What can I wear to my boudoir shoot that isn’t lingerie?

As a boudoir photographer in Savannah, one of the questions I get asked most often is, “What should I wear to my shoot”?

My typical answer is, “Whatever makes you feel the most amazing.”

At this point, your eyes glaze over, you get mad at my seemingly non-committal answer, and you take to Google to find out what others are wearing. You search “what to wear for a boudoir shoot,” and see pictures of women in lacy lingerie and stilettos. Internally, you cringe at the thought of having to purchase something new, something more revealing than you’d like, or something that doesn’t align with who you are. You roll your eyes, grab your phone, and are seconds away from canceling your shoot because lingerie is not something you’re about to do.

But don’t give up yet!

Why? Because boudoir photography isn’t simply about taking photos of you in various pieces of clothing; it’s an artful expression of your empowerment, sexiness, and comfort. The photos I take are about revealing who you are, fully owning the beautiful body you have, and celebrating all of Y-O-U. So wear what you feel amazing in.

Scroll a bit further and you’ll see the diversity in what people wear. You’ll see oversized t-shirts, bralettes, and jerseys. Click a couple of links and you’re sure to find leather jackets over nothing else. It’s all gloriously and uniquely stunning.

What you wear is all about what you will feel best in.

Obviously, there are guidelines I’d give such as solid colors, texture, a slightly larger fit, and sheerer fabrics tend to work better for posing and the camera, but the actual items you *should* wear are all influenced by how you feel in them.

Okay, I can feel you pushing me to answer the question.

“Shalista, if NOT lingerie, then WHAT, damnit?”

Here are some options I would suggest for those who aren’t into traditional lingerie and a few ideas for brands that women love to shop:

Bodysuits and Swimwear When you still want the body contouring and second-skin silhouette, consider bodysuits or swimwear which have the same characteristics of lingerie but tend to be more modestly cut and less revealing. They come in an alluring array of styles and sizes and can give you the thrill of showing it all without actually showing it all.
Dresses Thanks to the many varieties, styles, materials, and colors, dresses are a great option for boudoir photo shoots. They provide a level of modesty while still being captivating. Whether you choose something flowing with a train or something more body contouring, make sure you can move in the dress you choose but that it doesn’t overwhelm you.
Jeans Not only do jeans show up in photographs beautifully thanks to their texture and features, they also give the women who wear them the comfort and familiarity they need to shine brightly. Whether you pair them with a tank top, camisole, or just your bare skin, jeans are an unbeaten favorite for boudoir shoots.
Oversized Shirts There is something so inherently sexy about wearing an oversized shirt and, despite it being a basic staple in your closet, it’s hot AF over any pair of legs. T-shirts, jerseys, button-ups, jackets, it all works! Don’t go too big, just a size or two larger than what you actually wear, so that we can still pose you and manipulate the material easily without it swallowing your body, and your essence, whole. But not to worry if you have something special that’s quite a bit bigger that you’d like to model of your partner’s; we can easily pin or structure the piece to get incredible photos of you in it!
Sport Cuts So, you want something that is cut for your taste and lingerie-adjacent without being too revealing or lacy? Sporty bras, bralettes, underwear… it can all translate into some fantastic pictures thanks to the vast options in cuts, colors, and styles. Adding a simple tee or sweater over your favorite sporty underwear can propel you into the echelon of comfortably irresistible and a cut that makes you feel perfect leads to some incredible confidence that translates gorgeously to photos. Because the sport-variety of bras and panties tend to have more elastic, make sure that you choose a size that doesn’t cut into your body and that you can move in.
What You Already Own That’s right. This is a whole category unto itself because in all likelihood, you have things in your closet that will not only do the job, but make you feel amazing! You can pair a favorite sweater with a new pair of panties, that pair of
Nothing. At All. That’s right. Just you and the skin you were born in. We’re celebrating all the parts of you so why hide it? Many people find that simple accessories such as a bracelet or necklace are all that they need to feel their most authentic and alluring. Fabric optional; confidence for days.

Where can you find pieces like this? Here is a short list of some great sites to find inspiration and styles for all categories of clothing:

Nordstrom’s has a great selection of pieces; from bodysuits to dresses, they have styles for everyone.

Lulu’s is a website that has a bit of everything. They have a wonderful assortment of dresses, bodysuits, and swimwear that come in fabrics and shapes that are comfortable and perfect for photographing.

Aerie is a great place to find swimsuits and underwear as they have a huge variety of pieces and a cut/style guide to help you find what you’re looking for.

Soma is a retailer that checks all the boxes with both modest options and more revealing pieces to meet any preference.

While these lists are a good start, there are so many options when it comes to styling your shoot that aren’t related to lingerie. Together we can discuss what your preferences are, what your ultimate outcome is for the shoot, and we work to build a portfolio of photos that captures the amazing person YOU are.