What to Expect During a Boudoir Shoot
We all know Boudoir can be intimidating as it is a hugely vulnerable experience. One of the best ways to help ease nerves before a shoot is to feel prepared. And every photographer is going to offer a different experience, but I’d like to share what you can expect during a boudoir shoot with Jamie Peterson Images.
I’d like to preface with blog post with the fact that before you even step foot in the studio, you’ll have already had 2-3 phone calls with me. I like to explain my process to each client and go over allll of the details. Some clients even opt for a consult right before the shoot to chat more in-depth about their feelings going into the session, outfit options, and just chat to make sure they know what they’re getting into. I know what it’s like to feel anxiety about a big moment in your life, so that is exactly why I operate my business this way. You’ll also be receiving tonssss of emails from me with info to help prepare you for the session. I talk about wardrobe, props, night-before prep, week-before prep, products, and much more. I’m a planner, so I feel like it will help y’all more than anything to have all of the information in front of you.
Once you arrive to the studio, you’ll be greeted by myself and our lovely makeup artist Jovana! We’ll take your bags, give you hugs, offer a bevie, and get you seated in our makeup chair to start glamming you up. During the hair & makeup styling, I’m looking through your outfits, pulling options for you to try on from my client closet, moving furniture around the studio, gathering inspiration for the shoot, reading your pre-shoot questionnaire to familiarize myself with your personality and original reasons for booking, and doing some last minute cleaning. I’ll also start a posing checklist: this is essentially all of the posing I’ll have you do during the session; for me to have it written down helps me better serve you during the photo shoot.
Ok now it’s time to try on outfits, make your final selections, and start the session! Before the session, we typically do a small (I mean, tiny) amount of stretching. Like 3 stretches, max LOL. Some of the posing may feel stiff or awkward, so we gotta take care of your body first. Then we begin the shoot! I’ll show you each pose with my own body, that way you get to watch me do it first, then when it’s your turn I’ll walk you through it step by step. We look at every detail from your hair to your toes, so you really do not have to worry about a thing. We know what we’re doing! It typically takes like 5-10 minutes into the shoot for most clients to start feeling more comfortable. Nerves are NORMAL. I’d be a little worried if you weren’t nervous, honestly. But once you’re in it, it will feel just like a group of friends hanging out and hyping each other up!
After the session, I’ll send you out for a lunch break somewhere nearby our studio in Downtown Oregon City. During this 60-90 minute break, I’ll be editing your photos! Oh yea, I edit the same day, baby. If you allow me to procrastinate, I absolutely will! This process is best for EVERYONE involved, trust me haha. Retouching, however, takes me more time to work on so I will leave that piece for once you make your final selections so that way you aren’t waiting around hours upon hours for me to complete that step.
Once you come back to the studio we have what is called the Viewing Session where you get to see your images for the first time, pick your favorites, make sure you love them, and design an album or gallery wall art. Then you’re on your way home and I complete the editing! Sometimes the retouching will take me an additional day (or two), but the turnaround time is always quick. Printed products typically take around 3-6 weeks and digital products are immediate!
That’s it! Around 4-5 hours in the studio for allllll of that amazingness!
