Planning an Outdoor Boudoir Session, Step by Step, by Peyton Olivia Photography

If you are a boudoir photographer and don’t have a studio, an outdoor setting may be an ideal location for you. The outdoors offer so much: landscape, texture, materials, natural backdrops, and full space for creativity. However, you do not own the outdoors which means there are a few things to look out for when planning your outdoor boudoir session.

Client Needs and Expectations

Before you plan your outdoor boudoir session, ask your client exactly what they expect and need from you. 

What will make you most comfortable during your outdoor boudoir session?
Do you need full privacy?
Will you be wearing more than one outfit, if so do you need a place to change?
Will you be doing a nude boudoir? If so, how comfortable are you modeling outdoors in the nude?
Do you have allergies?
Do you burn easily?
Does the high or low temperatures affect you strongly? 
Do you desire a private place to change?
Is going to the restroom outdoors an option for you? (This must be mentioned! You are photographing outdoors…)

Location

Once you’ve figured out exactly what your client needs from you, it’s time to find a location.

Ask your client a few things:
What is your ideal location? Do you have a location in mind?

Location Ideas:

-an overgrown field
-the woods or forest
-a body of water (ocean, river, pool, stream, waterfall)
-The client’s personal outdoor property or a friend or families
-Your own personal property (yard, garden, backwoods, against a tree line)
-hike to a mountain destination together 
-An abandoned area or house - THIS IS RISKY
-A path, trail, railroad, or bridge
-A farm, orchard, or private garden
-An urban area- RISKY AS WELL
-outdoor patio, or balcony
-Outside of your house or studio (against a wall, corner, on the steps, etc.)
-If you’re near one: the beach or the dessert 

Permission

Before you promise a location, make sure you have permission if it is not public land. Once you have permission, make sure the area is suitable for a private boudoir session. This means looking for areas to set up a changing room if necessary and making sure there aren’t peeping neighbors nearby. Scout out the area to make sure it’s exactly what your client and you had discussed together. Which lead to my next point:

Time

Every photography session has a time limit. Your time is valuable and so is your clients. You don’t want to get to a location and have no idea where to shoot. Scout out the land before your session even begins; go to the site a week in advance, or hell...a few hours before your session begins and make sure you know exactly where you are taking your client. Imagine if you showed up to a large area and had to roam around with your client until you found the perfect spot… that would take a lot of their time and honestly make you look unprofessional. Your client isn’t booking you to go on a hike.

Another aspect of time is: What time will you be photographing? 

The best times to photograph outdoors are:

-Mid morning (nice soft light)
-Mid evening (nice soft light)
-Golden Hour (low golden sun light)

Worst times to photograph a boudoir:

-Before sunrise (duh..however, right at sunrise could lead to cool silhouettes if that’s what your client wants)
-Noon-2pm (THE WORST. The sun is at its highest point which means dark eye sockets, and dark harsh shadows under the nose, eyebrows, and lips… This is not pretty light)
-After sunset (duh..)

Make sure you take note of what time of year you are in. The winter has shorter days than summer which means sunrise and sunset times are earlier. 

Also take note of what the weather will be like. If you have overcast skies, great! Overcast skies act as a diffuser to the sun creating nice, soft light to work with. 

Essentials 

Since you will not be indoors with electricity, a refrigerator, AC or heat, restroom, or even a closet full of essentials you MUST bring an essentials bag. Some things to think about packing with you:

-hand towel
-body towel
-sneakers (make sure your client brings sneakers too! (Imagine if you have to hike a bit to get to your location and all your client brought were heels. OMG.)
-extra attire in case of an accident (make sure you client brings a back up outfit as well)
-small first aid kit
-baby wipes
-water
-snacks
-sun screen if hot and sunny
-make up bag
-comb and brush
-hair spray (this could also be used as a nice “fog” in your photos)
-a blanket
-props
-extra camera body and lens
-extra camera batteries
-flash with batteries
-a reflector
-an assistant, if needed
-large fabric (this could be used to create a “changing room” outdoors) 

Remember, you are outside away from your studio or home, make sure you bring everything you and your client will need!

Now that your bag is packed, you know your clients exact needs and desires, you’ve schedule your session for the perfect time, you’ve scouted out the perfect location for privacy and excellent photography spots, it’s time to get shooting!

When photographing a boudoir outdoors, take advantage of what’s around you. You have color, texture, landscapes, plants, large trees, water, the beautiful outdoors! Try shooting wide so you can compliment your client with a landscape, instead of shooting in portrait mode and only getting blur of the environment. Use the textures around you- grass, tree bark, leaves on the ground, or the movement of the water. You have so much to work with so take advantage of it. 

I hope you took away some key points when planning an outdoor boudoir session! Continue below to see a beautiful example of an outdoor boudoir session I did with Ms. Halle during the summer. I’ve also listed important information from our session together.

OUTDOOR BOUDOIR SESSION WITH MS. HALLE by PEYTON OLIVIA PHOTOGRAPHY

LOCATION: a private field in Frederick, Maryland

TIME: 3:00pm

WEATHER: overcast skies

SEASON: mid summer

IN MY BAG: 
-baby wipes
-sequin silver fabric
-large roll of tan silk fabric
-body towel
-hand towel
-snack (fruit and crackers)
-water
-extra camera and lens and flash
-extra batteries for flash and camera
-small first aid kit
-Make-up
-Hair products (bobby pins, hair spray)
-Safety pins
-small blanket
-casual wear for my client
-sneakers for the two of us