boudoir photography FAQs

First off, wear a tampon or menstrual cup - not a pad. Problem solved for 99% of poses. If you're having a heavy flow day and you're genuinely uncomfortable, we can reschedule. But here's the thing: I've photographed hundreds of women, and periods have never once been visible in photos or been an actual issue. Your period doesn't make you unphotographable. It just makes you human.

If you're cramping badly or feeling like absolute shit, that's a different story - reschedule. But if it's just "I'm on my period and I'm self-conscious about it," I promise you it's not going to be a thing.

Yes, they'll show. Because that's what bodies do when they bend. But here's what you're actually asking: "Will I look bad?" And the answer is no.

I pose you in ways that flatter your body - not by pretending your stomach doesn't exist, but by working with how bodies actually look. Sometimes that means sitting poses, sometimes it means standing or lying down. Every body folds differently, and I know how to work with yours specifically.

Can I "hide" your belly completely? No. Should I? Also no. You're not paying me to create a fantasy version of you that doesn't exist. You're paying me to make you look like the most powerful, beautiful version of yourself - rolls included.

Some photos, yes. Not every single one, but they'll be visible in some shots because they're part of your body.

Here's what actually happens: I use flattering lighting that doesn't emphasize texture unnecessarily. In post-production, I do light skin smoothing that softens them without erasing them completely. They'll look less pronounced than they do in your bathroom mirror at 7am, but they won't vanish.

And honestly? Most women are shocked at how little they notice their stretch marks in the final images. When you see yourself looking powerful and beautiful, your brain stops fixating on the things you've been trained to hate about yourself.

If you want them completely removed, I can do that, but honestly, most clients change their minds after seeing their photos.

Too much for boudoir photos? No. That's not a thing.

Gravity exists. Breastfeeding changes your body. Welcome to being human. I've photographed women with every breast shape imaginable - small, large, asymmetrical, post-nursing, post-surgery, you name it. There's no such thing as "too saggy" for boudoir.

I use posing and angles that flatter your specific body. Sometimes that means supportive lingerie, sometimes it means different arm positions, sometimes it means lying down poses. I know what works, and I promise you I've seen bodies like yours before and created beautiful images.

Your breasts fed a human. They're not "too much" for anything.

If you want to shave, great. If you don't, also great. I'm not zooming in on your legs checking for stubble like some kind of body hair inspector. I'm creating beautiful images of you.

That said, if you're personally bothered by body hair and you want to remove it before your session, go ahead - just do it at least 24 hours before so you don't have irritation or razor burn. But if you show up with leg hair or pit hair or whatever? We're still shooting, and you're still going to look incredible.

The only time body hair really shows up in photos is dark hair on pale skin in bright lighting - and even then, it's just... hair. It's not ruining anything.

Then you cry. It happens more often than you think.

Some women cry at the beginning because they're overwhelmed. Some cry during the shoot because they're seeing themselves differently for the first time. Some cry at the reveal because they can't believe that's actually them.

If you need a minute, we take a minute. If you need to stop and collect yourself, we stop. This is not a rush job. You’ve got me booked for the entire day, and nobody else is coming through.

Being emotional doesn't make you difficult. It makes you human. And honestly, some of the best sessions I've ever photographed have involved tears at some point. Women who let themselves be vulnerable usually walk away with the most powerful images.

I'm not selling you "sexy." I'm selling you powerful. There's a difference.

"Sexy" is performative. It's what you think you're supposed to look like for someone else. "Powerful" is what happens when you stop performing and start owning who you actually are.

Can I guarantee you'll walk out feeling sexy? No. But I can guarantee you'll see yourself differently than you ever have before. Most women describe it as feeling strong, confident, or like a badass - "sexy" is just the word we use because there isn't a better one.

And no, you won't look like you're trying too hard. I direct every pose, every expression, every movement. You're not responsible for figuring out how to "be sexy" - that's my job. You just have to show up and trust the process.

Then we figure it out.

Here's the thing: at your same-day reveal, you get to see ALL your images before you buy anything. If you genuinely hate them, you don't buy them. You walk away. That's it.

Has this happened? In ten years and hundreds of sessions, I can count on one hand the number of times someone didn't love their images. Usually what happens is women have ONE or TWO photos they don't like (which is why I don't make you buy the whole set), but the rest? They love.

If something goes wrong during the shoot - equipment failure, you get sick, whatever - we reschedule. But if you just don't connect with the images? You don't owe me anything beyond the session fee you already paid. I'm not going to guilt trip you into buying photos you don't love.

That said, I'm very good at what I do. Trust the process.

Smart question. Here's how you vet any boudoir photographer:

Red flags to watch for:

• No verifiable online presence beyond Instagram

• Refuses to meet you beforehand or won't do phone/video consultations

• Wants to shoot at a hotel or residential location without obvious studio setup

• Can't provide references or reviews from real clients

• Asks you to sign something that gives them unlimited rights to your images

• Gets defensive or weird when you ask questions about their process

• Suggests alcohol during the shoot to "help you relax"

• Wants to shoot immediately without consultation

What legitimate photographers have:

• Established business with verifiable address and contact info

• Professional website with real client reviews (not just portfolio)

• Clear privacy policies and image release forms you can review beforehand

• Willingness to answer questions and meet before booking

• Professional studio space or established shooting location

• Clear pricing with no surprises

• Other women vouching for them publicly

For me specifically: I've been doing this for over ten years in Brisbane. I shoot in my home studio in Bellbowrie. You can find dozens of real client reviews online on Google and Facebook.

Trust your gut. If something feels off, walk away.

No. Absolutely not.

You decide what you're wearing and what you're comfortable with - before we even start shooting. We discuss this during your consultation and again before the session begins. If you change your mind during the shoot and want to go further, great. If you want to dial it back, also great.

I'm here to photograph you at whatever comfort level works for you. Some women shoot fully clothed. Some shoot topless. Some shoot fully nude. There's no "right" level of undress, and I'm not going to push you toward something you're not comfortable with.

If at any point during the shoot you want to stop, say "I'm done," or change what you're wearing - we do that immediately. No questions, no guilt, no drama.

Your boundaries are yours. I'm not here to test them.

This is your decision, not mine. But here's what I'll say:

If you're doing boudoir photos for your partner (as a gift, etc.), obviously they need to be on board. If you're doing this for yourself - because you want to see yourself differently or you want these images for your own empowerment - that's different.

I can't tell you whether to tell your partner or not. That's your relationship, and I don't know your situation. But I will say this: a lot of women come in nervous about their partner's reaction and end up showing them the photos anyway because they're so proud of how they turned out. And most partners are supportive once they see how happy you are.

That said, if your partner is controlling or makes you feel bad about your body or your choices? That's above my pay grade, and you might want to think about why you're in that relationship.

These are YOUR photos. You own them completely. What you do with them is up to you.

Let's be real: yes, if photos of you in lingerie surfaced publicly, there's a risk, Is it fair? No. But it's reality.

Here's what protects you:

• I never, ever share your images without explicit permission

• Your images aren't stored in any online cloud systems.

• I don't require you to sign model releases or allow me to share your work

• I don't tag you on social media or connect your images to your identity in any way

That said, understand this: once you share images with someone else (partner, friend, etc.), you lose control. If you send them to your boyfriend and you break up, he could share them. If they're on your phone and your phone gets hacked, they could leak.

My part is airtight. What you do with the images after I deliver them is on you.

Yes. Absolutely.

Most clients never appeared in my portfolios. Their photos exist only for them. Nobody knows they came here except me, and I'm not telling anyone.

When you book, you can request complete anonymity. That means:

• No requesting to use any of your images in marketing

• No connecting your identity to your session in any way

You're not a difficult client for wanting privacy. You're a smart for protecting herself.

You think those women walked in here looking like that naturally? They didn't.

Every single person on my website was nervous. Every single one of them had things they hated about their bodies. Every single one of them thought they might be the exception who doesn't photograph well.

And then they saw their photos.

Here's the truth: photography isn't about "photographing well" - it's about lighting, angles, posing, and knowing what works for each specific person. That's my job, not yours.

I've photographed women of every size, age, and body type imaginable. Short, tall, thin, plus-size, young, old, athletic, postpartum, post-surgery - all of them. And all of them looked incredible because I know what I'm doing.

You're not the exception. You're not going to be the one person who breaks the camera. You're going to show up, we're going to create beautiful images together, and you're going to wonder why you were so worried.

Most clients spend between $1,200-$2,500 total, including their session fee.

Here's the breakdown of the most popular bundles:

• Session fee: $500 (includes hair/makeup, session, and full editing)

• Digital image $1,400 for 20 images

The session fee is paid upfront when you book. Everything else is optional and decided at your same-day reveal after you see your images. You buy only the photos you love - whether that's two images or twenty.

There's no minimum purchase beyond the session fee. There's no sales pressure. You see your images, you decide what you want, and you either buy them or you don't.

Most women end up wanting more than they expected because they're surprised by how much they love the images. But that's their choice. I'm not going to guilt you into buying photos you don't want.

Complete transparency: I make most of my money from image sales, not session fees. But I'd rather have a happy client who buys three images than a pressured client who buys ten and regrets it later.