How to Prepare Yourself to See Your Boudoir Photos

You’ve done it: you booked the shoot, showed up, and absolutely rocked your boudoir session. Now comes the exciting part: seeing your photos for the very first time!

For many of our clients, this moment is just as transformative as the shoot itself. It is the final outcome after all! We know for a fact you will be pleasantly surprised and have no concern whatsoever, but we can also understand how intimidating it may feel. If anything, it is absolutely normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves and have a million questions popping in your head.

Here is how you can prep in order to make the most out of your reveal session and fully enjoy it.

1. Leave negative self-talk at the door

We are so used to being critical of ourselves that we sometimes forget how to simply appreciate the beauty in front of us, especially when it’s our own reflection. The biggest gift you can give yourself when you view your photos is kindness. Instead of focusing on small details you usually critique, shift your perspective. See yourself as you would a dear friend, with compassion, appreciation, and love.

2. Don’t dismiss too quickly

Sometimes the photos that challenge you at first end up being the ones you treasure the most later on.

Boudoir is about capturing your essence, not perfection. You might see sides of yourself you have never noticed before such as your confidence, your playfulness, your strength. Give yourself time to sit with each image before making a decision. What feels bold or unfamiliar today might become the picture that makes you feel unstoppable tomorrow.

3. Make space for the experience

Viewing your photos deserves your full attention. This whole experience from beginning to end is about putting yourself first for a moment, and it doesn’t stop at the photo shoot! Make sure to carve out a moment where you won’t be rushed and distracted.

Unless distance is an issue, we host our reveal sessions in person, in the studio so you can give yourself permission to be fully present, take your time and even enjoy a warm beverage and treats while you witness how great you look. It is also important to mention that you can go through the images as many times as you wish to get your ultimate selection!

4. Celebrate your courage

Remember: booking a boudoir shoot takes guts. If you only knew the number of people dying to try this and never daring to! But you did. You trusted the process, you allowed yourself to be seen, and embraced the unknown with pizzazz. You did a brave thing and it deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated.

5. Bring someone if you feel like it.

It is absolutely allowed to bring someone if you want to. Some people bring their best-friends, other their partners, and many prefer to do this on their own. Just make sure you bring a person you trust and fully supports you. Avoid anyone who might project their own insecurity and judgment on you.

Pro-tip: give them a heads-up that reveal sessions can take up to 2 hours. Not everybody expect that and it can feel long looking at someone else’s photos. Again, you don’t want to feel rushed 😉

6. Let yourself feel it all

It’s okay if you laugh, cry, or sit in awe. Boudoir images are more than just photos; they are reflections of your journey, your story, and your strength. Give yourself the freedom to feel whatever comes up and don't hesitate to be vocal about it. We are all working on making sure you leave with images you will look at over and over again with pride.

Seeing your boudoir photos is about so much more than images on a screen. It’s about witnessing yourself in a new light, unapologetically, beautifully, and authentically you. So take a deep breath, open your heart, and get ready to meet the incredible person you already are.

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Let's celebrate your kink with boudoir

One of the reasons Juliette and I love boudoir photography so much is because it is the perfect experience for people to fully express and celebrate themselves. And since it is very important for us to make our sessions inclusive, anyone can have fun with a boudoir shoot and let its magic happen, no matter their age, gender, body, or lifestyle.

Everybody has their own reason for boudoir

We opened Scandaleuse Photography 8 years ago, and we noticed in all those years that the main reason people come to us for their shoot is usually because they want to celebrate something. We had couples who wanted to try a spicy experience for their anniversary, women with past traumas who decided to own back their body, men who wanted to feel good in their skin, people who are proud of turning a certain age and wanted to celebrate it.

We’ve also photographed people who wanted to celebrate a milestone, a body transformation, a pregnancy, or simply celebrate their love for their partner. But something we have photographed only a few times is kink.

Show us your kink

It often happens that our clients ask us if they can bring restrains, or blindfolds as a prop for their sessions. Some of them even feel shy to ask, or they feel the need to apologize for having that idea, because there is still a lot of shame around that topic since it is an unknown territory for many people.

We would never feel offended if you wish to add some spiciness to your shoot! Working with people who want to focus on their kink for their boudoir shoot is very interesting. It is nice to see that some people are not afraid to celebrate a part of themselves that other people might find shameful.

If you have been following us for a while, you know that we love going against the grain, to not conform to traditional beliefs (it is one of the reasons why we opened Scandaleuse), and show through our work that people are allowed to be who they want to be by embracing their sensuality, confidence, and badassness! So, when we meet clients who want to put under the spotlight their kinky side, we are more than happy to make their ideas come to life (of course, as long as it doesn’t cross our boundaries).

What to expect for a kink-friendly photoshoot

If you want to explore and celebrate yourself through bold, artistic imagery in a safe and non-judgmental space, then we are your gals! Our sessions are all about consent, communication, and creativity. The vibe? You decide! Whether you are looking to get sensual, edgy, or provocative photographs of yourself, we are here to capture your story, and make it comes to life with intention and respect - but never in a pornographic way.

You can either choose to focus only on your kink during your session, or incorporate it in a few setups. Since our boudoir shoots are 2 hours long, it gives us the opportunity to be really creative and showcase your beautiful-self in many different ways!

If you are interested to work with us, all you have to do is reach out here, and we will meet you on Zoom prior to booking your photoshoot to make sure we are a good fit, answer any questions you might have, guide you through our boudoir process, and talk about ideas for your photoshoot. We do not accept all the inquiries we get, as we have boundaries, but we will never shame anyone on their kink. All we ask is that every person who contact us for a shoot like that to be really honest with what they want, so the session goes smoothly!

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Why you may not be ready for boudoir (and that's okay)

Boudoir photography looks amazing. The women you see on our website and socials seem so confident, so free, so… ready. And maybe you’re here because a little part of you wants that too: you scroll through the images, you feel a spark of curiosity… and then a voice inside whispers, “Not me. Not yet.”

And that’s perfectly okay.

Boudoir is a deeply personal experience, and sometimes, the timing just isn’t right. If that’s where you are, you’re not alone. Let’s explore a few reasons you might not feel ready right now and what you can do to start moving toward that version of yourself who is ready to take the leap.

The biggest reasons why boudoir may be a bit too far out of reach.

You truly despise your appearance and your body.

Don't get us wrong, it is very rare, maybe even impossible, for anyone to be completely at peace with the way they look at all times. But we do believe that in order to enjoy your boudoir experience, you do need to have a minimum of self-appreciation.

Boudoir is about celebration. If looking in the mirror feels like a battle and if you are stuck in harsh self-talk, it might feel impossible to celebrate yourself right now.

sensuality terrifies you.

Speaking mostly for women here, since we are women ourselves. Unfortunately, the grand majority of us have been taught that sensuality is “wrong” and inappropriate. For some of us, this was instilled stronger than for others. If the thought of letting it show feels deeply uncomfortable, boudoir might seem like crossing a line you’re not ready for.

You are not in the right headspace.

Stress, grief, trauma, or burnout can make it hard to imagine opening up to an experience as vulnerable as boudoir. And that’s okay. Sometimes self-care looks like giving yourself the time and space to heal before diving into something big.

The idea of going against the grain is overwhelming.

Boudoir is a little rebellious in its own way. It asks you to take up space, to be unapologetically visible, to celebrate yourself loudly in a world that often tells women to shrink. If you don’t feel a teeny-tiny "rebellious” spark yet, boudoir may be a little too much at the moment. And it is a-okay! This feeling is very different from one person to the other, and it may show up in unexpected ways.

How to Start Moving Toward “Ready”

In case it crossed your mind, no, you are absolutely not a lost cause. The majority of us have needed to take a few more steps in order to get into this feeling ready pool. Here are a variety of ideas for you to explore:

Practice self-kindness.

Notice your inner dialogue and practice replacing negative self-talk one with kinder comments. For example, you can try to give yourself more compliments instead of criticism. If that feels impossible, you can also attempt to tell those negative voices to shut it and remind yourself they are not accurate. While we are here, allow us to remind you that negative self-talk comes from a lot of outside factors out of your control. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you.

Reconnect with your sensual side in private.

Sensuality is not solely about sexuality. It is a gigantic umbrella with a lot of ways to bring it out. It can be as simple as dancing in your living room, wearing outfits (even lingerie) just for you, practice a new sport you’ve been dying to try, or even journal about how you’d like to feel in your own skin. It is truly a choose your own adventure book, and your instinct will tell you what you need to do to awaken it. Now it’s a matter of listening to it and trust us, it is a lot more fun than listening to the bitchy voices from above!

Surround yourself with inspiration.

Create mood boards on Pinterest or Canva, follow boudoir accounts (like ours!) and ideally, look for people that look like you. It’s a great way to remind yourself that beauty, sensuality, and power come in every age, shape, and story and avoid falling into the rabbit hole of comparisons. Social media can be quickly toxic, but the good side of it is that you can make it your own by being careful about who you follow.

Seek support.

It is no secret that therapy or coaching with the right person can help unpack body image and self-worth struggles. There is absolutely no shame in getting outside help when everything feels too much. It may even be the best gift you give yourself.

Last but not least, a little boudoir reality check.

Here’s the secret most people don’t realize: none of our clients feel fully ready when they book.

They arrive nervous, uncertain, sometimes even wondering if they’ve made a mistake. The difference is, they have managed getting to a place where they can let go of the idea of “perfect readiness". They chose to place their trust in the process, and they allow themselves to be guided.

That’s when the transformation happens.

Boudoir isn’t about waiting until you feel flawless, fearless, or perfectly aligned. It’s about stepping into the experience as you are and discovering the strength, sensuality, and beauty that’s been there all along.

So if you’re not ready yet, that’s okay. Take your time. But when you feel even the tiniest spark of curiosity, that may be your sign. You don’t need to feel fully ready, you just need to be willing.

And of course, if you feel like chatting about our potential boudoir experience, we are always one call away!

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6 common boudoir questions people ask

Boudoir photography is getting more and more popular, yet is still a mystery for people who never tried it. So today, let’s answer the most common questions people ask about this beautiful and empowering experience.

Can I do a boudoir shoot for myself?

Is it very common for people to believe the only reason for someone to have their photos taken in a boudoir style is to gift them to a partner or a lover. Which is not wrong (it is always a nice touch to gift someone some sexy pictures, it adds extra spiciness to the relationship), but it is not the goal of this type of photography.

Doing a boudoir shoot for yourself is the ultimate experience you can treat yourself to. It is the me-time you finally deserve! On top of getting stunning photos, you also gain long-lasting benefits that you will feel in your everyday life (such as a boost of confidence, feeling sexy in your own skin, improving your posture, …).

Am I too old to try boudoir photography?

Beside having to be over 18, there is no limit of age in order to do a boudoir shoot. We often receive inquiries from women who are 50+, who called themselves “mature”, and tell us that it might be weird that they want to do a shoot at their age.

Of course, it is not weird! And we wished more people who are past a certain age could treat themselves with this life-changing experience… Feeling fabulous is ageless 🤩

Is boudoir only for women?

If you type boudoir photography in your browser, you will see a big majority of images showcases women, but don’t let it fool you… boudoir is for everyone!

Either you are a man who want to explore his softer side, a trans person who want to fully embrace what they now identify as, a non-binary person who wants to break gender stereotypes, or a cross dresser who want to express themselves fully, boudoir photography is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your badass-self the way you want it!

I don’t know how to pose, can I still have a boudoir shoot done?

Absolutely! We never work with professional models, and most of our clients are first timers (some of them never even had their photos taken for anything). Both Juliette and I, Fanny, are on your shoot, and it is our role to guide you through each pose and set (we always demonstrate the poses so you can have a visual).

If you feel really nervous with the idea of posing, it is normal, but we promise it is fun if you let yourself be guided and trust the process.

Do I have to pose nude?

This is a question that comes back often when we have meetings with clients, and the answer is “absolutely not!”. You do not have to do anything you are not comfortable with. Yes, in a boudoir shoot you show more skin than in a regular portrait session, but it doesn’t mean you have to do some nudity (you don’t even have to wear lingerie if it is not your style).

We created Scandaleuse as a safe space for people to express themselves using boudoir photography, so you will never be forced to do anything! It is also a decision you can take during the shoot, if at some point you want to give it a shot, even if it is suggested nudity, you are welcome to do so.

Should I lose weight so I can look good in my photos?

We are going to steal one of Nirvana’s song for this one, but here is what we tell people:

“Come as you are.”

Your natural body is beautiful, you are beautiful… 👏 yes 👏 you 👏 are 👏

One of the reasons we opened Scandaleuse Photography back in 2017, was to make boudoir accessible to anyone, no matter their shapes and sizes. Boudoir is a mindset, not a beauty contest! It is about helping yourself to reconnect to your sensuality, your self-confidence, & your sexiness, and making you love the body you have 💛

We really hope this blog will help you take the decision to finally do that boudoir shoot you deserve! We would love to see you in front of our lenses. As usual, if you have questions, feel free to reach out here!

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Boudoir photoshoot: turn your “someday” into “right now".

We all have a list of things we’d love to do “someday.” Maybe it’s traveling to a dream destination, taking up a new hobby, or finally booking that boudoir shoot you’ve been thinking about for years. But let’s be honest—how often does “someday” turn into never?

Here’s the truth: There is no perfect time. The only time we truly have is now.

Celebrating yourself as you are now.

Too often, we tell ourselves that we need to wait. “I’ll book a shoot when I lose a little weight.” “I’ll do it when I feel more confident.” “I’ll wait until life slows down.” But what if the key to confidence is actually doing the shoot? Boudoir isn’t about being a certain size or reaching some imaginary standard—it’s about embracing the beauty of who you are, right now.

Capturing the moment.

We tend to focus on the future so much that we forget to honour the present. A boudoir session is a chance to pause, appreciate yourself, and create something timeless. Whether you’re in your 20s, 40s, or 70s, your beauty deserves to be documented. Imagine looking back at these photos years from now and remembering how powerful, sensual, and strong you felt at this moment.

Because confidence doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from doing.

Many people believe confidence is something you need before booking a boudoir shoot. The reality? Confidence comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and seeing yourself in a new light. A boudoir session is an experience that helps you reconnect with your body, your sensuality, and your self-worth.

Stop letting fear hold you back.

Fear is one of the biggest reasons people put off boudoir photography. Fear of not looking “good enough,” fear of being vulnerable, fear of doing something bold. But what if you pushed past that fear? What if, instead of wondering “What if I don’t like my photos?” you asked, “What if I absolutely love them?” What if this experience changes the way you see yourself forever?

A gift for yourself, now and always.

Boudoir is not just about the photos—it’s about the journey of self-love and empowerment. The images become a reminder of your strength, beauty, and courage. Whether you’re doing this as a personal celebration, a milestone marker, or just because, the best gift you can give yourself is to stop waiting and say yes to the experience.

So, why wait? Why keep pushing this dream off to “someday”? You are worth celebrating now. You are beautiful now. You are powerful now. Take the leap. Do the boudoir shoot. And step into the most confident, radiant version of yourself—starting today.

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What are you waiting for?

We hear it too often:

“I really want to do a boudoir shoot, but not now!”

When Juliette and I talk about our photography work, people often express the desire to have a boudoir shoot done. They share about the fact they have been wanting to do it for a long time, that they are waiting for the right moment to do it, but never seem to know when it is.

The truth is, the perfect moment to do a boudoir shoot doesn’t exist! Of course, there are a couple of factors to take into consideration such as time and money (time because you need to be able to dedicate a good chunk of your day just for yourself, and money because a boudoir shoot is a little bit of an investment), but for the rest, it is mostly fear that makes people keep pushing back the idea of doing a boudoir session.

Yes, boudoir photography can be intimidating. But it is such a transformative experience and trust us when we say that the more you wait, the more you are missing out on something extraordinary!

Celebrate Your Present Self

If you feel proud of who you are right now, then celebrating yourself with a boudoir shoot is a really great idea! Maybe you got out of a toxic relationship, or you changed carrier for something more fulfilling, or maybe you are turning a certain age and feel fabulous, then you deserve to treat yourself for all the hard work you had to do to in order to be where you are today.

It takes a lot of courage to make the changes we need to be happier in life, so we hope that you can see how strong and badass you are! A boudoir shoot is the perfect gift to capture that strength 💪

Reconnect To Your Body

So many of our clients dislike their body, and every time it breaks our hearts to hear how they talk about themselves:

“I hate myself!”

“Ugh, I am so ugly!”

“I am fat, it is awful!“

“I wish I could have a different body!“

For way too long, society has taught us to see our body as an enemy by creating beauty standards, and conditioned us to make them our reality. It is so deeply rooted that every part of ourselves that don’t follow those standards became “imperfections” that have to be destroyed. The result is that we are now so disconnected from our body we forget that without it, we will not exist. We focus on what we believe we “should look like”, completely put our sensuality on the side, and replace it with bitterness.

Doing a boudoir shoot is an important step to reconnect with your sensuality, and start loving your body for its natural beauty. So if this resonates with you, then this is the right moment to do it!

The Middle Finger You Sometime Need To Give

There is no better sweet revenge than doing something that makes you feel super confident other people find scandalous. There is a moment in life where we get tired of people’s judgment and being pressured to live a life that isn’t what we truly want. When you reach to that moment, your inner rebel takes control and encourages you to do stuff that make you feel proud of yourself.

When you do a boudoir shoot, you try an experience that allows you to become your own sexy and sensual version of yourself, and this is so freaking liberating.

It feels like giving an empowered middle finger to all the shitty things people have told you and done to you. You don’t want to wait forever to feel this way 😎

Life Is Unpredictable

This is going to be a big cliché, but there is so much truth there: life is too short to be waiting for the perfect moment!

I, Fanny, lost my aunt last year, and it was very sudden. She was young, she was travelling with her husband, and she died. Her death was a sad reminder that you never know when it is time for you to leave this earth, and it feels like a slap in the face. Either it is death, an accident, or any other life's uncertainties, there may never be a "right time" to embark on this journey. The more you wait, the more you take the risk that it never happens.

If you want to try boudoir photography, stop overthinking it and just do it! You will never regret having a boudoir shoot done, but you might regret not doing it.

As you can see, the beauty of a boudoir shoot isn’t in waiting for the ideal version of yourself; it’s about celebrating exactly who you are today. Every curve, every scar, every feature tells your story, and that story deserves to be honoured. Boudoir photography is about embracing your present self with love and courage, because you are already enough, already beautiful.

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What You Think You Have to Do During a Boudoir Shoot (But Really Don't)

There are many things people seem to believe are expected during a boudoir shoot. It can be related from the nudity aspect to the outfits options, and many more in between. You may be surprised to learn that, in fact, everything is optional.

So if you are feeling curious about doing a session but have been holding back because you are not sure what is "required," let us gently clear up a few things that are not mandatory—unless you want them to be.

You do not have to be naked.

That is probably the biggest point we remind everyone we speak to: you are always in control of what you wear and how much you reveal. Yes, full nudes are beautiful and empowering—but they are absolutely not mandatory.

In our case, we always make a point to start your session with the outfit that covers you the most to give you the time to get comfortable with your surroundings and our directions. After that, we remove some layers as we go.

We also walk you through any ideas we may have that involve some sort of nudity and always have a back-up outfit in mind if you aren't feeling it. Your session will reflect your level of comfort. We will never ask you to do anything that does not feel right for you.

You do not need to know how to pose.

Please take this pressure off your shoulders: you do not need to show up with any experience in front of the camera. It is our job to guide you every step of the way—down to the tilt of your chin or the placement of your hands. You do not have to “perform” or “act sexy.” You simply have to be yourself, and we will take care of the rest. Keep in mind however that the boudoir poses can feel a bit odd, but turn out wonderfully natural looking. It's part of the magic, trust the process!

You do not need to wear lingerie.

Lingerie is one of many options. Some of our favourite images have come from more unexpected outfits—like a fancy dress, a denim jacket, a button-down shirt, a bodysuit, or even just bed sheets. What we are looking for are those pieces you know you feel beautiful and confident in and we will bring a boudoir twist to anything.

You also don't have to stick to one theme. Our photos are thought to capture different facets of your personality, because that's how human beings are. We are not always edgy and sexy, or soft and romantic. We are a mix of everything, and we encourage every person stepping into the lens to bring outfits that reflect that too!

You do not need to look a certain way.

Boudoir is not about fitting into a mold. There is no ideal age, size, or body type for this experience. Every person who walks through our doors brings their own story, energy, and beauty—and that is what we love to capture. This space is for you as you are right now, not a version of you that the world expects.

You do not need to be someone else.

This experience is not about becoming someone you are not. It is about reconnecting with the version of you that often gets hidden under daily responsibilities and expectations. Whether you are bold and playful, quiet and dreamy, or somewhere in between, your session will be designed around who you truly are.

What is actually required?

Just one thing: that you show up for yourself.

There is no checklist. No pressure. No “right” way to do boudoir. Our goal is to create a space where you feel safe, celebrated, and completely in control. Whether you want to go all out or keep things soft and subtle, we are here to support you every step of the way.

Curious about what your version of boudoir could look like? Let us show you. It might just be more freeing—and more you—than you imagined.

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Why we love celebrating women over 50

Over the past 8 years, we have had the privilege of photographing women of all ages, backgrounds, and stories. But lately, we have noticed more and more women in the 50s, 60s, and even 70s passing our studio doors and we truly stepped into an even more powerful boudoir experience we cannot get enough of. It got us wondering why we were feeling this deep fire during those sessions, and we just had to share it with you.

Our boudoir work has always been around slamming doors on expectations.

This has been our motto since day 1: yes, boudoir is an artistic experience, but it is so much more than that. When you sign up for it, you make the choice to detach yourself from judgement, expectations, the pressure round what you do and look like. Instead, you choose to focus on your relationship with yourself and your body.

Why does it feel evem stronger for women over 50? Because we firmly believe it takes more courage for women over 50 than for us, women in our 30s, to jump onto that train of embracing your body the way it is.

Different generation and much more body shame.

For many women over 50, body shaming wasn’t a passing comment — it was a way of life. It was baked into their everyday existence: in school, at home, in magazines, on TV. The message was loud and clear: your body must be thin, firm, young, and perfectly polished in order to be “good.” And if it wasn’t, you should fix it, hide it, or stay quiet about it.

Things like stretch marks, wrinkles, softness, and aging were treated as flaws to be covered up or corrected — not celebrated as part of a life well-lived.

Compared to the body-positive movement we see today - which still has a long way to go, let’s be honest - the messages these women grew up with were harsh, unforgiving, and deeply damaging.

And for many of them, that conditioning still lingers — even now.

Sending power back: Our way to say thank-you.

So much of what women in our generation get to enjoy — the growing conversations around body positivity, the normalization of self-love, the ability to express our sensuality without shame — is thanks to the generations who came before us.

Women over 50 have lived through decades of change. They have witnessed cultural revolutions, shifting beauty standards, and the slow, painful tearing down of deeply rooted expectations. They have fought , often quietly and thanklessly, for rights, recognition, and the ability to take up space — not just in society, but in their own lives.

While we are producing changes of our own, they have paved the way for us on many levels. Having the chance to show them how to reconcile with their bodies, celebrate their sensual side and feel powerful not despite their age, but because of it, is a true honour for us.

It is our way to send some power back on something they couldn't really focus on despite being very important in a woman's journey. And it is often incredibly healing.

Their no-F***-Given attitude is everything.

The women over 50 we are lucky enough to photograph all have one thing in common: they are done with the people-pleasing. Done with trying to fit into boxes. Done with waiting for permission to feel good in their skin. The kids are grown. The careers have evolved. The need to perform or chase external validation starts to fade.

There’s a boldness and a softness that coexist in the most beautiful way. They don’t need to prove anything to anyone and that confidence is magnetic. For some of them, this feeling is loud and obvious, and for others, it is more subtle. But the latter doesn't mean it is not as strong as the former.

To the Women Who’ve Carried So Much — We See You

To every woman who’s spent decades putting others first. To those who were told to be small, quiet, and modest. To those who believed that their worth faded as the years passed — we see you. We celebrate you.

There is no deadline for falling in love with yourself. There is no “too late” when it comes to feeling empowered, beautiful, and whole. You deserve to feel proud of your body, your story, and your strength. You deserve to be photographed not just for how you look, but for who you are.

And we’re so damn honoured to help you see it.

If you are curious about doing a boudoir session, just know you will be welcome in our studio with open arms. We are just one consultation away.

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Boudoir over 50, we highly recommend!

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure to photograph a fabulous woman, Madame M, who reached out because she was finally ready to try boudoir photography. In her initial inquiry, she mentioned that despite being 61 years old, she wanted to continue to feel empowered with her body and sensuality.

Since it was her first time, she was very nervous about her photoshoot. She shared with us that while she was on her way to our studio, she had kind of a panic attack to a point where she was very close to turn back and give up on this experience. Boudoir photography has been in the back of her mind for a long time, yet some little voices (fed by social norms and fear) were almost stronger than the excitement of finally doing her boudoir shoot. But she managed to stay strong and showed up for your photoshoot!

We are so glad she didn’t give up. She posed so well and her photos are beautiful! She truly deserved to experience boudoir photography. Her story, as well as all the other wonderful women who posed in front of our lens, inspired us to write today’s blog, hoping it can help women to take that step as well 💛

Women and ageism, it’s time to stop that BS!

Most women over a certain age do not dare to try boudoir photography, and how can we blame them? The stigma against aging women is brutal, and boudoir photography doesn’t help the cause! There are so little representations of women over 50 years old in the boudoir industry because society still believes that beauty equals being young. In society’s eyes, women lose value as they age, but they also become those sexless beings who lost touch with their sensuality. Because of those stereotypes, most fashion and boudoir photographers have over time prioritized younger women for their artistic projects, giving no room to people not fitting in these criteria.

Boudoir photography isn’t an easy experience, especially for first timers, as it can make people feel quite vulnerable (not everyone can easily pose in their underwear in front of a stranger!). Most of the inquiries we receive are coming from people who want to regain confidence, and learn to like their body the way it is. So for a woman who might be lacking body-confidence and has been told by the media that because she passed a certain age she is now worthless, doing a boudoir shoot can be extremely difficult!

Meeting those women who want to try boudoir so badly but stop themselves because they feel like they are not good enough breaks our hearts, and we wish mentalities could change faster! Thankfully, more and more people in the industry, us included, fight to change those social constructs. It is taking some time, but things are evolving. Now we need more brave people to try boudoir and share their awesome pictures with the world so they can inspire more people to do the same (honestly, that is the faster way to create a change)!

Fight those negative voices that are stopping you from doing a shoot!

But how can someone find the strength to give it a try even though they might feel really anxious about it? Well, if you are reading this blog and recognize yourself in those words, know that you are not alone! Many people are curious, yet afraid, by boudoir photography. And our main advice would be to first find the perfect photographer for you! Choosing the right person for the job is the most important step, as you want to make sure you will feel comfortable during the process. Then, just do it instead of overthinking the whole experience. The more you think about something that stresses you out, the more excuses you will find to not do it.

And 👏shut👏those👏voices👏down👏. If you are excited about doing a boudoir shoot, but you suddenly start thinking that you are too old, not thin enough, not muscular enough and whatnot, think about something else or keep focusing on the joy you get from doing a shoot.

Please believe us when we say that you are perfect the way you are! The beauty industry makes millions of dollars, selling us products we don’t need and making us believe we have to look a certain way to be worthy and desirable. There should not be any beauty standards to begin with, but unfortunately it is what it is. What we can do on our side is fight this nonsense by accepting our natural beauty and celebrate our body.

And what better way than a boudoir shoot to do so !

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You should have a picture of yourself naked

Since the beginning of time, there has been this curiosity around illustrating the naked body. Painting, photography, sculpture (any kind of art, truly)!. And it is because bodies are beautifully fascinating. Yes, even yours! And it is definitely worth capturing it, one way or another.

Hold on though, we are not talking about slamming it on a billboard for everyone to see, we are talking about the act of posing naked, the power behind it and the wonderful memento you get to have out of it.

So why should you want a badass naked photo of yourself?

Because you never get the chance to see your full body, nude, from a distance, and even from the back. 

That's a pretty simple answer, but, oh, so true. You can only see your body from your point of view and the odd (and not always flattering!!) photo taken by someone else. You also rarely see your full body and you definitely don't see the back of it much. 

Having a well-done photo of your naked self taken gives you the chance to see your body with an entire different perspective. It brings objectivity to the table, which is a powerful tool in itself to take down body insecurities and work on potential body-dysmorphia. It helps you realize that, no, your vision is definitely different from what you thought and might even be inaccurate. 

Because you are turning vulnerability into power. 

Being fully naked, without anything to hide you is one of the most vulnerable states you could be in. This is the real you. When you decide to step into this, you are becoming one with your vulnerability and are turning it into power.

You are taking on the challenge and showing up for yourself, and that my friend, is the ultimate confidence token you could give yourself. 

Because you are going against the grain

Posing naked can truly satisfy your inner rebel. It is still to this day considered "frowned upon", "not proper", or even "shameful". When you decide to do it anyway, this feeling of showing your middle finger to all of those judgments is so empowering and liberating. And this has an impact on everything you touch afterwards: you won't let shit stand in your way as easily, scout's honour!

Because it's a way to own your body and honour it.

If you have spent a good chunk of your life deprecating your body, the best treatment would be to get a naked image of yourself taken. This is a way to bring back objectivity and detachment in how you see yourself. To bring clarity to a cloudy vision. 

If your body has changed a lot over the years, whether it was planned or not, this experience is the perfect opportunity to reclaim your self-image and get acquainted with this "new"  body of yours. 

And because Moira Rose says it best…

Take a thousand naked pictures of yourself now.

There you have it. If the idea of owning a photo of yourself naked has been tickling you for a while, give yourself this chance. Don't chalk it off to a "superficial" experience, it isn't. Its effects will linger, provoke some necessary changes within you and give you the push you were looking for to achieve what you want.

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The Magic of Motion: Why You Should Add a Boudoir Video to Your Shoot

Boudoir photography is and always will be a powerful way to celebrate yourself. Creating art around you and your body is one of the most beautiful gifts you can give yourself. Now, imagine if you could see it in motion. Imagine stepping into your own movie and be the main character and having this reminder of how truly powerful you are.

We gave it a shot and fell in love once again with our field. It is with a lot of excitement that we are announcing that we are now officially leading the way as the firsts to offer boudoir videography in Toronto!

You may wonder why on Earth you would even benefit from such service, so allow us to to explain why adding a video to your boudoir shoot is a decision you won’t regret, whether you are doing it solo or with your loved one.

1. The power of sensuality in motion

While photos capture stunning still moments, video captures the fluidity of your movements, your expressions, and your energy. The gentle sway of your body, a playful glance, or the confidence in your stride—a boudoir video brings your session to life, letting you see and feel your beauty from a new perspective. It is a whole new dimension to your experience.

2. An even stronger story-telling approach.

We always craft our sessions around you and your story with props and atmospheres tailored to you. Having the option to have those stories actually move takes it up a notch, it is like a mini-movie starring you. With thoughtful editing and music, and even maybe a recording of your voice talking to yourself makes this version of you becomes a timeless, artistic keepsake you’ll cherish for years to come.

3. A less "posey” experience.

While we do our best to make sure you don't hold the poses too long during our photoshoots, you do have to hold them nonetheless. They could then feel a bit less “natural” and some people may appreciate the fluidity of doing an action (even though you will likely have to repeat it a couple of times for the shot!). It could also feel easier to get into a “character” and have that lovely playfulness that could feel hard to act out and therefor convey in photos.

4. For couples: a beautiful way to capture and spice up your intimacy.

Let's be honest: having this kind of product for couples is definitely the ultimate experience! While photos capture beautiful still moments, video brings your chemistry to life—the way you look at each other, the subtle touches, the unspoken energy between you.

It’s also about the experience itself: stepping out of the ordinary and into something thrillingly intimate together. As you move through the session, guided and supported, you’ll find yourselves connecting in new ways—sharing laughter, excitement, and tenderness. It's a chance to celebrate your relationship from a new perspective while creating something daring and beautiful.

The final film becomes a sensual love letter you’ll cherish forever, one that reminds you of your bond and allows you to relive your connection time and time again. Whether soft and romantic or bold and fiery, it’s a story of you—your love, your passion, your way

If you are itching to be the main character of your story, then you will definitely enjoy the video aspect of your boudoir experience.

We created a couple of ways to do so, by either adding a 60-90 second "Sultry Snippet" to your photoshoot or indulge in a full storyline experience with our longer boudoir video offering. Click below to get more information!

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Boudoir Photography - what are you paying for?

Boudoir Photography can be a bit of an investment for many of us. It is a very specific niche and when you have never purchased any type of photography services, you may wonder why can explain the kind of pricing you can see in our field.

Besides the obvious of the photoshoot time and final images, there are a multitude of other aspects that are taken into account when building such an experience, and we are going to walk you through it all as well as what we do to make it as easy on you as possible.

The essentials you see from the get-go:

Of course, what we are about to share is based solely on our way of doing things, however, in a basic boudoir photoshoot offer, you have a few musts that all of us photographers tend to include.

1) The photoshoot time.
In our case, we only offer 2-hour photoshoots. We feel like this is the amount of time we need to be fully attentive to your needs while being creative and making your vision come to life. We also offer unlimited outfits which is a bit unusual in our field. On top of that, it also gives you the time to get comfortable and familiar with your surroundings and our directions.

2) The make-up and hair services.
While it is optional in our case, we do recommend keeping it in your experience. Having a professional getting you camera ready and pampering you before stepping in front of the lens contributes greatly to your level of confidence. And a good professional has their own costs, which we have to build in.

3) The location.
In order to give the high quality of work we offer, we only shoot in high-end studios. In 2024, we started our own and put a lot of love and work to make it unique and find the sweet spot between making it homey and photographer-friendly. Needless to say, this comes with a location fee.

4) The amount of photographers.
We are the only studio to shoot boudoir with 2 photographers. For us, it's a non-negotiable aspect of your business. Together, we bring more energy, and mostly, more creativity, which gives you pretty much 2 photoshoots into 1.

5) The editing of the final images
Of course, since you are getting photos at the end, you can imagine that they require a minimum of work before landing in your inbox.

Those are the pretty straight-forward points you can see the minute you discover our session fee. But there are so many more you may not be aware of.

What you don't see from the beginning but enjoy nonetheless:

Something that is easy to forget, but is very important: the level of expertise.

In our case, we have over 15 years of experience as photographers. We have trained ourselves meticulously and have developed very sharp skills in our boudoir abilities. Not only do we have to master all technical aspects - such as knowing what lighting highlights which part of the body for example, but we also have to be posing ninjas and adapt ourselves to every body type and level of mobility. Not everybody can pose the same, and every body requires different tips. At no points should you feel like we don't know what we are doing, even for a split second.

The rest of those hidden gems can be cut into 2 parts: before and after the photoshoot.

Before the photoshoot, the customer support:

First off: we offer an online consultation and take all the time you need to answer any questions you may have and walk you through the process. From then, we also maintain communication before we see you in front of the lens to share with you some tips & tricks to get ready as well as go over wardrobe advice. It is not uncommon for our clients to email us with some extra ideas or questions, which is absolutely normal and which we encourage! We want you to feel taken care of from beginning to end.

Post-photoshoot work:

Most of the work does happen from your photoshoot day, until you get your final images delivered. After everything we do during your photoshoot, it is time to sort through your images. With 2 photographers, we let you imagine the amount of photos we have to go through to provide a decent selection with variety, without it being overwhelming.

Not only do we pre-select your photos, but we also do a light editing on all of them. Raw images are hard to project yourself with and we prefer showing you something that will be closer to the final images you will purchase. This is about 4 hours total.

We then host your reveal session, and it is extremely important for us to make it into an experience with tea, coffee, pastries, a big TV, and all the time you need. Once again, we don't want anybody to feel rushed while discovering the stunning photographs. In average, our reveal sessions take 2 hour.

The final editing:

Ha, this is the most underrated step! Once your final selection is made, it is time to dive in into the final editing. And boudoir is one of the photography fields that requires the most attention for a simple reason: the bodies are almost bare.

While we don't edit the bodies like plastic surgeons, we do adjust everything else such as, evening out the skin tones all over the body, removing any blemishes, editing baby hairs, adjusting the lingerie (yes, we do fix twisted straps and so on!), cleaning up the backgrounds by removing anything distracting. We also made the choice not to use AI for any of our editing, so everything is done by hand. We honestly don't even count the hours for this.

Additional products:

If getting a print or album make your heart sing, this is also something we do ourselves. Photos to be printed go through multiple checks to make sure they are flawless and album designs are made by us before being sent to our printer and then to you!

Overall, that is around 15 hours spent on your experience.

What we offer to make it accessible

The minimum investment for boudoir is about $1500 but it is never in one shot.

The retainer system:

Our retainer cuts your photoshoot cost in half. We use your retainer to secure your time with us and whatever is left is due the day of your photoshoot. If you are a planner, you can schedule your session weeks or months in advance to make this expense even easier on you.

Payment plans at no extra cost.

During your reveal session, if you want to treat yourself to all of the photos you fell in love with, we have set up payment plans without interest. You can choose to divide your final amount into 3 instalments and even pick between making a payment every 2 weeks or once a month.

We hope this blog post helped you understand how personalized and complete your boudoir experience is. We didn't even go over the actual benefits of a boudoir session in order to keep this post concise, but we've touched based on them many times in our blog.

Transparency is important for us, so don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. You can also find our different experience below:

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The most common inquiries we got this year

We are a little bit more than a month away from starting a new year, and we thought it would be nice to do a recap of the most common boudoir inquiries we got this year, hoping you might relate to what you read in this blog and finally find the courage to do your boudoir shoot (you deserve to try this experience for yourself, it is truly life changing) 🤗

The search for self-love and body acceptance

When we receive messages from people struggling with their body (most of the time it comes from women or transgender people), they are the inquiries that are the most emotional. People talk about their stories, life issues, and lack of body confidence. They share about addictions they are dealing with, disease that changed their body, abusive relationships that destroyed their image, or the fact they never liked their body. And it often breaks our hearts because some people are really harsh with themselves, and don’t always have the kindest words towards the way they look.

But is it also very inspiring to see that despite all the sadness they had to face, they are fighting to love themselves again and reappropriate their body.

Men who went through a divorce

Those past months, we shot a lot with men in their 50’s/60’s who recently went through a divorce and are looking to either have spicy pictures to send to their new partner, or have nicer pictures of themselves to update their online dating profile with.

We have been saying it from the day we opened Scandaleuse Photography, boudoir is not only for women. Anyone can do a shoot, even men!

Women over 50 looking to feel empowered

We also have more and more inquiries from mature women who are finally stepping out of the social etiquette that is stopping them from expressing their sensuality and sexiness.

Ageism is so deeply rooted in our society, that it is very difficult for those women to do a boudoir shoot. For most of them, this experience feels like it is forbidden, and they have to push through many fears in order to give it a try.

But when they finally do their photoshoot, we can see the transformation from the start, it is beautiful!

Birthday celebrations & couples’ anniversary

This year, many people did a shoot to celebrate their birthdays or anniversaries, and we love this idea! Using boudoir photography to celebrate a milestone, make your shoot extra special. Usually, this is when we see the most creative outfits and props that people bring with them:

• a couple did a shoot to celebrate their love, and they were both big fans of Harry Potter;

• one of our client wanted to do her shoot with a vintage erotic postcard vibe;

• one of our last boudoir shoot was for a client turning 35, and it was all about glam, silver, and diamonds;

• this summer, another couple celebrated their anniversary with an outdoor shoot, and wanted to be photographed in the nude with their paddle board because it is one of their favourite outdoor activity;

• we even had a son who gifted a boudoir shoot to his mom for her birthday because he knew she would love it!

Like those people, you deserve to celebrate your badass-self 😘

The classic wedding gift

Last but not least, we had a lot of photoshoots with women who were getting married and wanted to gift a boudoir album to their husband (hoping to have their reaction photographed and filmed during the ceremony while opening the album). One of them sent us the photo, and as you can see, his reaction is hilarious!

If you have been reading our blogs for a while, you know that we believe that it is very important to do a shoot for yourself. But showing your beautiful photographs to your partner, to make them blush and happy, is a cool extra bonus and a great way to add some spiciness to your relationship!

This is only a small selection of the reasons why people do a boudoir shoot, but they are so many others. Remember, your boudoir shoot should be fun and make you feel amazing, and to be honest, you don’t really need a reason to try this fabulous experience. It can just be a gift from you to you :)

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