Four Things to Consider When Investing in a Boudoir Photoshoot

If you’ve been researching boudoir photography, you’ve probably noticed that boudoir photographers can vary a lot in session fees and package pricing. You may be wondering what factors photographers consider when setting those prices.

A more expensive experience will not always guarantee the best boudoir photoshoot, but often the cost of a boudoir photoshoot reflects the amount of investment the photographer puts into their craft and client experience. So what are some things to consider when booking a boudoir photoshoot to make sure you get the experience you want?

Studio Space and Set Options

Not every boudoir photoshoot takes place in a photography studio. We’re all familiar with how expensive rent is these days, so maintaining a photography studio is a huge investment for a photographer. When booking a boudoir photoshoot, you’ll want to consider where the session will take place. Will you or the photographer book a hotel room or Airbnb? Do they have a small dedicated space in their home? Or do they rent a studio space? You’ll also want to consider what set options are available in that space.

Hotels typically offer the fewest options when it comes to sets and lighting choices. Usually you’ll have a bed, a chair, and maybe a shower area. Some studios are smaller and have limited set options, while others are larger and offer multiple themed rooms and lighting setups.

When choosing a boudoir photographer, think about whether their space fits the vision you have for your boudoir shoot. If you want to pay with backdrops, lightings, or have a big variety in your photos you may want to find someone who has a studio with multiple sets. But if you just want a few to dip your toes into the world of boudoir, you may be happier with a hotel room or smaller studio space.

Belle Marie Boudoir is based in our private studio in Ramsey, MN. We have a lounge area when you first walk in. This is where you’ll get your hair and makeup done, and after your boudoir photoshoot we’ll cozy up on the couch and look through your images during the Image Reveal. We also have a small coffee and snack bar in case you get hungry after your session.

Next, you’ll move into our client closet (I'll get into the details of style closets a little later in this post) where you’ll have 15-20 pieces pulled from our 500+ piece closet to look over to select your favorite. You'll have a curtained off area that provides privacy to change. We also have a separate room for extra equipment, backdrops, outfits, and accessories.

Then comes my favorite area, our shooting space. We have a large space with multiple sets and areas styled in different themes. We also have areas that can be customized with different lighting setups and backdrops. There are so many options for your boudoir photoshoot that many clients come back for a second or third session just to try different sets and styles.

The Value of A Makeup Artist

Don’t underestimate how important professional makeup is for a boudoir photoshoot. Makeup application for photography is very different from everyday makeup. A normal daily makeup look can appear washed out on camera, especially under bright studio lighting. Unless you have a lot of experience with makeup application and professional products, you’ll probably want to consider having your makeup done by a makeup artist for your boudoir shoot.

Before booking with a photographer, ask if they work with a professional makeup artist and whether those services are included in their session or package price or if it's an additional fee.. Many boudoir photographers work with a makeup artist or two, but it does come with an extra cost to have someone avaialble for all of their shoots. If a photographer does not have a MUA available in studio, they will usually have recommendations for someone you can hire, but that's an extra expense and will require some planning and scheduling on your part.

At Belle Marie Boudoir, we know how important professionally applied makeup is for boudoir photography, so we have our own in-house Makeup Artist on staff! We worked with a few very talented makeup artists over the years, but last summer we brought on a permanet team member to not only do your makeup, but also take consult calls and help with the running of the studio. MacKenzie has been such a great addition to our team! We love her cheerful energy, and she's an expert at crafting stunning makeup looks that will photograph beautifully.

Lingerie Style Closet or No?

While you won’t be wearing much during your boudoir photoshoot, you’ll still want lingerie that makes you feel amazing. If you already have a large personal collection, great! Bring your favorites. But many clients tell us they don’t own much lingerie or any at all and they don’t know where to start.

Shopping for lingerie can feel overwhelming. We all know how difficult it can be to find a bra that actually fits well. To make things easier, we maintain a large client closet filled with lingerie and accessories in sizes XS to 5XL. Olivia has also been specialized in boudoir long enough now that she has an eye for what pieces in our closet will fit after a short conversation about your sizing and style preferences.

Before booking a boudoir session, ask whether you’ll need to bring all your own outfits or what the photographer’s client closet looks like, including the size range they carry. Maintaining a large, size-inclusive client closet takes a lot of work, so not every boudoir photographer has the space or resources to offer one.

Thankfully, we have the space in our Ramsey, Minnesota boudoir studio (space for our closet was top priority when we were looking for a new studio a couple years ago)! We also have the time and resources to regularly go through our collection, retire pieces showing wear, assess what colors and sizes we need to restock, and keep everything clean and sanitized after every wear or try-on. As much money and work it was to build and maintain our closet, it's been so great knowing we have plenty of pieces for every clients because we really have something for everyone!

Solo Venture or Team Effort?

I’ve already mentioned our Makeup Artist, but that’s not her only role at Belle Marie Boudoir, and she’s not the only team member either. We’re a small but mighty team of three consisting of Olivia the photographer, Mackenzie the Makeup Artist, and me, Tia, the Studio Manager.

The time you spend with Olivia during your boudoir photoshoot is honestly just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much work happening behind the scenes before and after every session. We’re fortunate to keep a full schedule of photoshoots each week, but that also means there’s a lot of administrative work on top of photoshoots, editing, product design and ordering, marketing, and client communication.

Many photographers run their businesses completely on their own, and that can become overwhelming very quickly. Adding Mackenzie and myself to the team was an additional expense for Olivia, but it has allowed us to create a better experience for our clients. We’re able to stay active on social media, consistently update this blog, quickly respond to texts, calls, and emails, offer consultation calls to every person interested in booking, and most recently, provide interest-free in-house payment plans.

Before adding MacKenzie to the team, Olivia and I tried offering in-house payment plans, but it became so time consuming to create customized plans to fit client's, track all incoming payments, and follow up with any late payments. Between the photoshoots themselves, and consult calls there just wasn't enough time for the two of us to take on the extra task. With a bigger team we're not able to expand the services we can offer our clients to give you more options and flexibility when it comes to planning and financing your boudoir photoshoot.

Final Thoughts on Investing in a Boudoir Photoshoot

Whether you’re looking for a boudoir photoshoot on a budget or want to invest in a luxury boudoir experience, the key to finding the right photographer is understanding what to look for and what questions to ask.

Photography is a unique industry, and most people only book photographers for a few major life events. It makes sense that you may not know what to consider when investing in a boudoir session. Hopefully this helped shine a little light on how boudoir photography works so you can make an informed decision and plan an amazing boudoir photoshoot experience.

Start planning your confidence boosting boudoir photoshoot at our private Ramsey, MN studio, conveniently located just 30 minutes from Minneapolis. Discover why Belle Marie Boudoir is one of the top-rated Minnesota boudoir photography studios for empowering, luxury boudoir experiences.