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We feel the need to write this article, not because we want to persuade you to book with us but because we want you to be sure the company you choose for your Boudoir or Erotic Photography session is professional and will be able to make you feel comfortable and give you images that will delight you. There are some very professional studios whose work we have great respect for, and if we cannot accommodate a prospective client, we are happy to recommend a select number of other companies we feel would suit their requirements.

For many women, it is a huge step to overcome their nervousness and book a Boudoir Photo Shoot or Erotic Portrait session - it may be the most daring thing they have ever done! So choosing the right photographer is essential. There are so many companies and individuals out there now offering Boudoir Photography and Erotic Portrait services that it can be very time consuming browsing through all the different web sites trying to sort the wheat from the chaff (and there is a lot of chaff out there!)

Here at Mighty Aphrodite we pride ourselves in being one of the few photographic studios in the country who actually specialise full time in Boudoir & Erotic photography. We feel therefore that we are in a good position to offer advice to anyone who is thinking about having a Boudoir Photo Shoot to highlight the main points to look out for when choosing your Boudoir Photographer so you have a good experience and get the images you desire.

We have compiled a checklist of points you should consider and questions you should be asking a potential Boudoir Photographer when trying to decide which company to use.

1. Check their web site carefully

You can usually get a good feel for a company from their web site. There should be clear information about the services they offer, how much they charge and most important, there should be a good selection of images to show their style and technical abilities. If they have only a handful of Boudoir images on their web site, then they probably don't have much experience of Boudoir Style Portraits.

2. How experienced are they in the field of Boudoir or Erotic Photography?

Many photographers offer Boudoir Photography alongside their normal Portrait & Wedding photography; make sure you see examples of their Boudoir Portraits before booking. Their Portrait & Wedding portfolio could be world class and they could have awards coming out of their ears, but Boudoir Photography is a very specialised field and needs a totally different approach from normal portraits or even makeovers.

Let's put it another way: would you ask Mighty Aphrodite to photograph your wedding?

If a photographer is inexperienced in shooting women in a state of undress, they could make the client feel uncomfortable or unduly nervous which would have a detrimental effect on the images. Clients need support and understanding to help them to relax and feel good - it's not every day you stand in front of strangers in your pants, but if you know they see it every day, it may feel less scary!

Good Boudoir Portraits need an understanding of the female form and how to pose clients to make the most of their shape so the best bits are emphasised and any problem areas disguised. This takes practice and you do not want to be a photographer's guinea pig, so if they haven't got a portfolio of Boudoir or Erotic Images you should be asking why.

3. Where will the photo shoot take place?

Another consideration is whether the photographer has their own studio. Many wedding photographers, because of the nature of their business do not need a studio, so if they are branching out into offering Boudoir Photography to their Brides-to-be they will either have to hire a studio for the day or come to your home for the shoot. Do check these details with a potential photographer - if they are hiring a studio make sure it is suitable for the type of images you want. Do they have sets with different backgrounds and furniture or just plain backdrops? Does the photographer have examples of images taken at the studio so you can see the style of images and lighting that can be achieved? Will you have exclusive use of the studio - having too many other people around may make you feel less relaxed. If the photographer suggests that your Boudoir Shoot should take place in your home, consider where the photos will be taken - do you have a suitable space in any of your rooms. But also think about whether you would feel more comfortable having a photographer come to your home, or going to a professional studio. Make sure you have a friend or family member at home with you for extra security, even if you don't want them in the room during the shoot. Check whether the photographer is bringing professional studio lights to use - you can get great images using natural light, but not having the photographic equipment required for the job will limit the style of your images and could highlight an inexperienced photographer.

4. Do you want a male or female Photographer?

Another detail you may want to check is whether the photographer is male or female. Some companies do not give details of the identity of their photographer on their website, so if you are only willing to go to a female photographer it may be worth giving them a call to check. Where the photographer is male, you will usually find that he uses a female assistant to help the client to feel more comfortable. Some studios, like Mighty Aphrodite, are run by a husband and wife team and clients like the fact that they can get a male and a female perspective on their images - especially if they are having the photos taken as a gift for their partner. Another consideration is if you would like your partner to come along with you, either for moral support or to be in the studio for the shoot - many of the female-only studios do not allow partners in the building. Ultimately, if you choose a professional studio that are experienced in Boudoir Photography they will make you feel secure and relaxed whatever the sex of the photographer.

5. What style of images and how much variety do they offer?

You probably have an idea of the style of images you would like and hopefully will have been inspired by some of the images you have seen on the Boudoir Photography web sites you have looked at. Look at the variety of images each site offers - do they use different sets or is everything quite minimalist. Do they offer different styles in the shoot or do they have a signature "house" style that you are restricted by?

6. Does the company have restrictions on nudity?

Do they work to the level of nudity you think you will want to go to? A number of studios offering Boudoir and Erotic Photography will not allow clients to go naked and some won't even allow you to show your nipples…so do check on their levels beforehand! The companies who are comfortable for you to go naked should always stress that there is no expectation that you will - but at least you will have the option to take something off if you are feeling confident enough.

7. What kind of images do they specialise in and is there anything they won't shoot?

The reason for having your Boudoir Shoot will also have a bearing on which company is right for you. All professional Boudoir and Erotic photographers should be able to take images that make you look beautiful and will boost your confidence and self-esteem. So if you have been inspired by Gok Wan and How to Look Good Naked, look for a photographer who is good at turning the female form into a work of art. If the final images are to be given as a gift to your partner, then you will probably want something sexier and possibly a little bit raunchy, so the studios who concentrate solely on the more iconic or romantic makeover style boudoir images may not be comfortable producing images at this end of the spectrum. Read their web site carefully as they will usually have some indication of the levels they work to. We're not talking pornography here, but if you really want to give your partner images that will get his pulse racing, then you may have to go for something a bit more provocative than a shot of your feet in high heels (although if he has a foot fetish then that would probably do the trick). You certainly don't need to go nude to be sexy, but men are very visually stimulated, so do try to get an idea of the kind of images you think he would like - if he reads magazines like Loaded or FHM look through them and remember, although the images will give you a great boost and you should love them, if it's a gift for him, you need to think about what he will appreciate.

8. Are all their prices available to view?

Make sure you understand their prices. Some studios charge what appears to be a reasonable fee for your photo shoot, but they only include one image in the price. Check the price of additional photographs and albums up front so you don't get a nasty surprise. If the shoot goes well, you will love your images and it would be terrible to find your budget only allows you to buy one or two. If the prices are not published in full on their web site, ask them to send you a comprehensive price list so you can compare the prices of different studios.

The most expensive isn't necessarily the best as some studios have vast overheads and staffing costs to cover. Conversely, if a photographer offers you a two hour shoot and twenty prints for £40 I think it is safe to say that you may not get the quality results you were hoping for. The prices of Boudoir Photo Shoots is often a topic of discussion on Wedding Forums and sometimes the accusation is made that the prices some studios charge are excessively high. When you consider that a professional studio contains several thousand of pounds worth of lighting and camera equipment, plus high specification computers and monitors to allow for accurate and fast image editing, then the fact that you are being looked after by at least two people (photographer and make-up artist) for the whole of your session, followed by the time spent to edit the final images to perfection, the fees start to look very reasonable.

9. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

The photographic industry has been marred by several companies over the years who have used underhand tactics to make money from customers. Boudoir Photography, unfortunately seems to be the latest area to succumb to the "Free Photo Shoot" scam. Any company who does not charge up front for their time in the studio is either going to be going out of business very fast, or they are making all their money by charging highly inflated prices for the images afterwards. Generally they will employ salespeople to give you an aggressive hard sell after your shoot so it is difficult to get away without buying anything. And if your photos are good, you will want to order at least a couple. However if the prints start at £70 for a 6" x 4" you're not getting value for money. As in point number 8 above, find out their full prices before you agree to anything! Sometimes reputable companies will offer free shoots as a promotional tool in return for being able to use your images to advertise their service. These offers can be a great way of getting a free shoot - just double check whether you are expected to pay any hidden costs and whether you will have to pay for photos (if it really is a free shoot, you shouldn't have to pay anything extra).

10. Does the photographer offer re-touching to your images?

Most professional photographers offer digital enhancing of your photographs as standard. You should check that things like blemish, scar and cellulite removal and a bit of body re-shaping are included in the price (if you require it) as some photographers charge extra for editing your images. It's also worth having a good look at the images on their web site to see how good they are at re-touching. A soft-focus effect can be quite nice, but if all their images look like they have used Vaseline on the lens, they probably don't have a very good grasp of the editing software they are using. You want your skin to look natural, not like you're a Barbie doll.

11. Will you get to choose from all the images taken at your photo shoot?

The number of images taken at a Boudoir photo shoot varies greatly from company to company. It depends how long you are in the studio and most companies will have several "package" options to choose from. Some will let you see all the images from your session, either in an online gallery on their web site or by putting all the images from your shoot onto a CD for you to take away with you. Some will only let you choose from a limited number of images from your shoot - the ones that they think are best. It is worthwhile checking this point with the company you are considering for your shoot. It is also good to check whether you get to see any images while you are in the studio. Most studios shoot digitally and should have the facilities to be able to show you some of your images during the shoot so you can make sure you are happy with the results. This is a great way of building confidence - if you can see how good you are looking you will be able to relax and enjoy your photo shoot to the full.

12. Ring them up and have a chat!

Don't be scared to call several studios to find out more about their services - all the best studios will be happy to talk you through how they do things and answer any queries and concerns you may have. It is also the best way of gauging that they are the right company for you - they should be friendly, open and professional, but never pushy.

We think that everyone, regardless of age, shape or size can reap huge benefits from a Professional Boudoir Makeover Photo Shoot. It should be a liberating experience that increases your confidence and self-esteem. Hopefully the advice here will help you to choose the Boudoir Photography Studio that will give you beautiful results that you will treasure forever.