retouching and how much agency you will have in those retouching choices.
At Show Your Spark we celebrate who you are at your core. This includes your triumphs, challenges, successes, and yes, your scars. All of this is what makes you the unique, strong, badass human you are! Plus, my expert posing will accentuate the favorite parts of your body and help you see all of yourself in a confident light, standing in your power.
We will never alter the shape of your body because this can negatively contribute to a sense of body dysmorphia. We do light skin smoothing and will remove anything that’s not permanent like a pimple, a bruise, or a scratch. During your ordering appointment, I’ll also make specific retouching notes about other things you request I remove, like a distracting element such as a stray hair or a scratch on the floor. But we won’t change who you are.
8. When will I see my photos?
Once you’ve had your session, you know you’ll be eager to see the results. So this question is pivotal to your entire boudoir experience. I know it’s 8th on our list, but you will definitely want to ask this one!
Again, you will find a variety of answers from different studios. Some studios will offer a same-day photo premiere of your portraits (like we do at Show Your Spark). Other studios will invite you to return to their studio several weeks after your session to view your portraits for the first time.
9. How Do You Handle Privacy and Consent?
With portraiture as intimate and vulnerable as boudoir photography, it is imperative that each boudoir photography studio handles your portraits with the utmost respect for your privacy and consent. You will want to ask your photographer how they ensure your images won’t be shared without your permission.
At Show Your Spark, we ask every client if they grant permission to share their portraits publicly, and if so, which ones. We take your privacy seriously. To that end, we have every client sign paperwork attesting to which if any, portraits can be shared. Every single portrait you see on our website, in our marketing, and on our socials has been approved by those clients. We keep our files heavily password-protected and cross-reference any photos we share before sharing them on our platforms.
10. What’s the Timeline for Receiving the Final Products?
Once you’ve seen your photos and designed your artwork, we know you’ll be itching to get your hands on the final product! The wait can be excruciating, but oh so worth it.
Every studio will have its own turnaround times depending on where their artwork is made, the size of their team, and their client volume.
At Show You Spark, you can expect to receive your digital images within two weeks of your session date and your printed products in about 6-8 weeks.
Put Those 10 Questions to Ask a Boudoir Photographer During Your Consultation to Work!
You’ve made the commitment to yourself to have a boudoir experience. After this post, you now have a resource to guide you through the consultation process of choosing a boudoir photographer that is right for you.
Our last piece of encouragement is to go with your gut. Trust your intuition. Listen to your body’s cues and take note of what your inner voice is telling you. If everything looks and sounds “right” on paper, but you don’t feel comfortable with the photographer, continue your search. You’ll know when you find the photographer for you.
So, schedule those consultations knowing that you have these well-prepared questions to ask a boudoir photographer during your consultation. Let them serve as your guide through the conversation.
If you are ready to begin your search, we would be honored to be your first (and perhaps only 😉 ) consultation. Simply contact us by filling out our inquiry form and we’ll take it from there!
Here’s what to expect when you contact us!
- Schedule a free consultation call to have all your questions answered and start planning your Spark Experience.
- Select a Spark Session date that fits your schedule.
- Rock the session like the bright light you are, and create beautiful, tangible artwork to inspire you for the rest of your life.
Remember, you are powerful, courageous, and one of a kind! It’s time to show your spark!
