Let’s just say not every client walks in the door ready to peel it all off. That’s not how this works. There’s a rhythm to boudoir—like jazz, with pauses, peaks, and sometimes a full-on drum solo. Over the years, I’ve worked with women from every walk of life—teachers, surgeons, baristas, divorcees, grandmothers. One even brought her knitting needles. (She didn’t knit during the session, but we joked about it the entire time.)
Boudoir isn’t a straight line. It’s a spectrum, and knowing where you land helps both of us get the images that feel real, not staged.
Level One: Lingerie (a.k.a. the warm-up)
This is where most start. Think bodysuits, lacy bras, maybe even a robe draped over the shoulders. Nothing shocking here—but it’s rarely boring. In fact, sometimes this is where the most tension builds, because the imagination does a lot of the heavy lifting.
- Most requested outfit: black lace bodysuit
- Best setting: seated in window light or on a made bed
- What I tell clients: “Don’t worry about the pose—just breathe and I’ll guide you.”
Some women stop here and walk away thrilled. One client told me she wore the same bra she wore when she met her husband. That photo now hangs, framed, in their bedroom. Her idea, not his.
Level Two: Implied Nudity
No clothes, but also—no obvious nudity. It’s the whisper instead of the shout. We use shadows, body angles, sheets, or even hair to conceal the parts everyone assumes will be shown.
- My favorite trick: back arching on the bed with sheets barely clinging to the hips
- What clients often say: “Wait, that’s what I look like from behind?”
- Common reaction: surprise at how powerful softness looks
This level hits different. Clients start to loosen up. The air shifts in the room. You can feel the confidence building—not the over-the-top kind, but the quiet kind that settles in the shoulders and jawline.
Level Three: Artistic Nudity
The focus here is shape. Not sex. It’s sculpture. Light on collarbones. Shadows down the spine. The final photos are more museum than magazine.
One woman asked me if she’d look like a statue or a snack. I said, “Both.”
- Posing style: elongated lines, curved backs, side light
- Most popular angle: overhead or from behind
- Wardrobe: nothing… and everything, because it’s all about what the light touches
This is usually the point where clients start saying, “I never thought I’d do this.” And then they laugh. And then they ask to see the back of the camera again.
Level Four: Erotic Nudity
This is the rarest tier. Not because people are shy—but because this level requires trust. Full trust. Not everyone wants to go here, and that’s more than okay. But when it’s the right fit, the images are stunning.
This isn’t pornography. It’s tension and release. It’s suggestion and stare. It’s the kind of image where the viewer isn’t quite sure if they should look away—or keep staring.
- What I always say first: “We’ll shoot as much or as little as you want.”
- Session rule: the client controls every moment
- Who chooses this: women at crossroads—post-breakup, milestone birthdays, or just because
I had a client once who came in with a folder of references from Helmut Newton, Playboy (the old stuff), and a single photo of herself from her 20s. We recreated that image—35 years later. Her response? “Better now.”
Not Everyone Needs to Strip Down
Here’s the thing: the most intimate photo I’ve ever taken was of a woman in a turtleneck sweater. Chin tilted up. Eyes locked on the lens. Nothing about boudoir says you have to follow a map. You can stop at lingerie, or leap to level four on your first session. Most people find themselves landing somewhere in between.
Every shoot is a collaboration, not a performance. The camera doesn’t lie, but it also doesn’t pressure. I’ve seen more vulnerability in a woman’s hand adjusting her strap than in a fully nude pose. It all counts. It all tells a story.
Want to tell yours? You get to choose how much of it you show.
Check out my Orlando boudoir photographer page for more info.