A day in my life as a boudoir photographer during the pandemic
In case you’ve ever wondered what a boudoir session is like these days and how I keep it as covid-safe as possible, read on!
We've reached the one-year mark of the pandemic (at least, one year since it started dramatically affecting our day-to-day lives) and in some ways, things are feeling so hopeful (vaccines are rolling out! warmer days are ahead!). And in other ways, the pandemic is still significant and happening and I still talk with clients every week who are concerned about their safety and wonderful what I'm doing to keep my clients safe during photoshoots.
So, I thought that today I'd give you a little peek into my boudoir session process during covid - I'll share what I'm doing to keep boudoir sessions safe (and what things will continue even as our world opens back up).
The night before a session:
The night before a boudoir session, I used to just pack my bags and prep my coffee for the next morning :) Now, I also take my temperature the day before a session.
I reschedule photoshoots if I have any symptoms or fever (and I ask that my clients and my hair and makeup artists do the very same thing.) I really emphasize full transparency with our health – I am more than happy to reschedule if anyone feels even a tinge of sickness coming on or may have been exposed to someone who was ill. I keep a flexible schedule so that we can prioritize all of our wellbeing, health, and safety first and foremost!
I also make sure to go to bed extra early… although that's not because of the pandemic - I always just want to make sure my brain is well rested so that I'm energized and ready to be creative! This might sound funny, but I’ve always believed that when someone hires me to be their photographer, they’re hiring my brain haha! I always want to bring my best self to the studio, and for me that starts with a solid night of sleep :) Anyone else been really valuing rest and long nights of sleep lately? :)
What I do when I arrive to the studio before a boudoir session
My pre-photoshoot morning routine looks fairly similar to pre-pandemic… I make coffee with my french press (I take my temperature one more time while I wait for the water to boil!) and I get dressed. Then I usually sit with my pup in my lap and read a book or scroll through some news for a bit while I have my first cup of coffee. Anyone else love having a dog snuggle right away in the morning? :) I grab a second cup of coffee while I have breakfast (I usually aim for something with lots of protein to keep me going through the whole photoshoot - I won’t take my mask off until after the session, so I have a giant meal and a lot of water too!)
I have a mask on already when I walk into the studio – I want to make sure I don’t bring any potential germs from home!
After I walk in the studio doors, the first thing I do is make sure that the air filters are running correctly. I have two industrial-sized HEPA air filters that I run in the studio 24/7. The air in the studio usually still smells a little like bleach when I arrive because I clean the studio last thing before I leave after every visit, so I usually light a candle and open a window to get fresh air circulating!
For the most part, the physical studio space looks really similar to how it did pre-pandemic with just a couple small changes. There are four hand sanitizer stations throughout the space. There’s a canister of bleach wipes next to a box of paper surgical masks near the front door.
And there are fewer soft things around -- I don’t have rugs anymore, the throw pillows are in storage, and there are no longer fuzzy blankets draped on the bed. (The bed actually looks a bit naked; there are no sheets on it, and I hold off on bringing out clean, fresh sheets until my client is ready for them!)
Apart from those details, it's the same beautiful space!! I always get so inspired just walking inside and at this point on a session day I'm just so pumped for my client to arrive!
Next: my client arrives!
My client arrives a bit later wearing a mask as well. If they've opted to have their hair and makeup professionally done, the hair and makeup artist comes to the studio wearing a mask as well and with all of their gear sanitized!
I help my client settle in for the day, minus the usual hugs. I let them hang up their clothes themself so that we can talk through each outfit and make final wardrobe decisions without me touching their belongings.
The client then chats with the hair and makeup artist, then takes off their mask (the hair and makeup artist leaves their mask on, of course)!
I've also found that more clients are choosing to do their own hair and makeup these days, which is also a fantastic option (it can be great for a more everyday/natural look, and reduces the potential exposure of working closely with an artist). These clients show up ready to go for the session and we just dive right in!
What the session looks like
Aside from a couple of things, the boudoir session experience looks just about the same! I’m still demonstrating poses, we still have fun music playing, clients get to enjoy coffee or tea or champagne. We still laugh a ton!
A few tiny things are different, and these make a big impact in terms of safety. I’m keeping at least six feet away from clients at all times. I also no longer adjust my clients’ hair or bra straps for them -- I just guide them to make small adjustments as needed.
The spirit of the day is actually more celebratory than ever, I think! I’m hearing from clients that it feels more special to enjoy a safe, luxurious, uplifting experience during the pandemic than ever before.
After the session
We have the same afternoon break where clients go do something lovely to enjoy the afternoon! Clients tell me that they often relax at home rather than adventuring around town. They get takeout to enjoy for lunch at home, and then enjoy doing a virtual yoga class, taking a bubble bath, or having cozy reading time!
I’ve had a couple of clients request that I do their portrait reveal virtually that evening to further limit their exposure, which I’m happy to accommodate. Most of my clients still choose to return to the studio for their portrait reveal, and we do it just as usual, just with masks on (and a couple bleach wipes here and there). Either way, I promise that it’s an incredibly magical experience!
What I do after my client goes home
After my client leaves, I pack up all of the laundry – any linens that the client or I touched – from that session to wash. Then I start my cleaning routine: I wipe down all surfaces, light switches, the bed frame, doorknobs, and more (I have a checklist!) with CDC and Minnesota Department of Health-approved cleaning products. I sanitize down the entire studio floor with my handy robot mop.
Once I've finished cleaning, the robot mop is usually still zooming around for a bit so I take a few minutes to place my client's order (yay!!! One of the most fun parts of my job - I'm always so excited after clients choose their art that I like to place their album/box orders asap!!) and backup their files.
Then I load up my bag and head home!!! On photoshoot days, my sweet partner usually has dinner waiting for me when I get back – and after a long and fun day, I'm so ready to eat!! :)
How will things change as the world opens back up?
I've started having clients ask me if I'm still wearing masks at the studio, or if I've stopped my cleaning practices now that 'things are opening back up'.
The short answer is : I'm not making changes anytime soon. I'll continue wearing a mask (as will my hair/makeup artists) for the foreseeable future. I'll continue my careful cleaning practices as long as the CDC and the MN Dept of Health recommend it.
Having these procedures in place take a little extra effort, but honestly it allows boudoir sessions to carry on quite safely and doesn't negatively affect the boudoir experience - and I'm willing to take the extra steps for as long as it feels safe.
Want to learn more?
If you want to check out more details about what I’m doing to keep my clients and studio safe during the pandemic, here is a link to a blog post that I’ve continued to update throughout the year with my current protocols and practices!
If you’re interested in learning more about a boudoir session, click here to download my session info/pricing guide and learn more - and you can use the contact page to reach out about booking or ask me any questions you have!