How to Start a Boudoir Photography Business

How to Start a Boudoir Photography Business

Boudoir photography is a unique and intimate art form that can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding.  It offers a way to empower clients, helping them celebrate their beauty and confidence.  For many women, boudoir sessions are not just about capturing sexy, beautiful images—they're about creating lasting memories and boosting self-esteem, often as a personal gift to themselves or a meaningful present for their partner.

If you're passionate about photography and looking to break into the world of boudoir, here are some great tips that I've utilized with great success in building my local boudoir photography business:

1. Building a Boudoir Portfolio

Before launching your boudoir photography business, building a solid portfolio is essential.  Start by enlisting a few friends or recruiting models to participate in shoots.  This will help you demonstrate your skills and style to potential clients. To attract the right audience, your portfolio should showcase the high-quality work you aim to deliver, helping clients visualize themselves through your lens.

A great strategy for your portfolio is to include "before-and-after" transformations.  Start with a natural, everyday snapshot of your subject, and follow it up with images from their boudoir session.  This helps potential clients understand that everyone has the potential to look stunning with the right styling, lighting, and posing.

As you build momentum, word of mouth will become a powerful marketing tool.  Clients thrilled with their boudoir experience are likely to share their photos (and rave about their session!) with their friends, leading to referrals and an expanding client base.

2. Offer a Boudoir Mini Session Day

One successful strategy to attract new clients and create buzz around your boudoir photography business is to host a Boudoir Mini Session Day.  This can be organized in two ways: you can invite a group of friends to participate together in a fun, supportive atmosphere, where they cheer each other on, or you can offer individual mini sessions throughout the day for potential clients.

In a typical Boudoir Mini Session, each client gets a shortened session, usually featuring one outfit and a set time limit (around 20–30 minutes).  This allows clients to experience a taste of what you offer without committing to a full session.  Depending on your pricing structure, you can include prints, digital files, or a small product package with the mini session.

Mini sessions are a great way to build trust and confidence with clients who may be hesitant to book a full session.  Once they see the stunning results, many will return for a more personalized, full-length boudoir experience

3. Boudoir Photography Locations

Finding the right location for your boudoir sessions can be challenging when you’re starting out, but it’s crucial for setting the right tone and atmosphere for your shoots.  Here are a few location ideas to help you get started:

• Your Home or Client's Home: When I first began, I often hosted sessions in my own home, or if the client had a room with great natural light, we would use their space.  Homes can offer a cozy, intimate setting, and familiar environments can make clients feel more comfortable. Plus, you can work with natural light to create beautiful, soft images.
• Friends and Family Homes: If your home or your client’s home isn’t ideal, don’t hesitate to reach out to friends or family who might have a great space.  Often, someone in your network has a room or location perfect for a boudoir shoot, and they may even become your next client after seeing your work.
• Hotels: Hotels are another great option for boudoir sessions.  They provide a luxurious and polished environment, perfect for creating high-end images.  Call around to local hotels to find out which dates offer the best rates, and plan your shoots accordingly. Boutique hotels, in particular, often have beautifully styled rooms that can elevate your images.
• Outdoor Locations: Don’t forget about the possibility of outdoor boudoir sessions.  Whether it's a secluded garden, a quiet beach, or a scenic forest, outdoor boudoir can offer a fresh, natural aesthetic.  Just be sure to check for privacy and plan around weather conditions.

Remember, your location plays a significant role in the feel of the final images.  Don’t let the lack of a dedicated studio hold you back—there's always a creative solution if you stay flexible and open-minded.

4. How to Prepare for a Boudoir Session

Preparation is key to a successful boudoir shoot, especially when starting out.  Here are a couple of essential tips to ensure your sessions run smoothly and professionally:

• Plan Poses in Advance: Before your session, have a collection of posing ideas ready to refer to.  You can save inspiration shots on your phone or camera, but a pro tip is to take photos of poses with your camera.  That way, you can quickly scroll through them on your device during the shoot without looking unprepared by constantly checking your phone.  Having a visual reference helps keep the flow of the session uninterrupted and ensures you capture flattering poses.
• Be Ready to Capture Authentic Moments: Another key to successful boudoir photography is capturing your client’s most authentic moments.  Always have your camera in hand when demonstrating poses.  Often, the first time a client tries a pose, they give the most natural, candid expression—this can result in some of the most beautiful shots of the session.  These authentic moments tend to be favorites for both clients and sales!

5. Starting the Boudoir Shoot

On the day of the shoot, your primary role is to lead and create a comfortable environment for your client.  It’s natural for clients to feel nervous during a boudoir session, so it’s essential to take charge and guide them through the process confidently.

One non-negotiable aspect of boudoir photography is that you must be in control of the session.  Your clients will rely on you to help them feel relaxed, confident, and attractive.  From directing poses to managing the flow of the shoot, it’s your responsibility to set the tone and ensure a positive experience.

• Organize Wardrobe Choices: When your client arrives, I recommend laying out and organizing all the clothing they brought.  Hang up each piece and arrange the outfits in the order you’d like to shoot them.  Start with looser-fitting outfits to avoid any marks on the skin, and save the tighter pieces for last.  This will keep the session flowing smoothly and help ensure you don't miss photographing any items your client was excited to wear.
• Have Extras on Hand: It’s always a good idea to keep extra lingerie, accessories, and shoes in your studio in case your client forgets something or needs an additional piece to complete a look.  This small touch can alleviate stress for the client and demonstrate your preparedness and professionalism.

By taking control of the session and making thoughtful preparations, you help your clients feel more at ease and ensure that the shoot goes smoothly from start to finish.

6. Boudoir Posing

Before starting the first setup, I always demonstrate the pose I ask the client to do.  When clients see that you’re willing to show them exactly what you expect, they’ll feel more comfortable and confident following your directions.  This helps ease their nerves and establishes trust.  Don’t be afraid to crack jokes or keep things lighthearted—boudoir photography should be fun for you and your client!

While demonstrating the poses, I also guide them through several facial expressions to match the mood of the shot.  I typically ask for four or five different looks to give variety to each pose. My go-to expressions are:

• Look out the window to your right
• Look just past my left shoulder
• Look straight at me
• Close your eyes
• Open your eyes and laugh

When we get to that fifth expression, the laugh usually comes naturally, creating a genuine and joyful moment.

Posing can feel awkward for clients, but by leading confidently, demonstrating each move, and keeping the mood light, you'll help them feel relaxed and empowered in front of the camera.

7. Compliments: The Perfect Way to Reassure Your Client 

In boudoir photography, making your client feel confident and beautiful is crucial to the shoot's success.  Your clients are likely feeling vulnerable, and they rely on your feedback to reassure them that they look amazing.  That’s why every time you check the back of your camera, it's essential to compliment them!

Remember, your client has no idea what you’re seeing, and without your input, their nerves could escalate.  Calm their fears with encouraging words like, “Oh yes, that’s perfect!” or “Beautiful, just what I was looking for!”  Small, genuine compliments go a long way in boosting their confidence and keeping their energy positive.

It’s also important to provide clear and consistent direction throughout the session.  Don’t hesitate to guide your client with small adjustments like “chin up,” “chin down,” “soften your smile,” or “close your mouth.”  Posture is everything in boudoir photography, so be proactive in directing your client’s body shape.  Since they can’t see themselves, it's up to you to ensure their poses are flattering and aligned with the vision of the shoot.

Your attitude and praise will directly impact how your client feels during the session.  Stay upbeat, encouraging, and attentive to their needs—this will ensure they walk away from the experience feeling empowered and beautiful.

8. Image Reveal and Sales

For boudoir sessions, I always use In Person Sales (IPS) to guide clients through the image selection process.  Just like during the shoot, clients look to you for direction and expertise when choosing their final images.  During the photo reveal, I typically present about 20–30 fully retouched and edited images, ensuring each is carefully curated to highlight the best of the session.

By "retouching," I mean a complete editing workflow, starting in Lightroom, then moving into Photoshop for more detailed adjustments, before returning to Lightroom for the final polish.  I present these images to the client in a beautifully crafted Lightroom slideshow, which sets the tone for an emotional and impactful photo reveal.

Through experience, I’ve learned a simple truth: if I edit the photo, the client will purchase it.  By showing them the image at its best—fully retouched and thoughtfully composed—they’ll see how beautiful they look and feel compelled to own that memory.  The editing process is vital to delivering a high-end experience that clients want to invest in.

For me, editing is an art form.  I approach each photo to achieve perfection, ensuring that every detail enhances the client's beauty and confidence.

If you want to streamline your editing process, I highly recommend the tools I use: Lightroom Presets and Photoshop retouch tools from Pretty Presets & Actions.  These have been instrumental in achieving a polished, professional look in my boudoir sessions.

9. Do It Your Way

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, stay true to your own unique vision.  Your boudoir photography doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s to be beautiful or successful.  In fact, it’s your distinct style, perspective, and creativity that will set you apart in this industry.

Take the time to find your artistic groove—whether it’s in how you pose your clients, your use of light, or your editing style.  By thinking outside the box and doing things your way, you’ll attract clients who resonate with your approach.  Authenticity is magnetic, and when you stay true to yourself, the right clients will find their way to you.

Do you have any questions or comments about starting a Boudoir Photography Business?  Leave us a comment below - we would love to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!

Explore These Additional Boudoir Tutorials:

• Beginners Guide to Boudoir Photography
• Download a FREE Boudoir Client Guide