It’s no secret that boudoir sessions are some of my FAVORITE photography sessions to shoot.  There is SO much to love about them and there is quite a bit that goes into them too! As a Central Illinois boudoir photographer one of the main things my clients have questions on is what type of lingerie they should wear, so that’s what we’re going to cover today!

Decide on Your Boudoir Session Vibe

When it comes to boudoir, EVERYONE has a vibe.  There are SO many different routes to take your boudoir session.  As a Central Illinois boudoir photographer, I’ve been able to see clients show off their boudoir style in SO many different ways.  Whether they’re layering clothing items with their favorite bras, going full birthday suit, or covering themselves partially with flowers, there are just so many different ways to show off your body and show yourself love with a boudoir session.

Pull Some Inspiration

Though you can just head to Pinterest to pull inspiration for your boudoir session, there are so many other places to pull inspiration from when deciding what to wear for your session.  Vintage Playboy has so many unique and fun past covers that are great for pulling inspiration from. If you like things a little more innocent, searching popular brands that carry lingerie like American Eagle on google images can give you the inspiration you need when shopping for your session!

Things to Think About When Choosing What to Wear for Your Boudoir Session

Now that you’ve pulled inspiration, there are still a few things you’ll want to think about when choosing what to wear for your boudoir session!  As a Central Illinois boudoir photographer, these are some of the topics that have come up with past clients and things I myself want to share with current and future clients!

Embrace Your Body Shape

When it comes to choosing what to wear for your boudoir session, as a Central Illinois boudoir photographer, my biggest piece of advice is find items of lingerie that embrace your body shape.  Make sure when you’re looking at lingerie and clothing options you look at items that show off the features that you love about yourself.  

If you’re obsessed with the way your waist hits your hips, you’ll want to find something that hugs your waist and flares out at your hips, or make sure that section is fully exposed!  If you want to show off your gorgeous legs, wear something that hits right at your hips and pop a pair of heels on to elongate your legs.  Lastly if you need help with ideas for showing off the parts you love the most I am more than happy to help you choose what to wear!

Know that Everyone Has Insecurities

As you enter a space where you are showing off your body, it’s important to note that everyone has insecurities.  Stripping down for a boudoir session and seeing the photos that come from it can be an extremely vulnerable experience!  It’s important to be up front with me, your photographer, if you have insecurities that could come into play in your photos.  I want you to LOVE these photos of yourself, so it’s helpful to me to know about those insecurities going into your session.  With this knowledge I can be mindful when posing you what positions will highlight the things you love and mask the things you sometimes have trouble loving.

Browse Online

When it comes to ordering your lingerie online, it’s important to make sure you allow enough time to both browse and order your lingerie for your session!  Be sure to plan ahead.  Not only will it take time to receive your order, but you will also want to make sure there’s enough time to return the order and get a new one if you cannot try on the item in person.

Get Measured

There’s nothing that feels better than having a bra that truly fits your body the way it’s supposed to.  If you do want to buy a bra or bustier and you haven’t been measured in a couple of years, head into your local Victoria’s Secret and ask to be measured!  This can help you to not only purchase items from Victoria’s Secret, but it will also help you to place any orders online you might want to make.

Try on Everything

Prior to your boudoir session, you’re going to want to make sure you try on everything.  Make sure you’re comfortable in them, check yourself out in the mirror to make sure you love the way you look, and then move around a bit in them!

Prepare for Movement

That leads me to my next point, prepare for movement for your session!  Throughout your boudoir session you will be moving from position to position and on occasion we might even incorporate some movement in your posing.  You’ll want to make sure your clothing items not only fit, but they also feel comfortable when you’re moving around in them.

Lingerie I’ve Seen as a Central Illinois Boudoir Photographer

Baby doll

A babydoll style lingerie is a short sleeveless nightgown typically with cups or a bralette that show off your cleavage connected to a loose-fitting flowy fabric that falls around your belly or down to your waist.  Babydoll lingerie is great for those who want to show off and accentuate their curves, and bring attention to your hips or glutes.

Slips

An undergarment typically worn under dresses, these typically have very thin straps and cover your body from your breasts down to your waist.  Slips vary in sheerness, style and shape, there are SO many fun slips out there perfect for your boudoir session.  If you want to show off your legs, these are a great way to elongate your body and accentuate the length of your legs.

Chemises

Also found on most websites under the Babydoll section, a Chemise is a version of the Babydoll style of lingerie but the typically sheer fabric beneath the bra or bralette actually hugs your body. Because they hug your body a little tighter, they tend to highlight your waist.

Corset

Corsets are great for pushing up your bust and bringing in your waist.  They are a type of binding that does actively pull your body in and typically push your breasts up, so be sure to try it on prior to your session with the help of a friend or partner.  These are great for those that want to accentuate their bust and waist.

Bustier

Much like the corset, a bustier works to bring in your waist, while pushing up your bust.  The Bustier typically does not have lacing though, BUT still does act as a support to push up your breasts.  These are also great for those that want to accentuate their bust and waist.

Camisole

A sleeveless undershirt typically made of silk or a light cotton.  These are fun to wear without a bra under for your session to show off your shape if they hug your body, or to flow delicately over your curves if you choose to wear one that is oversized.

Bodysuit or Teddy

Bodysuits and teddies are SO much fun and are trending right now for street wear which I LOVE.  There are also great bodysuits and teddies that shape around your butt and accentuate all of your curves.

Lingerie Accessories Perfect for Your Central Illinois Boudoir Session

On top of all of the amazing lingerie options, there are also so many great accessories that you can add to your boudoir outfit to enhance your session.

Hosiery

Full length hosiery coming up to your waist, or thigh high hosiery are all super fun options for your boudoir session.  Hosiery is a great way to show off your legs and add some fun to your outfit!

Veil’s or Fabric

Wedding veils, tulle, silk scarves, or other sheer fabrics can be SO much fun to incorporate in your boudoir session.  There are so many fun layering pieces that can be used to highlight curves, mask spots of insecurity, and be used as a creative tool throughout your session.

Robes

Robes are the perfect way to hint at your sex appeal without showing off everything.  I love using a robe as a layering piece during a boudoir session.  Not only are they just a fun clothing piece, but they are also fun to play with throughout your boudoir session.  Picture slipping it off one shoulder, wrapping it loosely around your lingerie or hanging it off your arms with the sun from the window shining on you! 

Body Jewelry

Belly chains, piercings, earrings and SO many other options are such fun items to incorporate into your session.  Break out your wedding jewelry again and incorporate it into your session, or find something more elaborate like this chain top to use as a layering piece throughout your session!

Garter

Whether it be your wedding garter, or just something you like to incorporate in the bedroom, garters are SUCH a fun accessory to incorporate into your boudoir session.  As a central Illinois boudoir photographer there is just so much to love about incorporating a wedding day detail like a garter.

Alternatives to Lingerie for Your Boudoir Session

If the traditional Victoria’s Secret lingerie isn’t quite your style, opting for something with a little more coverage can be just as sexy and fun for your boudoir session!  

Night Gowns or Dresses

Night gowns or dresses can be so much fun to play with during a boudoir session.  You can opt for something that has a lot of coverage but is more form fitting like this Skims dress, or something loose and playful like this sheer Free People dress.  There are so many cool ways to show off your body, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

Jerseys 

Represent your favorite sports team or college!  Whether it’s your favorite oversized sweatshirt from you and your partner’s college years together or you really just love the Cubs, jerseys and other sports teams memorabilia can be so much fun to incorporate into your boudoir session.

Button Ups

The classic oversize button up is both an iconic movie go to for women post sex, and not to mention they are BEYOND comfortable.  I love incorporating a button up in a boudoir session as an easy layering piece to add a little flare to your lingerie outfits and as something easy for those who aren’t sure what to wear! 

Sweaters

Chunky sweaters for winter boudoir sessions are my love language.  Between the texture, the cozy vibes and the casualty of the look, there is just so much to love about incorporating a sweater into your boudoir session!  

Denim

DENIM. For years denim has has been a go to piece for women and men while also being such a fun tool for seduction.  I’m not sure if it’s the zipper at the front of the pants, or just how it’s been used in advertising over the years, but denim is such a fun outfit option for a boudoir session.  If you’re looking for inspiration, Calvin Klein, Gap and Guess denim ads like the ones mentioned in this article by vanity fair can serve as inspiration when planning to use denim in your session!

By now you can probably tell both how much I LOVE boudoir sessions and just how many fun and unique lingerie and clothing options there are for them! Still not quite sure on what to wear for your session? As your Central Illinois boudoir photographer I’d love to help you plan out your outfit before our session together! Head over to my contact page to send me an inquiry and we can get to planning.