What to wear for your boudoir shoot

I get this question in almost every inquiry: "What am I supposed to wear?" It's usually followed by a nervous laugh, like there's a wrong answer waiting to trip them up. There isn't. But I know the not-knowing is part of what makes booking a boudoir session feel intimidating, so let's talk through it.

Lingerie is the classic choice, for good reason

Lingerie photographs beautifully because it's designed to. It's built around your shape rather than hiding it, and it comes in enough varieties that there's almost always something that fits your comfort level and your personality.

A bodysuit is a great starting point if you want one piece that does the work for you — no matching top and bottom to coordinate, no worrying about things shifting mid-pose. A slip or chemise reads soft and romantic, and it's forgiving if you're not used to being in something more structured. If you want a bit more drama, a corset or bustier gives you shape and definition, and garter sets add a little vintage glamour without much extra effort. Robes are underrated, too — they're gorgeous for the first few warm-up shots and for transitions between outfits, and some of my favorite images happen when someone's half in, half out of one.

None of this means you need five outfit changes or a shopping trip you can't afford. I'd rather you bring two or three things you already feel good in than four things you bought last week and have never worn.

But it doesn't have to be lingerie at all

Here's the part people don't expect: some of the most personal, most "them" images come from things that have nothing to do with lingerie. An oversized button-down shirt, worn open with nothing underneath, can feel just as intimate as a lace set — and a lot more like you. Denim and a great top. Your partner's flannel. A wedding dress, if you're chasing that "one more time" feeling. Just a sheet, if that's where your comfort lives.

The common thread isn't the garment, it's whether you feel like yourself in it. A stunning set of lingerie that makes you feel like you're performing someone else's idea of sexy won't photograph as well as a plain T-shirt you feel completely at home in. I'd always rather work with genuine comfort than "correct" wardrobe.

So what should you actually bring?

When we do our planning conversation before the shoot, we'll go through your wardrobe together — what you already own, what you're curious about, what you're firmly not interested in. There's no quota of lingerie you have to hit and no rule that says a boudoir session has to look a certain way. It's your session. My job is to help it look like you, however that ends up dressed.

If you're not sure where to start, get in touch and we'll figure it out together.