The boudoir portrait session is simple enough – the client arrives with pretty things to wear, and we shoot. But then it gets complicated when you realize that there are very few people who have perfect skin, so retouching is inevitable in any case!
PREP YOUR CLIENTS TO SHRINK EDITING TIME
Giving your clients a few simple suggestions and taking some steps during the session can eliminate extra Photoshop time.
- You can make a lot of difference in how your clients feel by having them arrive at the salon wearing loose clothing. If they’re not able to remove their bra straps or if you think that exposing themselves might leave marks on them, then suggest slipping on one of these silk robes for after makeup is done!
- The last outfit you wear should be the most complicated. Knowing which poses will leave marks on your skin is essential, so choose clothes that are made for wearing after boudoir photography sessions!
- You don’t want to show up on your shoot day with an outfit that’s too tight or loose. So if you’re planning a wardrobe change, it pays off by asking clients what they think about new clothing before putting them into the shot, so there are no surprises! If someone has been holding onto some old pieces because of their nostalgia value, then send them our pre-shoot email with tips for how best to prepare yourself beforehand – we’ve found this always makes life easier both ways.
- The best way to avoid nasty little lines on your skin is by doing close-up body shots and booty shots first. You’ll have hours saved in post-production, not just because these photos are done quickly but also because they won’t need any retouching!
- It’s hard to work when you’re freezing! Turn up the temperature in your room, or at least make it comfortable. Clients will thank us later for our mercy on their skin—and they won’t need any Photoshop experts because we’ll be able to do all that delicate retouching without even breaking a sweat (no pun intended).
- To be caught up in the moment is easy, and not notice small details. If you’re working with a client, try looking at their outfit carefully before starting your shoot- make sure everything looks perfect from head to toe! And if it’s just me? I’ll give my extra assistant tasks for this round because those pesky little things always slip through unnoticed (like an untied shoelace).
- I find that my clients want me to Photoshop out the tag showing in their see-through or lace items. Now, I have them cut tags before sending it over, so there’s no problem with cutting too much and damaging an outfit for either party involved!
- To give your clients that perfect, camera-ready look before their session, ask them to drink lots of water and moisturize. This will help with eye bags or dry skin and give you a great glow!
- Here are a few easy steps to follow before your photoshoot session to make you feel and look great! One of the favorite things about this process is getting a mani-pedi, but it’s not just for the nails; I ask many clients if they remember needing one too. It feels like such an easy thing in advance, though–something we should all be doing anyways – so don’t forget these tips next time!
- Some fabrics, such as those made of cotton or silk threading, will cause “folds” in the material. This can make it difficult for the lotion to absorb your skin correctly and make you uncomfortable wearing this type of clothing because it’s rough against sensitive areas! To prevent discomfort before bedtime, simply apply double-sided strips across each room where extra material is bunching up around our body’s curves, so we don’t discover them during breakfast time tomorrow morning (or later today).
Build Your List
The more you shoot, the better are possibilities of having a fantastic session. I send my client’s pre-session tips a few days before their shoots, so they know what not to do, and then follow up again by emailing someone else some critical points from this list, such as -Don’t wear tight clothing, moisturize, cut tags out of see-through items, etc.
YOUTUBE
Gain the ins and outs of boudoir photography with my helpful YouTube video.
