LGBTQ+ Boudoir - how to find a photographer and a safe space in 3 easy steps
Boudoir portraiture is an intimate genre. There’s all manner of vulnerability involved and Rule #1 is to be in a safe space. And it's not because of the taking off your clothes part, although that part is pretty significant, it's the emotional aspect of the experience that is truly intimate.
The hardest part of creating your boudoir shoot is finding the perfect photographer. South Florida is full of photographers, even within the niche of boudoir. But how do you wade through all the options? How do you know it's a safe space? Who can create an experience that allows you to push your boundaries and document your authentic self?
Step 1 - Figure out your style first - What do you love most about yourself? What is your distinctive look and style? How do you want to be photographed? Do a little homework and create a Pinterest Board, or just collect some images. Figure out what style you want - light and airy or dark and moody; lots of eye contact or mostly anonymous shots. Know what style you are looking for and then start looking for a photographer that shoots in a way that honors that.
Step 2 - Check the Website and Instagram! As you search for a photographer that has the photographic style you are looking for, keep your eyes peeled for blog posts with folks who look like you and have the same style as you. Check for diversity in the portfolio. Even if you don’t find someone who looks exactly like you, there should be a reasonable amount of diversity on the website. Having the Pride Flags and/or the Transgender Flags are a plus, of course.
Step 3 - Connect with your photographer. Schedule a call. Talk with your photographer directly. Make sure you get each other - make sure you get along. That’s good advice for hiring any photographer. Go with your gut.
On my website, I take a lot of pride in having two particular certifications on my website. One certifies that “I am committed to LGBTQ+ Inclusion and Empowerment” and the other says, “As an advocate for body diversity, I promise to provide a safe, non-judgmental space for all body types and to challenge cultural and societal beauty ideals. I promise to celebrate a wide variety of body types, colors, ages, ethnicities, genders, abilities, sexual orientations, religions, classes and other human attributes on my website and within my social media in an attempt to improve the variation of body types that we standardly see in the photography industry/media.”
I think to build that unshakable confidence you get from a boudoir shoot, it must be done first and foremost in a safe space.
Check it out on my About page and book with me on my Contact page.