Your Boudoir Session Is Months Away… So What Do You Do Until Then?
One of the best parts about booking a boudoir session a few months ahead is that you actually have time to enjoy the lead-up to it instead of realizing next Friday that your shoot is Tuesday and panic-booking every beauty appointment in Seattle.
And no, I am not about to hand you a three-month makeover plan. You don’t need one. But if you’ve been looking for an excuse to finally book the facial, go lingerie shopping in person, get your nails done, or spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing productive at a spa… congratulations. I fully support using your boudoir session as the excuse.
Here’s how I’d space things out before your boudoir session.
TWO TO THREE MONTHS OUT: Deal With the Stuff That Takes a Little Time
If skincare is something you want to focus on, start now instead of throwing something brand new at your face five days before photos. For a facial or some actual guidance on what your skin needs, Skin Spirit is a great place to start. They have multiple locations (I personally see Gabrielle in Redmond) and their staff is always so knowledgeable and attentive. They offer a full range of services, and in fact, I am part way through my laser hair removal and loving it!
This is also when I’d start lingerie shopping. Not because you need three months to buy underwear. 😂 Because shopping when you have time is SO much better than ordering twelve things online at the last minute and discovering that exactly one of them fits the way you thought it would.
Sliding Drawers on Bainbridge Island is absolutely fantastic, and full service. They are by appointment only so you will get their undivided attention, your personalized fitting, and all pieces are hand selected and ordered based on your measurements. When I tell you their stuff is SO GOOOOOD. Bellefleur Lingerie Boutique in Fremont is also a great spot. Beautiful and high quality pieces throughout.
ABOUT A MONTH OUT: TEST-DRIVE ANYTHING NEW
If you want to wax or sugar before your session and you’ve never done it before, please do not make your first appointment the day before your shoot. Try it ahead of time. That lets you see how your skin reacts and whether you even like it.
Sugar Plum: The Sugaring Experts - Downtown Seattle specializes in sugaring and has multiple Seattle-area locations.. If you decide it’s your thing, then you can schedule your final appointment closer to your session instead of making your first ever Brazilian part of an already-eventful boudoir week.
Same idea with brows, spray tans, new hair color, lash services, or aggressive skincare treatments: test it out early. The week before photos is not when we conduct beauty science experiments.
TWO WEEKS OUT: GIVE YOURSELF A DAMN DAY OFF
This one has basically nothing to do with how you photograph. Go do something because you want to, like booking a massage, going to a sauna to sweat it out, and taking yourself to lunch afterwards. But if you do that, promise me you’ll put your phone away for a couple hours.
Seattle has plenty of places to make an entire afternoon out of it, including downtown hotel spas. Visit Seattle specifically highlights several options around the city for massages, facials, body treatments and other spa services.
You’re about to spend a day doing something completely centered around you. Starting that mindset before you ever walk into the studio is not a bad idea.
THE WEEK BEFORE: NAILS, BUT MAKE THEM YOUR NAILS
Your hands are absolutely going to be in your photos, so if getting your nails done makes you feel put together, this is a good week for it. Little Nail Room on East Madison is a cute option if you want more of a relaxed nail-spa experience. If you’re a nail-art girl, Urban Nail Box - Ballard is another Seattle option known for gel services and detailed nail art. I’m in Bellevue and love The Herbal Nail Spa here.
You absolutely do not have to get some specific “boudoir manicure,” either. Nude nails will photograph beautifully. If you are a nail girl - show out if that’s what you want to do. They’re your pictures. Just keep in mind that we are photographing YOU, and we don’t want your neon yellow nails to steal the show :).
THE LAST FEW DAYS: STOP TRYING TO PREP
At this point, we are done reinventing anything. It’s now time to hydrate hydrate HYDRATE. Yes, that means you do in fact need to drink. your water, as well as get much needed sleep. And please don’t forget to moisturize! Start packing a couple days prior to your session and, most importantly, do not spend the final 48 hours inspecting yourself for things you suddenly believe need to be fixed before I photograph you. They don’t, I promise.
The months leading up to your boudoir photography session can be part of the fun. Use them to shop without rushing, take care of things you’ve been putting off, and book a couple things simply because having something exciting on your calendar is a damn good excuse to treat yourself a little better.
Then show up. I’ll handle the camera part.
