Quite often I receive emails from women who are intrigued by the idea of a boudoir shoot.
And almost as often, I get the sense they're unsure whether or not they feel they can really go through with it.
As a female photographer, I put myself in the shoes of these women and I can totally understand the hesitation.
Whether spoken or unspoken, I know most women have questions like these...
- Who else is going to see these images?
- Will my pictures get plastered all over the internet for the world to see?
- Will my job be in jeopardy if they find out I posed for sensual images?
- Will it feel uncomfortable posing nude or in lingerie for someone I don't even know?
Speaking from the perspective of a female boudoir photographer, here are my answers to these questions. Please note: I can't vouch for other photographers on their process or policies, but following are certainly mine.
1) Who else is going to see these images?
Since I handle all aspects - from the shooting to the editing and retouching (if that's chosen as an option) - aside from me and you (once they're edited), the only other people who will ever see your images will be the ones you decide to share them with! : )
2) But I see images on your website - will my pictures get plastered all over the internet for the world to see?
I handle boudoir images differently from my usual portrait work. Although I retain copyright of the images, I am sensitive to the challenges that can arise from having sensual pictures posted on the internet.
For this reason, I post images in a personal, password-protected gallery for YOU to see (you choose the password). And this gallery expires after a short period of time. Once it does, the images are removed altogether from the server.
Now, should you feel comfortable having one, a select number, or even all of the images posted on my website, then you can inform me of that once you have had the opportunity to review the images.
Women I've worked with have handled this differently. Some don't want any of their images posted, and I fully comply with their wish. Others approve of "privacy cropped" images - where faces are left out, but nonetheless viewers can get a feel for the style and types of images I shoot. Some select a small number of images they feel comfortable having posted. And still others say they're not at all uncomfortable, and allow me to post whichever images I choose.
Either way, it's your decision.
3) Will my job be in jeopardy if they find out I posed for sensual images?
To this question I say, if you have any concerns about this, then opt either to not have images posted at all, or opt for a privacy crop in which you are completely unidentifiable. Either way, the choice is yours. I never pressure a woman to make a decision she's uncomfortable with in this regard. I have complete portfolios of boudoir shoots I don't share on my site for this reason.
4) Will it feel uncomfortable posing nude or in lingerie for someone I don't even know?
I am a personable woman and mom (usually I have people laughing in no time), and I do my very best to help my clients "warm up" for their shoot. We proceed as your comfort level dictates.
To demonstrate this, I'll share an experience I had with one client recently:
D showed up to her boudoir shoot with her sister in tow. She thought her sister's presence would help her feel more comfortable. As the shoot began, her sister chimed in regularly telling her how to pose, how to smile, how to position her body, what to wear. I noted that not only were some of the suggestions ill-advised or unflattering, they seemed to be going in a different direction from the look and feel my client said she was going for.
After about 20 minutes, it became clear to me that rather than serving as a form of support, the sister was making my client feel even more tense! I began to assign tasks to her sister that would allow me and the client the opportunity to work together without the sister's interruptions. Of course, the client and I ended up working together very well during these intermissions! So much so, that my client finally told her sister that she could leave, that she was fine. Once the sister left, my client fully relaxed, and we then shot the best images of the session.
While I never verbally addressed the issue of the meddlesome sister, the client did. She turned back to me just as she was about to leave and said, "I can't believe I felt more comfortable with you than I did with my own sister here. It went so much smoother once she was gone. I'm really happy that she left and that we could finish up our session without the interruption!"
I laughed and told her she would be very happy with the images I'd taken. And sure enough, she and her husband both were.
One thing I like to make sure my clients understand is this: My job is to make you look great. I can only accomplish that if you feel great, if you feel confident and trust that my only interest is to make you look great. I'll never tell a client that a pose they've taken may be unflattering, but I will suggest an alternate pose or move to a different angle that will allow me to capture a beautiful image. Every woman is beautiful - I truly believe that. And because I do, I always shoot images that showcase a woman's best features. And that includes the beauty of her spirit.
If you've been considering boudoir, now's the time to try on a session. See my previous posting and take advantage of the current $175 boudoir special package. You WON'T be disappointed!
Have a great day,
Best,
Susan Eckert
Long Island Photographer
You can call me anytime on my cell. Even if you'd like to ask me these questions in person! : )
631.398.4487
