Boudoir Photo Shoot Packing List

Boudoir 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!

Boudoir Packing List
Download your own copy of the packing list hereDownload

Interested in learning more about a #MBPEmpower Boudoir Photo Shoot? Fill out the form below and I’ll send you all the info!

Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoot

Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photography Shoot

Have you ever seen a jungle inspired boudoir photo shoot? I hadn’t ever heard of it. But I recently created a jungle wall for a set at my boudoir photography studio. I absolutely love the tropical jungle vibes I’m able to achieve. It’s a very different look from the typical studio set up or bedroom, but it adds an extra something special to a boudoir shoot.

  • Tie Dye Jungle Photo Shoot (3)
  • Tie Dye Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoot (2)
  • Tie Dye Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photography

So far I’ve done a jungle inspired boudoir photo shoot at least once a week since creating the wall. Each one looks so unique and unlike anything else I’ve seen in Michigan. It’s great to be able to shoot an “outdoor” type scene, because in West Michigan we’re stuck inside most of the months of the year!

Have you seen inside the studio yet? If so, which set do you like the best? Do you like the flower wall backdrop or this jungle inspired wall?

  • Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoots
  • Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoot
  • Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photography Shoot
  • Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photography Shoot
  • Tropical Jungle Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoot

Why I Photograph Boudoir

Why I Photograph Boudoir West Michigan Boudoir Photography Studio

I photograph boudoir because to me it’s the most beautiful and meaningful artistic form of photography. My mission as a boudoir photographer has always been to empower women to become more confident in themselves and to attract more positivity and affirmation into their daily lives. Empowering women by letting them take control of their own sexuality and bodies, master their sensuality, decide how they want to feel, how they want to look, and how they want to be seen, and learn to love themselves in an inclusive, judgement-free studio with a confidence-boosting experience. They should feel empowered, confident, excited, happy, beautiful in body and soul and spiritually-healed when they leave my studio. F*ck society’s standards and norms. I’m kicking the doors down and letting women free.⁠

My first boudoir experience was being photographed myself and that helped me to understand how important boudoir is. I spent a very long time hating on my body and not believing I was beautiful that stemmed from sexual abuse and a general lack of self-worth. Boudoir helped me to regain my confidence in myself and helped me begin a journey of healing and coming to love and appreciate my body rather than hating on it.

My assistant (and my mom!), Maria, was the perfect choice of boudoir photographer for me to come to understand what boudoir is all about. She was kind and complimentary throughout the entire shoot. If you’ve never met her, you don’t know how gentle she is and how cute and smiley. She’s the reason why I photograph boudoir and that atmosphere is one that I try to provide to every woman that comes into my studio, because it’s not easy to put yourself out there and be vulnerable. I want to create a safe space for every woman to come into herself and to open up and begin that journey towards self-love and confidence.

What makes you want to do a boudoir shoot? Send me an email from the Contact page, I’d love to chat with you!

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

5 myths about boudoir photography blog (2)
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  5. 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!

  • Pink Rose Floral Wall Inspired Boudoir Photo Shoot with Pink Lingerie (3)
  • Cozy Sweater Boudoir Photo Shoots in West Michigan Boudoir Studio (5)
  • Pink-Lingerie-Boudoir-Shoot-in-West-Michigan-1

Interested in learning more about a #MBPEmpower Boudoir Photo Shoot? Fill out the form below and I’ll send you all the info!

New Flower Wall for the Boudoir Studio

Flower Wall Spring Lingerie Photo Shoot (2)

I absolutely adore the Spring in Michigan when flowers finally start to pop out of the ground and bloom into beautiful colors completely erasing any memory of Winter and the snow. I’ve had the makings of this gorgeous flower wall around forever, but recently cabin fever hit me hard during the Michigan Winter and I just had to make something to remind me that Spring is right around the corner.

  • Spring Flower Wall Lingerie Photo Shoot (4)
  • Spring Flower Wall Lingerie Photo Shoot (1)
  • Spring Flower Wall Lingerie Photo Shoot (3)
  • Flower Wall Spring Inspired Boudoir with Roses

Measuring a bit larger than 4 ft x 6 ft this flower wall took a LOT of flowers. Each individually hand-placed onto the backing. I did add a few extra rose garlands for interest and depth, but it took a lot of time and the help of my amazing assistant, Maria, to get everything in place. But the end result is well-worth the time and effort it took. I love the soft but bold colors and delicate look of the boudoir photos I’ve taken so far using it as a backdrop.

Some of the cool effects you can see in these photos are from differently shaped prisms I’ve collected over the years. Prisms are a great way to add fun miniature rainbows or even reflections and blurred special effects into your photography.

Want to be photographed on this gorgeous flower wall? Shoot me an email at hello@michelleburroughs.com or use the form on my Contact page.