What Should I Bring to My Boudoir Session?
Bring five to eight outfit options, a tall thin heel in black and nude, any statement jewelry you love, a snack, water, and your wallet. Hair and makeup are done in-studio by my artist, so you don't need to pack any of that — just inspiration for the look you want.
Here's the honest, item-by-item list of what should be sitting in your car the night before — the things that actually make a difference on shoot day.
For my studio we photograph three outfits across three sets, but I'd never tell you to bring only three. Bring options. I've had clients arrive and completely change their mind on their favorite piece the second they see everything laid out. When you get to the studio we'll lay all your outfits across the couch, hang them up, look at color schemes against the sets, and make the final calls together.
Beyond wardrobe: bring a tall thin heel, any jewelry that makes you feel like a million bucks, water and a small snack (this is a bit like a workout — you'll burn through energy between sets), and your wallet. You'll want it, because you'll be choosing beautiful images to take home that same afternoon during your reveal.
How Many Outfits Should I Bring to a Boudoir Shoot?
Bring five to eight outfit options even though we only photograph three sets. You may change your mind once everything is laid out, or a color may clash with the set we've built. Keep the tags on anything you might return, and trust me — having choices is always better than wishing you'd brought more.
I know it sounds like a lot for a three-outfit session, but options are everything. We might lay everything out and realize one piece isn't vibing with the set we've set up, or you might fall in love with something you almost left at home.
I'll always be real with you. I've had clients bring in pieces they were excited about, and I told them gently that it wasn't going to photograph well — the pattern was too busy, the color was off, something like that. Having backups means we're never stuck. And keep the tags on anything you're unsure about, so you can return whatever we don't end up using.
Clients drive in from all over Michiana for this — South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, and over the line from Niles and Edwardsburg — so it's worth packing the night before and laying your options out at home first.
What Lingerie Photographs Best for an Old-Hollywood Glamour Look?
Lace photographs best for that classic old-Hollywood look, but strappy pieces and tasteful animal prints can be stunning too. Bring four to eight pieces so we have room to play. The goal is texture and elegance that reads timeless on camera, not trendy — the kind of image you'll still love in thirty years.
For my signature glamour look, lace tends to win every time — it catches light beautifully and reads luxurious and timeless. That said, we've had some incredible strappy pieces and animal-print designs come through that absolutely sang on camera.
Bring four to eight pieces. Same reasoning as the outfits — we want options. You never know when you'll change your mind about a favorite once you arrive, or when a color won't sit right against the set we've built. More to choose from means a better final gallery.
What Heels Should I Wear for Boudoir Photos?
Bring a tall, thin heel with a pointed, closed toe and no ankle strap. That shape makes your legs look longer and gives you that elegant, elevated look. Black and nude go with everything, but fun colors are welcome. If it looks a little difficult to walk in, it's probably the right shoe.
Heels do a lot of quiet work in these images. We always recommend a pointed, closed toe and a tall, thin heel — it lengthens the leg and gives you that aggressive, elegant look we're going for. Honestly, if it looks difficult to walk in, that's usually exactly what you want to bring.
The one thing I'd steer you away from is an ankle strap. It adds stability, but it visually cuts off your leg length and makes your legs look shorter. Now — if heels without a strap are impossible for you, that's completely okay. We'll make it work; it's not a big deal.
Black and nude go with everything, so they're your safest bets. But get fun with it too — we've had clients bring red heels, red bottoms, cheetah print, ombre from red to black, and sparkle-and-glitter heels. All of it can be gorgeous.
Do I Need to Bring My Own Jewelry and Accessories?
You don't have to — we keep a large collection of statement jewelry at the studio for you to use. If you'd rather have one less thing to think about, lean on ours. If you do bring pieces, go big and bold; small, dainty jewelry tends to disappear or read like a blemish on camera.
We have a ton of jewelry at the studio you'll have full access to — sparkly, gold, silver, black, red, all sorts of colors. So if you want one less thing to pack, just rely on what we have. We usually have the perfect thing for whatever you bring.
When we do use jewelry, we use big statement pieces — something a little gaudy, something you've maybe never worn before. That's the point: it's a statement. Anything small and dainty, like a single thin pendant, tends to come off like a little blemish on the skin, so we usually skip those.
Accessories and props are where we make the shoot yours. Clients bring bedroom props like handcuffs or floggers, a favorite book, a spouse's sports jersey, even a golf club. We don't have to dedicate a whole set to a golf club — we can throw it in at the end for a couple of shots, just to let him know you were thinking of him.
What Don't I Need to Pack, Since Hair and Makeup Are Done In-Studio?
You don't need to bring makeup or hair tools — Aletheia Jean, my hair and makeup artist, has everything for you. The exceptions: a specific color or product you can't live without, or anything you'd need for an allergy. The most useful thing to bring instead is inspiration for the look you want.
Hair and makeup are fully provided in-studio by my artist, Aletheia Jean, so there's no need to pack any of it. The only times I'd bring your own is if there's a very specific lipstick or blush you have to have, or if you have an allergy and already own something that works for you.
What's genuinely worth bringing is inspiration — a few photos of the makeup look you're dreaming of so your artist can build it with you. And bring your wallet. You'll want it for the same-day reveal, when you'll be choosing the images you take home.
Big statement jewelry and a flattering bodysuit — two things that earn their place in your bag
What Should I Pack If I'm Traveling to South Bend for My Session?
Treat it like a mini getaway. Pack what you'd bring on a normal weekend trip — a change of clothes, toiletries, a phone charger, and food — on top of your wardrobe and heels. There are great places to stay in and around South Bend, so book somewhere you're excited about and make a weekend of it.
If you're coming in from out of town or out of state to work with me and my team, think about what you'd normally pack for a weekend away: change of clothes, toiletries, phone charger, snacks. Then make it fun — treat the trip like a little vacation and find somewhere you're genuinely excited to stay.
Here are some of my favorite spots in and around South Bend, in three tiers:
Luxury / splurge: The Morris Inn, right on the University of Notre Dame campus, is the polished, full-service choice. The Oliver Inn Bed & Breakfast is a beautiful historic Victorian downtown if you want charm and a great breakfast. DoubleTree by Hilton South Bend puts you right in the heart of downtown near the restaurants.
Middle ground: Hilton Garden Inn South Bend is about a mile from Notre Dame with easy downtown access. Aloft South Bend is modern with a fun bar and terrace. Fairfield Inn & Suites South Bend at Notre Dame is reliable and known for a solid breakfast.
Budget-friendly: Holiday Inn Express & Suites South Bend, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham South Bend, and Comfort Suites near the university area all give you a clean, comfortable home base without spending much. A downtown Airbnb is also a great option if you'd rather have your own space to spread out and lay your outfits out the night before.
If You Could Only Bring One Wardrobe Piece, What Should It Be?
A bodysuit. If I could only photograph one style of lingerie, it would be a bodysuit every time. They accentuate and support the bust, define the hips, smooth the tummy, and flatter every single figure. They come in endless options, so it's just a matter of finding the one that's right for you.
Bodysuits do such a beautiful job on every body. They accentuate and support the bust, define the hips, and cover the tummy area — they're just extremely photogenic.
And the variety is endless: ones that show a lot of skin and ones that are more covered; long sleeve, short sleeve, off-the-shoulder, strapless; cheeky thong backs. You can find a bodysuit in just about any style imaginable. They genuinely work with everyone's figure — it's simply a matter of finding the one that works best for you.
Don't Stress About the Packing — Just Read the Guide
Here's the truth: whatever you bring, we will make it work. I once had a client show up with a single loose cotton pajama set — boy shorts and a tank with no support, the literal opposite of everything I recommend. We made it work, she loved her images, and some of them were my favorites we created that whole month. So don't stress. But there's a reason I send a styling guide — if you want the very best results, read it, follow it, and read my emails. That's how you walk in with exactly what photographs beautifully.
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