It’s no secret that boudoir photography is some of my favorite. No other form of photography is so vulnerable yet so empowering. It’s an incredibly intimate form of photography that is also just pure fun once you allow yourself to get into it. It’s a way for you to show off everything that you love about yourself, to boost your confidence, and to feel SO good while doing it. All these reasons and more have led me to start working my way into couples boudoir sessions, and let me tell you all those feelings still hold true. But how exactly does couples boudoir work, and what can you expect from one of these sessions? That’s part of what we’re here to answer in this blog, so let’s get into it!

What is a Couples Boudoir Session

First up on our list of questions to tackle is what exactly is a couples boudoir session? Like the name suggests a couples boudoir session is simply a boudoir session but instead of only one person being the subject you, the couple, are the subject together. Think of it like a regular couples session, but instead of you two walking around downtown Chicago holding hands and kissing one another you’re in a safe and private space loving on one another with limited clothing. I’ve mentioned this in prior blogs discussing boudoir photography, but this limited clothing is what leads to the vulnerable yet empowering feelings that you get with this style of photography. Add in now the added intimacy of having the love of your life there with you and you can see how these sessions can become something TRULY special for you as a couple!

Why Book a Couples Boudoir Session

So we know what a couples boudoir session is now, but why should you book one? Outside of the previously mentioned feeling of empowerment, it can be a great way to add a little bit of spice to your relationship! While it may feel awkward at first being this intimate in front of a camera, trust me by the end of the session you’ll be having the times of your lives. And with the added benefit of receiving your album afterward of the two of you looking stunning with one another, it can be a great way to tap into a side of your intimacy with one another that you hadn’t even thought possible. 

What to Expect During Your Session

So what can you expect during your couples boudoir session? There are a few things that hold pretty consistent through these sessions, some expected and some less so.

Limited Clothing

Of course, for a boudoir session limited clothing is going to be a definite factor you’ll have to be ready for. If this is your first time doing any sort of boudoir photography we can of course begin by taking things slow. Whether that be wearing a t-shirt as a top and only panties below, or going shirtless while wearing jeans. Starting off simpler and working our way up to the more revealing clothing options you have planned is a great way to build up your comfort and confidence in front of the camera. If you’re unsure about what to wear for your session don’t worry, I have a full section dedicated to that later on in this blog! 

Intimacy

The next thing you can expect for your session is another pretty straightforward one, and that is intimacy with one another. Unlike a solo boudoir session, the fact that the two of you are there with one another brings a completely new dimension to the general style of a boudoir session. Again, this can be a little awkward at first since this is likely the first time the two of you will be intimate with one another while a photographer is hyping you up and photographing you. These feelings are totally normal though and a usual part of boudoir photography for almost everyone’s first session. Trust me though, once you get past the initial nerves it is one of the most fun and rewarding types of sessions that you can have done of the two of you!

Music

Music is something I always include into my boudoir sessions, and there’s a few reasons for it. One is it’s a great way to set and lighten the mood a bit as it helps to put you at ease and get you in the right frame of mind for your session hearing songs that fit the vibe we’re going for. It’s also SO much better to have some sort of background noise going on during your session. With how awkward it can be to start off your couples boudoir session with it being totally new, dead silence only makes that feeling more apparent. 

Champagne or Your Favorite Drink

Another way I have my couples loosen up during their session is with a drink to ease their nerves a bit. Whether it’s a shot, a beer, some wine, or champagne, whatever your drink of choice might be it’s such a great way to get in the groove of your session more quickly. Not only will a little bit of booze help to calm your nerves a bit, but being more loose during your session also leads to more natural feeling photos for your album!

Fun

One thing that is often overlooked with boudoir photography is how simply fun it is! Yes it is vulnerable, and yes it can be awkward when you first start out, but once you find a rhythm and loosen up in front of the camera it is SUCH a good time. We’ll be laughing with one another from start to finish, I’m going to be your number one hype girl throughout your entire couples boudoir session, and by the end of it our faces will hurt from smiling so much. This might sound like an exaggeration if you’ve yet to experience a boudoir session, but trust me once you have one done you’ll know exactly what I mean.

A Safe Environment

The last thing you can be sure to expect from your couples boudoir session is a safe environment. While this might be the last thing I mention in this section, it by NO way is the least important. If anything this is the most important takeaway I want you to have for things you can expect from your couples boudoir session. Your comfortability is my highest priority, which is why boudoir sessions take place in a safe and private space. I’ll talk with you prior to your session so that we can get to know one another. That way once the session starts and it is just the three of us there we’ll already know one another and already have that level of trust between us. 

How to Prep for Your Couples’ Boudoir Session

Now that we’ve covered what you can expect from your couples’ boudoir session, let’s talk a little bit about how to prepare for your session.

Talk With Your Partner

Chances are one of you has either never heard of a boudoir session, or at the very least doesn’t really know what it all entails. It is SO important to talk this through with your partner if you do plan on having a couples boudoir session together. Talk about why you’d like to do one, what they can expect from it (you can use the points above for that!), and why it’s a good idea for you to do one together. Be open with them and answer any questions or concerns they may have so that when it comes time for you two to begin your session you’re both ready for the session itself.

Decide on Your Outfits

There are a ton of options in terms of what you can wear for your couples boudoir session. Typically the ladies have more options here including a babydoll, corset, and slips just to name a few. I have a whole blog topic covering this which you can check out here. For the men the options are a little more limited but still just as fun! You can go for just jeans, a button up shirt and underwear, just underwear, or if you have another outfit idea in mind I am always down to try! It’s important when choosing your outfits that you choose outfits that you like while also making things fun and interesting for yourselves. Since we usually do 2 outfits for a couples boudoir session there’s some room to experiment a little bit.

Take Care of Yourselves

Prior to your couples boudoir session you’re going to want to be taking care of yourselves and your bodies. With how revealing a boudoir session is I want you to be feeling as comfortable and confident as possible throughout your session, and this starts with you taking care of yourselves prior to the session. Things like waxing, tanning, moisturizing, cleansing, and hydrating are all things you can and/or should do to prep yourselves for your session. Things like getting your hair and nails done, wearing your favorite makeup, or even putting on your favorite jewelry can all be things that help you feel your best going into your boudoir session.

After Your Session

So what do you do after your session? My recommendation is always to make a date out of your session day. Go out on an adventure after, or have a night out at your favorite restaurant! You’re both already going to be in the mood for loving and being with one another after all! In terms of your album my turn around time is around 2-3 weeks. Once you get your album in I also recommend making a night out of it. Pour some wine, cuddle up on the couch, and look through your album and see how stunning the two of you look with one another.

By now it should be pretty apparent just how much I love couples boudoir sessions and why that’s the case. If you’re thinking about booking a couples boudoir session of your own and are ready to book me as your photographer head to my contact page to send me an inquiry. We can then reserve your date and start to plan out your session together!