Okay, so you booked your session. Maybe you're thrilled. Maybe you hit "confirm" and immediately thought "wait, what have I done." Possibly both, in the span of about four seconds. Totally normal, and honestly my favorite energy to work with
Here's the good news: the best boudoir photos have almost nothing to do with being "perfect" and everything to do with walking in feeling ready. So let's get you there. Below is exactly how to prep for your session, skin, hair, and a simple timeline so nothing feels like a last minute scramble.
Skin Prep: Start Early, Keep It Simple
Your skin is doing a lot of heavy lifting in these photos, so let’s set it up for success.
1 to 2 weeks before your session:
- Start moisturizing daily, face and body. Hydrated skin just photographs better. It’s not magic, it’s science, and it works.
- Drink more water than usual. I know, I know, everyone says this about everything. But I promise your skin will thank you.
- Thinking about a spray tan? Do a test run now, not the week of. You want to know exactly how your skin takes the color while there’s still time to fix it if it goes sideways.
3 to 4 days before:
- Exfoliate, face and body. This is the sweet spot. Too early and it fades, too late (like the morning of, don’t do this) and your skin can get irritated.
- If you wax or shave, this is the window. Give your skin a few days to fully calm down before we photograph it.
- Getting a spray tan? This is your moment. Fresh enough to look great, not so fresh that it looks like you rolled around in it five minutes ago.
What to skip:
- Drugstore self tanner right before your session. Even the “natural looking” ones can turn a little orange or patchy, and that’s genuinely hard to fix in editing.
- Any waxing within 48 hours of your shoot. Redness and irritation are not the vibe we’re going for.
Hair: Timing Is Everything
This one surprises people, but when you do your hair matters just as much as how you do it.
- Book your color or cut no more than 3 days before your session. Fresh hair can look a little too fresh on camera. A few days lets it settle into how you actually wear it.
- Nails can happen earlier, up to 5 days out is fine. A good manicure holds up way longer than a blowout does.
- Planning to wear it curled or styled a certain way? Do a trial run beforehand so you know how long it takes and how well it holds.
- And don’t skip the pedicure. Barefoot poses happen a lot in boudoir, so your toes deserve some love too.
Your Boudoir Session Prep Timeline
If you’d rather have a simple checklist than try to remember all of this, here you go.
1 to 2 Weeks Before
- Try on every single outfit you’re planning to bring. Not the morning of. Now.
- Book your hair and nail appointments.
- Start moisturizing daily.
- Drink more water.
3 to 4 Days Before
- Exfoliate, face and body.
- Wax or shave, if that’s your thing.
48 Hours Before
- No new waxing, no aggressive exfoliating, and please don’t try a brand new skincare product for the first time now.
- Keep drinking that water.
The Night Before
- Lay out every outfit in the order you want to wear them.
- Charge your phone so you can text me when you arrive.
- Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Prep can fix a lot of things, tired eyes are not really one of them.
Day Of
- Show up with clean, dry hair and a bare face. I’ve got the rest covered.
- Bring your outfits, your shoes, and anything meaningful you want included.
- Take a breath. This is the fun part. All the planning is done, all that’s left is showing up as you.
The One Thing No Amount of Prep Can Do
Here’s the honest truth. Following this list will absolutely help. But it’s not what makes your photos beautiful. That part is all you, choosing to do this for yourself, trusting the process, and letting go of the idea that you need to look a certain way to feel powerful in front of a camera.
That’s really the whole point of The Noire Collection. I handle the lighting, the posing, the direction, all the technical stuff. All you have to bring is you.
Ready to book, or still have questions about what to expect? ellie@photoellieb.com – Let me talk you through it 🙂
Serving Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing boudoir photography clients.
