Boudoir FAQs
Where are the sessions held?
Sessions are held at our studio in Old Town Helena. The original house was built in the 1860s and the add-on to the back of the house was built in the 1930s. The original floors give the house an extra boost of charm. We absolutely love our space and can’t wait for you to see it!
When are the sessions held?
Sessions are available on weekdays only. If a weekend is a must, we have very select Sundays available and there is an additional fee of $150 for a weekend date. The start of your appointment time is when you will come in for hair and makeup and we start at 9am. We are generally finished with everything by 2:30-3pm if that helps with planning your date!
When should I have my session?
Are you doing photos for yourself or to help create a gift for your significant other? If it’s for you- you can really do them whenever you’re ready! If you have a goal, I recommend setting a date to help to push you to reach your goal, no matter what kind of goal it is! We book up to six months in advance, so let’s make it happen!
If you’re doing photos to create a gift, we will need to schedule roughly 6-8 weeks in advance to make sure we have everything back in time. The earlier the better though! We can always work something at the last minute, but there is a rush order fee if we push too close to the date.
Do you offer maternity and couples sessions as well?
We offer both! Maternity sessions (check the photo right above this section — heart eyes!) are shot the same way as regular boudoir sessions and are the same price.
For couples sessions, you will choose your session experience just the same and you’ll still have some photos of just you! There is a $100 add on fee for couples sessions that will be added to your session experience. If you have more questions about couples sessions, please email me!
What is a reveal session?
After your shooting session, you will have a break for roughly an hour or so while I edit your images, and then you will come back to the studio to see them for the first time. All images will be nearly fully edited: color processed and skin smoothed. After seeing your photos, you’ll be able to choose what products you’d like and the photos that go in them. Final editing and touch-up will be done on the images in your order. Black and white processing is available by request.
I don’t want my photos to be online anywhere. Is that alright?
Of course! Everyone signs a model release when they come to shoot. You can decide what photos you’re comfortable to have shared and where you are comfortable with them being shared, even if that’s no photos anywhere at all. The photos you see in my group and on my site have been approved by the women in them. Keep in mind also that the Facebook group is a private group (no men are allowed and we manually approve who is allowed to join).
Are payment plans available?
Yes, they are! These are mainly for products and collections, as your session fee is already split into two payments. You have two choices for payment plans: regular or a pre-payment plan (we’ll get into those in the next question).
Regular payment plans begin at your reveal session and are for orders over $500. For orders over $500, the $500 is due at the reveal to order your products. After that, you can split the remaining amount into payments that can be paid for up to six months following, all due on the same date as your reveal session at minimum. For example, if your reveal is on June 10th and your order is $2000 and you choose to split over three months, you will pay $500 on June 10th at your reveal and the following dates will be when your next payments are due: July 10th, August 10th, September 10th. The payments on those dates will be $500 each (the $1500 due after your first payment is split three ways).
All payment plans require a credit card number to remain on file to be charged on the day your payment is due. You will receive a reminder email the day before your payment charges as well as a receipt once your card has been charged.
Lastly, you don’t have to be paid in full to receive your products. Once you make your first payment at your reveal session, I go ahead and get everything ordered and processed for you. I don’t want you to wait months and be less excited about your products. I want you to have them as soon as possible! Once they’re in, they will be at the studio ready for pickup. I’ll let you know when they arrive and when I will be at the studio for you to be able to come by and get everything! If you aren’t able to come to the studio, we can make other arrangements to get your products to you.
Venmo is another option for payment plans, but your order will not be processed until all payments have been received doing things this way.
I know that is probably A LOT to process and understand, so please email me if it’s confusing in any way! I wanted to give an example so it was hopefully easy to understand!
How do pre-payment plans work?
Pre-payment plans work similarly to regular payment plans, but instead of beginning to pay for them after your session, you can begin paying for them before your session when you book. You can book your boudoir session up to six months in advance and pay as you’d like over time however is easiest for you. A credit card does not have to remain on file and you can pay via credit card, PayPal, or Venmo. A $300 deposit is needed to begin the pre-payment plan along with your session fee deposit to begin the pre-payment plan.
When you do a pre-payment plan, you’re basically building a bank to be able to use at your reveal session. You can decide in advance which products or collections you’d like, or save the money into your plan and decide at the reveal session what you’d like to use it for. You can also start a pre-payment plan and pay what you can beforehand, and then transition into a regular payment plan at your reveal session to cover whatever is left.
If you decide to do a pre-payment plan and choose a product collection, you will receive $100 in collection credit to be able to put towards your collection.
Another question with loooots of info, so please let me know if you have questions about pre-payment plans.
Is there a purchase order minimum?
Yes, we do have a purchase minimum of $750, which if nothing else is ten digital files! We want you to have your images when you leave the studio and in the way you want to cherish them for years to come, in whatever medium that may be. Personally, I have a 20×30 metal hanging up in my room and every time I see it, I remember what a baddie I am and I NEED that daily reminder when life gets hectic. We will work with you to make sure you get what you want (see the above options for payment plans).
What kind of outfits do you recommend? Where are the best places to shop?
Before thinking about specific outfits, I want you to think about your personal style. What makes you feel sexy? Spicy lingerie? A certain color? Comfy but cute jammies? A big t-shirt and boy short panties? Something from your s/o’s closet? The options are endless. I want you to feel like a sexy version of YOU when you come to shoot, whatever that may be! If you want to branch out and try something new, I’m here to help.
I personally love a bodysuit because they really are incredibly flattering for all body types! It’s also something a little outside of what you might usually wear, kinda like how boudoir isn’t something you would do every day.
We have a client closet chock FULL of all kinds of pretties! Lots of bodysuits, bra and panty sets, body chains, robes, shoes, and some fun exclusive pieces too! You are welcome to wear anything from the client closet at your shoot. I do recommend bringing at least one outfit that you know fits and that you love to make sure you have something that you know for sure will work! It can be lingerie, or just a bra and panties, or even something else! If you aren’t sure what would work, bring everything you can think of and we will help you narrow down and choose what works best.
Shoes and jewelry can add extra fun but aren’t necessary (think boots or heals and necklaces or earrings). You can also be in the sheets with just panties (or none!) as an outfit too.
For whatever you bring, be sure to try everything on before coming and take a look in the mirror to make sure you love it and that everything fits right. It also helps if you cut off any tags that are in awkward places. Even if there are more outfits you have that you like than what’s included in your collection, bring them with you and I can help you choose what to wear.
Additional outfits can be added for $75/each.
For lingerie, my favorite shops include Shein, Amazon, Fashion Nova, Savage x Fenty, Victoria’s Secret, Modcloth, Forever 21, Etsy (vintage and handmade pieces), Adore Me, Honey Birdette, Oh La La Cherie, and department stores.
I’m nervous about shooting. How will the day go?
First of all, don’t be nervous! You took the first step in being brave enough to schedule your shoot, so the hardest part is over with. I know it’s not every day that you pose for photos nearly nude, but I promise you’ll have a blast and be free of nerves (and totally empowered) before we’re finished. You’ll start your session experience by trying on outfits and playing in the client closet to decide what you’re going to wear! Once that’s taken care of, next up is getting pampered with Erin, which is SO much fun! She is a blast to work with and will lift your spirits to help make you excited! You’re also welcome to bring a friend to the session with you if it will help calm your nerves and help keep you hyped.
We’ll start with the simplest outfit (usually we shoot loosest-tightest so marks aren’t left on your skin between outfits) and easy poses to help get you warmed up. We play music (the playlist is so good I listen to it not in the studio too, it will keep you pumped and feeling sexy) and I walk you through the whole session. Every single step of the way, from posing your body to how to move your eyes and lips and keeping you hyped throughout our time together. You may even start to own your confidence while we’re shooting and take over, posing on your own and feeling completely amazing, which is so incredible to watch and get to be a part of. Your entire YOU will feel renewed.
Once we finish shooting, you’ll have a break for roughly an hour to grab some lunch or take care of any errands you may need to run while you have the day off (and looking hot while you do it!) while I stay at the studio and edit your images. You’ll come back for your reveal to see everything for the first time!
Any tips on preparing for my session?
In addition to choosing the best outfits, think about how you’d like your makeup to look. When you come to the studio, be sure to come with a clean and moisturized face. For your hair, it’s best to wash it the night before, but not the morning of (so the curl can hold better). Soft, romantic curls are what’s provided with your hair styling (with some teasing to keep it big!). They may gradually fall throughout the session, but that’s actually better. No one’s hair stays perfectly in place when they’re in the bedroom!
In addition to makeup ideas, if you have any poses that you’ve found that you want to try, save them to your phone. I can’t promise anything, but I’m always open to try! It’s easier if you find poses you like from our boudoir group on Facebook group or on our Instagram, because then I’ll know for sure I can do them or something similar since I’ve done them before. You can also try posing in the mirror at home to get some ideas of what you might like before your session as well.
Spray tans or selfless tanners are one thing I definitely do NOT recommend. They can affect the way I’m able to best use the light and the way I process your photos. I want you to look like you when you come!
If you choose to have any waxing appointments before your session, I recommend having them at least a week in advance so you don’t have any uncomfortable bumps while we’re shooting. For shaving, roughly 48 hours in advance is good!
Lastly, it’s a little weird, but posing for boudoir kinda feels like you’re doing yoga. You’ll be a little sore the next day. I would recommend stretching in the days leading up to your session so you won’t be quite as sore after your shoot. And hydrate! Water is our friend.
I’m ready to book! What happens next?
Yay! I am thrilled to work with you and unleash your inner goddess. Let’s coordinate a date and add it to the calendar. A $250 retainer paid via PayPal or Venmo is due at the time of booking to hold your date. The retainer is non-refundable but if anything happens, can be transferred as needed. This policy is the same for all sessions, model calls included! The remaining balance of your session fee is due by your session (you can pay beforehand with PayPal or Venmo or pay at your shoot with cash or a credit card).
We can keep in touch with each other and if you have any questions about outfits, poses, etc between when you book and when you shoot, I’m just an email away! When we get about a week out from your shoot, you will receive an email full of prep details to help you get ready for your shoot (from days out up until you head to the studio the morning of your shoot).
When we get to the reveal part of your session experience, I’ve got samples of all of our printed products available to see and touch to help you get a feel for what you’d like that you’re welcome to look through any time you’re at the studio.
Have more questions? Please email me! I’m happy to answer any questions you have.
I also highly recommend checking out this article on 17 things you need to know before your boudoir session.
So, what do you think?! Ready to have your boudoir session? Take the leap, find your bravery, and say YES! We can’t wait to work with you. To book your session or if you have any questions, please email me at jenn.jwoodbery@gmail.com. Can’t wait to see you!