Whether you’re coming in for your first boudoir session or your 5th, you’ll want to get the most out of your experience. Despite boudoir photography popularity, most women know very little about how to prepare for their session. I never like going into something new without knowing as much information as humanly possible. If you’re wired the same way, you’ll want to pour over the information we send you when you book because it’s chock full of goodness like tips & tricks, do’s and don’ts, a lingerie guide, etc. We’ve been told a time or two how much better clients feel coming into the studio because they felt PREPARED. If you’re not wired that way, that’s fine, too … you can just skim over the information we send.

If you’re deliberating on having a session done for yourself (with ANY photographer), here are a couple of Do’s and Don'ts to consider:

DO: Deliberate on which photographer you will go with. This is a very vulnerable session and not every photographer is up to the task. Money is usually a big deciding factor, and while I completely understand that, it should NOT be your only factor. Boudoir is an investment in yourself - treat it as such. Please take the time to save for the photographer you feel will fit you best, not the cheapest around. A lot of photographers will have payment plan options to help with the cost - we do here at Grace and Lace, as well. We also offer a Boudie Bank option to help you SAVE for your session and not be tempted to use the $$ elsewhere.

DO: HYDRATE. I can’t stress this enough. Please drink plenty of water a couple of weeks leading up to your session. We want you to feel as good as you look.

DO: Exfoliate skin and face 2-3 times each week. This will help your skin to glow.

DO: Moisturize your body, face, and lips. Glow, glow, glow!!

DO: Scrub the bottom of your feet. They’ll be in the photos and it’s an area that a lot of us tend to neglect.

DO: Practice stretching or do yoga weeks leading up to your session. You’ll thank me after your session, trust me!

DO: Wear loose-fitting clothes to your session. The fewer lines and indentations on your body, the better.

DON’T: Try new products right before your shoot. You won’t know how your skin or hair will react and there’s only so much Photoshop that I can & will do.

DON’T: Drink alcohol a couple of days before your session - we’ll have champagne/wine ready for you here if you’d like.

DON’T: Spray tan or self-tan UNLESS you are familiar with and love the results. Also, stay out of the sun unless it's unavoidable. A sunburn is not the first thing you want to notice in your photos.

DON’T: Wear bright or bold nail colors. I like to stay with neutral or dark colors so they’re not the focus of the photo.

DON’T: Forget your beauty rest! Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before your session.

DON’T: Skip breakfast the morning of your session. This can feel like a strenuous workout and your body will need fuel. You’ll want to eat a light meal, nothing heavy so you don’t feel bloated or lethargic.

DON’T: Don’t wear makeup to the session. You’ll have hair & makeup done here, so there is no need to do your own. You also don’t have to bring ANY of your own makeup. We have plenty here and our questionnaire we send out beforehand will help Sarah with any information she needs to know about your skin and/or allergies.

I had the privilege and honor of photographing an amazingly beautiful woman for a maternity boudoir session. I have photographed maternity boudoir in the past but it had been years and was SO excited to have the opportunity when Miss M reached out to us. Being pregnant is such a wonderful experience and it’s so beautiful; what our bodies go through to bring life into this world is truly remarkable and it's definitely a time in your life you'll want to capture. And what a gorgeous session it turned out to be. I'm obsessed with these photos!

“I have never done anything like this before and can say that it was the coolest experience! I had been following grace and lace for a long time and never had the guts to reach out. I wanted to do something extra special for my husband for xmas and also to remember my pregnant body. ”

“Before this shoot I felt frumpy and huge and now I look at myself in a completely different light. Thank you ladies for bringing the sexy back into my world, I can never tell you enough how much fun this was and how beautiful you have made me feel.”

Thank you, Miss M, for trusting us to give you this incredible maternity boudoir experience.

Want your own maternity boudoir? Contact us today!