What to Wear for a Boudoir Photoshoot When You Feel Insecure About Your Body

If you feel unsure about your body and you have a boudoir shoot coming up, the wardrobe part can feel like the scariest piece of all. You want to look good, you want to feel good, and you are worried the wrong outfit will make you feel worse in front of the camera. I get it. Trying to figure out what to wear for a boudoir photoshoot when you feel insecure about your body, is one of the biggest challenges. I hear this from clients before at least half of my sessions in Los Angeles.

So let me give you the real advice I give my own clients. The short version is this: the outfit is not the problem, and the size on the tag is not the problem. What matters is fit, how you feel in the piece, and choosing things that let your body be seen instead of buried. I’ll walk you through all of it below.

Wear Lingerie That Fits Your Current Body Properly

Finding clothing with the proper fit matters far more than the size printed on the tag. This is the single most important wardrobe advice I can give you.

Lingerie that is too small digs in and restricts your movement. If a strap is cutting into your shoulder or if the band is too tight on your ribcage that is going to irritate throughout your whole session. Lingerie that is too loose has the opposite problem. Loose clothing will not be flattering; it is going to pull attention away from your beautiful figure. Unintentionally oversized clothing will bunch, or create weird gaps that your eye will be drawn to in all of your boudoir photographs. 

Make sure you try on every article of clothing before your boudoir session. When you try on each piece, make sure you move around to see how it feels. Sometimes, a bodysuit or three piece set will feel perfect when you are standing still, but can be uncomfortable when you sit down or move about. It is really important to bring clothing that fits perfectly and makes you feel confident. 

How to Check the Fit at Home

Put the piece of clothing on and run through a few quick moves before you decide it works:

• Sit down on the edge of your bed and see if anything digs in or rolls.
• Raise both arms over your head and check that the band stays put.
• Bend at the waist and look in the mirror to see how it holds.
• Twist side to side and watch the straps and cups.

If a piece passes all of that and still feels good, it deserves to be included in your photoshoot. 

Do Not Buy a Smaller Size as Motivation

Do not buy lingerie for a future body. Buying a smaller size as “motivation” only loads unnecessary pressure onto your session and sets you up to feel bad if the goal moves. Choose pieces that fit beautifully now. No one sees the tag in the final photographs. The best size is the one that supports you and lets you move with confidence.

Do not buy lingerie for a future body. Buying a smaller size as “motivation” only loads unnecessary pressure onto your session and sets you up to feel bad if the goal moves. You end up with a beautiful piece hanging in your closet that you cannot actually wear yet, and every time you look at it, it reminds you of a body you do not have right now.

Choose pieces that fit beautifully now. No one sees the tag in the final photographs. When you look back at your gallery, you will not remember what number was printed inside the waistband. You will remember how you felt. The best size is the one that supports you and lets you move with confidence.

I have shot clients across every size, and I promise you the ones who look the most at ease are not the smallest. They are the ones wearing something that actually fits.

Choose Lingerie That Reflects Your Personal Style

Pick pieces that feel like you, not what you assume boudoir is “supposed” to look like. There is no rule that says you have to be in a tiny lace set to have beautiful photographs. If that is not authentically you, you will feel like you are playing dress-up, and it will show in your photos.

Your wardrobe can include:

• Bodysuits
• Two-piece sets
• Three-piece sets
• High-waisted lingerie
• Slip dresses
• Dresses
• Button-down shirts
• Oversized sweaters
• Jackets
• Sheets
• Props
• Meaningful personal items

You can feel just as sensual in something more covered as in something revealing. Sensuality is about how you feel, not how much skin you show. Some of my favorite images are a client in an oversized button-down shirt and nothing else, or wrapped in a sheet, or wearing a satin dress. If you want more ideas, I put together a full guide on the best boudoir outfits and what to wear to your shoot.

Bring Pieces That Mean Something to You

If you have clothing that hold sentimental value, bring it to your shoot. Or if you want to include your partner in your shoot, bring one of their shirts or a favorite object of theirs. If you have a favorite pair of heels for a good night out. When you wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable, you will feel less nervous and self-conscious. 

Choose Outfits That Showcase Rather Than Obscure Your Body

This advice is going to sound overly simple: choose lingerie that is your style. It sounds so straightforward but can be more difficult than it sounds. There is always going to be internal pressure to choose certain pieces that might conceal your insecurities and let yourself hide, but truly ask yourself if these pieces embody who you want to be. And at the end of the day, always include one outfit that pushes your comfort zone. 

If you focus and choose clothing that covers every insecurity you possess, you end up choosing clothing that lacks personality and obscures your body. Make sure the clothing you choose showcases your favorite parts of your body and are the right sizes.

High-waisted pants will always elongate your figure, so when in doubt, default to these. The same is true for a longline bodysuit. So, when you are searching for outfits, try on these pieces first. 

What to Do About the Parts You Want to Hide

Almost every client has one or two parts of their bodies that they are worried about. Your stomach, your arms, your back, your thighs. First, know that this is normal and you are not the only one thinking about it. Second, know that a lot of this gets handled by posing and lighting, not just wardrobe.

Part of my job is to pose you in a way that works with your body, and to light you so you feel good in the images. There are boudoir poses that work for all body types, and I will guide you into them so you never have to figure it out on your own. So when you are picking outfits, you do not have to solve every worry with fabric. You just have to pick pieces that fit and feel good. I take care of the rest during the session. If there is something you really want me to be mindful of, tell me before we start, and I will be mindful of it.

You Do Not Have to Wait Until You Lose Weight

A lot of people put off booking a session until they hit some goal weight. I want to gently but firmly push back on that. The body you have right now is worth photographing. The version of you that shows up at your shoot is the one you will appreciate, five, ten or even twenty years down the line. 

I have never had a client look at their gallery and wish they had waited. Usually, they feel the complete opposite. They wish they had done it sooner, before they let insecurities and fears talk themselves out of it yet again.

What to Bring to Your Session

So, what to wear for a boudoir photoshoot when you feel insecure about your body: bring several outfits in different styles and fabrics. Always bring more outfits than necessary. There is no such thing as having too many options. You never know whether one of your outfits doesn’t fit quite right during your photoshoot or you end up preferring another option. Having more options means that if we encounter this, we can easily pivot.

Your straightforward packing list:

• Six to eight outfits in various styles 
• Bring an oversized jacket, shirt, or blazer
• Include at least one outfit that is more revealing and out of your comfort zone. 
• A simple bra and panty set
• Your favorite pair of heels.
• Any personal item that holds significance. 

I will help you select pieces that work best. At ELI Boudoir, you get wardrobe guidance before your Los Angeles session, so you are never making these decisions completely on your own. If you carry more curves and want size-specific help, my body positive plus size lingerie guide goes deeper on fit and shapes that work.

Book Your Los Angeles Boudoir Session

If you have been sitting on the idea because you feel unsure about your body, know that you do not have to have it all figured out before you come. 

Your job is simple. Choose outfits that feel good and fit your body. I will provide guidance on everything from your wardrobe, how to pose, and how to prepare for your boudoir session. You will feel supported the whole way through the shoot. So, when you are ready, reach out and we will plan your dream session together. 

I recommend reaching out and having the conversation before you feel ready. You just might surprise yourself. Look over the session investment and what is included to see what works for you, and when you are ready, reach out and we will plan your session together.

If you feel unsure about your body and you have a boudoir shoot coming up, the wardrobe part can feel like the scariest piece of all. You want to look good, you want to feel good, and you are worried the wrong outfit will make you feel worse in front of the camera. I get it. Trying to figure out what to wear for a boudoir photoshoot when you feel insecure about your body, is one of the biggest challenges. I hear this from clients before at least half of my sessions in Los Angeles.

So let me give you the real advice I give my own clients. The short version is this: the outfit is not the problem, and the size on the tag is not the problem. What matters is fit, how you feel in the piece, and choosing things that let your body be seen instead of buried. I’ll walk you through all of it below.

Wear Lingerie That Fits Your Current Body Properly

Finding clothing with the proper fit matters far more than the size printed on the tag. This is the single most important wardrobe advice I can give you.

Lingerie that is too small digs in and restricts your movement. If a strap is cutting into your shoulder or if the band is too tight on your ribcage that is going to irritate throughout your whole session. Lingerie that is too loose has the opposite problem. Loose clothing will not be flattering; it is going to pull attention away from your beautiful figure. Unintentionally oversized clothing will bunch, or create weird gaps that your eye will be drawn to in all of your boudoir photographs. 

Make sure you try on every article of clothing before your boudoir session. When you try on each piece, make sure you move around to see how it feels. Sometimes, a bodysuit or three piece set will feel perfect when you are standing still, but can be uncomfortable when you sit down or move about. It is really important to bring clothing that fits perfectly and makes you feel confident. 

How to Check the Fit at Home

Put the piece of clothing on and run through a few quick moves before you decide it works:

• Sit down on the edge of your bed and see if anything digs in or rolls.
• Raise both arms over your head and check that the band stays put.
• Bend at the waist and look in the mirror to see how it holds.
• Twist side to side and watch the straps and cups.

If a piece passes all of that and still feels good, it deserves to be included in your photoshoot. 

Do Not Buy a Smaller Size as Motivation

Do not buy lingerie for a future body. Buying a smaller size as “motivation” only loads unnecessary pressure onto your session and sets you up to feel bad if the goal moves. Choose pieces that fit beautifully now. No one sees the tag in the final photographs. The best size is the one that supports you and lets you move with confidence.

Do not buy lingerie for a future body. Buying a smaller size as “motivation” only loads unnecessary pressure onto your session and sets you up to feel bad if the goal moves. You end up with a beautiful piece hanging in your closet that you cannot actually wear yet, and every time you look at it, it reminds you of a body you do not have right now.

Choose pieces that fit beautifully now. No one sees the tag in the final photographs. When you look back at your gallery, you will not remember what number was printed inside the waistband. You will remember how you felt. The best size is the one that supports you and lets you move with confidence.

I have shot clients across every size, and I promise you the ones who look the most at ease are not the smallest. They are the ones wearing something that actually fits.

Choose Lingerie That Reflects Your Personal Style

Pick pieces that feel like you, not what you assume boudoir is “supposed” to look like. There is no rule that says you have to be in a tiny lace set to have beautiful photographs. If that is not authentically you, you will feel like you are playing dress-up, and it will show in your photos.

Your wardrobe can include:

• Bodysuits
• Two-piece sets
• Three-piece sets
• High-waisted lingerie
• Slip dresses
• Dresses
• Button-down shirts
• Oversized sweaters
• Jackets
• Sheets
• Props
• Meaningful personal items

You can feel just as sensual in something more covered as in something revealing. Sensuality is about how you feel, not how much skin you show. Some of my favorite images are a client in an oversized button-down shirt and nothing else, or wrapped in a sheet, or wearing a satin dress. If you want more ideas, I put together a full guide on the best boudoir outfits and what to wear to your shoot.

Bring Pieces That Mean Something to You

If you have clothing that hold sentimental value, bring it to your shoot. Or if you want to include your partner in your shoot, bring one of their shirts or a favorite object of theirs. If you have a favorite pair of heels for a good night out. When you wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable, you will feel less nervous and self-conscious. 

Choose Outfits That Showcase Rather Than Obscure Your Body

This advice is going to sound overly simple: choose lingerie that is your style. It sounds so straightforward but can be more difficult than it sounds. There is always going to be internal pressure to choose certain pieces that might conceal your insecurities and let yourself hide, but truly ask yourself if these pieces embody who you want to be. And at the end of the day, always include one outfit that pushes your comfort zone. 

If you focus and choose clothing that covers every insecurity you possess, you end up choosing clothing that lacks personality and obscures your body. Make sure the clothing you choose showcases your favorite parts of your body and are the right sizes.

High-waisted pants will always elongate your figure, so when in doubt, default to these. The same is true for a longline bodysuit. So, when you are searching for outfits, try on these pieces first. 

What to Do About the Parts You Want to Hide

Almost every client has one or two parts of their bodies that they are worried about. Your stomach, your arms, your back, your thighs. First, know that this is normal and you are not the only one thinking about it. Second, know that a lot of this gets handled by posing and lighting, not just wardrobe.

Part of my job is to pose you in a way that works with your body, and to light you so you feel good in the images. There are boudoir poses that work for all body types, and I will guide you into them so you never have to figure it out on your own. So when you are picking outfits, you do not have to solve every worry with fabric. You just have to pick pieces that fit and feel good. I take care of the rest during the session. If there is something you really want me to be mindful of, tell me before we start, and I will be mindful of it.

You Do Not Have to Wait Until You Lose Weight

A lot of people put off booking a session until they hit some goal weight. I want to gently but firmly push back on that. The body you have right now is worth photographing. The version of you that shows up at your shoot is the one you will appreciate, five, ten or even twenty years down the line. 

I have never had a client look at their gallery and wish they had waited. Usually, they feel the complete opposite. They wish they had done it sooner, before they let insecurities and fears talk themselves out of it yet again.

What to Bring to Your Session

So, what to wear for a boudoir photoshoot when you feel insecure about your body: bring several outfits in different styles and fabrics. Always bring more outfits than necessary. There is no such thing as having too many options. You never know whether one of your outfits doesn’t fit quite right during your photoshoot or you end up preferring another option. Having more options means that if we encounter this, we can easily pivot.

Your straightforward packing list:

• Six to eight outfits in various styles 
• Bring an oversized jacket, shirt, or blazer
• Include at least one outfit that is more revealing and out of your comfort zone. 
• A simple bra and panty set
• Your favorite pair of heels.
• Any personal item that holds significance. 

I will help you select pieces that work best. At ELI Boudoir, you get wardrobe guidance before your Los Angeles session, so you are never making these decisions completely on your own. If you carry more curves and want size-specific help, my body positive plus size lingerie guide goes deeper on fit and shapes that work.

Book Your Los Angeles Boudoir Session

If you have been sitting on the idea because you feel unsure about your body, know that you do not have to have it all figured out before you come. 

Your job is simple. Choose outfits that feel good and fit your body. I will provide guidance on everything from your wardrobe, how to pose, and how to prepare for your boudoir session. You will feel supported the whole way through the shoot. So, when you are ready, reach out and we will plan your dream session together. 

I recommend reaching out and having the conversation before you feel ready. You just might surprise yourself. Look over the session investment and what is included to see what works for you, and when you are ready, reach out and we will plan your session together.