In terms of prepping your body, the biggest things are staying hydrated, applying lotion right before the shoot, getting plenty of sleep the night before, wear loose clothing day-of (including bra/panties, or even skip them all together) so there aren’t any skin indentations, and make sure to have at least a small bite to eat, you’ll want the energy. As for grooming, you get to decide what feels right. Whether you prefer for your bikini area to be fully waxed, leave a landing strip or triangle, or go fully natural — it’s entirely your choice. I recommend whatever helps you feel most sensual and comfortable in your skin. Most women opt for a sculpted/groomed look, or totally bare, but as with everything, it’s all about what you want! Importantly though, don’t try out any new skin care treatments or routines for a couple weeks before the shoot in case there happens to be any adverse effects or lingering redness.

Preparing mentally is just as important; remember this shoot is first and foremost for you (even if it’s a gift), so remember why that’s important, and practice positive self talk the night before or morning of a shoot. Visualize how you want to look, and practice moving and touching your body, it’s helpful to feel sexy in private first before doing it for a photoshoot. Don’t be shy to bust out a mirror to see how poses/movements/touching look! Talk through your nerves, I’m available any time for a phone call or text message (unless I’m currently in a shoot of course), I’m your partner in this so feel free to utilize me as a source of confidence and information anytime leading up to the shoot.

After booking, you’ll receive a full preparation checklist of things to think about to make sure you’re physically and mentally ready for the shoot.

Great question.

Totally up to you!

You absolutely do not have to be nude. Your shoot can look like anything you want. However if you’re interested in exploring some nude photography/video, we certainly can, and we’ll have a conversation in the consultation about what you have in mind and what sort of vibe you’re going for.

Not all boudoir photographers allow nudity. We’ve decided to go for it because we don’t want to limit you creatively, or artificially introduce any shame, or any thoughts about why we don’t want you to show what you want. By saying something is off limits, that can feel like saying you should hide that (insert body part) or worst case be ashamed of it, and we want to be very careful to never make anyone feel less that sexy, powerful, and confident.

We’ve explored everything you can think of at CPB, and have seen the power of that freedom and expression, and as such can also suggest all sorts of ways to make the photos as stunning and impactful as possible while ensuring we incorporate your vision.

If you want to explore some nude photography or video, we’ll have a conversation about what you want that to look like, and with every photo we take, we’ll make sure it’s classy, tasteful, and absolutely beautiful!

Nerves are totally normal, and honestly to be expected. Part of the experience is overcoming those nerves as part of feeling empowered and to build confidence. We’ll talk about everything on your mind in advance of the shoot so you’ll know exactly what to expect, and so I know exactly what you want to get out of this shoot. We usually start with something like a curated outfit, robe, or lingerie — and build confidence and connection from there. Always feel welcome to ask as many questions, even sensitive ones, as you like along the way. There’s no such thing as too many, silly, or off-limits questions. This goes for anytime before the shoot, and especially during the shoot. You’ll never be rushed. It’s very important to me that this is a safe, intentional, and supportive space.

The possibilities are endless! I have a whole list of wardrobe and prop ideas that we can go over during our consultation. I think a good way to think of it is what are some clothing items, interests, hobbies, or belongings that really reflect your personality, or make you feel especially sexy, we can build an entire shoot around that.

Don’t think of it as a purely lingerie or nude shoot, there is a whole spectrum of possibility that will result in a more personal shoot for you or loved one, as well as making it more fun and more unique.

Building a whole shoot around a hockey jersey? Super fun!

Using only a glass/bottle of champagne? Super seductive.

Have a favorite bottle of perfume? Super visceral and creates lots of interesting photo ideas.

Headphones, glasses, handbags, and lollipops etc, all fun ways to think outside the box!

Great question, I’m glad you asked!

In my experience, having someone come with and present during the shoot is more often a distraction from the shoot, than they are helpful. It can make the client wonder what they’re thinking, introduce feelings of self-consciousness, if they like the outfits they chose, if they’re comparing themselves to you etc. In short, creating a situation where the client is not being present with themselves or the shoot. Even well-meaning best friends or significant others often detract from being able to focus and being in the best headspace to have the most successful shoot possible.

If you want someone to come with, what I recommend, is feel free to have someone come with to drop you off, they can even come in to help you get ready, but then once the shoot is going to start, they can go grab coffee (and bring one back for you of course!), run some errands, or hang out at a nearby restaurant/bar, and then come back to pick you up.

If you do need someone for help with any disability accommodations, then of course they can stay.

As with everything though, let’s definitely talk about it if you do have questions about this. I bring this up because I want this FAQ section to touch on everything that’s important, sensitive, and everything you might not have thought about before.

Yep! We sure can. I’m happy to work with you to make this as accessible as possible so you can get the experience and photos/videos you’ve been dreaming of!

The only stipulations on payments are:

• 35% due at booking

• Full balance due morning of shoot

So for example, if you planning on a comprehensive shoot at a decent investment, you’re welcome to pay in small chunks every two weeks, once a month, however you prefer. We’ll just book the shoot appropriately so there’s the proper amount of time to break up the payments as much as you’d like. For context, an average shoot comes in around $2,400, especially when adding video to the shoot. As part of the consultation though we’ll talk about everything you had in mind, and create the package that makes the most sense for you.

Most common payments methods are Venmo, Zelle, or even cash.

Let me know if you have any further questions on this!

The quick answer is really simple, because normalizing nudity dismantles shame and stigma. We don’t believe any part of the human body is “obscene,” we believe it’s a work of art and can, or even should be celebrated. It’s also about showing a spectrum of possibility so you can determine where you want to fall with your shoot. Of course empowerment looks different to everyone, and this is a personal decision, but in our experience, photo sets that include more revealing/explicit imagery make a stronger impact and feel more liberating and empowering. Of course there’s a whole spectrum to what that could look like. We strive to create an environment with absolute safety and comfort when it comes to vulnerability, and by celebrating the entire body, hopefully that avoids artificially introducing any shame or embarrassment. So that’s why we show everything in our portfolio, to give that permission structure and to normalize it. But of course, the shoot is entirely dictated by you and what you’d like to show, which means you can be as revealing or not revealing as you want. We know some might be nervous to ask, which is why we’re being up front about it in the portfolio, and in this FAQ, just in case you want to ask but aren’t sure about it, because we don’t want any questions to go unasked, and certainly not unanswered.

The body is sculpture, not scandal.

We can shoot anywhere you want! We can shoot at your place where you feel comfortable and familiar, we can shoot in nature, we can shoot in an urban setting. We can shoot at my home studio if you don’t have any other options. One of the most popular is at a boutique hotel or special Air BnB that has an aesthetic that resonates with you. This is a good option because it gives you a fun space to enjoy before and after the shoot and offers lots of possibilities for the photos. I have a list if you’re interested in some good options here. If you can dream it, we can shoot it!

I totally understand things come up in life! If you need to reschedule within 14 days in advance of your photoshoot, your deposit can be transferred to a new booking within the following 14 days with no additional charge. There is a 35% deposit required for a booking, and that is non-refundable. I build in an hour buffer in case you’re just running late, because let’s be honest, sometimes that’s hard to avoid, but anything more than an hour late will (in most cases) need to be rescheduled.

I’ll be showing you the back of my camera periodically during the shoot so you get an idea of how gorgeous you look and see what they look like right away.

Then within two weeks of our shoot, we’ll have a viewing appointment when I’ll have the first round of selects done with a basic round of editing and you’ll pick your favorites. This is also when we’ll choose your prints/keepsakes.

The packages we offer don’t include hair and makeup. We’re not like other boudoir studios who markup prices on all the external services to try to make more money. We can certainly recommend some talented hair and makeup artists if you’d like a referral, however unless you’re going for a high-fashion kind of look where a lot of makeup is used to go for a certain style, we think it’s better to do your usual makeup for going out on the town, for a few reasons;

1) the time you spend with yourself getting ready before the shoot should be a part of the ritual to get into the headspace and connect with yourself without distractions

2) wearing makeup you’re familiar with and comfortable in will translate to more confidence and comfortability during the shoot

3) some boudoir makeup just looks too overdone and unnatural and is difficult to edit in the retouching process post-shoot (especially with foundations)

4) It’s very important to us at Castle Pines Boudoir that you’re getting a fair price on high-end and expert specialized photography, it’s why we don’t charge sitting fees, sessions fees, gallery fees etc, our prices are structured to include the shoot, the editing, and the digital delivery of your package in order to keep prices lower for our customers.

Yes — most clients choose a range of coverage, and I definitely recommend it as it facilitates getting into a good flow and starting off slow to ease into the more revealing images. We often begin with an outfit, lingerie or something sheer maybe, then shift into partial/implied, and then full nudity as you get more comfortable. Having a variety helps tell a story, especially if you order a book (highly recommended!), as you page through and slowly reveal more and more, and the viewers (you and/or a loved one) heart beats faster as they make their way through the images!

Absolutely!

Bridal boudoir shoots are great because there’s so much emotion involved and there’s a clear motivation (gift for their partner), the props are a no brainer (champagne, white lingerie, garter, flowers, wedding colors), and lots of love and emotion flowing which makes the photos look so natural, visceral and incredibly beautiful. Also the keepsakes we’ll order from the shoot will have such a profound and lasting impact on your loved one.

I recommend scheduling a bridal boudoir shoot far enough in advance of the wedding so there’s time to order the photo album and prints without worrying about delivery times.

Treat your session like a sacred ritual, and remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place. Reinforce those motivations and look forward to the empowerment and confidence you’ll feel, especially after we’re done and you feel that sense of “I DID IT!”

Set aside some time the day before, or directly before the shoot to rest, hydrate, stretch, and connect to your body. Journaling, sensual music, and movement can help you drop into your erotic energy before stepping into the shoot. And of course remember, this will be fun and empowering! Bring your authentic and unapologetic self!

A mirror can be a big help too, use it to pose yourself in some lingerie, or even your birthday suit so you can visualize what this will look like. Maybe even take some of your own nude selfies, even if you delete them right away, this can be another helpful way to visualize the shoot especially if you’ve never done anything like this before.

After booking, I’ll send you a full checklist of things to help prepare, both mentally and also physically.

Yes absolutely, they will be professionally edited to the standards of a high-end fashion magazine to include color grading as well. I make sure to preserve your natural beauty while enhancing tone, light, and polish. You’ll never have to worry about a pimple, hair out of place, or bruises. I can also leave anything you want to remain, like a scar or birthmark that are part of what makes you, you. My general rule is if it wasn’t there two weeks ago, and won’t be in two weeks, I probably remove it, but of course that’s totally your call. If you want, I can go all out and make you look as perfect as possible!

Keep in mind, this service is already built into the pricing as well. You’ll never be charged for additional editing or retouching. I’m not simply applying a preset, maybe making a few adjustments; the images you’ll receive will be fully and professionally edited to the standard of fashion magazines, that’s part of why women choose Castle Pines Boudoir. I have more than a decade of experience in the fashion photography world and you’re truly receiving a high-end product.

I always default to keeping everything we do 100% confidential, that’s a very important feature of how I run this business. I have worked with several women in high profile positions where privacy is very important, and I will never compromise my credibility or your confidence in me. How you decide to share them is entirely up to you of course. I do provide sharing rights on your part as part of the contract so you can share on your socials, but I will never post anything on the website or social media without your explicit approval. I do offer a discount to those are up for me posting our photos to show other women what’s possible, but that will always be all laid out in the contract ahead of time. That could also mean posting without your face visible to keep it anonymous. Rest assured, nobody will ever see our work if you don’t want them to. That confidence and trust is absolutely paramount to me.

Newsflash, you already are sexy! Looking sexy is about feeling sexy! You don’t need to know anything about posing, that’s what I’m here for. I’ll guide you through flattering, expressive poses that connect you to your sensuality — whether it’s soft and shy, bold and wild, or anything in between. The more you’re able to be present with yourself and your body, the sexier you will feel, and the photos will reflect. I promise, you will be shocked at how good you can look without ever having done this before. You’re not here to perform — you’re here to feel, and be more connected to your sensuality.

Both are certainly available. You can book a standalone video experience, or add video as an enhancement to your photoshoot. Most clients choose a hybrid session — blending stills and motion into one seamless experience, whether that’s predominantly stills with a short highlight video, or mostly video with a few stills in your favorite poses. I’ll tailor the package for exactly what you want.

That’s my specialty. Erotic doesn’t mean explicit for the sake of shock — it means honest, sensual, powerful. I will craft these images to feel luxurious and raw — artful and daring, even with self-touch or toys without losing the artful and high-class vibe. This will be achieved through lighting, posing, depth of field, and camera angles while maintaining the lifestyle/editorial vibe. You’ll be shocked how seamlessly you can blend sexual explicitness with artful beauty!

That’s natural — and we go slow. We never robotically go through poses to check a box, this is your time to be fully present with your body and sexuality. We’ll chat in advance about what you’re looking for, so when we’re shooting, you’ll be gently coached with phrases like “rest your hand on your lower belly” or “press your fingers along your thigh” to achieve the intimacy you’re looking for. We’re not simply hitting poses on a checklist, we’re looking for a feeling and exploring sensuality to capture raw and real moments throughout the shoot. And of course we’ll talk about everything before the shoot so we’re both fully prepared for what you want.

You’re certainly welcome to, especially if it reflects your desires or kinks, or the desires of a loved one these photos/video are meant for. Feel free to bring this up in the questionnaire you’ll fill out, or during the consultation and we can go over your thoughts. Bring whatever turns you on — a satin blindfold, a favorite toy, your partner’s shirt — and we’ll incorporate it in a way that’s sensual and stunning. Remember, this session is about being unapologetically you and I want it to reflect everything important to you. Feel free to mention any thoughts you have in the consult and we’ll discuss ways of incorporating anything you want.

Whatever you’re comfortable with, as long as it feels good to you. That could mean running your hands over your breasts, grazing your thighs, or exploring deeper, more erotic connection. We’ll always check in and move with intention, but this session is meant for you to connect with yourself on a deeper level. Especially for shoots designed with a significant other in mind, this becomes a popular feature of the shoot. There are so many beautiful moments throughout guided movements between poses/touching that we’ll capture and that sense of motion brings the photo to life and feels more natural compared to static posed images. And of course this is something we’ll talked about about beforehand, so feel free to share any ideas or thoughts you have.