Ask a Boudoir Photographer: "I want to book a boudoir photoshoot, but life keeps getting in the way!"
Ask a Boudoir Photographer: "I want to book a boudoir photoshoot, but life keeps getting in the way!"
Question:
“Hi Chicago Boudoir, I have a question. I’ve been thinking about doing a boudoir photoshoot for a long time, but every time I start to consider it, something gets in the way. I have kids and finding childcare can be tricky, my schedule is busy, and it just feels like there are a lot of little obstacles. I still really want to do it though. Is this something other women deal with?”
Answer from Chicago Boudoir:
Oh, girl. If I had a dollar for every time I heard this statement! :-)
You want to do a boudoir photoshoot. You've been thinking about it for months, or maybe even YEARS, but somehow there's always something else that needs your attention first.
The kids need to be somewhere. Work is crazy. Someone needs a ride. There's a birthday party. A soccer game. A dentist appointment. The laundry is multiplying. And suddenly you're thinking, When exactly am I supposed to squeeze a boudoir photoshoot into all of this?!
Here's the thing… you are definitely not the only woman trying to figure this out. Most of the women who come into my studio have busy lives. They have jobs, kids, partners, businesses, aging parents, packed calendars and a million things competing for their attention. There probably isn't going to be a magical week where everything is perfectly calm and you have absolutely nothing else to do.
Sometimes you just have to decide that this is something you want to make room for and actually BOOK the session!
There Is Probably Never Going to Be a “Perfect” Time
Many women tell themselves they will book a boudoir session once life slows down.
Maybe when work is less busy. When the kids are older. When schedules are easier to manage. When everything lines up perfectly.
But life rarely works that way.
For most women, booking a boudoir photoshoot isn't about suddenly having a completely free calendar. It's about looking at the calendar, picking a date and deciding, Okay. I'm going to make this happen.
And honestly? Planning it a little farther out can make a HUGE difference. Once you have an actual date on the calendar, you can figure out the childcare, schedule a day off of work, and start getting excited instead of just thinking about it.
Let's Figure Out the Logistics
Sometimes the thing keeping you from booking isn't that you don't want to do it. It's that you're looking at the whole thing at once and thinking, How the heck am I going to make all of this work? Start with one thing… picking a date.
Once you have a date, you can work backward. Who needs to be where, childcare, work meetings, what to bring and what outfits to purchase… You don't have to solve every detail before you book.
And if you need to schedule farther out because that's what your life requires, that's completely fine, too. I'd much rather help you find a date that works for your real life than have you keep putting it off because you're waiting for your calendar to magically clear itself.
A Few Hours That Are Completely Yours
A boudoir session in the studio usually lasts just 3-4 hours from start to finish, but for many women it becomes one of the few times where the focus is completely on them.
There are no work responsibilities, no errands to run, and no one else to take care of during that time. It becomes a rare opportunity to relax, enjoy professional hair and makeup, and experience something that is entirely about celebrating yourself.
That time can feel incredibly refreshing.
Sometimes the Hardest Part Is Just Finally Booking It
I can't tell you how many women spend months, or even YEARS, thinking about doing a boudoir photoshoot. They look at the website portfolio, save photos they love, think about what they might wear and tell themselves, Someday I'm going to do this.
And then life happens. Another busy season at work comes along. The kids' schedules get even crazier. There's a vacation to plan, a birthday, a million appointments or just the everyday chaos that seems to fill up the calendar before you even realize it.
Before you know it, another six months have gone by and you're still saying, Someday.
Sometimes the hardest part isn't actually figuring out the logistics. It's making the decision to stop waiting for the perfect time and put a date on the calendar.
The important thing to remember is that you don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out. You can call or text me, tell me what's been holding you back, ask all your questions and get a better idea of what the process actually looks like. From there, we can figure out a date that works for your life and give you plenty of time to plan.
Sometimes having an actual date on the calendar is all it takes to turn “I really want to do this someday” into “Okay, I'm actually doing this!” 😉
You Don't Have to Earn the Right to Do Something Just for You
I know how easy it is to put yourself at the bottom of the list. There's always something more practical to spend your time on. Someone else who needs you. Another responsibility that feels more important.
But doing something for yourself doesn't mean you don't care about everyone else. Sometimes it's simply nice to do something because you want to.
A boudoir photoshoot doesn't have to be tied to a birthday, anniversary, weight loss goal, relationship milestone or any other reason. You can just want to have beautiful photographs of yourself. You can want to get dressed up, get pampered, laugh a little and do something completely different from your normal Tuesday.
That's reason enough to give yourself permission to feel confident, beautiful, and appreciated.
Want to hear other women’s boudoir journey stories? Be sure to check them out here!
Ready to Stop Waiting for the “Right” Time?
If you've been thinking about a boudoir photoshoot but keep finding reasons why now isn't the right time, let's at least talk about it.
During your complimentary phone consultation, we can talk through the experience, your schedule, what you need to plan ahead for and any questions you have. You don't have to have everything figured out before you reach out.
Sometimes the first step is simply finding a date that actually works for your life.
Call or text me at 312-425-2946 to schedule your complimentary consultation.
What If Your Schedule Really Is Crazy?
Maybe you're reading this thinking, Okay, but Liz, you don't understand. My schedule really IS crazy. 😂
And you might be right! I'm not going to tell you that finding a few hours for yourself is always easy. Sometimes it isn't.
That's why I encourage women to look at the experience as something to plan for, rather than something they have to squeeze into an already-packed day.
If you know you need childcare, give yourself time to arrange it. If work is unpredictable, choose a date that's farther out. If mornings are easier than afternoons, let's look at what works for you. If it needs to be on a Saturday, I’ve got you!
And if right now genuinely isn't the right time? That's okay, too. You don't have to force it.
But if you've been saying “someday” for the last two years and the only thing standing between you and your photoshoot is waiting for life to slow down...maybe it's time to put a date on the calendar.
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.