There are tons of lists out there on how to prepare for your boudoir session, but what about what NOT to do?! With several hundreds of boudoir sessions under out belt and years of experience, here are my top 3 HIGHLY suggested “don’t”s!

1.Getting drunk beforehand to calm the nerves.

Okay, to be completely honest, I’ve thankfully never had anyone show up drunk or impaired to a session- but it definitely happens in the boudoir community! While a little bit of bubbly can help some people loosen up a bit, it is definitely easy to accidentally go too far when you’re caught up in the nerves. In general, I strongly suggest no shots, alcoholic drinks, or anything else that can impair you for a few reasons.

Firstly, because I normally shoot boudoir sessions between 9am-12pm! Now, we all love a good brunch mimosa, just not before a boudoir session.

Secondly, you want to remember the nerves! There is a newfound sense of empowerment and accomplishment in knowing that you pushed through that nervous feeling and did something daring and brave. You’ll feel like a brand new person afterwards, and you don’t want that feeling to be hindered by alcohol!

Thirdly, because its really not safe! Not including the fact that you may be driving to our studio (or a session in another location), but it’s hard work! The photos always look steamy and relaxed, but the whole posing process can take some coordination. I hear a ton of clients say that they were sore after their session because it was a workout! Boudoir is an amazing experience, and we would hate for an injury to ruin that for you.

2. Obsessing over others’ boudoir images

It is absolutely okay to find posing, outfit, and makeup inspo on the web before your session, but don’t let yourself fall into the dark hole of self-comparison! Unfortunately, when searching for boudoir inspiration, initial search results may show only one body type. Not only might this make you feel like your body isn’t “right” for boudoir, but it may discourage you from doing your session at all! Rebel Boudoir is known for its’ inclusivity and body positivity. We know how to pose every body type to make sure you look and feel as sexy and empowered as possible, but the internet can be a dark place when it comes to body image issues.

I personally think it’s best to come to your boudoir session with a blank slate, open to what we have to offer! This usually helps you focus on your own growth and experience, without tons of other images in your head. We pose you every single step of the way, so you don’t have to worry about knowing what to do beforehand. You’ll feel better about your pictures once you see them and can have a genuine opinion, without the Pinterest version floating around in your head!

3. Using artificial tanning agents or any other new skin products

Say a big ol’ NO to any artificial tanning! Lotions, bottles, even salon spray tans. If you fake tan before your session, you risk several things going wrong! Having missed spots, uneven coloring, even looking orange under our studio lighting could happen. Which is definitely NOT something we want for you! Also, some salons require you to wear underwear and/or nipple coverings while getting spray tanned. So you would have some pretty drastic tan lines! (PS- we do not edit out tan lines or color correct.)

If you’re worried about looking too pale for your shoot, NEVER FEAR! We promise to give you a healthy and natural looking glow in your images, so please don’t worry about that beforehand!

When it comes to using new products like lotions, perfumes, and face masks- I KNOW IT’S TEMPTING! Believe me, I feel like a brand new person after trying a new mud mask too. But there’s always risks with trying new products! Your skin could possibly have a reaction and develop a rash, bumps, or some other kind of flare up right before your session.

Glowing, healthy, and hydrated skin gives you the most beautiful and natural looking photos. Always try to stick with a familiar product before your session. We retouch any blemishes that may have been gotten rid of by a last minute facial treatment anyways!

Now, I know we have a lot of ladies who have done multiple sessions with us! These are our top 3 don’ts, but what else would YOU suggest to someone who’s looking for tips on their session?! We absolutely love hearing your thoughts, and they may even give us a different perspective on things!

When asking this question in our Hype Girl Boudoir VIP Babe Cave group, we got some really great responses! One of them was:

“Don’t stress yourself out and overthink things! It can be really hard to avoid doing if you’re like me and are a chronic overthinker… but try to just remember that this is going to be a fun and exciting experience, and all else fails, reach out to the Hype Girl team and they’ll help talk you through it!! Talking to them is like talking to a friend!” -Miss L