How The F*CK Do You Choose A Boudoir Photographer?!

The Charlotte area has a ton of fantastic boudoir photographers to choose from. The only downside to this is that it can make it easier for some people to take advantage of clients. We want you to know what to look for so that you can make the right choice. Boudoir is incredibly intimate. It’s important that you are able to trust your photographer; not only to make you comfortable throughout the experience but also to deliver your images with the quality you were expecting.

When choosing a boudoir photographer, the first thing you should really do is consider exactly what you want from your session. Do you want print products? Do you want heavily edited skin? Light and airy vibes or dark and moody? Do you want someone to style you? Once you have determined those details, you’re ready to start your research!

Are They Legit?

Google “boudoir photographer near me” and you’ll probably get 35+ results. Don’t get overwhelmed! Select the first few that catch your eye. When you check out their website, it should be a legitimate website that lays out exactly what you can expect from the entire process. If a boudoir photographer has a Google listing and a quality website, then you’re on the right track! Once you inquire, they should have a client intake process complete with a contract. Be sure to read your contract thoroughly before signing!

Do They Have A Studio?

Not having a studio is fine. In fact, we didn’t have one when we started. That being said, this is a really important factor to consider when narrowing your options down. If they have a studio that’s white walls, white sheets, light and bright décor, but you want dark and moody photos… they may not be a good match for you. If they don’t have a studio, make sure to find out if you’ll have to foot the bill for a hotel or an AirBnB.

What’s Included?

Any reputable boudoir photographer will be transparent about their pricing. Make sure you know ALL the nitty gritty details! Is there a cancellation or reschedule fee? What is the session fee? What does the session fee include? How much will they edit in the photos? Is there an additional fee for retouching? Do they have a client closet? Will they help style you? Are prints included or do you have to buy them separately? Our session fee and digitals are wrapped into one package. The fee covers your digital images, full retouching, a pre session preparation meeting, personalized lingerie styling, and a custom posing list. Do they have a hair and make up artist on site? If not, are you responsible for coordinating this service? Do they have artists they can refer you to? We do not like to make hair + make up a requirement so, we don’t have an artist on site. However, we have several different vendors we refer all our clients to.

Go With Your Gut!

This circles back to if your photographer is legit or not. A serious boudoir photographer is going to make your safety and comfortability their top priority. So, when you do decide on a photographer, they should allow you to bring a friend if you voice that it will make you more comfortable! They should ALWAYS ask before touching you to adjust a strap, fix a hair, adjust a pose, etc. Find out how they store and back up their images. Do they deliver them via email? Will you get them on a USB or a CD? We deliver via USB and a secure, password protected, online portal.

Establishing a relationship with our clients from the very beginning is vital to helping them feel comfortable in front of our cameras. An open line of communication is so important! Honestly, this is part of why we do phone consults! There’s a lot that goes into boudoir. We want to be transparent about everything up front and allow you to ask alllllll of the questions you could possibly have. Then, we send you an email that covers everything we talked about on the phone so you can refer back to it if you have questions later! Plus, you can text or call us any time you have a question!

Choosing a boudoir photographer can be difficult. There’s so much more to consider than their portfolio and pricing… We hope this helps you make an informed decision! Even if you don’t choose us for your boudoir session, we still want you to be educated and most of all, safe!