What is Boudoir Photography?
Boudoir photography is an intimate style of portrait photography designed to celebrate you, your body, and your individuality. While boudoir is often associated with lingerie and bedroom settings, it can be so much more than that. A session can be elegant, playful, romantic, glamorous, casual, daring—or a combination of styles that feels completely like you.
At Bella Chic Photography, boudoir isn't about knowing how to pose or looking a certain way. I'll guide you through flattering poses, expressions and positioning throughout your session while using professional lighting and angles to photograph you at your best. You don't need any modeling experience to have beautiful boudoir portraits.
Do You Have to Wear Lingerie for Boudoir Photography?
Not at all. Lingerie is just one option. Boudoir can include an oversized sweater, jeans and a crop top, a bodysuit, bridal pieces, implied nude portraits or other outfits that make you feel beautiful and confident. Your session can be as conservative or daring as you're comfortable with.
Want to see some of the possibilities? Explore the different styles of boudoir photography I offer, from bridal and casual to outdoor, moody, vintage and more.
Why Do Women Have Boudoir Photos Taken?
There isn't one reason to book a boudoir session. Some women create the photographs as a gift for a partner, while others celebrate a birthday, wedding, anniversary or another milestone. Many simply want to do something for themselves—to celebrate their body, reconnect with their confidence or document who they are at this point in their life. Whatever brings you to the studio, the experience should ultimately be about you.
What Happens During a Boudoir Session?
Your boudoir experience begins before you ever step in front of the camera. We’ll start by talking about the look and feel you want for your photoshoot and planning a session that reflects your personality, comfort level and personal style. Whether you envision something soft and romantic, glamorous, playful, casual, dark and moody, or a combination of different looks, your session is designed around you.
When you arrive for your photoshoot, you’ll be pampered with professional hair and makeup, which is included with every session at Bella Chic Photography. Your styling can be customized to complement the looks you’ve chosen while still allowing you to feel like yourself.
You also don't need to arrive knowing how to pose. I'll guide you through your poses, positioning and expressions throughout the photoshoot, so you'll know what to do from beginning to end. Professional lighting, flattering angles and posing are all part of creating portraits that highlight you at your best.
Most of the women I photograph have never had a professional boudoir session before, and feeling a little nervous at the beginning is completely normal. One of my favorite parts of photographing boudoir is watching that nervousness fade as the session progresses and seeing a woman begin to realize just how beautiful she looks in front of the camera.
Your photoshoot can include different outfits and styles, giving you the opportunity to create a variety of images during your session. Depending on the experience you envision, that might mean lingerie, an oversized sweater, denim, bridal pieces, glamour-inspired looks or something completely different.
Once you've decided to book, my pre-boudoir photoshoot guide can help you prepare for your session.
Boudoir Photography in TacomaIf you’ve been considering a boudoir session in Tacoma, explore my boudoir photography experience to see more of my work and learn what it’s like to plan your own session at Bella Chic Photography.