Boudoir Session Preparation Checklist
Preparation isn't about being flawless by the time you walk in. It's about removing the small, avoidable stressors so the day can actually do what it's meant to do. Use this as a working checklist in the days leading up to your session.
One to two weeks before
Book your outfits, not just your session. If you're shopping for lingerie or wardrobe pieces, give yourself enough runway for shipping, returns, or a second trip to the store.
Schedule a manicure if that's part of your routine. Hands show up in a lot of frames.
Start drinking more water than usual. Hydration shows in skin more than almost anything else you can control in a short window.
If you're planning to bring a friend along, confirm with her now so it's one less thing to think about closer to the date.
The week of your session
Get consistent sleep. Exhaustion sits under the eyes and drains energy out of a frame in a way makeup can only partially cover.
Avoid anything that leaves you feeling bloated or run down the day before, not for how it looks, but for how it feels moving through poses.
Stretch your back and legs a few times during the week. Boudoir posing involves more arching and holding than people expect walking in cold, and a little flexibility work goes a long way.
Do a patch test on any new skincare product you're considering using. This isn't the week to react to something unfamiliar.
The night before
Wash your hair, or plan the timing so it's freshly washed the morning of, depending on your hair type.
Lay out every outfit, including accessories, shoes, and robes. Some clients separate each look into its own bag so morning-of grabbing is effortless.
Do a light, familiar skincare routine. Nothing new.
Get to bed at a reasonable hour. Overthinking the night before tends to manufacture nerves that weren't fully there to begin with.
The morning of
Eat a real meal. An empty stomach reads on camera as flat energy.
Drink water before you leave the house.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the studio so nothing leaves indentations on your skin before hair and makeup even starts.
Give yourself more time than feels necessary to get ready, park, and settle in. A rushed arrival throws off the first twenty minutes more than almost anything else.
What to pack
Lingerie, bodysuits, or wardrobe pieces (3 to 5 options is a good target)
Heels or shoes for at least one look
Accessories: robes, jewelry, a belt, anything that adds texture to an outfit
Lotion, in case skin needs a touch-up before shooting
Any sentimental pieces you want included, even if they don't feel like "typical" boudoir wardrobe
The one item that isn't on any list
Permission. Give yourself permission to take up space and be looked at, without needing a bigger reason than wanting this for yourself. Everything else on this checklist is logistics. That part is the actual preparation.
Curious what the session itself looks like once you arrive? [Read the full walkthrough here.]
Becoming Fire Boudoir — Michigan Boudoir Photography Serving Metro Detroit and surrounding Michigan areas
