Bang For Your Buck: Luxury Boudoir Pricing Exposed
Boudoir Pricing Includes More Than You Think!
It’s no secret that a boudoir photoshoot is luxurious. Still, you might be a bit confused when you first hear about standard boudoir pricing. Is a boudoir session really worth a few hundred dollars?
Well, technically, no. All things considered, booking a boudoir photo session with a professional studio like Chicago Boudoir actually saves you money. If you tried to create professional quality on your own, you might spend over $1,030!!
If you’re ready to save money right now, click here to schedule a photoshoot consultation with Chicago Boudoir. Otherwise, here is the true cost of doing things DIY.
What Even Goes Into Boudoir Pricing?
Sometimes women feel a little sticker shock when they hear about the standard boudoir pricing in the professional industry. You might be tempted to save some money and try to pull off a DIY photoshoot. Unfortunately, this well-intentioned budget “hack” often backfires. Here’s why:
Renting a ‘Photo Studio’ Space ($400)
It all starts with a glamorous studio setting. Boudoir might mean “a woman’s bedroom”, but your bedroom likely won’t have the right sort of open space and lighting needed for quality photos. That means you’ll need a professional studio space for top-tier images.
At our studio in Winnetka, we have multiple backdrops and bedroom sets available for maximum variety. There aren’t rental spaces like that on the market. However, a passable studio space would likely run you about $100 per hour. With us, a session is 4 hours long – that’s $400 already!
Professional Hair and Makeup on Location ($250)
Anyone who's taken a selfie knows that what looks good in person might not pop on camera. That is why professional hair and makeup is an absolute MUST when estimating your boudoir pricing.
At Chicago Boudoir, we only hire stylists that are experienced with all skin tones and hair textures. That’s a rarity in the beauty industry. Experienced hair and makeup artists like that charge a premium. With us, hair and makeup services are a complimentary part of every session. On your own, you might spend another $250 for equal quality.
Boudoir Accessories ($300)
If you are doing your own photoshoot, you’d have to make choices. Which classic boudoir accessories do you actually want to incorporate into your photoshoot? The 5 ft tall angel wings are an absolute classic. But are you willing to pay $1200 for prop angel wings you’ll never wear again and likely can’t return?
Props add a whole new dimension to your boudoir photos. Of course, the price here will always vary depending on what is important to you. The average woman at Chicago Boudoir, however, uses about $300 worth of accessories in one photoshoot (and that’s only if you don’t count the angel wings).
Professional Photography Equipment ($730)
Your iPhone might take great vacation photos. Sadly, it can’t compete with professional photography equipment. A professional digital camera will make or break a photoshoot. Period.
The bare minimum is a DSLR camera, lighting, and a tripod. You should also consider some sort of photo editing software in case you want to do any retouching (PSST, we offer complimentary photo retouching on every purchased image).
Even if you really scraped together some deals, all of this would be at least $730! Add that to your at-home boudoir pricing list.
Over a Decade of Boudoir Photography Experience (Priceless)
Liz has photographed over 2,000 women in the boudoir style – have you? She knows all the best poses, camera hacks, and lighting tips. This experience is absolutely priceless and can’t really be directly explained in a boudoir pricing guide.
And yet, you’ll know experience when you see it! A properly trained photographer is an absolute must if you are looking high quality boudoir photos, whether you are giving a one-of-a-kind gift to your partner or creating something just for you to treasure.
And That’s Just The Photoshoot!
We’ve already talked about why printing your private boudoir photos at the local drug store is a bad idea. Some stores won’t even print your photos if they are at all “suggestive”. It’s a big gamble, so using a discreet quality printer is essential. You need to consider that when figuring out your at-home boudoir pricing too.
The best printers only work with professional photographers directly. You might not even have access to the best products if you try to go on your own. If you value quality AND privacy, using a legitimate studio is your best bet.
Feeling More Comfortable About Boudoir Pricing?
You could spend the next 3 months pining at-home boudoir tips on Pinterest and saving over a thousand dollars, just to create amateur results. OR you can save time and money by booking a luxury boudoir photoshoot at Chicago Boudoir. It’s an easy choice. Click the link below to schedule a free consultation!