3 Reasons to Hire a Boudoir Photographer With Experience in Virginia
In this day of technology, anyone can be a photographer. I don’t say that to sound like a pompous jerk, but it does make it hard to know who to hire and who to avoid. I whole heartedly believe anyone and everyone that wants to pursue photography, should. That being said, there are also many people out there that do no have good intentions and I want you all to avoid those people like the plague, haha. You see, boudoir is unlike any other genre (in my opinion) and should be handled with care. It’s not for everyone and it shouldn’t be for everyone (photographer wise, I mean). I say it all the time, but boudoir is so much more than photos. Does that sound cheesy? Yes. Is it the truth? Yes. Boudoir is an entire experience and if you choose the wrong photographer you might end up with amazing photos, but an experience that’s left you feeling less than. Or you might end up with an amazing experience but your photos are well um, awful. The goal is to find someone who can give you BOTH.
I’ve shared this story before, but I don’t think I’ve shared it here on my blog so off we go! When I was a baby 19 year old I was really struggling with my self confidence. I’d moved across the country and was alone for the first time in my life. I was gaining weight rapidly because of health issues and a diet of McDonald’s McGriddles (😂). A friend told me about someone hosting boudoir minis in their home and invited me. Now, keep in mind I was 19 and broke, so the $50 price point is all I could afford. The experience was a lot of fun and she made me feel good about what I’d get back. Guys, I wish I still had those photos so I could show you what was returned. She’d edited out half my thigh and meshed it into a dresser..I can’t even explain it properly, haha. I wasn’t the only one she’d done this wonky editing to, though. When someone reached out asking what the deal was, she proceeded to let us know that our cellulite was so horrible she had no choice but to physically remove parts of our limbs. Excuse me, what? Cellulite is a NATURAL part of your body and doesn't need to be physically cut off in photos. Needless to say, it made my already low self esteem even worse.
Like I said above, your experience and your pictures need to BOTH be good. It’s a whole package deal and it’s important to find someone that knows what they’re doing so you don’t walk away with even lower self esteem. That’s the entire point of this!
So, I’ve put together a short little list of WHY you need to be searching for an experience boudoir photographer because I want you to be safe AND happy with your photos.
Your Safety is Priority
I’ve talked about this on Instagram , but there are some serious creeps out there. I’ve had multiple clients tell me horror stories, one even resulting in an assault. I am not trying to scare you, but I do want you to take this seriously. Most of the creep photographers are charging VERY low prices or maybe they’re even offering free photos in exchange to “model”. I’m going to get shit for this, but it’s almost always male photographers doing this and it’s almost always because they have shitty intentions. Please, PLEASE, take your safety seriously! You’re in a very vulnerable position when working with a boudoir photographer and it would be very easy to get stuck in a situation you cannot get out of. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re still not sure, please reach out to your community to see who has worked with this person. Look at their reviews. That doesn’t guarantee safety, but it’s important to hear that others have walked away happy and safe.
The Experience
Is just as important as the photos, like I said above. Make sure to ask questions about the entire process with your photographer. We all do things differently, so make sure the way they do things works for you. For example, my boudoir sessions are an all day event. For ME, I am trying to give you all a day of self love and in order to do that I like to saturate you with hours of confidence boosting fun. You arrive at 9:30 for professional hair and makeup, then we play dress up and take photos, then you go to lunch, then you come back and you see your photos all in the same day! Some don’t do that, though, and instead you might see your photos in an online gallery a few weeks later. Or maybe you’ll have zoom viewing. Maybe you don’t WANT to spend the entire day with your photographer and that’s okay, too! Just make sure you’re getting the experience you want for the price you’re paying.
Posing Guidance
Most new boudoir photographers are very anxious about how to pose. I was the same way when I first started out and there’s really no way to get over it without getting through it (or whatever they say, haha). Posing is VERY important in boudoir photography, though. If your photographer is brand new, they should be doing model calls and practicing before posing full paying clients. Remember my boudoir horror story above? The whole issue with that was her not knowing how to pose to avoid accentuating my cellulite. Someone that has experience in this field knows how to pose you so you don’t have to worry about that. Also, some photographers are more “natural” and won’t pose you specific ways, and that’s okay, too! Just another reason to make sure you’re hiring the RIGHT boudoir photographer for you.
It’s so, SO important that you find the right photographer for YOU. Research your area and if you can’t find anyone you like, go even further outside of your area. I’ve had people fly in from out of state to work with me. I have clients who drive 2+ hours to work with me. I have clients who live 20 minutes away. To work with the right person who is going to give you an amazing boudoir experience, sometimes you have to travel. Make a trip of it and have FUN. That’s what this is all about, anyway.
xoxo,
Ashton
