What to Wear for a Boudoir Photo shoot (15 Outfit Ideas)
If you’re considering what to wear for a boudoir photo shoot, we’ve got all the tips here for you! Read on to get ready for your photoshoot easily with these boudoir outfit ideas!
What Is Boudoir?
Boudoir is a French word referring to a woman’s private dressing room. This word inspires the intimacy of the boudoir photography session.
A boudoir photography shoot features intimate, sensual, and romantic images of its subjects, usually only intended for the private enjoyment of the subjects and their romantic partners.

Things To Consider Before Choosing Your Boudoir Shoot Outfit
A boudoir shoot is like any other photo shoot in many ways, but it’s also much different. Here are some things you should consider before choosing your boudoir outfits.
Decide On The Level Of Exposure
There will definitely be some level of exposure in your upcoming boudoir session. After all, that is the entire point of the session. But that level of exposure is 100% up to you.
There are typically three levels of exposure to consider. You can make it modest, classic, or bold. This will have a lot to do with your comfort level, not only with the idea of a boudoir shoot but also with your own body.
Modest could mean that you dress in a nightgown, fitted clothes, or a formal dress with an open back or high slit, rather than lingerie.
Classic is that middle ground where you can wear a beautiful piece of lingerie that is revealing but not too much so.
Bold is the anything-goes category, which is typically one that women work up to after getting comfortable in their first time doing a boudoir shoot. This could include sheer tops, panty panty sets, high stockings, a lace robe, etc.
Think About Who The Photos Are For
When deciding what to wear for a boudoir photo shoot, think about who the photos are for. If the photos will be a gift for your spouse or romantic partner, consider making them with his preferences in mind.
Wear clothing items you know he likes, borrow his clothes like an oversized unbuttoned white shirt, do a themed shoot with costumes from his favorite movie, or even include his beloved gold clubs.
Creating a sexy look doesn’t have to be difficult. You can often use items you already have on-hand.
Consider Your Personal Style
The thing about boudoir shoots is if you aren’t comfortable, they don’t work well. These photos need to convey you letting go of inhibitions. If you aren’t comfortable in what you’re wearing, you will not be able to do that well.
Letting your personal style be your guide for choosing a variety of different outfits is the best way to make boudoir photography an experience you can be comfortable with.
Sticking to your personal style doesn’t mean you can’t get out of your comfort zone, it’s just a great start for expanding on your look and making your shoot a lot of fun instead of stressful.
Prepare With Extra Outfits
The planning process should include extra outfits. When the day comes and you slip into that black lingerie and suddenly feel like you don’t like the way you feel in it on that particular day, you’ll want back up. Have a variety of looks prepared so you can feel great in what you’re wearing.
Incorporate Shoes And Accessories
Shoes and accessories are a great way to dress up your photoshoot since you won’t be wearing as much clothing as usual. Accessories give you something to play around with style-wise.
Long necklaces are great boudoir accessories. If you’re not a jewelry person, think hats, a garter belt, high heels, a leather jacket, and knee-high socks.
Consider What Makes You Feel Comfortable
This is the most important part of the entire process. A boudoir shoot might be out of your comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t feel comfortable with what you’re wearing, your boudoir photographer, the shoot set, and everything involved in the process.
What to Wear for a Boudoir Photo shoot
If you’re looking for some inspiration, these 15 boudoir photo outfit ideas will help you get started. Remember, whether it’s a simple white tank top, a nice underwear set, or vintage slip dresses, choose outfits that make you confident and will bring out one of your best features, your smile.
Modest Boudoir Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
Modest boudoir outfits can vary depending on the person, but generally, in this category, you’re showing a little skin. It may be an oversized white button-down dress shirt with no bottoms, an oversized sweater hanging off your shoulder or even a pair of jeans and a pretty bra.
1. White Button Down Shirt
2. White Cut Out Tee
3. Satin Lingerie Nightgown
4. Dressing Gown
5. Men’s Button Down Sports Jersey
Classic Boudoir Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
Classic boudoir typically involves lingerie and sometimes even nude shots, but typically covered.
6. One Piece Lace Bodysuit
7. Black Teddy Bodysuit With Garter Belts
8. One Piece Lace Deep V Bodysuit
9. Lingerie Set With Garter Belts
10. One Piece Lace Halter Bodysuit
Bold Boudoir Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
Bold boudoir is usually uncovered with lots of sheer outfits or even totally nude. This varies by person, but anything goes in bold boudoir photoshoots.
11. Long Sheer Gown
12. See Through Babydoll Set
13. See Through Fishnet Sparkly Bodysuit
14. See Through Lace Kimono
15. Lace Bra and Panty Set
Accessories For Boudoir Photoshoot Outfit Ideas
In a boudoir shoot, sometimes the accessories are the outfit. If you want to go very bold and daring, try accessories sans clothing.
16. Rhinestone Chain Bikini Bra Top
17. Sheer Thigh High Pantyhose
18. Body Chain Jewelry
19. Crystal Layered Waist Chains
20. High Waist Fishnet Stockings
21. Thigh Highs
22. Your partner’s Favorite Tie
Where to find boudoir photo shoot outfits
If you’d still like to see more boudoir photo shoot outfit ideas, check out this list of retailers with great options.
If you’d still like to see some more boudoir photo shoot outfit ideas, we highly recommend Amazon. Amazon has such a wide variety, super fast shipping, and tons of reviews to check out.
Boudoir Photo Shoot FAQs
What NOT To Wear To A Boudoir Photo Shoot?
Although outfits for a boudoir photo shoot will vary from one person to the next, the intention of a boudoir shoot is typically to create photos that are for your partner’s eyes only. Outfit choices are usually romantic, sexy, and quite risque.
A general rule for choosing the best outfit is to avoid anything that is too casual or modest. If you’re really unsure about what NOT to wear for a boudoir photoshoot, a photographer with years of experience would certainly be the right person to ask for their top tips.
However, here is a general list of things you can put on your “what not to wear list” for a boudoir photoshoot.
- sneakers
- ill-fitting garments (especially jeans)
- granny panties
- bad spray tans
- socks
What color should I wear for boudoir photoshoot?
Any color that makes you happy! Ideally, it’s best to wear solid neutrals so that you don’t have to worry about backdrops.
You’ll typically find boudoir clothing in neutral colors unless you go out of your way to search for bright colors anyway. However, this is something you could work out with your photographer ahead of time.
Do you wear shoes to a boudoir photo shoot?
This is a personal preference. Some women love to wear lingerie with see-through tops or a button-down shirt for an ultra-sexy look while some women prefer to go without shoes completely.
If you choose to wear a sexy dress you’ll probably want to finish off the look with a nice pair of shoes but if you’re wearing lingerie, you may want to just forgo the shoes altogether. The most important thing is feeling comfortable for your shoot.
Hopefully, these ideas have given you some inspiration for your boudoir portrait session.
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