Boudoir photography FAQs: Everything you want to know
Curious about booking a boudoir photoshoot, but nervous or unsure about taking the leap? You’re in the right place!
Almost every guest who walks into our studio starts their journey the same way. Curious, uncertain, but inspired to explore a side of themselves that hasn’t taken a front seat in a while, or at all!
So let’s bust those nerves!
To help you feel super safe and comfortable before your session, we’re here with some of the most common questions we get, answered completely honestly by our supportive team at Verve Intimate.
What even is 'boudoir photography?'
Boudoir photography is an intimate, artful style of portraiture that celebrates the beauty, confidence, and individuality of you.
The word boudoir comes from the French term for a woman’s dressing room, a place that feels safe, personal, and intimate.
Think of a boudoir photoshoot with Verve as the same thing. A safe, supportive, private space where you get to slow down and reconnect with yourself through tasteful, artistic photography.
At Verve, our style is elegant and empowering, a fusion of fine-art portraiture and high-end fashion. It doesn’t ask you to be ‘perfect’ or perform for the camera. Our luxe boudoir photoshoots are about empowering real women and men to love and embrace exactly who they are. Honouring every body and story through images that feel beautiful, authentic and powerful.
Why do a boudoir photoshoot?
There is no single reason why our guests choose to do a boudoir photoshoot, but every reason is personal and beautiful.
Some guests book their session as a gift to their lucky partner, others as a celebration of themselves, a reminder of how far they have come, or how they’ve learnt to love the skin they’re in.
- A birthday, anniversary, or wedding gift
- A celebration of self-love and confidence after a challenge or transformation
- A moment to honour your body through motherhood, recovery, or self-growth
- Celebrating connection in a relationship
- Creating an heirloom to remember the gorgeous person you are now in years in to come
- Or simply to treat yourself and feel amazing and sexy, no occasion needed!
Whatever your reason is, this empowering experience is all about seeing yourself through beautiful new eyes, and reconnecting with the beauty and magic of who you truly are.
The best part? Our guests walk away not just with stunning images, but with a new energy. Walking tall with a renewed sense of pride, confidence, and self-love.
These transformations are so inspiring, and power everything we do at Verve!
Set your own rules
Do I have to be nude or wear lingerie?
Not at all. A boudoir session is all about what makes you feel confident and beautiful. It’s about your story, and your kind of sexy.
For some, that means elegant lingerie. For others, it’s a classic white button-up covering all the right places. Or it could be a lace robe, a satin slip, or your favourite jeans. You can be fully or partially clothed, partly covered, or artfully nude; there is no right or wrong way.
Your photographer will help you select a few looks that highlight your favourite features, while keeping everything tasteful, natural, and true to you.
Remember, this isn’t really about what you wear. It’s about taking a moment to give yourself the same love you give so freely to everyone else, and feeling incredible about who you are.
Whatever your wardrobe style, we’ll capture you at your comfortable, confident and radiant best.
Do I need to know how to pose?
Definitely don’t worry about that. That’s our job.
When you arrive at the studio, your incredible female photographer will be your wing-woman, guiding you through everything from how to stand, sit and move, to expressions and how to flatter your angles.
She’s be your hype girl, supporting and guiding you from head to toe, and we’ll adjust every movement and lighting to flatter your shape and energy.
You don’t need to know a single pose going in. However, if you have ones you want to try, absolutely let your photographer know, our team are brilliant at collaborating with our guest’s ideas.
Within minutes, we promise you’ll be completely relaxed and moving with confidence (and no trying to convince us that you’re ‘unphotogenic’ or ‘awkward in front of the camera’ – you’ll soon see how gorgeous you really are!)
One of the biggest surprises our guests have is how much fun they have at their shoot!
Our all-female photography team are so good at bringing the laughs and creating a fun, safe, inclusive space to help you shine bright.
By the end of the session, you’ll be walking on air, feeling like the incredible goddess you really are, with the images to prove it!
How do I prepare for my boudoir photoshoot?
There’s nothing complicated needed to prepare.
Here are some simple tips to help you feel your beautiful best on the day:
1. Hydrate and rest – Try to get a good night’s sleep and drink plenty of water the day before your shoot. (but don’t stress if the kids kept you up, our amazing hair and makeup artists are on standby!)
2. Choose outfits you love – Bring a few of your favourite options. From soft and romantic to bold and daring. We can help you decide what works best on the day. We can usually shoot three looks in your 90 minute boudoir session.
3. Go natural – If you’re getting your hair and makeup done, arrive with clean, moisturised skin and clean hair. And remember to bring hair and makeup inspo pictures to show your glam team! We’ll handle the rest.
4. Relax your mind – Come with an open mind and heart. Whatever stories you may tell yourself, you ARE WORTHY of this experience. Not when you change this or that, but right now. It’s brave to take the leap, but it’s so worth it, and future you will thank you!
5. Come as you are – You really don’t have to feel ‘ready’ or confident walking in. Just arrive and be yourself, that’s all it takes.
Pro tip:
Boudoir photography with Verve isn’t about ‘perfection.’ It’s about presence.
Whether your vibe is edgy, playful, romantic or powerful, the more you relax and bring your energy as the shoot goes on, the more authentic and beautiful your photos will feel.
What if I don't like how I look?
99% of our guests worry about this! We can be so hard on ourselves. Worrying about being ‘unphotogenic’ or perceived body ‘imperfections’ is very common.
Repeat after us: Every body is a boudoir body!
And every woman who finds the courage to say NO to those stories, and YES to herself – leaves saying the same thing: ‘I should have done this for myself sooner.’
We get it. You’ve seen yourself in bathroom mirrors, bad lighting and unflattering selfies. But boudoir photography with Verve is an entirely different experience.
You’ll be lit by state of the art professional lighting, receiving expert creative and posing direction, with professional retouching to your preferences. All in a supportive, luxurious atmosphere fully designed to show you the version of yourself that everyone else already sees: confident, radiant, and stunningly beautiful.
We’re very confident that you’ll absolutely love your images (the squeals of delight and disbelief in the design room all day are all the proof we need!).
To give you the same confidence, we’ve made this experience 100% risk free.
If you don’t love your images after seeing your image reveal, just let us know and we’ll refund your booking fee in full. No stress. You deserve to look and feel amazing. And you will!
Do you photograph guests of all ages and sizes?
We photograph incredible women and men from 18 to their 60s and beyond.
Every body type, every background, every story and stage of life. Confidence doesn’t come in one shape or size, and beauty certainly doesn’t have an expiry date.
Our job isn’t to change you; it’s to highlight and accentuate the magic you already have. To capture your energy, your emotion, and your unique magnetism and strength.
If you’re at least 18 years old on the date of your photoshoot, you’re welcome here. You belong here.
Want to book a boudoir photoshoot with us?
A boudoir photoshoot is so much more than a ‘sexy photoshoot.’ It’s a celebration of YOU. Your beauty, your power and self-worth. And your quiet rebellion against a world that tries to convince us that we’re not enough.
Because you are enough. MORE than enough! Right now, exactly as you are.
So take a deep breath and take that leap. We’ve got you!
You may just walk away feeling like you’ve done the most empowering thing in your life. Holding a stunning collection of artwork that reminds you of your strength, beauty and power every time you see them.
