I want to tell you something that most photographers don’t say out loud: the first fifteen minutes of almost every boudoir session are awkward. Not a little awkward. Actually awkward. Stiff, self-conscious, “I don’t know what to do with my hands” awkward.

And that’s completely fine. It’s supposed to be. You walked into a room to be photographed in your underwear by someone you may have only met once. Of course it’s weird at first.

The question isn’t how to eliminate that feeling. It’s how to move through it quickly — and preparation is what makes the difference.

Start earlier than you think you need to

Most of the stress I see women carry into sessions comes from one thing: they left decisions too late. Wardrobe ordered two days before. Consultation skipped. They showed up having thought about everything in the abstract but prepared nothing in concrete.

If you’ve booked your session, do yourself a favor and start thinking about it now — even if it’s weeks away. Not obsessively. Just intentionally.

The consultation is not optional

I know it can feel like an extra step. It’s not. The consultation is where I learn what you actually want versus what you think you’re supposed to want. It’s where we figure out the lighting, the wardrobe direction, what poses will feel natural for your body, what you’re nervous about. An hour before the session doing that work is worth three hours of shooting without it.

Every session I do in Chicago includes this. It’s built in because I’ve seen the difference it makes.

Your skin in the week before

You don’t need to transform anything. But a little attention goes a long way:

• Moisturize every day, especially legs, shoulders, and décolletage. Well-hydrated skin photographs differently — it has a quality to it that’s hard to describe but obvious in images.
• Exfoliate two or three days before, not the day of. Fresh exfoliation can leave skin reactive and sensitive under studio lighting.
• Skip the spray tan unless you’ve done it before and know exactly how your skin takes it. I’ve retouched a lot of uneven tans. It’s not the end of the world, but it adds editing time.
• If you’re waxing or shaving, do it at least 24 hours before. Stubble shadow and skin irritation both show up under our lighting.

The night before — seriously, just rest

I cannot tell you how many women show up to sessions having stayed up late second-guessing every decision they made. New outfit they’re not sure about. Hair they redid three times. Two glasses of wine to “calm down.”

None of that helps. All of it shows up in the images.

Lay out what you’re bringing. Pack your bag. Then stop. Watch something you love, eat a real dinner, go to bed at a reasonable time. Your body will thank you and so will your eyes in the photographs.

Morning of

Eat. A real meal, not a coffee. Low blood sugar affects mood, energy, and your ability to hold poses — more than most people realize.

Give yourself extra travel time into the city. Showing up five minutes late while stress-sweating is not a great way to start a session where the whole point is to feel good. Build in a buffer.

Once you’re in the room

Trust that I’ve done this before. Trust that awkward is normal. Trust that somewhere in the first hour, something is going to shift — and when it does, you’re going to understand why women who’ve done this always say they wish they hadn’t waited so long.

If you’re ready to start, here’s where you do that. If you still have questions, send them my way.