Inspiring Client Motivations for Booking Boudoir Sessions

When I first started doing boudoir I had no idea how many different motivations and reasons people would have for doing their sessions. Back before I photographed my first boudoir session, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the motivations people would have and could really only imagine two categories: people doing a session for themselves or as a gift for someone else. In my years of doing boudoir, however, I have heard SO MANY different stories from people about why they booked a session with me. 

A wedding has certainly proven to be motivating event - an interesting thing I’ve found is that  almost all those who do a bridal boudoir session are folks who have been thinking about boudoir for a while, and because they are getting married it feels like it is a good opportunity and socially supported time to do a session. The best part? Literally 100% of my bridal boudoir clients end up saying that their session was just as much (if not more) for them as it was for their partner. It can be a great opportunity to do something for yourself and create a gift in that season of life. I have had others do boudoir as a gift for an anniversary or a holiday present, as well. 

“My first session was purely a bridal session, and I was very nervous and insecure about it. Afterwards I realized that not only did I have fun in the session, but I also loved how the photos turned out. I did my second session as a first anniversary gift, but honestly it was more for me. After a year of marriage I was more confident in myself and where I was at in life and I really wanted to celebrate that.” - Jen

I have also had several people do a session for what they say is no particular reason, just a self-loving gift for themselves - which I think is amazing. They often say they want to do something special or unique for themselves and celebrate where they are at in life with a day of radical self-love. Sometimes people will do this around a holiday or birthday.

“I was always intrigued by boudoir, but it always seemed ‘too sexy’ for my taste. Upon being introduced to Illuminate Boudoir (ie likely stumbling upon your work on Instagram!) I found that there are artists out there who want to capture the parts of me that I love, too! After a really trying year and a half I used my boudoir session to step a bit out of my comfort zone and celebrate me.” - M

 “I am doing a session to remind myself that I am worthy and beautiful.” - Elizabeth

Other specific reasons I have noticed in terms of trends are milestone birthdays like a 30, 40, 50, or 60th birthday - I have had amazing clients in to celebrate all of those! I have also worked with  folks who do boudoir sessions a few years after getting married and before having kids to acknowledge and celebrate the chapter of life they are in, before a season of becoming a parent. 

I have also had some amazing sessions with moms who have kids in junior high or high school and want to give themselves something that is special and have a day to themselves - sometimes for the first time in a decade or two. I have also had a number of clients who are embracing where they are at in a new season of life or a couple years after a divorce. Or, someone who is looking back at a chapter of life where they just came out of something that was really difficult, and are proud of where they are at now - which I think is super powerful.

“Celebrating my eating disorder recovery and new found appreciation for my body after breaking up with an abusive partner <3” - Candice

“For me, experiencing a boudoir session was all about asserting ownership over my body and the way it is represented. I was tired of being bombarded by the negatives both in society and in my own head, and I wanted to embrace my power, my sexuality, and my whole self.” - Autumn

There really are as many motivations for boudoir sessions as there are clients I photograph, and it is always an honor to be trusted with their stories and portraits. I asked my past clients on Instagram if they would help me out and share why they did a boudoir session and 47% said just because - total self-love gift, 27% said I was getting married and did bridal boudoir, 13% said survived a really challenging year, 3% said life milestone, and 10% said something totally different/that didn’t quite capture the whole story. Several clients even shared their motivations in their own words, their responses are shared with permission in this post. 

Whatever your reason or motivation, I am excited to welcome you into the studio and create an unforgettable day of self-celebration! For more boudoir session information and pricing details download my boudoir magazine.