Ready to take your boudoir session outside?

Photographing outdoor boudoir sessions was once a faraway dream I wasn’t sure clients shared - but when I asked my Instagram community if they were interested, they responded with a resounding yes! If you have been following along in the last year you know that this is when I decided to do a model call looking for a few people to explore this dream with me and provide examples of what it could look like for others who are interested in taking their session outside.

I’ve found that as I talk about outdoor boudoir, so many folks immediately have questions about how it works, what’s different from studio sessions, and some logistical/weather/wardrobe/safety questions. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned!

In planning an outdoor boudoir session, we’ll begin the process with a planning chat to talk about your vision. Just like boudoir sessions in my studio, we will talk about the style/feeling you’d like your pictures to have, what parts of your body you love, what you really want to celebrate in this moment of life, and all the planning details that bring your session to life. In addition to that typical session planning, we will also talk about location (this is where your dreaming comes in!!) and whether or not it involves significant travel on my end. I love travelling for photoshoots and will calculate a basic travel expense fee if necessary. 

How to choose an outdoor boudoir location

Location considerations  involve thinking about what kinds of places you want to be photographed (are you comfortable somewhere public? On a private property you know? Somewhere public but secluded and quiet?) and then narrowing down specific spots at your location choice to consider. The time of day is then a factor once location is chosen, because unlike the controlled environment of my studio (where I know exactly how the light manifests throughout the day), we will need to talk through rain backup plans and when the light will be best based on the location. There is also a greater level of flexibility necessary with outdoor boudoir, as I often need to tweak the timing a couple of days ahead of time based on the weather and lighting. 

Wardrobe (and safety/comfort) considerations for an outdoor boudoir session

We will talk in detail about what you are comfortable with in terms of how public or private a location is, what you are comfortable wearing if other people are present, and what kinds of posing you are comfortable doing outside. This is important and helpful to talk through ahead of time because I do not want to assume you will be uncomfortable being seen by others and also do not want to assume you are totally comfortable being seen by others during your session. Boudoir can be an experience of stepping out of your comfort zone in a really healthy and lovely way that feels good, yet I do not think that stepping out of your comfort zone should come through other people seeing you. 

What to expect when we arrive

On the day of your outdoor boudoir session, we’ll meet as planned at the location! We’ll begin by walking around and exploring the area to get a sense for the lighting and foliage, and we’ll choose the areas to spend our time taking pictures. Then we’ll pause while you change into your first outfit (one outdoor boudoir client brought along an oversized flowy dress that she could change under, which she recommended!). The photoshoot itself will flow quite similarly to my in-studio sessions - I’ll share pose ideas with you, demonstrate every pose and give you a lot of direction/guidance throughout the photoshoot. 

Outdoor boudoir sessions are truly an adventure and an incredible boudoir experience for those who feel connected to nature or a special place. Whether you decide to take your session outside or join me in the studio, my focus as a boudoir photographer is on celebrating your inner light, embracing your favorite features, and documenting the things that you want to remember about yourself from this moment in time. Check out all of Maddie’s natural, soulful boudoir portraits in Colorado for more outdoor boudoir inspiration!