All About Bridal Boudoir Photography

When it comes to Bridal Boudoir Photography, there are questions we all have. Why does it makes sense to have a boudoir session? How to get ready for the boudoir photo shoot including when to plan it and what to wear? We asked two pros at Bridal Boudoir Photography, Boudoir by Bumby and Sexy Beautiful Me, to share their expertise. Here’s what they had to say!

What is bridal boudoir?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Boudoir photoshoots capture sensual and sophisticated images of a woman for private purposes.  

Boudoir by Bumby: A bridal boudoir shoot is a wonderful gift you can give not only to your future spouse but a way to celebrate this moment in time. 

Why should a bride have a boudoir photoshoot?

Sexy Beautiful Me: A bridal boudoir photo shoot is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give her fiancé a sexy, unique, and completely unexpected wedding gift! Needless to say, it also adds a bit of excitement and anticipation to the wedding ceremony. They’re also a great way to celebrate yourself, boost your self-confidence, and make you more comfortable in front of the camera before your big day.  

Boudoir by Bumby: A bridal boudoir shoot is a wonderful gift you can give not only to your future spouse but a way to celebrate this moment in time.

 

What should a Bride expect from a Bridal Boudoir Photography session?

Sexy Beautiful Me: An empowering experience! Experienced boudoir photographers assist the bride throughout the entire process. This includes helping her choose her wardrobe, giving her tips on how to prepare for her makeover, and most importantly, providing her with a fully coached session. A lot of brides are understandably afraid of looking awkward with their posing. That’s where a good photographer is key. They know how to pose you so that your best assets always shine! 

Boudoir by Bumby: We are all about Bridal Boudoir photography, so plan on a super fun day of pampering, lots of laughs, feeling sexy and lots of great images for you and your partner to share. 

When should a bride get a boudoir shoot?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Most boudoir photographers book out a few months ahead of time and turn-around for photos and albums could take approximately two months. It’s that popular! That’s why we recommend our brides make their photoshoot appointment at least four months before you need the pictures and album (that includes the two months turn-around time). 

Boudoir by Bumby: I recommend six months before your wedding date. This allows for plenty of time for your luxurious lingerie to be designed and made. 

What should a bride do to prepare for a shoot?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Believe it or not, sunburns are difficult (and costly) to edit! Living in Florida, the best way to prepare for a shoot is to avoid heavy exposure to the sun a few weeks prior to your session. Take care of your skin and exfoliate, especially around the elbows and knees. Hydrate as much as you can and stay away from foods that will make you feel bloated. Basically, take care of yourself and your body as much as you can in the weeks leading to your photoshoot. 

Boudoir by Bumby: Prep to have fun. We love to help you customize your session for you and your partner. We will help you during your design chat to pick out outfits that represent your style and a little something fun for your partner. One big-ticket item to prepare is your wedding day lingerie attire and your veil. Veil’s make for a perfect look for your album and a little sneak peek of what is under that dress. 🙂  

What does a bride wear to a boudoir photo shoot? 

Sexy Beautiful Me: You can wear anything that makes you feel beautiful or nothing at all! The possibilities are endless: lingerie, bodysuits, tank top and undies, button-down men’s shirt, or implied nude. For brides, we suggest that you bring your veil, garter, and wedding shoes. Also, don’t forget your engagement ring!

Photographer: Sexy Beautiful MeBoudoir by Bumby: This session is all about you and your future lovey. We want to help you create a look that defines your definition of beautiful and sexy. Whether it is an oversized sweater and lace panties or something a little more or a little less 😉  we will help you pick the perfect lingerie and outfits for your session. 

Are there any suggestions for apparel for a boudoir shoot? Where does one purchase the outfits and shoes?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Our favorite wardrobe piece is the humble bodysuit. Bodysuits make a woman’s torso look lean, long, and it shapes the rear end very well when posing. You can purchase bodysuits just about anywhere online, including lingerie stores. Our studio has a large shoe selection for our clients; however, we recommend that our brides bring their wedding shoes as well. 

Boudoir by Bumby:  Lace bodysuits and teddy’s are some of my favorite’s. You cannot go wrong with a 2 piece bra and panty set paired with sexy stilettos. The sky is really the limit. The majority of our gals get their lingerie pieces from places like Adore Me, Shein, Torrid, and more. Also, you cannot go wrong with pieces from Amazon. Yes, Amazon has some FANTASTIC lingerie. 

Where does a bride go for her boudoir shoot?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Look for a photographer who specializes in boudoir photography. A boutique photoshoot is very different from a portrait or a family session. There are a lot of details that go into posing women properly and you need a photographer who can coach you from your head down to your toes – including facial expressions! Read the photographer’s reviews on Google and check out their portfolio to make sure their style is something you love. 

Boudoir by Bumby: Our studio duh!!!! We have a beautiful boutique private studio in Downtown Sanford. 

How long does a boudoir photo shoot take?

Sexy Beautiful Me: We provide a full-day experience. Between the makeover, initial consultation to go over outfits, the session, and the same-day photo reveal, our clients will be approximately six hours at our studio, it’s all about bridal boudoir photography and having you be comfortable. 

Boudoir by Bumby: It is a day of pampering. Plan to be there between 5-6 hours from hair and makeup to same-day ordering appointments. Yes, you can see your images the SAME DAY!!!! 

Should the bride bring anyone with them?

Sexy Beautiful Me: As a full-time boudoir photographer of over 10 years, I believe wholeheartedly you don’t need a companion. When clients bring a companion, they’ll often seek their approval during the posing and coaching or feel more self-conscious and awkward. This can really dampen the vibe of the shoot, which is all about you!

Boudoir by Bumby: I get it though. Every client is a bit nervous about showing up alone to our studio, but they always tell me how those nerves go away after chatting with me during their makeover. It’s because I know how important it is to connect with each client (and luckily, I love doing so!). Getting to know my clients helps get the best out of their experience and their photographs. 

We do allow 1 person, usually, a cheerleader friend who is going to cheer you on. They can hang out during hair and makeup but they are not permitted in the shooting room. 

Do you have any suggestions for posing tips?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Posing is probably most of my clients’ biggest worry and the part I help out with the most. I love guiding them through everything: facial expressions, body poses, toes pointing – you name it. I don’t only tell them what to do, I show them what to do! I always warn them that it’s a workout and to be prepared for that. My biggest suggestion is to practice some yoga or stretching exercises the weeks before their shoot. That will help them feel more relaxed and limber with the posing. 

Boudoir by Bumby: Oh yes! I will fully guide and direct you during your session but best of all I start all my clients with what I call Posing Crash Course 101. We will spend time before your session talking about the poses and showing you all about bridal boudoir photography, so you can become more comfortable with posing before we even start.

Do you photoshop or edit the images?

Sexy Beautiful Me: All of the purchased images are edited for color, composition, lighting, and skin retouching. 

Boudoir by Bumby: Yes, all images are color corrected and edited to Boudoir by Bumby’s editing style. 

What does the bride do once they have received their images?

Sexy Beautiful Me: Most of our photo collections include a beautiful album, perfect for that sexy gift! This is our absolute favorite way to gift it to your partner; have your maid of honor deliver the album personally when your groom is getting ready. Don’t forget to give your wedding photographer the heads up, so that he or she can capture your fiancé’s reaction when they open the album! 

Boudoir by Bumby: All albums and prints come already packaged for and ready for you to give to your partner. Of course, you can take a peek at them as well.

Learn more about booking your session with Boudoir by Bumby and Sexy Beautiful Me

Follow them both over on Instagram: @bbbybumer & @hellosexybeautifulme