How to Prepare for Your Boudoir Session at Royal Lune Studio, Dallas TX

How to prepare for a boudoir session at Royal Lune Photo – this is one of the questions I get asked most, and honestly, it is one of my favorite things to talk about. Because the truth is, so much of how a session feels comes down to how prepared you are walking through the door. Not prepared in a stressful, over planned way, but prepared in the way that lets you exhale the moment you arrive, knowing you have thought of everything and can just be present.

I have been photographing boudoir sessions for years, and in that time I have learned exactly what makes a session flow beautifully…and what tends to throw things off. This guide pulls together everything I share with my own clients before their sessions, plus a few extra things I always wish I had thought to mention sooner. Whether you are brand new to boudoir or coming back for another session, read these boudoir session tips before your appointment.

 

 

Boudoir Session Tips for the Day Before Your Session

Beyond the logistics, there are a few boudoir session tips and things you can do to prepare for your boudoir session that will make you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin:

• Drink plenty of water in the days before your session. Hydrated skin photographs beautifully and just feels better.
• If you shave or wax, try to do so the night before rather than the morning of , this gives any redness or irritation time to settle.
• Moisturize consistently in the week before your session, especially areas you want to look their most luminous on camera.
• Try to avoid using any new products right before your session. You don’t want to a new product to irritate your skin or trigger a breakout.
• Be sure to try on your lingerie and wardrobe items to make sure everything is fitting the way you remember. This will also ensure you don’t assume you know where everything is.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Rested eyes and rested energy are genuinely visible in photographs.
• Eat something before you arrive, especially if you have an early appointment. Do not show up on an empty stomach. You want your energy up and your nerves settled.

What to Wear When You’re on the Way to Royal Lune Studio 

I know it sounds counterintuitive. You are about to change into lingerie or be in the nude, so why does it matter what you show up in? But this is genuinely one of the most important prep tips I can give you, and it surprises almost every first-time client.

Tight clothing leaves indentations in your skin. Waistbands, sock lines, legging seams, denim – they all press into your skin in ways that can take anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour to fully fade. Depending on how quickly we move into your shoot, those marks may still be visible in your photos if we are not careful. And while these are things I can edit out, this will make my editing time longer.

Skip the leggings, jeans, crew socks, and any tight waistbands on the day of your session. Instead, opt for something loose and flowy such as a sundress, wide-leg trousers, a flowy skirt, or any outfit with minimal elastic or structure. Thigh-high socks or no socks at all are ideal. The goal is to arrive with as few fabric impressions on your skin as possible so we can jump straight into the fun part.

If you have a beauty appointment with my HMUA, a robe will be provided for you to wear during hair and makeup, so you do not need to worry about your outfit interfering with your styling. Just show up comfortable.

 

Wardrobe: What to Bring and What to Double Check

This wouldn’t be a boudoir prep guide if we didn’t walk about what you’re wearing, so let’s talk wardrobe! This is the area where I see the most last-minute panic and almost all of it is preventable with some simple tips.

 

 

 

Double Check Your Bag Before You Leave

I cannot tell you how many clients have arrived and realized mid-session that they left behind a bra, a specific pair of underwear, or an accessory sitting on their bed at home. Small pieces, especially underwear and jewelry, have a way of getting separated from the rest of an outfit when you are packing. Before you walk out the door, lay every outfit flat, check that every matching piece is together, and do a final count. Future you will be very grateful.

Feel Free to Overpack!

I always encourage my clients to bring lots of choices, even if we don’t work all of it in. Some ideas include: a formal outfit to transition out of into boudoir, solid colored underwear, “sexy” loungewear, sentimental items that are meaningful to you and/or your partner, and accessories.

Avoid Showing-Up with Wrinkly Items

If you have any wardrobe items easily wrinkled, I highly recommend you bring them hung up and not stuffed in a bag. Items such as veils, dresses, button down shirts, satin materials, etc. are very easily wrinkled. If items arrive very wrinkled, steaming them is an option as I do have a steamer available at my studio. This will, however, eat into your session time with me. Otherwise, I can edit the wrinkles out best I can, but this will result in an additional editing fee due to the time consuming nature.

Cut the Tags Out of Your Lingerie and Sheer Items

Be sure to cut out the tags from lingerie and sheer items as these typically show in photos. Cutting them out ahead of your session will save time for your session. If you forget, no worries, but it is something I like to recommend clients do ahead of time for the sake of time!

Know What Your Package Includes

Only my top packages include access to my full client closet. If you have booked my New Moon or Crescent Collections, you will have access to my fashion fabrics collection, but not my client closet due to time. This being said, please make sure you bring your own wardrobe unless you are planning a fine art nude session. If you are not sure what your package includes, just shoot me a message and I will pull up your booking details for you.

What’s Included in my Client Closet

My client closet includes a curated selection of lingerie, robes, and styled pieces in a range of sizes. My fabric collection includes flowing silks, sheers, and textured fabrics used for fine art and artistic nude sessions. If you are unsure which you have access to, check your package details or ask me, I am always happy to walk you through it.

Need help figuring out what to wear to your upcoming session? Checkout my styling guide for some extra boudoir session tips and guidance!

Arriving for Your Makeup Appointment

If you have a makeup appointment booked with my HMUA, please arrive with freshly washed, moisturized skin and do not put on any makeup beforehand (sunscreen is ok). I know that feels a little vulnerable, especially if you feel more like yourself with a little something on, but arriving bare-faced genuinely makes a difference in how the makeup applies, how long it lasts, and how flawless the finish looks on camera.

You are welcome to bring your favorite lip product, touch-up tools, or any other beauty products you like to have on hand throughout the day. While my HMUA is very experienced and should be able to easily accommodate you, if you have any skin allergies or sensitivities, please let me know in advance and feel free to bring your own products as a backup in the event my artist cannot accommodate a specific ingredient. Your comfort and safety always come first.

 

 

Hair Prep: How to Arrive Depending on Your Desired Look

Hair is one of those areas where a little advance preparation on your end genuinely changes what my stylist is able to create. Here is exactly how to arrive to your beauty appointment based on the look you are going for:

If You Have Straight Hair and Want Waves or Curls

Please arrive with day-old hair (meaning hair that was washed the day before your session), not the morning of. Clean, freshly washed hair is actually slippery and harder to hold a curl. Day-old hair has just enough natural texture and a little bit of the day in it that curls form better, last longer, and look more lived-in and effortless. Trust me on this one.

If You Have Curly Hair and Want a Blown-Out or Heated Curl Look

Arrive with your hair either straightened or roughly blow-dried straight. It does not need to be perfect or salon-smooth, just the curl pattern smoothed out enough to work with. This gives my stylist a clean canvas to create the look you are after without fighting your natural texture.

If You Have Curly Hair and Want to Enhance Your Natural Curls

Come in with clean, dry, product-free hair. My stylist will define and refresh your curl pattern for you. If you have specific products that you know work well for your hair type, feel free to bring them along. Every curl pattern is different, and I want you to feel like yourself, so if there is something you swear by, bring it.

If Your Package Does Not Include a Hair Service

If you have not added a hair styling service to your booking, please arrive fully hair-ready. Hair services are included in my Celestial Collection and is available as an add-on if you decide you would like one, just be sure to reach out in advance and we can make it happen.

 

 

Posing: You Will Never Have to Wonder What to Do

This is the thing that worries people most and matters least once we are actually shooting. I guide every single client through every single pose. You will not be standing in front of my camera wondering what to do with your hands, I promise. Posing is my job, and it is one of my favorite parts of the whole process.

That said, if you want to come in with some visuals in mind, I absolutely encourage it. Browse through my posing guide, my moodboard, or my Instagram before your session to get familiar with the kinds of poses and compositions we might explore together. If there is a specific shot you love and want to make sure we capture, save it and bring it, I love having that kind of direction. And if you have zero specific ideas and just want to show up and let me take the lead completely, that is totally fine as well.

The same applies to hair, makeup styling, and wardrobe if you have access to my client closet – inspiration is always welcome, but never required.

 

 

Timing and Logistics (The Practical Stuff)

Although not as fun to talk about, it’s important to know some practical information before your session at my studio. Here are a few useful tips in order to prepare for your boudoir session:

Plan Extra Time for the Drive

My studio is located in Sanger, TX, just north of Denton and if you are coming from Dallas or the greater DFW area, please plan for traffic. The construction in and around Denton has made commute times genuinely unpredictable, regardless of the time of day or day of the week. I recommend adding at least a 20-minute buffer to your estimated drive time. Because I may have additional clients after your session, I am not able to extend time that is lost due to late arrivals. I want every minute of your session to be used for the actual session, not rushing to make up for a delayed start.

How Long Should You Plan to Be There?

Beauty appointments typically run between 30 and 90 minutes depending on your styling needs. Photo sessions run between 60 and 120 minutes depending on your chosen collection. If you have a hard leave-by time, please let me and my hair and makeup artist know when you arrive and we will do our best to work with your timeline. We do tend to get lost in good conversation, so a gentle reminder is always appreciated.

Final Payment

Final payments are due by your session date. If you need a reminder of your remaining balance before you head in, just reach out and I will pull it up for you. No surprises.

When Will You Receive Your Photos?

Sessions are usually edited within three weeks of your session date, but can take up to six weeks during peak seasons (spring and fall) unless we have discussed otherwise. Once you have ordered your products, please allow an additional two to three weeks for arrival. If you are on a tighter timeline for any reason – a gift, a special occasion, a trip, etc. let me know and we can discuss rush options. Rush fees apply for both editing and shipping.

 

One Last Thing Before Your Session

Even after going through my guide on how to prepare for your boudoir session, I know it’s easy to still feel overwhelmed. I want you to know that everything you are feeling right now: the excitement, the nerves, the little voice wondering if you are photogenic enough or brave enough or ready enough is completely normal. I hear it from almost every client. And I will tell you the same thing I tell all of them…you haven’t been photographed by me yet.

My job is not just to take beautiful photos. It is to create the kind of space where you forget to be self-conscious, where you surprise yourself, where you leave feeling like you just did something remarkable, because you did. That is what boudoir is supposed to feel like. And I cannot wait to create that with you!

Have questions that are not answered here? Feel free to reach out before your session, I am always happy to chat. And if you are not yet booked but have been thinking about it, you can learn more about my packages and start the conversation here.