The Top 7 Excuses for Not Doing a Boudoir Shoot.
What’s Holding You Back?
I know how vulnerable and scary a boudoir shoot can be. Here are some things to think about.
I hope this article grabs your attention and shakes up your thinking. Having had my own boudoir photos taken, I understand how insecurities can creep into your thoughts. I write this to hopefully silence the doubt that keeps you from a wonderful opportunity. A boudoir experience is all about self-empowerment, self-love, and acceptance. If there is something holding you back from a boudoir experience, I bet it is an excuse I have heard a dozen times.
See if your "excuse" makes the top seven.
“Even the models we see in magazines wish they could look like their own images.” - Cheri K. Erdman
“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” - Steve Maraboli
"I need to lose another 5-10 more pounds and then I will do one."
First off, you are beautiful just the way you are! I can almost guarantee that as soon as you lose those 5-10 pounds, you'll be thinking, "Well...maybe just 5 more pounds and then I'll be perfect for a shoot!" Not only can this turn into a vicious cycle with an aim to reach an unattainable image of perfection, but what happens if you don't lose the weight? What ends up happening is that you never get this photo shoot that will actually boost your confidence and self-esteem. Most women who say they need to lose weight before their session are really just afraid they won't like what they see in their photos. I'm not trying to discourage you from committing to a weight loss journey, if it is for your health and emotional well-being, however, you DO NOT need to lose weight to look amazing in your photographs! You deserve to see yourself as the beautiful person you are today, not 5 pounds from now!
“I am mine before I am ever anyone else's.”
“The most powerful relationship that you will ever have is the relationship with yourself.” -Steve Maraboli
2. "But I don't have anyone special to do these photos for."
While a lot of women decide to do a session as a birthday/anniversary/wedding gift, I'll let you in on a secret...that's just an excuse most ladies use to help garner the courage to do one! Almost all of the women I photograph end up telling me that they were ultimately doing the shoot for themselves! They wanted to feel good in their own skin. For most, it was something they'd wanted to do for a long time, so using the excuse of a gift for a partner allowed them the extra incentive to actually book. You are allowed to treat yourself to something special. Honestly, it shouldn't be about them. It should be about you. You deserve the opportunity to feel beautiful in your own skin!
“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.” -Edward Steichen
“I see something special and show it to the camera. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” -Sam Abell
3. "I'm not very photogenic. I don't know how to pose."
Don't you worry! I've got you! Here's another little secret...99% of my clients come into a session scared about not knowing how to pose. I will never ask you to "look sexy." I have other ways of pulling that look out, most of the time without your even knowing. I have been photographing women for years. I am trained to know what angles look best on different body types. Heck, I'll even demonstrate the poses for you. I shoot clients of all shapes and sizes so, if you want to show off your cleavage but not your post-partum pooch, I'll make sure I am using angles, lighting, and positioning to work in your favor. Let's show off the "girls" while minimizing the belly! Yes...I can do that! It is my job to bring out the best you. The right photographer can take awesome photos of ANY woman no matter her shape, size, or experience!
“Just so you know, you're worth it.”
“Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. It will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you.” -Robin Sharma
4. "I can't afford it."
A boudoir experience is an investment, but aren't you worth that investment? I won't pretend to know your financial situation, but I will say a couple of things. While you may or may not be able to drop several hundred dollars at this very moment, I can help make your dream boudoir experience come true by setting up an interest-free payment plan for you. Second, you can save for a photo shoot just like you would a fancy girl's night out, a vacation, or that designer handbag you've always wanted. This is an opportunity to see yourself the way your loved ones view you. It is a day of luxury, pampering, girl talk, and getting to experience what it feels like to be a model. It is your chance to have professional photos of you looking and feeling like a goddess.
I personally think that's worth every damn penny. Don't you?!
“Youth is a gift of nature but age is a work of art.” -Stanislaw Jerzy Lec
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind it does not matter.” -Satchel Paige
5. "I'm too old to do a shoot!"
I have yet to grasp the concept and ideology that our current society holds. How is it that as men age they get dashingly handsome, but as women age, they need to modify themselves in order to appear younger?! I'm not buying it! Those laugh lines tell a tale of all the good times you've shared with friends. Your less-than-perky breasts tell the stories of those beautiful babies you held close in the middle of the night. Are you too old to feel special, appreciated, or beautiful? You just get better with age and I personally think, dammit, you should be proud!
“She remembered who she was and the game changed.” -Lalah Deliah
“You were wild once. Don't let them tame you.” -Isadora Duncan
6. "Everyone will see my pictures!"
No, no, no! You may see boudoir portraiture on my web page, blog posts, advertising, or on social media. Please keep in mind I only share photographs of women that give me written permission to do so. I use their images as an example for other women so that they can see the potential beauty that lies within them. Every client signs a release form that either grants or denies me the right to showcase their amazing images. The choice is always 100% yours.
“Being sexy is about suggestion; it's about the tease.” -Bipasha Basu
“Don't change to fit the fashion. Change the fashion to fit you.”
7. “I don't have any sexy outfits. Lingerie is not my thing!"
Your clothes are not what define how sexy you are. It's your attitude! I have some women that bring all their beautiful bralettes and lacy undies to their session, but I also have babes that bring their man's old white t-shirt. Some women wear nothing but a bed sheet. Your gorgeous photos have far less to do with what you wear (or don't) and far more to do with your confidence which we build throughout your boudoir experience.
“A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink.” -Gina Carey
Think you're ready to show what a confident bad-ass you really are?
Let's stop all the excuses and get you booked!
