Ask a Boudoir Photographer: "Do I have to know how to pose? I'm super awkward!"
Do I Have to Know How to Pose for Boudoir?
Question:
“Hi Chicago Boudoir, I have a question. I’ve always thought boudoir photos looked beautiful, but I’m honestly terrible in front of a camera. Whenever someone takes my picture I feel awkward and I never know what to do with my hands or how to pose. I’m worried I would just look stiff or uncomfortable. Is boudoir something you have to already know how to pose for?”
Answer from Chicago Boudoir:
Oh, trust me! You are NOT the only woman who has said this to me!
I hear versions of this all the time, and honestly, I completely understand why women worry about it. Most of us aren't used to having someone intentionally photograph us, especially when we're wearing very little clothing! When someone pulls out a phone and says, “Okay, pose!” most of us aren't suddenly channeling our inner supermodel.
But here's the good news… you don't need to know how to pose before you come into the studio. That's my job to help you ever step of the way!
You don't need modeling experience, you don't need to practice in the mirror and you definitely don't need to walk in knowing what you're supposed to do with your hands. I'll guide you through the entire thing, from the first pose to the last photograph.
You Don’t Have to Know How to Pose
One of the biggest misconceptions about boudoir photography is that you need to walk into the studio already knowing how to pose. You don't. I've photographed thousands of women, and most of them didn't have a clue what they were doing when they arrived—and that's completely fine.
During your session, I'm going to walk you through everything. I'll show you where to put your hands, how to position your legs and feet, where to turn your shoulders, how to move your hips and even what to do with your face. I'll demonstrate poses when I need to, make little adjustments along the way and keep talking you through the entire process.
You aren't standing in front of my camera thinking, Okay...now what? I'm right there with you, telling you exactly what to do.
And after a few poses, you'll start to get the hang of it. What felt completely foreign at the beginning starts to feel much more natural, and that's when the fun really starts.
A Skilled Photographer Makes All the Difference
When you book a boudoir session with me, you are not hiring me to simply stand behind a camera and tell you to “do your thing.” 😂 You are hiring me to know how to photograph you.
I pay attention to all the little things that can make a difference in an image. The way you're standing, the position of your hands, the angle of your shoulders, your facial expression and how you're moving from one pose into the next.
I'm constantly watching what's happening in front of my camera. If something needs a little adjustment, I'll tell you. If I see an angle I love, we'll stay there and work with it. If a pose isn't feeling comfortable or natural, we'll move on.
My goal is for you to feel like you are being taken care of throughout the entire session. You shouldn't have to worry about whether you're doing it right. That's why I’m here!
Boudoir Posing Is Very Different from Everyday Photos
Think about the photographs you normally see of yourself. They're probably quick snapshots taken at dinner, on vacation, at a birthday party or when someone hands you their phone and says, “Stand over there!”
Those pictures aren't necessarily bad, but nobody is thinking about your lighting, your posture, your body position or the most flattering angle when they're snapping a photo in three seconds.
Boudoir photography is completely different because every image is intentional. I'm thinking about the lighting, the composition, your pose, your expression and how everything works together before I take the photograph.
That's why you might look at a boudoir image and think, How did she make that look so natural?
It's because there was a lot happening behind the scenes that you didn't have to think about.
Sometimes It's the Tiniest Little Adjustment
One of the things women are often surprised by is how much difference a tiny adjustment can make in a photograph.
Maybe I have you shift your hip slightly, relax your shoulders, turn your face toward the light or move your hand just a couple of inches. None of these things feel particularly dramatic while you're doing them, but they can completely change the way the final image looks.
That's why I don't expect you to know how to pose on your own. I'm watching the photograph as it's coming together and making those little adjustments in real time.
You might not even realize why I'm asking you to move a certain way. Then you see the finished image and suddenly understand exactly what I was seeing.
The Session Is Designed to Help You Relax
Of course, knowing that I'm going to guide you doesn't necessarily make those first few minutes feel completely comfortable. It's still a boudoir photoshoot, after all!
Most women are a little nervous when they first arrive, and that's completely normal. That's one of the reasons I don't expect you to walk in and immediately start posing like you've been doing this your entire life. We ease into it. You get settled, have your professional hair and makeup done, we talk about your outfits and I get a feel for what you're comfortable with. By the time we start shooting, you've had a chance to relax and get familiar with me and the studio.
And then we start with something simple.
Before long, you're moving from one pose to the next, we're chatting and laughing, and that nervous feeling starts to fade. In fact, one of my favorite things to hear during a session is, “Okay, this is actually really fun!” Because that's exactly what I want it to be.
You Might Be More Photogenic Than You Think
Many women believe they are simply “not photogenic.” And usually what they REALLY mean is that they don't like the way they look in the photographs other people have taken of them.
But there's a BIG difference between being photographed casually and having someone intentionally create a portrait of you.
When I'm photographing you, I'm not waiting for a lucky moment. I'm creating the moment. I'm choosing the lighting, guiding your pose, watching your expressions and making adjustments so that everything comes together in a flattering way.
That's why I love seeing a woman look at the back of my camera for the first time and say, “Wait...that's me?”
Sometimes you aren't “bad at pictures.” You just haven't had someone photograph you in a way that shows you what you're actually capable of looking like.
Feeling Awkward at First Is Completely Normal
I don't expect you to walk into the studio and immediately feel completely natural in front of my camera. Most people don't! There is usually a little bit of awkwardness at the beginning while you're getting used to the experience and figuring out how this whole boudoir thing works. But that's exactly why I'm there.
As you get more comfortable with the posing and realize that I'm going to keep guiding you through everything, you can stop worrying so much about whether you're doing it “right.” You can start listening to the music, laughing, moving and enjoying yourself instead of thinking about the camera. And that's when I start seeing the real you come through in the photographs.
So if your biggest concern is “I'm going to be so awkward,” I promise you don't have to arrive knowing how to do this. Give me a little time, trust my direction and let me take care of the rest.
Want to Know What Your Session Would Actually Be Like?
If the thought of posing in front of a camera makes you nervous, you're in very good company. You don't need to know how to pose, you don't need modeling experience and you definitely don't need to practice your facial expressions in the mirror before you come in.
During your complimentary phone consultation, we can talk about what you're nervous about, how I guide you through the session and what you can expect from the experience. It's also a great chance to ask me anything you've been wondering about before you decide whether boudoir is right for you.
Call or text me at 312-425-2946 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
Madeleine’s Story: “I Thought I’d Be Too Awkward for a Boudoir Photoshoot”
Before my boudoir session, I was SURE I was going to be terrible at it. I'm not someone who feels natural in front of a camera, and whenever someone takes my picture, I never know what to do.
When I talked to Liz, she reassured me that I didn't need any experience and that she would guide me through everything. I was still nervous when I started, but after getting my hair and makeup done and spending a little time getting comfortable in the studio, I actually started to enjoy myself.
Liz showed me how to position my body, where to put my hands, how to move and where to look. I didn’t feel awkward or like I was doing anything the wrong way.
When I saw my photos, I couldn’t believe how confident and relaxed I looked! I never would have guessed that I could look as flawless as my final images, and I loved every single one!
I'm really glad I didn't let fear stop me. If you're worried that you're not photogenic or don't know how to pose, you really don't need to figure it out before you come in. Trust Liz and her team! They’re miracle workers! ;-)
Ask a Boudoir Photographer Series
This article is part of our Ask a Boudoir Photographer series. Many women have questions, concerns and hesitations before booking something as personal a boudoir photoshoot, and that’s completely normal. In this series we answer questions that real Chicago women ask us all the time about boudoir photography. If you’d like to read more in this series, you can explore other questions and answers here. And if you have a question of your own, please text us at 312-425-2946 or email it to hello@chicago-boudoir.com.