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Beach Boudoir Photo Shoots on Lake Michigan
One of the most beautiful spots in Michigan is the lake shore along Lake Michigan. The crashing blue waves, warm sand beaches and orange-pink sunsets are a stunning backdrop for any photo shoot. Here are some tips and suggestions to make the most out of your boudoir beach shoot on the lake shore.
Top 5 Tips for a Beach Boudoir Photo Shoot
TIP #1: Scout Your Location
The most important thing when planning your photo shoot is to know where you are going to take photos. Having a vision in mind for the concept and styling will help you decide on your location. Are you looking for large areas of sandy beaches? Do you want to incorporate some of the green grass that grows along the lake shore? Or maybe more of the forests and trees? Some of the eroding sand areas make for awesome backdrops that remind you of the desert. Don’t forget the amazing lighthouses and piers that dot the Michigan lake shore all the way into the Upper Peninsula!
A second important part of planning your location is knowing where you can change outfits. You can do an entire photo shoot in just one outfit, but having multiple options with different backdrops will give you more variety in your photos! If you’re not able to find a place to change outfits at your chosen location, you can also use layers to create different looks and styles. A lacy cover-up, knit sweater, white shirt or even a flowing kimono-style robe are amazing options for layering.
TIP #2: To Makeup or Not to Makeup?
Should you wear makeup to your photo shoot? If you’re not planning on going into the water at all, then you can wear your normal daily makeup or even go bare-faced and beautiful. If you’re planning on entering the lake for photos and want to wear makeup, I suggest waterproof makeup. Waterproof mascara and a light waterproof lip tint are beautifully natural looking. False eyelashes are also a wonderful option. Be aware if you’re taking photos in direct sunlight that overly large lashes can cast long shadows on your face!
TIP #3: The Best Time of Day for Beach Boudoir
What is the best time of day to do your photo shoot? Honestly it really depends on your artistic vision! Sunset photos are absolutely gorgeous on Lake Michigan because of the stunning pink-orange sunsets that set behind the blue horizon. If you’re wanting more saturated colors of the sand and bright blues in the water, you would be better off taking photos at midday with the sun high in the sky. If you want to avoid any harsh shadows and work with soft, diffused light, you’d be best to schedule early in the morning or on an overcast day where the clouds create a beautiful softbox in the sky.
TIP #4: The Best Gear to Bring
My best tip for the gear to bring on a beach boudoir shoot is to KEEP IT SIMPLE! Don’t overly pack your bags! For one thing, sand gets EVERYWHERE. It’s a huge pain to clean all of your lenses and camera bodies after a beach shoot so keep your gear to a minimum. You also don’t want to chance anything falling into the water and getting destroyed. I suggest keeping it (at most!) to a couple of lenses, a backup camera body and a speedlight or small battery operated strobe.
A reflector is also a great tool to get the light right where you want it. Reflectors are a must have for a beach shoot. The inner diffusion material is great for keeping the bright sunlight off the subject’s face and the white, silver and gold sides are perfect for bouncing light right where you need it. I mostly use the white and silver sides but the gold side can be great for emphasizing a tan or at sunset.
TIP #5: Bring an Assistant
My last (and best!) tip is to bring an assistant! If you’re able to have someone tag along to help you during your shoot, I highly recommend it. An assistant is so helpful for holding your reflector or hanging onto your extra gear as you get near the shore line. I’ve nearly lost a number of cameras to those unexpected waves that come up and knock you over into the water! If you’re bringing a strobe along, an assistant is a must for helping you schlep your gear through miles of hot sand and holding onto your lightstand to prevent it getting knocked over by high winds.
Did you find these 5 tips helpful? Are you going to use these tips when planning your next beach boudoir shoot? What other suggestions do you have for someone planning their beach boudoir photo shoot?
Interested in booking a beach boudoir photo shoot with me? Message me to learn more!
Boudoir Photo Shoot Packing List
This boudoir packing list shows my top suggestions for what to bring to your shoot. In a previous post I covered what to wear to your boudoir photo shoot, you can check it out here: https://michelleburroughs.com/what-to-wear-to-your-boudoir-photo-shoot/ You can also watch my video below where I go into more detail and show examples of what to wear to your next boudoir shoot. Hopefully this boudoir packing list will make it easy to prepare for your upcoming photoshoot! Download it and fill it out as you shop and decide on outfits.
Plan to bring at least 3 outfits of different colors, textures, styles, fabric and fit and make sure you try them all on before your shoot! Nothing is worse than planning on a gorgeous outfit only to realize it doesn’t fit in a flattering way, especially if you order online where sizing can vary greatly between makers. Also pack a nude thong for a white sheets or implied nude set as well as a pair of closed toe heels (either black or nude).
Jewelry to match your outfits should be kept to a minimum to not distract from your beauty. Keep it simple and classic. You do not want to see large dated necklaces and bangles in your photographs later on. The same applies to props. They should enhance rather than distract from you. A couple of props is fine if they hold special meaning, but resist making them the focus of the shoot. Once you’ve tried everything on, you are all set! Just relax and get ready to enjoy your shoot!
Interested in learning more about a #MBPEmpower Boudoir Photo Shoot? Fill out the form below and I’ll send you all the info!
5 Myths about Boudoir Photography
- Only people with excellent bodies should do it. I need to lose 10 lbs first. You don’t need to change! Love the you now. Doing a boudoir shoot will allow you to see how beautiful you ALREADY are. You don’t need to lose weight to love yourself. You just need to start now.
- You’ll hide what I don’t like and “photoshop” me to look beautiful. I’ll pose and light you to show you how gorgeous you already are. You don’t need to change what you look like. You just need to see yourself in a flattering pose and with flattering light that isn’t one of those terrible cell phone selfies that your friend took on a ladies’ night out that makes her look good but doesn’t flatter anybody else in the photo. Believe me, with a little professional guidance, you’ll see that you are as gorgeous as any magazine cover.
- It’s just sexy photos. Boudoir is about more than just taking sexy photos. You’ll definitely have those! But those are just the way to remember the experience. Boudoir photography is about teaching you to love yourself and your body. Women can often feel a sense of self-worth from their intelligence, their drive and their achievements, but it’s just as important to love who you are physically. It isn’t the only or most important part about you, but it is an important part. Ignoring or hating what you look like physically can prevent you from fully loving yourself and allowing yourself to live abundantly in joy.
- A boudoir shoot can only be done as a gift for a significant other. While a lot of women do a shoot as a gift for a lover and that’s a super sexy gift to give, it’s important to do it first for yourself. This is a gift for YOU. The gift of confidence, of love, of self-worth.
I first learned about boudoir photography by doing a shoot for myself and it was the best gift I’ve ever given or received. It boosted my confidence and reminded me that my body was beautiful just how it was even at a time when I wasn’t willing to be kind to it. As women, it can be hard to not pick at all our flaws when we see so many images of how we “should” look. My boudoir shoot showed me that I was beautiful and unique and my flaws were just part of my story. It was truly the greatest and kindest gift I could ever give myself.
- It’s too expensive. Boudoir photography is an investment in rebuilding your self-worth. It’s about the experience of loving yourself enough to allow yourself to be pampered, to have a day celebrating who you are, and having reminders of the joy you found in loving yourself and being able to recreate the experience whenever you need a pick-me-up.
Interested in doing a boudoir photo shoot or learning more? Read the FAQs or Contact me to chat more at my studio and get all of your questions answered!
Interested in learning more about a #MBPEmpower Boudoir Photo Shoot? Fill out the form below and I’ll send you all the info!
Tips and Tricks for Your Boudoir Photo Shoot
Here are my top tips and tricks for an amazing boudoir photo shoot:
Wear loose clothing to your photo shoot.
This will prevent any lines from forming on your skin. Drinking plenty of water in the weeks leading up to your shoot will also give your skin that healthy, glowing look.Bring 3-5 Outfits.
Black is always classic but don’t be afraid of beautiful colors that flatter your complexion. Different textures (satin, lace, leather, etc.) and details also add interest. Don’t forget a pair of black and/or nude heels and a nude thong for a white sheets set! I’ve got a whole blog post about what to wear if you want more inspiration: https://michelleburroughs.com/what-to-wear-to-your-boudoir-photo-shoot/Wax/Shave a few days before.
If you don’t usually bother than don’t think you have to for your shoot, but if you do, do it a few days before so you don’t have those little red irritation bumps. The same applies to a spray tan or facial! If you don’t usually do them, then definitely don’t do one before your shoot, but if you do, make sure to get it done a few days ahead.Bring fun props!
While we definitely want the focus to be on you, it can be fun to add a couple of props to your shoot. Your wedding veil, garter, masks, handcuffs, leather jacket, your significant other’s favorite team jersey or button down shirt, etc. If you have a favorite hobby or something that really defines you as a person, definitely bring it!Fresh polish, please!
It seems like a minor detail but in close up photos can really make a difference! No chipped nail polish! Either do without entirely or add a fresh coat before your shoot. Neutral colors work best but if you’re into the colorful look, just make sure they match the colors of your outfits.Don’t worry about being nervous!
Just be confident that you are an amazing creature and you will have a fantastic experience.
