What is Boudoir? The Honest, Real, Unfiltered Answer

Let’s get one thing straight: boudoir is not what you think it is. It’s not reserved for a certain type of woman. It doesn’t require a special occasion, a specific body type, or a pre-existing sense of confidence. And it is absolutely, one hundred percent not just about taking sexy photos for someone else.

So, what is boudoir? It’s one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. And here at ELI Boudoir Studios in Los Angeles, we’ve watched hundreds of women walk through our doors one person and leave as someone entirely different, stronger, freer, and completely in love with the woman staring back at them in the mirror.

Whether you’ve been curious about boudoir for years or stumbled across this post wondering what all the hype is about, you’re in the right place. Let’s break it all down.

What is boudoir?

What is boudoir photography?

What is boudoir? Boudoir photography is a photoshoot centered entirely around empowering yourself. While it is traditionally done in lingerie, and yes, most of our clients choose four or five lingerie looks, boudoir does not have to be about lingerie at all. It’s about wearing whatever makes you feel stunning and stepping fully into yourself in front of the camera.

At its core, boudoir is about shedding the societal expectations and the relentless beauty standards we’ve all been quietly suffocating under since childhood. It’s about removing the distorted lens through which most of us have learned to see our bodies and replacing it with something far more honest and far more kind. It’s about shifting the way you see yourself, full stop.

“Boudoir is not about being seen. It’s about finally seeing yourself.”

Every woman arrives at her boudoir session from a different starting point. Some already feel deeply confident and comfortable in their skin and they come to celebrate that. Others are searching for that confidence and ready to start building it. Others just want to do something wildly fun for themselves. All of those reasons are valid. The only thing that stays consistent across every single session? You walk away feeling confident, beautiful, and completely in tune with yourself.

Historically, what is boudoir?

The word “boudoir” comes from the French verb bouder, meaning to sulk or pout, and it referred to a woman’s private sitting room or dressing room. In 18th and 19th century European homes, a boudoir was one of the only spaces a woman could truly call her own. It was her sanctuary, a place to dress, to think, to simply exist without performing for anyone else.

Early boudoir photography emerged from this same private, intimate spirit. It was quiet, personal, and for women’s eyes only. For much of its history it carried a certain mystique, the idea that there was a version of a woman that existed purely for herself, behind closed doors, away from the world’s gaze.

What is boudoir now?

Today, boudoir photography has evolved into something far bigger than a private dressing room and far more powerful than a pretty photoshoot. Modern boudoir is a full-on empowerment experience. It has grown into a movement that says: your body deserves to be celebrated, documented, and honored right now, exactly as it is.

It is no longer something whispered about or kept hidden. Women are reclaiming the experience of being seen, on their own terms, for their own reasons, and using boudoir as a tool to rewrite the stories they’ve been told about their bodies. From that intimate French sitting room to a luxury Los Angeles studio, the thread running through all of it is the same: this space is yours.

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Why should you do a boudoir photoshoot?

Honestly? Because you deserve it. Because there is no better time than right now, and no better version of you than the one that exists today.

Women come to ELI Boudoir for all kinds of reasons. Some want to feel more confident in their bodies. Some are coming out the other side of something hard, a divorce, a health journey, a major life transition, and they want to reclaim themselves. Some are celebrating a milestone or doing something wildly fun. Some are going through menopause and want to reconnect with and honor their changing bodies. Some just want to do something bold and entirely for themselves.

Whatever brings you here, the experience will meet you where you are. That is the beauty of boudoir, it works for every starting point, every body, and every story.

Who is boudoir for?

Every. Single. Body. Full stop. No asterisks, no fine print.

At ELI Boudoir Studios, our clients range from women in their mid-twenties to women in their sixties, and every one of them belongs here. Boudoir is not reserved for “size 2 models.” Confidence is not a privilege. Feeling powerful in your own skin is not something you have to earn or wait for. It is your birthright.

We also work with couples and queer folx, because feeling seen and celebrated in your body is not a gendered experience.

Here’s something we see constantly: women who want to wait until they feel “ready.” Until they’ve lost the weight. Until they feel more confident. Until some imaginary milestone has been crossed. We’re here to tell you, that milestone is a myth. You don’t need confidence to walk into a boudoir session. You just need to show up. The confidence comes from the experience itself, every single time.

What is a boudoir photoshoot? (from start to finish)

One of the most common questions we get is: what actually happens during a boudoir photoshoot? Here’s exactly what a session at ELI Boudoir looks like from the moment you arrive to the moment you walk out the door holding your jaw off the floor.

Your session begins with professional makeup. This is not just about looking great (though you absolutely will), it’s about the experience of being taken care of. It sets the tone. By the time you sit down in front of the camera, you already feel like a different version of yourself.

From there, we lay out all of your outfits together. ELI Boudoir sessions include five outfit changes, so we recommend clients bring six to eight options to choose from on the day. We decide on the order together, building from one look to the next, and then we jump in.

Here’s the part that surprises most clients: you never have to guess what to do with your hands, your face, or any other body part. I come to every session with a full library of poses ready to go, and I demonstrate every single one of them myself. You simply mirror what you see. This does two things: it gets you into poses that will look incredible in photos, and it completely dissolves the tension. Nothing breaks the ice like watching your photographer strike a pose.

We move through the studio space, through different setups and lighting, through all five outfits, and by the end of it you are not the same person who walked in. You will feel it.

About a week after your photoshoot, we reconnect for your reveal and ordering session. This is where you will see somewhere between 100 and 250 soft proofs from your experience. You’ll choose the collection you want based on the artwork that best honors your session. My personal favorites are the heirloom albums and statement wall art. I love pieces that don’t hide in a folder on your laptop but live in your home and remind you every single day of how extraordinary you are.

Once you’ve made your selections, I add my final signature touches and send everything off to print. Before long, you have timeless artwork and the kind of confidence that doesn’t just evaporate when the session ends.

Where do boudoir photography sessions take place?

Boudoir photography studios

One of my favorite things about the studio spaces I work with is how much is possible inside them. They are stocked with a plethora of furniture and setups, which means we never run out of interesting ways to move through a session, there is always a new corner to explore, a new pose to try, a new vibe to play with. No two sessions ever look the same.

The studios have a peaceful oasis energy: warm, homey, and relaxed. It is the kind of environment that makes you feel like you’ve stepped somewhere entirely outside of your everyday life, which is exactly the energy we want walking into a boudoir session. And because the spaces include outdoor areas, we can bring a little bit of nature into your shoot without committing to a fully outdoor experience, the best of both worlds.

Outdoor boudoir photography sessions

There is something about shooting in nature that just hits differently. Nature has this way of connecting us to something really core in ourselves, something primal and free and unapologetic. And honestly? If you’re going to be in lingerie in front of a camera, a breathtaking natural backdrop is about as perfect a setting as it gets.

Beach sessions are some of my absolute favorites. Getting in the water, the light doing its thing as the sun sets, the whole scene just comes alive in a way that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Trail sessions are equally stunning, the greenery is lush, the light filters through in the most beautiful ways, and there is something about being surrounded by all of that life and color that makes the images feel incredibly powerful.

ELI Boudoir outdoor sessions take place across Los Angeles, and I also shoot on location when I travel. Wherever we are, the goal is the same: use the beauty around you to reflect the beauty that’s already in you.

What do you wear to a boudoir photoshoot?

Whatever makes you feel like the most powerful version of yourself. That is genuinely the only rule.

Most clients bring a mix of lingerie sets, dresses, oversized shirts or jackets layered over lingerie, and at least one look that’s a little outside their comfort zone (which usually ends up being their favorite shot). Many clients also choose to do an implied nude or fully nude look, and if that feels like a big leap right now, that is completely okay. You decide what feels right in the moment.

Our best advice? Don’t try to dress like someone else’s boudoir session. Bring what speaks to you, what matches your personality, what makes you feel stunning when you look in the mirror at home. Boudoir is not a costume, it’s an expression of who you actually are.

If you are looking for the 10 best boudoir outfit ideas, here is curated list from ELI Boudoir

The myths about boudoir photoshoots we’re burning down

Myth 1: You need to feel confident first

This is the big one, and it is simply not true. Confidence is not the prerequisite, it’s the outcome. We have watched clients arrive at their sessions with shaking hands and walk out strutting in lingerie they weren’t sure they’d even take out of their bag. You do not need to feel ready. You just need to show up.

Myth 2: You need a reason or an occasion

Nope. “I wanted to” is a complete sentence and a perfect reason. You do not need an engagement, a birthday, an anniversary, or any external reason to do something entirely for yourself. Boudoir is not a gift for someone else. It is a gift for you.

Myth 3: My boudoir photoshoot will feel uncomfortable

We hear this one a lot, and we understand why, the idea of being in lingerie in front of a camera can feel incredibly vulnerable. But here’s what actually happens: within the first few minutes of your session, that discomfort dissolves. The environment is warm, the energy is fun, and you are never asked to do anything that doesn’t feel right to you. Most clients tell us it was nothing like what they expected, in the best possible way.

Myth 4: Boudoir is only for certain body types

Hard no. Boudoir is for every body. Every shape, every size, every age, every color. Feeling powerful and beautiful in your skin is not reserved for one kind of body. Full stop.

At ELI Boudoir, we know how difficult it can be to find plus size lingerie, so look no further. Here is our plus size lingerie guide!

Myth 5: Boudoir is only for women

ELI Boudoir works with couples and queer folx. Everyone deserves to feel celebrated, sensual, and seen. This space is for you, whoever you are.

Real moments that prove the power of boudoir

We could talk about the transformative power of boudoir all day, but nothing says it better than the moments we’ve lived inside the studio.

We’ve had clients arrive clutching their lingerie in a bag, convinced they’d never actually wear it, and end up strutting through the studio like they owned it by the end of their session. The shift happens in real time, right in front of you, and it never gets old to witness.

We’ve photographed women who came to us fresh out of a divorce, not to look good for anyone new, but to reclaim themselves. To look at their own image and remember who they are outside of what they lost. Those sessions are something else entirely.

We’ve worked with women navigating menopause who wanted to reconnect with their bodies during a time that can feel deeply disconnecting, to celebrate the woman they are right now, in this chapter, rather than mourn who they used to be. Those sessions are some of our most powerful.

Every single one of these women had a reason to wait. Every single one of them is glad they didn’t.

Is boudoir worth the investment?

Let’s talk about it honestly, because yes, luxury boudoir photography is an investment. And like any meaningful investment, what you get back is worth far more than what you put in.

The emotional return is immediate and lasting. Clients describe walking out of their sessions feeling like different people, more comfortable in their bodies, more confident in their lives, more connected to themselves. That shift doesn’t disappear when the photos arrive. It stays.

And then there are the physical products, the tangible, beautiful, permanent reminders of your experience. Heirloom albums you’ll pull out for decades. Wall art that greets you every morning and reminds you of the woman you know yourself to be.

At ELI Boudoir, the session fee starts at $500, which covers your full photoshoot experience. Physical artwork, including albums and wall art, starts at $1,900 and is selected at your reveal and ordering session after you’ve seen your images.

Ready to see exactly what’s included and find the right investment for you? View the full ELI Boudoir investment guide

How to choose the right boudoir photographer

This matters more than most people realize, and we want you to get it right, even if that means choosing someone other than us.

First: find a photographer whose style genuinely resonates with you. 

Don’t book someone and then expect them to shoot completely differently than what you see in their portfolio. Their work is their art. What you see is what you get, and it should be exactly what you want.

Second, and this might be even more important, make sure you actually like their personality. 

You are going to be vulnerable in front of this person. You are going to be in lingerie, being asked to pose in ways that feel unfamiliar, in a space that’s entirely new to you. If their energy makes you feel uncomfortable, that discomfort will show up in your photos. Find someone whose presence makes you feel safe, seen, and excited.

If you’re not sure where to start, look at their reviews, their behind-the-scenes content, and how they talk about their clients. A great boudoir photographer doesn’t just have technical skill, they have the ability to make you forget there’s a camera in the room.

Tips for a successful boudoir photography experience

Choose a boudoir photographer who makes you feel comfortable

We said it above and we’ll say it again because it truly cannot be overstated. The energy between you and your photographer is everything. If you feel at ease with them before the session, you will feel at ease during it, and that ease is what unlocks the most stunning, natural, powerful images.

Choose boudoir outfits that match your style

Do not pack what you think a boudoir client is “supposed” to bring. Pack what is authentically, unapologetically you. If you’re a jeans and leather jacket kind of woman, there is a version of that in boudoir. If you’re all lace and silk, bring every set you own. The clients who bring outfits that feel true to them are always the ones who are most blown away by their images.

If you are searching for more inspiration and lingerie stores to begin your search, read our lingerie guide here!

Ignore what other people are doing and bringing to their boudoir photoshoots

Comparison is the enemy of a great boudoir session. Your experience is not supposed to look like anyone else’s, not the client before you, not the images on our Instagram, not your best friend who did boudoir last year. You are here to connect with yourself, not to perform someone else’s version of “beautiful.”

Trust your boudoir photographer, even when poses feel awkward

Here’s a secret: almost every pose feels a little strange when you’re in it. The angle that looks incredible in a photo often feels nothing like what you’d expect. Trust the process. Trust your photographer. We are not going to ask you to do something that doesn’t serve you, and when you see the final images, you will understand why we asked you to contort that way.

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

You are ready for your boudoir photoshoot. Right now. As you are.

Boudoir is not waiting for the right version of you to show up. It is for you, the real you, in this body, in this chapter of your life, right now. It always has been.

At ELI Boudoir Studios, we have built an experience that meets every woman exactly where she is. Whether you walk in nervous, excited, skeptical, or somewhere in the messy middle of all three, we will take care of you. We will make you laugh. We will show you something about yourself that you might have forgotten, or maybe never seen clearly before.

And when you leave, you will feel it. Every single time.

Ready to book your ELI Boudoir experience? Los Angeles boudoir photoshoots designed to make you feel powerful, beautiful, and completely yourself. Limited sessions available.

Book your session at ELI Boudoir

Let’s get one thing straight: boudoir is not what you think it is. It’s not reserved for a certain type of woman. It doesn’t require a special occasion, a specific body type, or a pre-existing sense of confidence. And it is absolutely, one hundred percent not just about taking sexy photos for someone else.

So, what is boudoir? It’s one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. And here at ELI Boudoir Studios in Los Angeles, we’ve watched hundreds of women walk through our doors one person and leave as someone entirely different, stronger, freer, and completely in love with the woman staring back at them in the mirror.

Whether you’ve been curious about boudoir for years or stumbled across this post wondering what all the hype is about, you’re in the right place. Let’s break it all down.

What is boudoir?

What is boudoir photography?

What is boudoir? Boudoir photography is a photoshoot centered entirely around empowering yourself. While it is traditionally done in lingerie, and yes, most of our clients choose four or five lingerie looks, boudoir does not have to be about lingerie at all. It’s about wearing whatever makes you feel stunning and stepping fully into yourself in front of the camera.

At its core, boudoir is about shedding the societal expectations and the relentless beauty standards we’ve all been quietly suffocating under since childhood. It’s about removing the distorted lens through which most of us have learned to see our bodies and replacing it with something far more honest and far more kind. It’s about shifting the way you see yourself, full stop.

“Boudoir is not about being seen. It’s about finally seeing yourself.”

Every woman arrives at her boudoir session from a different starting point. Some already feel deeply confident and comfortable in their skin and they come to celebrate that. Others are searching for that confidence and ready to start building it. Others just want to do something wildly fun for themselves. All of those reasons are valid. The only thing that stays consistent across every single session? You walk away feeling confident, beautiful, and completely in tune with yourself.

Historically, what is boudoir?

The word “boudoir” comes from the French verb bouder, meaning to sulk or pout, and it referred to a woman’s private sitting room or dressing room. In 18th and 19th century European homes, a boudoir was one of the only spaces a woman could truly call her own. It was her sanctuary, a place to dress, to think, to simply exist without performing for anyone else.

Early boudoir photography emerged from this same private, intimate spirit. It was quiet, personal, and for women’s eyes only. For much of its history it carried a certain mystique, the idea that there was a version of a woman that existed purely for herself, behind closed doors, away from the world’s gaze.

What is boudoir now?

Today, boudoir photography has evolved into something far bigger than a private dressing room and far more powerful than a pretty photoshoot. Modern boudoir is a full-on empowerment experience. It has grown into a movement that says: your body deserves to be celebrated, documented, and honored right now, exactly as it is.

It is no longer something whispered about or kept hidden. Women are reclaiming the experience of being seen, on their own terms, for their own reasons, and using boudoir as a tool to rewrite the stories they’ve been told about their bodies. From that intimate French sitting room to a luxury Los Angeles studio, the thread running through all of it is the same: this space is yours.

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

Why should you do a boudoir photoshoot?

Honestly? Because you deserve it. Because there is no better time than right now, and no better version of you than the one that exists today.

Women come to ELI Boudoir for all kinds of reasons. Some want to feel more confident in their bodies. Some are coming out the other side of something hard, a divorce, a health journey, a major life transition, and they want to reclaim themselves. Some are celebrating a milestone or doing something wildly fun. Some are going through menopause and want to reconnect with and honor their changing bodies. Some just want to do something bold and entirely for themselves.

Whatever brings you here, the experience will meet you where you are. That is the beauty of boudoir, it works for every starting point, every body, and every story.

Who is boudoir for?

Every. Single. Body. Full stop. No asterisks, no fine print.

At ELI Boudoir Studios, our clients range from women in their mid-twenties to women in their sixties, and every one of them belongs here. Boudoir is not reserved for “size 2 models.” Confidence is not a privilege. Feeling powerful in your own skin is not something you have to earn or wait for. It is your birthright.

We also work with couples and queer folx, because feeling seen and celebrated in your body is not a gendered experience.

Here’s something we see constantly: women who want to wait until they feel “ready.” Until they’ve lost the weight. Until they feel more confident. Until some imaginary milestone has been crossed. We’re here to tell you, that milestone is a myth. You don’t need confidence to walk into a boudoir session. You just need to show up. The confidence comes from the experience itself, every single time.

What is a boudoir photoshoot? (from start to finish)

One of the most common questions we get is: what actually happens during a boudoir photoshoot? Here’s exactly what a session at ELI Boudoir looks like from the moment you arrive to the moment you walk out the door holding your jaw off the floor.

Your session begins with professional makeup. This is not just about looking great (though you absolutely will), it’s about the experience of being taken care of. It sets the tone. By the time you sit down in front of the camera, you already feel like a different version of yourself.

From there, we lay out all of your outfits together. ELI Boudoir sessions include five outfit changes, so we recommend clients bring six to eight options to choose from on the day. We decide on the order together, building from one look to the next, and then we jump in.

Here’s the part that surprises most clients: you never have to guess what to do with your hands, your face, or any other body part. I come to every session with a full library of poses ready to go, and I demonstrate every single one of them myself. You simply mirror what you see. This does two things: it gets you into poses that will look incredible in photos, and it completely dissolves the tension. Nothing breaks the ice like watching your photographer strike a pose.

We move through the studio space, through different setups and lighting, through all five outfits, and by the end of it you are not the same person who walked in. You will feel it.

About a week after your photoshoot, we reconnect for your reveal and ordering session. This is where you will see somewhere between 100 and 250 soft proofs from your experience. You’ll choose the collection you want based on the artwork that best honors your session. My personal favorites are the heirloom albums and statement wall art. I love pieces that don’t hide in a folder on your laptop but live in your home and remind you every single day of how extraordinary you are.

Once you’ve made your selections, I add my final signature touches and send everything off to print. Before long, you have timeless artwork and the kind of confidence that doesn’t just evaporate when the session ends.

Where do boudoir photography sessions take place?

Boudoir photography studios

One of my favorite things about the studio spaces I work with is how much is possible inside them. They are stocked with a plethora of furniture and setups, which means we never run out of interesting ways to move through a session, there is always a new corner to explore, a new pose to try, a new vibe to play with. No two sessions ever look the same.

The studios have a peaceful oasis energy: warm, homey, and relaxed. It is the kind of environment that makes you feel like you’ve stepped somewhere entirely outside of your everyday life, which is exactly the energy we want walking into a boudoir session. And because the spaces include outdoor areas, we can bring a little bit of nature into your shoot without committing to a fully outdoor experience, the best of both worlds.

Outdoor boudoir photography sessions

There is something about shooting in nature that just hits differently. Nature has this way of connecting us to something really core in ourselves, something primal and free and unapologetic. And honestly? If you’re going to be in lingerie in front of a camera, a breathtaking natural backdrop is about as perfect a setting as it gets.

Beach sessions are some of my absolute favorites. Getting in the water, the light doing its thing as the sun sets, the whole scene just comes alive in a way that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Trail sessions are equally stunning, the greenery is lush, the light filters through in the most beautiful ways, and there is something about being surrounded by all of that life and color that makes the images feel incredibly powerful.

ELI Boudoir outdoor sessions take place across Los Angeles, and I also shoot on location when I travel. Wherever we are, the goal is the same: use the beauty around you to reflect the beauty that’s already in you.

What do you wear to a boudoir photoshoot?

Whatever makes you feel like the most powerful version of yourself. That is genuinely the only rule.

Most clients bring a mix of lingerie sets, dresses, oversized shirts or jackets layered over lingerie, and at least one look that’s a little outside their comfort zone (which usually ends up being their favorite shot). Many clients also choose to do an implied nude or fully nude look, and if that feels like a big leap right now, that is completely okay. You decide what feels right in the moment.

Our best advice? Don’t try to dress like someone else’s boudoir session. Bring what speaks to you, what matches your personality, what makes you feel stunning when you look in the mirror at home. Boudoir is not a costume, it’s an expression of who you actually are.

If you are looking for the 10 best boudoir outfit ideas, here is curated list from ELI Boudoir

The myths about boudoir photoshoots we’re burning down

Myth 1: You need to feel confident first

This is the big one, and it is simply not true. Confidence is not the prerequisite, it’s the outcome. We have watched clients arrive at their sessions with shaking hands and walk out strutting in lingerie they weren’t sure they’d even take out of their bag. You do not need to feel ready. You just need to show up.

Myth 2: You need a reason or an occasion

Nope. “I wanted to” is a complete sentence and a perfect reason. You do not need an engagement, a birthday, an anniversary, or any external reason to do something entirely for yourself. Boudoir is not a gift for someone else. It is a gift for you.

Myth 3: My boudoir photoshoot will feel uncomfortable

We hear this one a lot, and we understand why, the idea of being in lingerie in front of a camera can feel incredibly vulnerable. But here’s what actually happens: within the first few minutes of your session, that discomfort dissolves. The environment is warm, the energy is fun, and you are never asked to do anything that doesn’t feel right to you. Most clients tell us it was nothing like what they expected, in the best possible way.

Myth 4: Boudoir is only for certain body types

Hard no. Boudoir is for every body. Every shape, every size, every age, every color. Feeling powerful and beautiful in your skin is not reserved for one kind of body. Full stop.

At ELI Boudoir, we know how difficult it can be to find plus size lingerie, so look no further. Here is our plus size lingerie guide!

Myth 5: Boudoir is only for women

ELI Boudoir works with couples and queer folx. Everyone deserves to feel celebrated, sensual, and seen. This space is for you, whoever you are.

Real moments that prove the power of boudoir

We could talk about the transformative power of boudoir all day, but nothing says it better than the moments we’ve lived inside the studio.

We’ve had clients arrive clutching their lingerie in a bag, convinced they’d never actually wear it, and end up strutting through the studio like they owned it by the end of their session. The shift happens in real time, right in front of you, and it never gets old to witness.

We’ve photographed women who came to us fresh out of a divorce, not to look good for anyone new, but to reclaim themselves. To look at their own image and remember who they are outside of what they lost. Those sessions are something else entirely.

We’ve worked with women navigating menopause who wanted to reconnect with their bodies during a time that can feel deeply disconnecting, to celebrate the woman they are right now, in this chapter, rather than mourn who they used to be. Those sessions are some of our most powerful.

Every single one of these women had a reason to wait. Every single one of them is glad they didn’t.

Is boudoir worth the investment?

Let’s talk about it honestly, because yes, luxury boudoir photography is an investment. And like any meaningful investment, what you get back is worth far more than what you put in.

The emotional return is immediate and lasting. Clients describe walking out of their sessions feeling like different people, more comfortable in their bodies, more confident in their lives, more connected to themselves. That shift doesn’t disappear when the photos arrive. It stays.

And then there are the physical products, the tangible, beautiful, permanent reminders of your experience. Heirloom albums you’ll pull out for decades. Wall art that greets you every morning and reminds you of the woman you know yourself to be.

At ELI Boudoir, the session fee starts at $500, which covers your full photoshoot experience. Physical artwork, including albums and wall art, starts at $1,900 and is selected at your reveal and ordering session after you’ve seen your images.

Ready to see exactly what’s included and find the right investment for you? View the full ELI Boudoir investment guide

How to choose the right boudoir photographer

This matters more than most people realize, and we want you to get it right, even if that means choosing someone other than us.

First: find a photographer whose style genuinely resonates with you. 

Don’t book someone and then expect them to shoot completely differently than what you see in their portfolio. Their work is their art. What you see is what you get, and it should be exactly what you want.

Second, and this might be even more important, make sure you actually like their personality. 

You are going to be vulnerable in front of this person. You are going to be in lingerie, being asked to pose in ways that feel unfamiliar, in a space that’s entirely new to you. If their energy makes you feel uncomfortable, that discomfort will show up in your photos. Find someone whose presence makes you feel safe, seen, and excited.

If you’re not sure where to start, look at their reviews, their behind-the-scenes content, and how they talk about their clients. A great boudoir photographer doesn’t just have technical skill, they have the ability to make you forget there’s a camera in the room.

Tips for a successful boudoir photography experience

Choose a boudoir photographer who makes you feel comfortable

We said it above and we’ll say it again because it truly cannot be overstated. The energy between you and your photographer is everything. If you feel at ease with them before the session, you will feel at ease during it, and that ease is what unlocks the most stunning, natural, powerful images.

Choose boudoir outfits that match your style

Do not pack what you think a boudoir client is “supposed” to bring. Pack what is authentically, unapologetically you. If you’re a jeans and leather jacket kind of woman, there is a version of that in boudoir. If you’re all lace and silk, bring every set you own. The clients who bring outfits that feel true to them are always the ones who are most blown away by their images.

If you are searching for more inspiration and lingerie stores to begin your search, read our lingerie guide here!

Ignore what other people are doing and bringing to their boudoir photoshoots

Comparison is the enemy of a great boudoir session. Your experience is not supposed to look like anyone else’s, not the client before you, not the images on our Instagram, not your best friend who did boudoir last year. You are here to connect with yourself, not to perform someone else’s version of “beautiful.”

Trust your boudoir photographer, even when poses feel awkward

Here’s a secret: almost every pose feels a little strange when you’re in it. The angle that looks incredible in a photo often feels nothing like what you’d expect. Trust the process. Trust your photographer. We are not going to ask you to do something that doesn’t serve you, and when you see the final images, you will understand why we asked you to contort that way.

Photograph by ELI Boudoir

You are ready for your boudoir photoshoot. Right now. As you are.

Boudoir is not waiting for the right version of you to show up. It is for you, the real you, in this body, in this chapter of your life, right now. It always has been.

At ELI Boudoir Studios, we have built an experience that meets every woman exactly where she is. Whether you walk in nervous, excited, skeptical, or somewhere in the messy middle of all three, we will take care of you. We will make you laugh. We will show you something about yourself that you might have forgotten, or maybe never seen clearly before.

And when you leave, you will feel it. Every single time.

Ready to book your ELI Boudoir experience? Los Angeles boudoir photoshoots designed to make you feel powerful, beautiful, and completely yourself. Limited sessions available.

Book your session at ELI Boudoir